Lightning Rod - Green Energy from Ampeels

Phoenix223

This was inspired by 747snoodles. In his thread, he suggested that the Ampeel could steal energy from vehicles, making it a more serious threat.

See snoodles' original thread: http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/145080/ampeel-idea

My idea is sort of the reverse. What if we could capitalize on the Ampeel's energy for Seabases?

Simple... a lightning rod. It could be placed anywhere, collect energy from nearby Ampeels and store it in an internal powerpack (kinda like the Solar Panels). Plus, they'd be cheaper to build than Thermal Plants, less wasteful than Nuclear, and faster to charge than Bioreactors.

You'll still need a power transmitter to project them over a longer distance. Let's face it... Ampeels aren't always gonna swim near your base; you may need to spread them in a wide area or wherever these electric eels on steroids swim. Nonetheless, they'd be useful as a green energy source in the Koosh or Blood Kelp Zone where Solar Panels aren't ideal and Ampeels reside.

DialBforBiscuit

Because of static wreck placement, creature eggs are the biggest drive for exploration (for me). Anything that draws off of that would be cool. Force me away from comfy safe shallow base to search long and hard for eggs. I like this idea, especially if the lightning rod was built inside the alien containment. 5 ampeels = bioreactor for power generation, and you can stack them easily. Don't think they should beat out solar, thermal, or nuke. Unless they'd need feeding. External ampeels sounds too self destructive. Yeah you have power, but it'll hurt to go outside.

Be even cooler if each species you stockpiled in large aquariums brought base benefits. Ampeels for power, rabbit ray for keeping predators away from base, reefbacks for base integrity. But that's a whole 'nother thing.

DagothUr

Would be ideal if you could "plant" them inside alien containment.