Difference between revisions of "Firefoam shell"

Revision as of 08:08, 20 December 2022

The firefoam shell is a type of mortar shell that upon exploding, spreads firefoam in a 5-tile radius, extinguishing all fires and preventing new ones.

Acquisition

Firefoam shells are made using 25 steel at a machining table and requires Firefoam to be researched. Requires a Crafting skill of at least 4. The steel cost is increased to 35 if the Classic Mortars difficulty option is enabled.

It can also be purchased from traders.

Summary

When fired from a mortar, firefoam shells spreads firefoam in a 5 tile radius, extinguishing all fires and preventing new ones.

When damaged beyond 70% of its health, it will explode after between 30 ticks (0.5 secs) and 60 ticks (1 sec), spread firefoam in a radius around itself. The radius depends on the quantity in the stack, with a single shell covering a 9.9 tile radius, and expanding this radius proportional to the square root of the stack size times 0.4 up to a maximum radius of 13 tiles at a full stack of 25.

They are also used in the construction of IED firefoam traps.

Analysis

It is supposedly used for firefighting, due to the fire-extinguishing properties of the residual firefoam. It requires manual targeting to use, as colonists manning mortars don't automatically aim at fires.

However, it is a very niche item. The tiny, 5-tile radius isn't enough to cover large-scale fires. Meanwhile, it lacks the precision to drop on small fires accurately. It cannot extinguish fires inside your colony properly as the mortar's blind spot prohibits it from hitting fires close to it. And unless a weather controller is forcing fog, then the game will cause rain whenever fires get too big. Generally, foam turrets or firefoam pop packs are better as mobile fire extinguishers. Even Pyromaniacs can operate either

The radius from an exploding firefoam shell is significantly larger than a fired shell or firefoam popper. The mortar shell will require outright damage to set off, but is cheaper than the popper and larger than a fired shell.

Gallery

One firefoam shell
Partial stack
Full stack

Version history

0.18.1722 - Added.
1.3.3066 - Steel requirement decreased from 35 -> 25 unless Classic Mortar difficulty option enabled.

Architect

Security: Barricade • Sandbags • Spike trap
(research): Autocannon turret • Foam turret • Mini-turret • Rocketswarm launcher • Uranium slug turret • Mortar
IEDs: IED trap • IED incendiary trap • IED EMP trap • IED firefoam trap • IED smoke trap • IED antigrain warhead trap • IED tox trap
Related: Antigrain warhead • EMP shell • Firefoam shell • High-explosive shell • Incendiary shell • Smoke shell • Tox shell

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 == Analysis ==
 It is supposedly used for firefighting, due to the fire-extinguishing properties of the residual firefoam. It requires manual targeting to use, as colonists manning mortars don't automatically aim at fires.
-However, it is somewhat cost-ineffective, as its tiny 5-tile radius isn't enough to cover large-scale fires, and it lacks the precision to be able to be dropped onto small fires accurately. Firing these shells to extinguish fires will quickly eat through your supply of steel. It cannot extinguish fires inside your colony properly as the mortar's blind spot prohibits it from hitting fires close to it.
+However, it is a very niche item. The tiny, 5-tile radius isn't enough to cover large-scale fires. Meanwhile, it lacks the precision to drop on small fires accurately.  It cannot extinguish fires inside your colony properly as the mortar's blind spot prohibits it from hitting fires close to it. And unless a [[weather controller]]{{RoyaltyIcon}} is forcing fog, then the game will cause [[rain]] whenever fires get too big. Generally, [[foam turret]]s or [[firefoam pop pack]]s are better as mobile fire extinguishers. Even [[Traits#Pyromaniac|Pyromaniacs]] can operate either
-It does allow colonists incapable of firefighting such as [[Traits#Pyromaniac|Pyromaniacs]] to help with firefighting efforts, however, which can be handy if you need more hands on deck in controlling an out-of-control wildfire.
+The radius from an exploding firefoam shell is significantly larger than a fired shell or [[firefoam popper]]. The mortar shell will require outright damage to set off, but is cheaper than the popper and larger than a fired shell.
-The radius from an exploding firefoam shell is significantly larger than that of a fired firefoam shell. Depending on the purpose, placing a single shell and causing it to explode may be more efficient than firing it from a mortar. Indeed, as they will be set off by fire, it may be an effective alternative to [[firefoam popper]]s in some circumstances, trading a larger coverage radius for requiring outright damage to automatically set off.
 == Gallery ==