Small Digger
The Small Digger is an inexpensive vehicle used by the Rock Raiders for mining. It is a small four-wheeled vehicle equipped with two chainsaw blades for cutting rock at a moderate speed, as well as a cargo hold that can dump its contents. It can carry a single driver, and has an upward-pointing magnet located behind where the driver sits. Although the vehicle was not featured in its own set, it does appear in the set 4980 Tunnel Transport, where its magnet allows it to be carried by the titular Tunnel Transport.
In the PC game
In the Windows PC version of LEGO Rock Raiders, the Small Digger is classified as a small vehicle, and requires only one Energy Crystal for power. A Rock Raider must be trained as a driver to use a Small Digger.
The Small Digger can drill through all types of drillable rock at a faster speed than a Rock Raider, though nowhere near as quickly as the Chrome Crusher can. It can drill all types of Drillable Rock. Without upgrades, it takes two seconds to drill Dirt, four seconds to drill Loose Rock, 180 seconds (3 minutes) to drill Hard Rock, and eight seconds to drill Seams. It moves at a decent speed of 2.0 blocks per second. Players will most likely use a Small Digger early on in most longer levels, and may even keep it through the entire level if there isn't much Hard Rock.
Despite the vehicle having a cargo hold, it can't carry anything in-game.
Appearances
- In 7. Drilling With Vehicles, a Small Digger is behind the first wall the player must drill, so they can learn how it will drill faster than a Rock Raider.
- In Explosive Action, a Small Digger is trapped in an exposed cavern next to, but inaccessible from, the cavern containing the Tool Store. The objective of this level is for the player to use dynamite to blast through Hard Rock to reach the vehicle, and drive it back to Rock Raiders HQ.
- In Water Lot Of Fun, a Small Digger can be found in the winding cavern hidden on the other side of the river, near the destroyed Rock Raiders HQ.
- In Run The Gauntlet, a Small Digger can be found in the second hidden cavern, along with a Small Transport Truck. The player can use the Small Digger to move the Rock Raiders quickly through the tunnels without having to exit to drill walls.
Upgrades
There are three upgrades available for the Small Digger:
- Drill: Costs 10 pieces of Ore
This adds a third chainsaw to the vehicle. It now only takes one second to drill Dirt, two seconds to drill Loose Rock, 150 seconds (2.5 minutes) to drill Hard Rock, and four seconds to drill Seams. - Engine: Costs 10 pieces of Ore
Doubles the vehicle's route speed from 2 blocks per second to 4 blocks per second. - Scanner: Costs 5 pieces of Ore
Installs a radar aboard the vehicle, with a scanning radius of 4 blocks.
Dependency
The Small Digger costs 1 Energy Crystal and requires the following for teleportation:
- Rock Raider
- Tool Store [UP1]
- Teleport Pad [UP1]
- Power Station [UP1]
- Support Station
In the PlayStation game
The Small Digger is one of the most commonly found vehicles in the PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders, appearing in 10 levels (and their Two-Player counterparts) in the PAL version of the game, and 4 in the NTSC version. It can usually be found near the start of any levels its in, and can't ever be teleported down. Unlike in the PC game, it can't drill through Hard Rock, essentially making it a faster Rock Raider with an extra health bar.
Appearances
PAL
- Easy Pickings (two appear in the two-player version)
- Rescue Mission (two appear in the two-player version[verify])
- Ore-some! (two appear in the two-player version[verify])
- Blown Away (two appear in the two-player version[verify])
- Trapped! (two appear in the two-player version)
- Express Delivery
- Smoke on the Water
- Ring of Fire (two appear in the two-player version[verify])
- The Maze
- Transport Crisis
NTSC
In other media
To do: Did it even appear in anything else?
