Talk:Tentaculat

How much damage do their attacks do?

If they're anything like the Chryssalids (which they probably are), they don't actually do damage. Any attack by them is instantly lethal and spawns a zombie.

Debesh Unnos 21:54, 12 February 2013 (EST)

Tentaculat vs. SWS

So does anyone know how a Tentaculat's melee damage vs. SWSs is handled? In other words, how resilient are SWSs against their attacks? Darkpast (talk) 07:37, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

It's a normal mêlée attack. Base power is Tentaculat's strength (100 to 124 depending on difficulty), multiplied by 0.5-1.5 like all TFTD attacks, then it's modified by the relevant damage modifier (x0.8; SWSs resist mêlée), then reduced by armour (90/75/75/60 for front/left/right/rear of a Coelacanth, 130 for any facing of a Displacer).

The upshot is that Coelacanths tend to die pretty fast (since Tentaculats can make many attacks per turn), but Displacers are either totally immune (Beginner/Experienced/Veteran) or almost immune (Genius/Superhuman).

As an aside, I'd appreciate your input over on Talk:Weapon Effectiveness (TFTD). Magic9mushroom (talk) 09:39, 18 November 2023 (CET)

Thanks. It's interesting though because back in the day even Coelacanths seemed very resilient - I was thinking it may have been bugged, but I'm probably misremembering. I played OpenXcom more recently and it seemed to be like you say. I'll have a look at the weapon damage tomorrow. Darkpast (talk) 16:59, 18 November 2023 (CET)

Scary Bio-Drones?

Does anyone mind if I remove the reference in this article and elsewhere to Bio-Drones being some super-scary alien? Sure, they're at least on par with a sonic-equipped Tasoth Soldier, but compared to aliens with DPLs (particularly Lobster Men) or to Tentaculats they're pretty tame, and even Xarquid/Triscenes are arguable (yes, there's the huge explosive weakness, but they're both way tougher against anything else and both have much better odds of getting through Magnetic Ion Armour). Magic9mushroom (talk) 09:39, 18 November 2023 (CET)

Hm, I guess you're right. While they are one of the stronger aliens, being faster, tougher and more accurate than a Tasoth Soldier and able to fly, they can't kill multiple aquanauts with one attack (except when exploding), have no MC and no zombification. I think the Bio-Drones' reputation may be due to the fact that they appear on the shipping route terror missions on 1 April, where there are no DPLs and the player probably hasn't faced Tentaculats yet.

So in other words, I agree with removing the reference in this article. But in the Bio-Drone article and alien overview I'd tone it down rather than removing it entirely - i.e. describe them as strong but not super-powerful. Darkpast (talk) 16:59, 18 November 2023 (CET)

For the record, it's only 36% for Bio-Drones to appear on 1 April; you have to have Shipping Route (60%), and it has to not be Aquatoids/Gill Men (60%). Will try to work out something to put on the other articles, though. Magic9mushroom (talk) 11:55, 28 November 2023 (CET)