Name: Obelisk of Light
Side: Nod
COST: $2000
ERA: Tiberian Dawn
Base Asset: Black_Drakon
This replaces the C&C3 Obelisk of Light. While it is very similar in its default operation to the C&C3 Obelisk, there are a few differences which should be noted.
First off this Obelisk cost $2000 rather than $1800 of the C&C3 Obelisk, obviously this is a very slight nerf to Obelisk spam (especially when used in base crawl\MCV move tactics).
An aggressive expansion field takeover complete with Stealth Generator! I'll need some anti-infantry support though!
Another negative is that there is no longer the anti-infantry sweep laser, only the standard precision laser is used for the default Obelisk. This means that it will only hit a single infantry unit at a time, which greatly increases the threat of infantry squads vs the default Obelisk.
No anti-infantry sweep means that dealing with these infantry will take a while!
It is recommended that you build Laser towers to support this defence because certain infantry squads will cost effectively take out the default Obelisk (especially Razor drones or the Black hand).
So basically you are paying more for a worse defence!
There has never been a Beam cannon in the Tiberian History mod, so the lack of the C&C3 ability for an Obelisk to get boosted by them is not relevant.
With all this talk of a 'default' Obelisk there are obviously upgrades to consider so let's get to it, however please note that you can only pick one upgrade per Obelisk (they are 'OBJECT' upgrades). If you upgrade an Obelisk it will draw an extra 5 units of power per Obelisk, so make sure you have enough power in reserve!
Cabal's efficiency
Now we are talking! This upgrade adds a sweep laser instead of the 'precision' beam, so basically it attacks like the anti-infantry laser that the C&C3 Obelisk has. The negative is that it can miss a target. The positive is that it can hit more than one target!
This is a very powerful attack (if the sweep crosses a tier 1 vehicle it will almost always destroy it) although how much damage it does to a target depends on how long the beam has been on the target.
An additional factor that increases the danger is the fact that this upgrade also increases the rate of fire by 40%!
The Obelisk becomes remorseless with this upgrade.
Obviously this is the Obelisk to pick for crowd control. Unlike the other Obelisk, due to the sweep laser, this can effectively deal with infantry squads. Also if you are facing large slow vehicles (ie the type that GDI are famous for) definitely consider this upgrade, it is remarkable how fast a 'Cabal efficient' Obelisk will deal with a Mammoth tank for example.
Poor infantry!
Faster ground units (like Stealth tanks for example) can easily avoid the sweep laser, provided they keep moving. If you come up against a Cabal efficiency upgraded Obelisk, then try to keep moving, to either greatly reduce or completely avoid damage.
Dark crystal
At the most basic level, this adds the power of the Obelisk of Darkness to your default Obelisk!
Unlike the Obelisk of Darkness, this will target ground units using the same beam.
This is a standard 'precision' type beam, not a sweep like the 'Cabal efficiency' upgrade grants, so it might be necessary to protect this Obelisk against infantry squads using a Laser tower (or some other form of mobile anti-infantry).
Double blue! Upgraded Laser Tower Anti-infantry back up
The dark beam has an extra 50% attack power and an extra 40% range!
Combined with its ability to attack aerial units, you have got a very formidable defence that might seem unapproachable without proper artillery units.
Please bear in mind that this upgrade does not grant a rate-of-fire increase. Also because it attacks both air and ground units, it can suffer from similar issues to the storm column (it is easy to get a cheap aerial unit to 'take' the hit, and in between the long reload, attack with ground units). However in terms of anti-air power it does even more damage than the mighty Storm column!
One of The Orcas in GDI's 'Orca strike' destroyed!
Overall
The Nod Stealth generator can make both these upgrades even stronger by denying your opponent information about their placement, thereby creating a nightmare Nod 'turtle' scenario.
In terms of using the upgraded Obelisk in a MCV move or base crawl scenario (number one use of Obelisks in competitive C&C3 and Kane's Wrath) the time it takes to upgrade an Obelisk should mean that it is not feasible vs a competent opponent. Also the reduction in effectiveness of the standard Obelisk should have an impact vs Obelisk spammers (at the very least they will have to build anti-infantry defences in addition to Obelisks).
Some Stats:
Cost: $2000 (C&C3 Obelisk = $1800)
Default Laser
Same Except no anti-infantry sweep!
Darkness Laser
Weapon strength: 4500
Weapon range: 500
Scalar vs Infantry: 200%
Notes: Can hit aerial targets! Draws an extra 5 units of power!
It is time for Nod's enemies to see the light!
Edited by Madin, 18 February 2016 - 01:52 PM.
