Disposal of mind worms caused by eco-damage

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Author Topic:   Disposal of mind worms caused by eco-damage

presence posted 05-27-99 10:35 PM ET
I am continually puzzled by ecological damage. It seems that sometimes, the sudden growth of fungus in base zones caused by ecological damage spontaneously generates a group of mind worms. In cities with large amounts of environmental damage (caused by minerals production), I've had as many as 20 mind worms (usually mature boils)appear in a single square for a base each turn in the late game.
Question #1: What determines whether mind worms appear? Sometimes, the fungus grows without mind worms. Also, what additional factors cause the generation of Locusts of Chiron? This event also seems to be highly variable.
Question #2: How to dispose of these menaces? This is also very confusing. Sometimes, one of my land-based units will take out a whole group of worms all at once. When this happens, it is awesome. Not only do I dispose of the threat, but I get 800-1200 energy credits in the deal from "planet pearls." At other times, though, my units only pick off the worms one at a time, and I'll have to use as many as ten units in a single turn to dispose of the problem threatening a single base. Is there something I'm missing here? Why does this happen? What is an effective strategy for dealing with the worms when they won't all be destroyed in one blow?
Plato90s posted 05-28-99 09:56 AM ET
Fungus spreads out spontaneously from existing patches. This does not always cause worms to appear, although Worms can spontaneously appear.
However, if a square of fungus suddenly appears with a loud popping sound, you can be sure there is a big stack of worms and locusts right there. That's an eco-damage fungus growth, not a natural one.
If you attack a stack of mindworms with an land unit, one successful attack will capture/kill all of them because of collateral damage.
If you attack the same stack with an air unit, you have to kill them one at a time because air units never inflict collateral damage.
Artillery/Naval units bombard and can't kill.
And if there are Locusts of Chiron, they must be killed one at a time regardless of the unit type you use. Unlike Mindworms, Locusts are considered air units and therefore do not suffer from collateral damage.
laurens posted 05-28-99 12:41 PM ET
Plato90s:
I hope that "If you attack a stack of mindworms with an land unit, one successful attack will capture/kill all of them because of collateral damage." means the mindworms still in the stack are already so heavily indjured. Coz I think that with one stack of healthy mindworms, one successful land strike doesn't necessary kill them all (but there is the possibility of capturing them all; I agree with you).
I had once encountered a stack of mindworms generated from eco-damage (god knows how many). It took me 3/4 strikes to kill the whole bunch, with collateral damage being dealt to the others each time.
High Priest posted 05-28-99 01:13 PM ET
Laurens:
Plato's right.
In most land attacks on stacked mind worms, you kill the whole stack. Sometimes it fails, but it usually works. Great when you nail a stack of 7 demon boils with a simple garrison unit, and you get an instant 490 credits.
High Priest
Plato90s posted 05-28-99 03:48 PM ET
Yes, I have killed entire stacks of 10+ Mindworms on the first and only attack by a land unit. Against a truly big stack, you can pick up over 1,000 credits.
Are you sure that the stack you are attacking aren't a mix of Locusts and Mindworms? Locusts can be engaged by land units but it won't be wiped out in a stack, only 1 by 1.
NoMercy posted 05-28-99 03:56 PM ET
I like to have one base with 6-8 Boreholes!
and a Punishment Sphere.
eco damage can be up to 50 in later stages of game!
Crank out a top unit every round and then every turn a 20-30 stack of Demon Boils just waiting to be killed and give you 1500 energy!
(A real pain if you miss them as it can take 5 minutes to resolve each individual combat!)
laurens posted 05-28-99 08:10 PM ET
Makes some sense.
Perhaps that frightening stack, consisting of 20+ mindworms, might have a wimpering locust tagging behind...
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Author	Topic: Disposal of mind worms caused by eco-damage
presence	posted 05-27-99 10:35 PM ET I am continually puzzled by ecological damage. It seems that sometimes, the sudden growth of fungus in base zones caused by ecological damage spontaneously generates a group of mind worms. In cities with large amounts of environmental damage (caused by minerals production), I've had as many as 20 mind worms (usually mature boils)appear in a single square for a base each turn in the late game. Question #1: What determines whether mind worms appear? Sometimes, the fungus grows without mind worms. Also, what additional factors cause the generation of Locusts of Chiron? This event also seems to be highly variable. Question #2: How to dispose of these menaces? This is also very confusing. Sometimes, one of my land-based units will take out a whole group of worms all at once. When this happens, it is awesome. Not only do I dispose of the threat, but I get 800-1200 energy credits in the deal from "planet pearls." At other times, though, my units only pick off the worms one at a time, and I'll have to use as many as ten units in a single turn to dispose of the problem threatening a single base. Is there something I'm missing here? Why does this happen? What is an effective strategy for dealing with the worms when they won't all be destroyed in one blow?
Plato90s	posted 05-28-99 09:56 AM ET Fungus spreads out spontaneously from existing patches. This does not always cause worms to appear, although Worms can spontaneously appear. However, if a square of fungus suddenly appears with a loud popping sound, you can be sure there is a big stack of worms and locusts right there. That's an eco-damage fungus growth, not a natural one. If you attack a stack of mindworms with an land unit, one successful attack will capture/kill all of them because of collateral damage. If you attack the same stack with an air unit, you have to kill them one at a time because air units never inflict collateral damage. Artillery/Naval units bombard and can't kill. And if there are Locusts of Chiron, they must be killed one at a time regardless of the unit type you use. Unlike Mindworms, Locusts are considered air units and therefore do not suffer from collateral damage.
laurens	posted 05-28-99 12:41 PM ET Plato90s: I hope that "If you attack a stack of mindworms with an land unit, one successful attack will capture/kill all of them because of collateral damage." means the mindworms still in the stack are already so heavily indjured. Coz I think that with one stack of healthy mindworms, one successful land strike doesn't necessary kill them all (but there is the possibility of capturing them all; I agree with you). I had once encountered a stack of mindworms generated from eco-damage (god knows how many). It took me 3/4 strikes to kill the whole bunch, with collateral damage being dealt to the others each time.
High Priest	posted 05-28-99 01:13 PM ET Laurens: Plato's right. In most land attacks on stacked mind worms, you kill the whole stack. Sometimes it fails, but it usually works. Great when you nail a stack of 7 demon boils with a simple garrison unit, and you get an instant 490 credits. High Priest
Plato90s	posted 05-28-99 03:48 PM ET Yes, I have killed entire stacks of 10+ Mindworms on the first and only attack by a land unit. Against a truly big stack, you can pick up over 1,000 credits. Are you sure that the stack you are attacking aren't a mix of Locusts and Mindworms? Locusts can be engaged by land units but it won't be wiped out in a stack, only 1 by 1.
NoMercy	posted 05-28-99 03:56 PM ET I like to have one base with 6-8 Boreholes! and a Punishment Sphere. eco damage can be up to 50 in later stages of game! Crank out a top unit every round and then every turn a 20-30 stack of Demon Boils just waiting to be killed and give you 1500 energy! (A real pain if you miss them as it can take 5 minutes to resolve each individual combat!)
laurens	posted 05-28-99 08:10 PM ET Makes some sense. Perhaps that frightening stack, consisting of 20+ mindworms, might have a wimpering locust tagging behind...