Difference between revisions of "Ionized Plasma Levitator"

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[[image:Doom3-ResurrectionOfEvil-Cavern.png|right|thumb|250px|Player with the grabber weapon.]]
 
[[image:Doom3-ResurrectionOfEvil-Cavern.png|right|thumb|250px|Player with the grabber weapon.]]
 
The '''Ionized Plasma Levitator''', better known as the '''grabber''', is a [[weapon]] only found in ''[[Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil]]'' and ''[[The Lost Mission]]'' which has the ability to hold certain objects above the ground for a limited time and can throw them with great force. The grabber can grab fireballs thrown by enemies, reach otherwise inaccessible pickups, destroy certain enemies and remove obstacles in the player's path. It is first acquired early in the game, and remains a solid performer throughout.
 
The '''Ionized Plasma Levitator''', better known as the '''grabber''', is a [[weapon]] only found in ''[[Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil]]'' and ''[[The Lost Mission]]'' which has the ability to hold certain objects above the ground for a limited time and can throw them with great force. The grabber can grab fireballs thrown by enemies, reach otherwise inaccessible pickups, destroy certain enemies and remove obstacles in the player's path. It is first acquired early in the game, and remains a solid performer throughout.
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{{Quote|The Ionized Plasma Levitator creates an electromagnetically charged plasma stream that can move objects over short distances.|[[PDA]] description|nosource=true}}
  
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==Tactical analysis==
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[[File:Doom 3 HUD Grabber.png|thumb|The HUD icon.]]
 
A portable tractor beam, it does not use ammo but can only fire when locked onto a target. It can pick up objects to either move them or throw them at enemies, and it can grab enemy fireballs (even [[Revenant (Doom 3)|revenants]]’ rockets) from the air and toss them back at enemies. The beam will also disintegrate [[Forgotten One]]s and ignite exploding barrels (if launched; they just drop unharmed when released). [[Trite]]s, [[tick]]s, and [[cherub]]s are also highly vulnerable to the weapon and will die once released from its grasp. While it has unlimited ammo, the gun will overheat and cut off the beam after a few seconds.
 
A portable tractor beam, it does not use ammo but can only fire when locked onto a target. It can pick up objects to either move them or throw them at enemies, and it can grab enemy fireballs (even [[Revenant (Doom 3)|revenants]]’ rockets) from the air and toss them back at enemies. The beam will also disintegrate [[Forgotten One]]s and ignite exploding barrels (if launched; they just drop unharmed when released). [[Trite]]s, [[tick]]s, and [[cherub]]s are also highly vulnerable to the weapon and will die once released from its grasp. While it has unlimited ammo, the gun will overheat and cut off the beam after a few seconds.
  
One of the most effective tricks with the weapon is that short of a [[Hell knight (Doom 3)|Hell knight]], any enemy which launches a fireball is immediately killed if hit by its own projectile, making it easy to kill legions of [[Imp (Doom 3)|imps]] and other lesser enemies without firing a single bullet. It is also easy to intercept and then toss fireballs on other enemies, though since it can only hold one fireball at a time and takes a short period to recharge, groups of enemies can quickly overwhelm the player.
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One of the most effective tricks with the weapon is that short of a [[Hell knight (Doom 3)|Hell knight]], any enemy which launches a fireball is immediately killed if hit by its own projectile, making it easy to kill [[Imp (Doom 3)|imps]] and other lesser enemies without firing a single bullet. It is also easy to intercept and then toss fireballs on other enemies, although some enemies are slightly tougher and can resist projectiles from lesser demons.
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As the levitator can only hold one fireball at a time and takes a short period to recharge, groups of enemies can quickly overwhelm the player.
  
 
* Clip size: limited use of beam
 
* Clip size: limited use of beam
 
* Reloading: approx. 0.5 seconds recharge time
 
* Reloading: approx. 0.5 seconds recharge time
 
* Ammo: infinite
 
* Ammo: infinite
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* Damage: Varies
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** 150 (Imp fireball)
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** 200 (Cacodemon fireball)
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** 250 (Hell knight)
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** 300 (Vulgar)
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** 400 (Maledict's meteor)
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==Bugs==
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While it is possible to catch [[Mancubus (Doom 3)|mancubus]] fireballs, they are ineffective if fired back, as they tend to shoot off at a wild, unpredictable angle. It is not obvious that this is an intended behavior, as there is no special case for mancubus projectiles in the weapon's code that should make them behave in this manner.
  
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
The grabber bears a close resemblance to the [[combine:Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator|gravity gun]] of the {{wp|Half-Life 2|''Half-Life 2'' games}} and [[combine:Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device|portal gun]] from {{wp|Portal (video game)|Portal}}, as these can also be used to pick up objects such as physics props or ammunition, though only the grabber and gravity gun can launch them across a distance. Unlike the gravity gun, the grabber will automatically drop the object after a few seconds, and the grabber does not "force pull" objects to the player if they are out of reach. It also works similarly to {{wp|BioShock}}'s [[w:c:bioshock:Telekinesis|Telekinesis Plasmid]].
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*The grabber bears a close resemblance to the [[combine:Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator|gravity gun]] of the {{wp|Half-Life 2|''Half-Life 2'' games}} and [[combine:Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device|portal gun]] from ''{{wp|Portal (video game)|Portal}}'', as these can also be used to pick up objects such as physics props or ammunition, though only the grabber and gravity gun can launch them across a distance. Unlike the gravity gun, the grabber will automatically drop the object after a few seconds, and the grabber does not "force pull" objects to the player if they are out of reach. It also works similarly to ''{{wp|BioShock}}'''s [[w:c:bioshock:Telekinesis|Telekinesis Plasmid]].
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* The vulgar's plasma ball attack is normally weaker than the imp's fireball, but it does more damage after it has been caught by a grabber.  
  
 
{{Doom 3 weapons}}
 
{{Doom 3 weapons}}
 
[[Category:Resurrection of Evil]]
 
[[Category:Resurrection of Evil]]

Revision as of 23:34, 17 August 2019

Player with the grabber weapon.

The Ionized Plasma Levitator, better known as the grabber, is a weapon only found in Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil and The Lost Mission which has the ability to hold certain objects above the ground for a limited time and can throw them with great force. The grabber can grab fireballs thrown by enemies, reach otherwise inaccessible pickups, destroy certain enemies and remove obstacles in the player's path. It is first acquired early in the game, and remains a solid performer throughout.

"The Ionized Plasma Levitator creates an electromagnetically charged plasma stream that can move objects over short distances."
PDA description

Tactical analysis

The HUD icon.

A portable tractor beam, it does not use ammo but can only fire when locked onto a target. It can pick up objects to either move them or throw them at enemies, and it can grab enemy fireballs (even revenants’ rockets) from the air and toss them back at enemies. The beam will also disintegrate Forgotten Ones and ignite exploding barrels (if launched; they just drop unharmed when released). Trites, ticks, and cherubs are also highly vulnerable to the weapon and will die once released from its grasp. While it has unlimited ammo, the gun will overheat and cut off the beam after a few seconds.

One of the most effective tricks with the weapon is that short of a Hell knight, any enemy which launches a fireball is immediately killed if hit by its own projectile, making it easy to kill imps and other lesser enemies without firing a single bullet. It is also easy to intercept and then toss fireballs on other enemies, although some enemies are slightly tougher and can resist projectiles from lesser demons.

As the levitator can only hold one fireball at a time and takes a short period to recharge, groups of enemies can quickly overwhelm the player.

  • Clip size: limited use of beam
  • Reloading: approx. 0.5 seconds recharge time
  • Ammo: infinite
  • Damage: Varies
    • 150 (Imp fireball)
    • 200 (Cacodemon fireball)
    • 250 (Hell knight)
    • 300 (Vulgar)
    • 400 (Maledict's meteor)

Bugs

While it is possible to catch mancubus fireballs, they are ineffective if fired back, as they tend to shoot off at a wild, unpredictable angle. It is not obvious that this is an intended behavior, as there is no special case for mancubus projectiles in the weapon's code that should make them behave in this manner.

Trivia

  • The grabber bears a close resemblance to the gravity gun of the Half-Life 2 games and portal gun from Portal, as these can also be used to pick up objects such as physics props or ammunition, though only the grabber and gravity gun can launch them across a distance. Unlike the gravity gun, the grabber will automatically drop the object after a few seconds, and the grabber does not "force pull" objects to the player if they are out of reach. It also works similarly to BioShock's Telekinesis Plasmid.
  • The vulgar's plasma ball attack is normally weaker than the imp's fireball, but it does more damage after it has been caught by a grabber.