Rocktopus doesn't do anything

[Cove]

I never could get the Rocktopus to launch to orbit and couldn't get it to attack anything. It finally took out a satellite when I moved within one space of it.

How do you make this unit do anything? And what does it do when it is working.

 

[grades]

You can only launch it on the tile the Rocktopus is currently on. so to launch it you first have to move the unit so that it's orbit effect area doesn't overlap with any currently existing satellites.

 

[Promethian]

Rocktopus is one of those instances of a good idea by devs that they ruined by fearing it becoming overpowered and thus nerfing it into garbage (ironic considering how blatantly OP other things in the game are). It is too slow baseline to be useable (even with teleport sats) and its range is so short even cities without rocket batteries can knock one down if you place it close enough to be able to hit the city itself.

To make it *barely* useable you need to select one of its weakness eliminations (don't take the can de-orbit at will). The move bonus will let it follow your army around and will be great for taking out enemy sats as well as providing coverage for your own (don't send it up). The coverage bonus supposedly lets it shoot further when it is in orbit which makes it good for city siege.

Yes it is severely limited even with the upgrade. It needs to be brought up to 2 move and have +1 range when in orbit baseline to be worth using.

 

[Selereth]

Rocktopus is one of those instances of a good idea by devs that they ruined by fearing it becoming overpowered and thus nerfing it into garbage (ironic considering how blatantly OP other things in the game are). It is too slow baseline to be useable (even with teleport sats) and its range is so short even cities without rocket batteries can knock one down if you place it close enough to be able to hit the city itself.

To make it *barely* useable you need to select one of its weakness eliminations (don't take the can de-orbit at will). The move bonus will let it follow your army around and will be great for taking out enemy sats as well as providing coverage for your own (don't send it up). The coverage bonus supposedly lets it shoot further when it is in orbit which makes it good for city siege.

Yes it is severely limited even with the upgrade. It needs to be brought up to 2 move and have +1 range when in orbit baseline to be worth using.

Well luckily it can be buffed in a patch, like all other balance issues. Although why would you even bother with a Rocktopus when you can get Orbital Lasers? I mean other then perhaps being more accessible to Harmony players because it's closer to all the other Harmony techs I don't really see the point in it.

 

[Ryoga]

Well luckily it can be buffed in a patch, like all other balance issues. Although why would you even bother with a Rocktopus when you can get Orbital Lasers? I mean other then perhaps being more accessible to Harmony players because it's closer to all the other Harmony techs I don't really see the point in it.

I never went that path in my Harmony games, that branch is almost completely forgettable and since the unit itself sucks... yeah that's the last tech you'd want to research.

Anyway I have the feeling that the Rocktopus the Sabr and the Aegis are actually intended to be units for city defense only.

Too bad you are likely to finish a game before anyone thinks to attack you.

 

[TLHeart]

build the rocktopuss in your edge city, move it to your border, launch, with upgrade it spreads miasma, and kills the enemy as they approach.

 

[AriochIV]

The Rocktopus could be a good defensive unit, if the AI actually attacked that late in the game, which it doesn't seem to.

 

[TLHeart]

I actually had 2 nations attack me after I completed the mind flower... with a rocktopuss, and two orbital lasers on my borders, they never even got close.

 

[Promethian]

Upgraded Rocktopus's orbital attack is stronger than the laser but not the Planet Carver.

To make Rocktopus useful here is what I would do:
Base move increased to 2.
Range of orbital attack increased by 1.
Orbital coverage upgrade perk replaced with enhanced miasma spreading speed when in orbit. This new perk should be the Harmony or Evolved upgrade. Switch as necessary.

Voila, Rocktopus is useful.

 

[Ryoga]

Upgraded Rocktopus's orbital attack is stronger than the laser but not the Planet Carver.

To make Rocktopus useful here is what I would do:
Base move increased to 2.
Range of orbital attack increased by 1.
Orbital coverage upgrade perk replaced with enhanced miasma spreading speed when in orbit. This new perk should be the Harmony or Evolved upgrade. Switch as necessary.

Voila, Rocktopus is useful.

I approve of this. Especially the orbital attack increase

 

[A Space Ostrich]

All these 1 move per turn units seem like the devs trolling. The SABR is too slow to keep up with any army and can't fire on the turn after it arrives in range.

 

[s0nny80y]

Well luckily it can be buffed in a patch, like all other balance issues. Although why would you even bother with a Rocktopus when you can get Orbital Lasers? I mean other then perhaps being more accessible to Harmony players because it's closer to all the other Harmony techs I don't really see the point in it.

I think this might well be worth the tech rush as opposed to a rush for orbital or TAC lasers, especially for harmony Vic focused players.

 

[Gamewizard]

Some units are meant to be offensive (artillery), some are meant to be defensive (rocktopus). PvP it could be useful to defend the mindflower. The 1 movement point is less of an issue when it is moving on roads or especially magrails.

Hopefully the part in the patch that makes the AI more likely to dogpile the leader will lead to more games having to heavily defend your victory wonder.

 

[legalizefreedom]

Rocktopus moves great on rails!

 

[Minor Annoyance]

The Rocktopus, in the interests of making it possible to be used offensively, should defend against orbital strikes like a regular ranged unit would against a city strike on the ground. Compare strength and take damage rather than one hit kill.