Difference between revisions of "Guardian"
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When the [[Androsynth]] departed [[Earth]] ''en masse'' in 2085 during the [[Clone Revolt]], no [[Human]] had ever imagined that one could take to the stars at faster-than-light speed. Clever, cunning, and imaginative, the Androsynth outwitted their human creators at every turn by keeping low-key until an opportunity presented itself. In retrospect, it should have been no surprise that the pride of their space fleet, the dumpy little blue pod known as the '''Guardian''' (or sometimes as the '''Blazer'''), would hide something a bit more sinister inside its modest packaging, the sight of one quickly becoming the ultimate fear of all mankind. Near the the end of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]], the Androsynth Hit-and-Run squadrons along the [[Coreward Front]] occasionally used modified Guardians capable of extended [[Blazer]] modes, giving them greater speed, range, and destructive power. | When the [[Androsynth]] departed [[Earth]] ''en masse'' in 2085 during the [[Clone Revolt]], no [[Human]] had ever imagined that one could take to the stars at faster-than-light speed. Clever, cunning, and imaginative, the Androsynth outwitted their human creators at every turn by keeping low-key until an opportunity presented itself. In retrospect, it should have been no surprise that the pride of their space fleet, the dumpy little blue pod known as the '''Guardian''' (or sometimes as the '''Blazer'''), would hide something a bit more sinister inside its modest packaging, the sight of one quickly becoming the ultimate fear of all mankind. Near the the end of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]], the Androsynth Hit-and-Run squadrons along the [[Coreward Front]] occasionally used modified Guardians capable of extended [[Blazer]] modes, giving them greater speed, range, and destructive power. | ||
Revision as of 23:25, 9 August 2009
When the Androsynth departed Earth en masse in 2085 during the Clone Revolt, no Human had ever imagined that one could take to the stars at faster-than-light speed. Clever, cunning, and imaginative, the Androsynth outwitted their human creators at every turn by keeping low-key until an opportunity presented itself. In retrospect, it should have been no surprise that the pride of their space fleet, the dumpy little blue pod known as the Guardian (or sometimes as the Blazer), would hide something a bit more sinister inside its modest packaging, the sight of one quickly becoming the ultimate fear of all mankind. Near the the end of the Ur-Quan Slave War, the Androsynth Hit-and-Run squadrons along the Coreward Front occasionally used modified Guardians capable of extended Blazer modes, giving them greater speed, range, and destructive power.
The Androsynth, obsessed with aesthetics, did not hesitate to give to the Guardian ships a form as beautiful as possible; these ships are basically a tube of platinum metal alloys, multiple pieces of blue glass coiling around it, their sizes increasing as one approaches the back of the ship.1
In its normal configuration, the Guardian is far from the fastest ship around, but it can still outrun an Intruder. With a turning rate slightly below average and its acceleration only slightly above, it may seem less than impressive.
However, in Blazer form, all this changes. Always at full speed — which is faster than almost any other ship — and turning on the edge of a dime, it makes for a highly effective killer. The catch is that this newly gained strength only stays for as long as the batteries are charged, and they will be rapidly being drained. As you cannot turn off the Blazer mode as long as there is energy left, this will leave the Guardian very vulnerable for a moment.
Armament
Primary
The Guardian's main weaponry is a molecular acid sphere launcher. The spheres use a so-called "Chaos™ tracking", as the Star Control DataBank entry names it — this "tracking" consists of random oscillatory moves that slowly direct the sphere towards the enemy. They don't damage each other or the Guardian that launched them, but they damage enemy spheres and Guardians. Each sphere that hits an enemy ship kills two crew.
Secondary
There are two ways to defeat an enemy in a head-on battle: be stronger or be faster. The Androsynth opted for both when they developed Blazer technology, and did they succeed! One tug of a rope and the Guardian morphs into a beautiful, high-speed, inertialess solid ball, which just about vaporizes anything it touches. The only drawback is that once the comet-like "Blazer" form has been initiated, its powerful thrusters burn up all available fuel until there is none left. Speed adjustment is not possible. And once the tanks are dry, the ship reverts to normal form and comes to a dead stop like it was a space-anchor. Each collision between a Guardian in Blazer form and an enemy ship kills three of the enemy's crew.
There was a bug that consisted in the following: When an Androsynth Guardian in Blazer mode is drained of its last energy by a DOGI, the Blazer mode isn't fully turned off; the ship retains it ability to do damage by impact. (bug #283).
Tactical Overview
While the Guardian's main weapon may be useful to keep an enemy at bay for a moment, its real strength lies in its Blazer form. Once activated, go straight for the enemy's ship and quickly bash it to bits. Be careful though as the enemy's weapons can still cause damage.
If you can't finish off the enemy in one run, save some of your battery power to escape to a safe range, as you'll be vulnerable when the Blazer form runs out.
Minutiae
- The Guardian's victory tune is the song 'Mongoloid' by the band Devo. A Guardian's crew also resembles the band. Furthermore, the captain will sometimes be named Booji, a reference to the character "Booji Boy" from Devo's mythology.
Notes and references
- 1From the Star Control manual, p. 23.
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