Tractor Beam

Tractor Beam

A Tractor Beam or tractor beam is a type of that can be installed in a weapons mount on spacecraft. They are available for sale to privateers at ship dealers. Gabriel Quentin wrote about tractor beams in GEMINI SECTOR: AN OVERVIEW.

Specifications

Version	Cost	Resale
Privateer	7,500 credits	5,000 credits

Users

An Engine Upgrade 1 may be installed on the stock Tarsus, Orion, Galaxy and Centurion.

Individual Users

• Grayson Burrows (Tarsus)

Images

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Mounted

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Wing Commander Privateer Player's Guide

Tractor Beam

A tractor beam is the key to efficient salvage. Cargo is usually found after a battle, waiting for collection. Items collected are automatically added to your manifest. The energy drain is 4 GJ / second.

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Privateer Playtesters' Guide

ENGINES AND SHIELDS

There are three main functions on the ship that require energy to run: the guns, the afterburners and the shield generators. The tractor beam also requires energy, but is less likely to drain your energy stores quickly. Each engine level provides a discrete amount of energy which is shared by all four functions. Therefore, you need to care-fully balance your weapons loudest and your shield upgrades with your engine level so you will always have sufficient energy resources at your disposal.

MAXIMUM UPGRADE LEVELS FOR PLAYER SHIPS

Possible Ship Upgade Levels	Tarsus	Galaxy	Centurion	Orion
Maximum Engine Upgrade	1	3	3	5
Maximum Shield Upgrade	2	3	3	5

You will begin flying each mission with all shields activated. This uses a sizeable por-tion of your energy resources. Pressing S cycles through all possible shield usage levels, from high to low. (Pressing S with shields off brings them back on at full power.)

POSSIBLE USAGE LEVELS FOR EACH SHIELD UPGRADE

		Steps in Usage Level
Upgrades
	1	Off	Full Shields
	2	Off	Level 1	Full Shields
	3-5	Off	Level 1	Level 2	Full Shields

SHIELD AND ENERGY UPGRADE COMBINATIONS

		Shield Upgrades
		1	2	3	4	5
Engine Upgrades
	1	Good	Not advisable	Doesn't work	Doesn't work	Doesn't work
	2	Ideal	Good	Not advisable	Doesn't work	Doesn't work
	3	Not advisable	Ideal	Good	Not advisable	Doesn't work
	4	Not advisable	Not advisable	Ideal	Good	Not advisable
	5	Not advisable	Not advisable	Not advisable	Ideal	Good

Each Ideal shield and engine combination allows you to fly and fight at nearly all times with all shields activated. With Ideal combinations, it takes about 2.5 seconds for your guns to recharge to full firing power.

For Each Good shield and engine combination, it is advisable to keep your shield usage at level 1 or 2. With Good combinations, it takes about 4 seconds for your guns to recharge to full firing power.

• Ideally, you should keep your shields on Level 1 or 2 at all times. If you turn them off completely and then decide to toggle back through to a different level, your shields will take several seconds to regenerate. During this time you will be vulnerable to all enemy attacks. — "Deetchman"

• If you're a good pilot, you could risk turning off your shields and immediately turning them back on when your enemy is turning away from you. This will give you a tremendous boost of energy for your guns and your afterburners. Pray that your enemy doesn't turn around and shoot at you too soon or you might take serious damage. This strategy is only advisable for the brave pilot. — "Lord Emperor"

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Appearances

• Wing Commander Privateer Player's Guide
• Wing Commander Privateer
• Privateer Playtesters' Guide
• Privateer Righteous Fire

Behind the Screens

Wing Commander Privateer contains graphics overlays for missile launchers, torpedo launchers and tractor beams on two additional outer weapons slots on the Centurion. These slots were removed from the final build of the game.

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  Outer Starboard (cut)

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  Outer Port (cut)

Source Models

• TRACTOR - Tractor Beam
• MRCHGEAR - Galaxy with Equipment
• CLNKGEAR - Tarsus with Equipment
• TUGGEAR - Orion with Equipment
• FIGHTGER - Centurion with Equipment