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[Puppyguard]

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(0)
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)

[10ebbor10]

Xylophagic External Digestive System

By toning down the aggressive stomach acids, but maintaining their powerful effects, we create a digestive system that can easily and efficiently digest grains, grasses and even wood. Food is carefully macerated into tiny little bits, then stored in one of several stomach in combination with many enzymes that break down the hard to digest cellulose and other materials. It can be kept in those stomach for long periods until it needs to be recovered. At command, the digestive system can regurgitate the now edible goop, allowing it to be consumed by even carnivorous members of the hive.

I'm going with this one again.

Quote from: Votes
Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(0)
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Xylophagic External Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10

[Strongpoint]

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(1) Strongpoint
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Xylophagic External Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10

I believe that spears give both short and long term benefits. It starts a road toward crafting useful stuff. It gives a use for wood\workers free time. It benefits any future designs that can throw stuff. It is good against their zerg rush with slaves. It will have immediate impact on all fronts doing some damage to enemy forces before we go melee.

[Devastator]

Another possibility could be trying for improved speed.  That could lead towards some kind of cavalry unit, and cut down on casulties during ranged phases and skirmishing.  Either improving the anerobic metabolite paths and methods, or increased twitch musculature.  Probably more useful for the soldiers, as the workers won't need it when not fighting.

[Strongpoint]

Another possibility could be trying for improved speed.  That could lead towards some kind of cavalry unit, and cut down on casualties during ranged phases and skirmishing.

Hhhhm, I can see using something like my forager proposal but instead of focusing on night performance optimize them for speed by making them move in long leaps. This will give cavalry, smaller frame for later uses(like fliers) and good hunters for food gathering.

[Devastator]

I don't think it's necessary for hunting, only for fighting.  The hunters already seem quite capable of stripping places bare, and expending more energy to catch meals may be less efficient.

[MonkeyMarkMario]

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(2) Strongpoint, MonkeyMarkMario
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Xylophagic External Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10

We can use them against cavalry charge and take less damage then as well.

[10ebbor10]

Our workers are the size of a dog.

You're not going to stop a horse with a toothpick.

Also, all our enemies, with the exception of slaves are armored. A tiny wooden spear will do nothing against the sort of armor they'll be wearing.

Third, spears will cost wood. WE DO NOT HAVE WOOD RESOURCES

[NUKE9.13]

ebbor, we got chastised the first time for trying to digest wood when we can't digest grains. Yes, we have the experience of the failed project to help us. But I think the minor benefit that eating wood would give us is not worth the added difficulty. We could revise in the functionality later, maybe after we've actually captured a wood-rich region? (Because if we can turn wood (the resource) into even a tiny amount of food (the resource), that would allow us to place so many extra Queens)
If you remove the bit about digesting wood, I'll vote for XEDS.

Throwing spears are a... suboptimal design. First, as has been pointed out, our drones are not designed to throw things. Second, we'd be playing catchup with the League, when we could be focusing on our strengths instead. Third, if it works but requires the Wood resource, we won't see any benefit for many turns.
Fourth, it won't help as much mechanically as you think: it wouldn't be ranged damage- we lack both the visual acuity and throwing power. It would instead fall under the skirmish phase, like their Skirmishers (who throw stuff) do. And we're already dealing damage in the skirmish phase. We don't need help dealing with slaves, we already mow through them like they are blades of grass.

[10ebbor10]

But Xylophagic means wood eating.

I can hardly make a non-wood eating wood eating design, can I.

I mean, I could give it a different name...

[Strongpoint]

Predator
Predator is a new type of drone. It is of the same size as workers, uses same senses and same carapace. All of their six limbs are optimized for running, removing unnecessary weapons and tools. Their main mean to kill an enemy or a prey is an acidic spit similar to one used by spitter drones but working only at point blank range. They have two main roles. Civilian one is to bring meat to warriors (Predators are capable to vomit half-digested food). On the battlefield they fill a role of cavalry and capable to do lightning fast charges against the enemy.

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(1) MonkeyMarkMario
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Xylophagic External Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10
Predator (1) Strongpoint

Lack of nearby wood is a sound argument but I will return to spears later. Now I actually want some kind of cavalry.

[NUKE9.13]

But Xylophagic means wood eating.

Well, you learn something new every day.

In that case, remove the wood-eating and call it something else and I'll vote for... that.

[crazyabe]

Cattle
Cattle is a new type of drone, it is Moderately larger than ordinary workers, it lacks eyes, relying on our telepathy for guidance, It has more of an omnivorous diet, It uses the same Carapace. All six of its legs are optimized for turning. They have the capacity to produce and store "Honey" made from what they have eaten when there is excess food, Honey is meant to be edible for all (Current) Drones.

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(1) MonkeyMarkMario
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Xylophagic External Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10
Predator (1) Strongpoint
Cattle (1) Crazyabe

[10ebbor10]

By toning down the aggressive stomach acids, but maintaining their powerful effects, we create a digestive system that can easily and efficiently digest grains and grasses. Food is carefully macerated into tiny little bits, then stored in one of several stomach in combination with many enzymes that break down the hard to digest cellulose and other materials. It can be kept in those stomach for long periods until it needs to be recovered. At command, the digestive system can regurgitate the now edible goop, allowing it to be consumed by even carnivorous members of the hive.

[kopout]

Game management:
Instead of simply hunting out and denuding the area of all resources we now take a much more measured approach to our hunting and gathering. Although predatory species are deliberately hunted out to remove competition herbivores herds are culled at a smaller scale to insure a future supply.

Wings(0)
Sea spitter(0)
Field fortifications(0)
Throwing spears(1) MonkeyMarkMario
Brain Caste(1) Puppyguard
Forager(0)
Ruminant Digestive System (1) 10ebbor10
Predator (1) Strongpoint
Cattle (1) Crazyabe
Game management (1) kopout