Games - Ion Storm

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	Games - Ion Storm

Ion storms are a ground weather phenomenon in the real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and its expansion pack Firestorm. These storms are devastating to both the local terrain and the various units and structures on the field. They appear at random, and contain power lightning strikes which create interference on radio frequencies. It is unkown what causes Ion Storms but it is belived that the toxic gases emitted from Tiberium have completly changed the Earths ecosystem. This is the most probable theory but no-one knows for certain what causes them this is just a theory which has not been proved yet.

Effects against terrain

Lightning produced in ion storms can deform the terrain on the maps, creating land discrepancies that can prevent players from building on the affected terrain. Lightning strikes from ion storms that hit patches of blue tiberium can also set off a devastating chain reaction explosion in the blue tiberium field. Such chain reactions can damage or even kill units that are caught in blue tiberium during the event. Ion storms also kick up shrapnel that can set fire to trees and other vegetation on the map, hindering the movement of troops.

Effects on GDI

Units

Ion storms create a powerful electromagnetic field, which disable all units capable of flight, so during these storms all GDI ORCA aircraft are grounded until the storm has passed. Those ORCA units unlucky enough to be in the air when ion storms strike are instantly and fatally disabled, and as a result will crash wherever the storm catches them. GDI's Hover MLRS units remain grounded throughout the duration of an ion storm as well. Unlike ORCA aircraft, which must be airborne to fire ordnance, MLRS units are equipped with surface-to-surface missiles and hence may still defend themselves during ion storms. The same flight restrictions also apply to GDI's jump jet infantry, which use rocket packs to fly long distances across maps. Because Jumpjet Infantry are not mechanical units they can still move and shoot during ion storms.

Structures

Because ion storms produce an electromagnetic disturbance GDI radar facilities are rendered useless during an ion storm. Any GDI MRLS unit constructed in a GDI War Factory will become stuck in the factory and will subsequently prevent further armored units from being purchased. An MRLS unit caught on a repair bay will also become stuck on the pad and subsequently prevent other armored units from using the pad. In some cases it may be neccassary to destroy disabled MLRS units and/or sell buildings affected by disabled MLRS units to allow for the construction or repair of other GDI units. ORCA pads that contain ORCA aircraft are useless during Ion Storms, and any ORCA aircraft caught on the pad will be stuck there until the storm passes; additionally, any ORCA unit purchased during the storm that flies in from off the map will be destroyed once it enters the area affected by the ion storm.

An additional threat against GDI structures are direct lightning strikes and shrapnel strikes; each of these will damage GDI structures. Lightning strikes may also set GDI structures on fire, which can further damage the building in question.

Effects on NOD

Units

As with GDI, all NOD aerial units are grounded throughout the storm, and any NOD air units unlucky enough to be in the air when ion storms strike are instantly and fatally disabled, and as a result will crash wherever the storm catches them. Any NOD stealth unit, such as the stealth tank, that takes a direct or near direct hit, or is hit with shrapnel, will also be briefly revealed.

Structures

NOD structures are affected the same way GDI structures are, they can be damaged by lightning strikes, by shrapnel, or by fires touched off by lightning strikes. NOD radar facilities are disabled due to the EM Pulse. One notable difference is that NOD structures hidden by a stealth generator or a Mobile Stealth Generator will be revealed to all players on a map if the structures are struck by lightning and/or shrapnel, or catch fire as a result of lightning strikes or shrapnel.

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