Bolt Buddy

Bolt Buddy
Type	Cannons
Faction	NSDF / CCA / Furies
Scrap cost	8
Internal name	gbolt
Characteristics
Ammo usage	20
Damage	150
Rate of fire	0.6 s (1.3 shots / sec)
Projectile speed	1000 km/s (effectively instant)
Maximum range	150 m

The Bolt Buddy 2000, nicknamed as simply the Bolt Buddy by NSDF soldiers terrified of its effects, is an energy weapon primarily used by the Furies. It is the standard armament on both the Fury Flier and the Fury Tank, but was also used on both the CCA Fury Hybrids (and presumably the NSDF equivalent) while they were in development.

Description

This alien weapon was nicknamed the Bolt Buddy by NSDF soldiers terrified of its effects. The version possessed by the Black Dogs costs 8 scrap to produce, making it somewhat of a poor choice.

History

The Bolt Buddy was first invented by the Hadean Crown for the original Fury project. It was likely derived from the bolt weapon fired from Arc Mines, which were first developed by the Olympian Council.

Although the NSDF eventually managed to duplicate the weapon to the point where the Black Dog Squadron had access to this weapon through their Armory, it was too costly to economically mass-produce (each one costing as much as an entire Grizzly tank). Even so, the concept of the weapon eventually became the predecessor of the Scion Arc Cannon.

Design

The Bolt Buddy fires instant-hit electrical bolts at the same rate of fire as an SP-Stabber, with the same range and slightly less damage output as an AT-Stabber. Due to the shape of the Fury craft, the weapon has significantly lower range when used by the Furies, allowing a stock Grizzly to out-range the alien craft.

Variants

Green variant (gboltg)

This variant fires green lightning, but is otherwise identical to the standard version.

Red variant (gboltr)

This variant fires red lightning, but is otherwise identical to the standard version.

Tactics

The Bolt Buddy, while not being the most powerful beam-based weapon in the game, is a worthy combatant to most standard weapons such as the AT-Stabber. However it cannot be used for long periods of time without the need for reloading due to its higher ammo consumption. On many Deathmatch maps, the Bolt Buddy is often considered the "balanced" alternative to the Blast Cannon.

Trivia

• The weapon is available from the initial CRA Armory in New Kids on the Block.