| SHIP SPECIFICATIONS |
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| Chenjesu Broodhome Main weapon: Photon Crystal Shards Weapon cost: 5 Weapon damage: 6/2 Notes: The Broodhome's powerful missile are as powerful as any Ur-Quan Kzer-Za bolt, in fact, the two destroy each other upon contact. With the further exceptions of purple or red Melnorme Fear Balls or ZoqFotPik Licks, the shards are indestructible by one shot alone, and can blow right through other missiles. Two Druuge shots or Mycon plasmoids will destroy the weapons. These shards are of infinite range and can be let fly forever (or until they strike or are released). Once released by the pilot, they shatter in the 8 principal directions and, if done properly, can either inflict up to 6 points on the long ships or can tear thru flocks of fighters or space marines. Because of the holding capacity of each shot, only one can be fired at any time, which gives it a poor rate of fire in comparison to other ships of the same damage capacity. Lastly, if an enemy ship is in close range, the Broodhome can unleash a "Shatter Shield," which is simply several crystals shattered at the front gunnel. This defense prevents fighters or marines from coming in too close, weakens plasmoids, and blocks most incoming missiles (but not lasers). Special weapon: DOGIs Weapon cost: All of the Chenjesu's fuel. Weapon damage: None, but they suck about 8 fuel. Notes: Up to four of these pests can be unleashed upon the universe. DOGIs take 3 points of damage before they let out their holler and die. Being struck by a DOGI is dubbed being "barked," because that is the noise the DOGIs make. Not too much can be said about the DOGI - their tactics simply include sneaking up on their target whenever the front side of the ship is turned away. En masse, they bounce the ship around (DOGIs have mass and give ships, most notably small ones, really cool bounces). DOGIs pay no heed to side guns, wing nuts, and turrets, nor do they avoid seeking weapons or Kohr-Ah blades, and are picked off all the time by them. Strengths: Slow ships (the shards are relatively easy to dodge), but any ship the Chenjesu keeps at bay is a good ship. Ships which both cannot avoid the DOGIs and also take a lot of fuel to fire are especially weak. Lastly, the Utwig and Druuge are almost destroyed by DOGI alone. Weaknesses: Because the Chenjesu is so lumbering, ships that can get up to it destroy it pretty handily. Umgah were designed for this task. The shards predictably fire in the same directions, and a skillful pilot in a small ship can predict the scatter and avoid it. Fighters trash the oblong Chenjesu, and space marines are no wimps, either. DOGIs have the unfortunate effect of bouncing ships towards the Broodhome if they hit the back of an attacking ship. Lastly, the Melnorme Trader can waltz right thru shards with a purple or red glob on it's gunnel and can just ram the Broodhome to devastate it. Quirks: DOGIs occasionally stick together or with their target, propelling both across the universe. Also, the front gunnel of the Broodhome is sufficient to get the Androsynth Guardian Comet stuck in it. Broodhomes are the most vulnerable ship to planet devastation in the game, and while the "Chenjesu of Glue" syndrome has been corrected since the first game, a careless Chenjesu pilot can expect to lose a third of it's crew in the two planet thuds it takes to escape. |