Energy Bomb

Energy Bomb
Name	Energy Bomb
Cost	900
TL Availability	7

A powerful one-shot device that emits a high-powered electromagnetic pulse, disrupting plasma containment in drives of nearby ships, resulting in catastrophic damage. Well shielded larger vessels are capable of withstanding this assault on occasion, but small ships invariably do not survive. Triggering the Energy Bomb temporarily deactivates sensitive components. The pulse is harmonised with the drive of the firing ship.

Residual Effects

The release of an energy bomb creates magnetic field shockwaves that can cause catastrophic vibrations in certain minerals, including most asteroidal rock types. This invariably results in the fragmentation of asteroids that are within the range of an energy bomb explosion.

Energy Bomb under threat of removal

Thanks to a campaign by several members of the community the energy bomb was saved from removal from v1.74. The idea of this was that the energy bomb was too powerful and affected the game balance. However being an original feature of Elite, removal engendered strong emotions from fans of the classic game.

As proposed by Giles, the energy bomb has been reinstated in v1.74 and is available in the current stable release (1.76). It will be disabled by default in the version after that, which will generally focus on more “visible” core game changes.

see also: Energy Bomb Campaign thread

Update on Energy Bomb removal

The Energy Bomb is only available in "Strict play" mode as of Oolite 1.77 (unreleased at time of writing, but available as nightly builds). It can be made available in "Unrestricted play" by downloading and installing EnergyBombfor1.77.oxp

Oolite Equipment Standard Equipment Astrogation Console • Cargo Hold • Compass • Energy banks • Engine/Main Drive • HUD • IFF Scanner • Life Support Systems • Missile • Pulse Laser • Shields • Ship's Hull • Torus Jump Drive • View Screen • Witchspace/Hyperspace Drive Optional Equipment Advanced Navigational Array • Advanced Space Compass • Cargo Bay Expansion • Docking Computers • E.C.M. System • Escape Pod • Extra Energy Unit • External Heat Shielding • Fuel Scoops • Galactic Hyperdrive • Integrated Targeting System • Military Shield Enhancement • Multi-Targeting System • Naval Energy Unit • Passenger Berth • Scanner Targeting Enhancement • Shield Boosters • Target System Memory Expansion • Witchdrive Fuel Injectors • Wormhole Scanner Weapons Beam Laser • ECM Hardened Missile • Energy Bomb • Military Laser • Mining Laser • Missile • Pulse Laser • Quirium Cascade Mine • Twin Plasma Cannon