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The Shadray Sonic Tank is an artillery vehicle used by Haihead that also acts as an powerful anti-air unit.
Description
Alterations and modular enhancements to the crystal structure found in the Jackal Racer’s sonic weapon have given birth to the Shadray. By combining four screens used individually in its lower tier counterparts, and then inverting the piece vertically and removing the back protective panels, a more powerful sonic amplifier was developed that emitted sonic waves for an almost indefinite amount of time and was able to reach more distant targets than the Jackal could hope to hit. Much to the surprise of Foehn engineers, the Shadray’s weapon range allowed it to hit aerial targets, and thus additional anti-air targeting systems were installed to take advantage of this. As such, the Shadray serves a dual role as Haihead’s premier artillery unit and heavy anti-air support.
Overview
The Shadray serves as the Tier 3 artillery unit for the Haihead subfaction of the Foehn Revolt. Unique to all the other artillery units utilized by the other factions, this unit is a jack-of-all-trades artillery piece that can take on any threat in the battlefield, whether they may be on foot, on treads, or in the air.
This unit uses a powerful sonic emitter to demolish structures and defensive fortifications from respectable ranges, and its potency can be amplified even further if it can manage to strike multiple targets in a single line. The unique nature of its weapon means that everything within its line of fire will suffer damage, making it a deadly weapon against clustered buildings. Similar effects can be achieved against infantry squads, as a correctly-aimed strike can reduce formations of infantry to ashes. The sonic wave is marginally effective against vehicles, though its firepower against armored tanks is marginal at best.
Shadrays also serve as Haihead's Tier 3 anti-aircraft unit, meaning they can down heavy airborne threats with ease in the event Knightframes, Teratorns, and Buzzards are not up to the task, since the aforementioned units are not as efficient when it comes to destroying air units such as Kirov Airships.
This unit's jack-of-all-trades nature also serves to be one of its greatest weaknesses, as it trades damage output for this flexibility. While it's a flexible unit in most regards, it doesn't exactly perform as well in any other fields aside from destroying structures and eliminating lighter infantry. For starters, its weapon cannot inflict substantial damage to heavier tanks unless they attack in large numbers. Though they are also intended to be a high-tech anti-aircraft vehicle, they don't do well against nimble aircraft such as Stormchilds and Dybbkk-Attackers. This is because the Shadray's weapon deals constant damage overtime in contrast to instant damage, meaning a speedy air unit can easily swoop in, deal damage, and possibly escape destruction. Their range also leaves much to be desired for an artillery unit, as they will not be able to outrange Tier 3 base defenses such as Hammer Defenses. While it's classified as a sonic tank, it does not have the armor or durability of one so it should not be used in direct confrontations with units that possess heavy anti-armor ordnance.
Assessment
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Quotes
The Shadray uses the voiceset of the Basswave in 3.0, which is voiced by De'Lante Capers (previously credited as Rhys_Dallows).
When selected
- Ready to pop some ears.
- Frequency is set.
- Let me hear it loud and clear.
- This tune is addictive.
- What's going on, chief?
When ordered to move
- The audience awaits.
- Getting the show on the road.
- Don't stop the music.
- Heading to the next gig.
- Coming to a venue near you.
When ordered to attack
- Let the bass kick.
- I'll play you the song of my people.
- All their bass belong to us.
- The beat starts here.
- Drop it.
- You got it TAC.
Trivia
- According to Speeder, the lead developer of Mental Omega, the Shadray is based from the Sonic Tank from End of Nations, combined with the Disruptor in Tiberian Sun.[1] In fact, the Disruptor's firing sound can be heard in the Shadray's, but it has a lower pitch.
- The Shadray is the spiritual successor to the Basswave, which was a United States artillery unit in version 3.0. While the Basswave also used the same technology, what made it different from the Shadray is that its sonic blasts did not continuously emit; instead it fires similarly to the Prism Tank. In light of this change in version 3.3, the United States now has the Athena Cannon to fulfill the role of the Basswave.
