Launch Clockwork Bee

Version 0.33: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

Launch Clockwork Bee
Level	3
School1	Forgecraft
Source(s)	Handbook of Applied Construction My Sojourn through Swampland
Casting noise	3
Spell noise	0
Power Cap	100
Range	8
Flags	Not self, Target

Constructs a mechanical bee and winds its clockwork mechanisms over several turns before unleashing it against a targeted foe. The bee is swift and powerful, but its clockwork quickly winds down as it attacks, eventually leaving it helpless and unable to move. The caster may repair and rewind a dormant bee by attempting to move into it, at the cost of 1 MP. Spellpower increases the number of attacks the bee may perform before going dormant.

Launch Clockwork Bee is a level 3 Forgecraft spell that creates a fast and powerful-for-its-level mechanical bee after a few turns.

Forgewrights start with this spell in their library.

Useful Info

In order to cast this spell, there must be a hostile target in LOS. After cast, the spell will require 3 extra turns of channeling (4 turns total), during which you must wait and stay still, otherwise the spell is cancelled.

Once the clockwork bee is summoned, it will fixate on the spell's target, or a random target otherwise. If there is no valid target in LOS at the time of completion, the bee will go dormant.

The bee has 3 + power/15 attacks before it goes dormant. It will also go dormant if no hostile targets are available. If dormant, moving into the bee's tile will recharge the bee for the cost of 1 MP, which resets the attack count and summon duration, and heals it by 3-5 HP.

Strategy

This spell works well in corridors, as the bee is durable and heals a little when recharged. However, the channelling mechanic makes it dangerous to cast this spell when enemies are already able to attack you, whether they're in melee or have a ranged attack.

Monster Version

This mostly works like the player version, though monsters don't need the target to be in LOS once the spell is complete.

The following enemies cast Launch Clockwork Bee:

• g Sprozz

History

• In 0.33, this spell was added to the game.