Rock Raider
- This article is about the generic minifigure known as the Rock Raider. For other uses, see Rock Raiders (disambiguation).
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The Rock Raider "Cadet" is the single working unit in the LEGO Rock Raiders video games. They will obey nearly every order given to them and perform most of the actions.
Artificial Intelligence
Unlike other "Real-Time-Strategy" games, Rock Raiders possess artificial intelligence, which means they do not wait on every command from the player to do work, and will often work by their own whims, without instruction. They have a list of priorities that can be set in the Priorities Menu, which ranks tasks from highest directive to least importance. While this intelligence allows for the player to occasionally sit and let the Rock Raiders go to work without having to give them constant instruction, it does have its side-effects. As time passes, Rock Raiders get hungry, and the hungrier they are, the slower and less efficiently they work. The player can manually feed them, or build a powered Support Station that provides food for them. However, they spend a longer time eating at the Support Station, and as soon as they get hungry, they drop whatever they are doing and go to eat (though they will carry materials with them if they have already picked them up). They are also frightened by various Enemies, even Small Spiders, which can inhibit their work. Also, when Rock Raiders are split from the main group and are separated by Walls, Water, or Lava, they become distressed, and do not perform as well, sometimes not obeying certain commands, and ignoring the Priorities list. As soon as that Rock Raider is returned to the main group, or the main group is relocated to that Rock Raider, he will go back to normal.
Performance
Rock Raiders can perform a multitude of tasks, ranging from constructing Buildings to operating Vehicles to utilizing Mining Tools for all the essential operations. Like vehicles and buildings, Rock Raider cadets enter the map by teleporting down from the LMS Explorer. When you select them, you are given a menu with these actions to choose from. The player can also select a square for them to walk to, and/or perform another action. They typically move at 1.1 squares/sec; however, they move at half this speed when walking over Rubble. Players can feed them, tell them to go Collect a Mining Tool, Pick Up or Drop an Item, Enter or Exit a Vehicle, Drill or Blast a Wall, to Shovel some Rubble, to Reinforce a Wall, Repair a Building, Drop a Sonic Blaster, Upgrade themselves, Train Themselves, Build a Building or Power Path or Electric Fence, or Teleport back up to the LMS Explorer. Eye View or Shoulder View can be used to walk around the level using the arrow keys, and to drill walls.
Upgrading Rock Raiders
Rock Raiders can upgrade themselves at the Tool Store to carry more tools. This becomes more necessary later in the game, when Rock Raiders need to be carrying a multitude of Mining Tools and Weapons at a time. Upgrading them also gives the player the ability to name them. A Rock Raider can be upgraded 4 times. To upgrade, they stand by the Tool Store and perform Jumping Jacks for a specific amount of time. It takes 30 seconds to upgrade to the second level, 45 seconds for the third level, and 60 seconds (1 minute) for the fourth level. Rock Raiders that have been upgraded or trained will be present in every following level, so once you upgrade and name your team, you can keep it for the rest of the game. (However, there is a possible glitch that occasionally swaps old cadets out with new recruits if the player teleports down lots of Rock Raiders).
Training Rock Raiders
Main article: Training Rock Raiders
Rock Raiders can also train themselves at various Buildings, so they can learn how to perform more specialized tasks. This takes much less time than upgrading. Every Rock Raider is capable of learning any of the available skills and professions.
Defending Rock Raider HQ
See also: Defending Rock Raider HQ
One of the most important tasks after mining is Defending Rock Raider HQ against various Threats, using various Weapons and defensive systems, such as using Action Stations, Electric Fences, Reinforced Walls, Power Paths, and other preventative measures. Rock Raiders can be equipped with weapons, but will only use them if Action Stations has been activated (with the exception of the Sonic Blaster, which is dropped manually).
