Rollermine
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| Rollermine | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Faction | |
| Manufacturer |
Combine |
| Type |
Proximity device |
| Technical specifications | |
| Damage |
10 to the player, varies against enemies |
| Ammo type |
Electric discharge |
| Rate of fire |
Fast |
| Range |
Short |
| Usage | |
| Used by | |
| Game information | |
| Entity |
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The Rollermine is an autonomous electrically-charged spherical weapon created by the Combine. Slightly larger than a football, it reacts to enemy movement within a sizable radius and uses electrical shocks to subdue its targets.
Contents
Overview[edit]
Rollermines are used as both offensive and defensive traps by the Combine. As the name implies, they roll towards enemies and electrocute them via close-range electric shocks. Extensively used along the coastal roads, they are deployed from the air by Combine Dropships in groups of two to four. They are also deployed in buildings and structures, taking any intruders by surprise. Upon landing, the mines will remain inert or, if they land on softer terrain like soil or gravel, will burrow themselves into the ground, remaining almost invisible. When an enemy target is detected, the Rollermine will pop out of hiding and roll directly towards its target.
The mines can magnetically cling to a target vehicle and interfere with the steering, forcing the driver to either stop or drive off the road. Besides the damage inflicted by any resulting car wreck, attached Rollermines do not directly injure the occupants of a vehicle. For this reason, Rollermines are usually deployed in tandem with Combine soldiers who simultaneously ambush the stranded individuals. Attached mines can be removed through excessive force, chiefly by using the Gravity Gun; touching them will merely cause electrocution. Rollermines can be destroyed with explosive devices, or alternatively may be picked up with the Gravity Gun and launched out of the way or at enemies as a makeshift weapon. Complete submersion in water, fire, or an explosion also causes them to short-circuit and explode. Additionally, one can elude Rollermines by outrunning them, as they cease chasing once a target is too far away.
Alyx was at one point able to capture and disarm a Rollermine, which she then gave to her "pet" Dog to play with, calling it a ball. Alyx had Dog use the "ball" to play catch with Gordon Freeman so Freeman could practice how to use the Gravity Gun.
In Episode One, Rollermines are stored in large numbers in transparent tubes in the Citadel. Alyx reveals that she can use her Multi-tool to temporarily reprogram a Rollermine's targeting system, making it "friendly". When reprogrammed, Rollermines will emit an orange light instead of their signature blue one and will follow the player slowly, attacking any Combine unit it detects including other Rollermines. Reprogramming Rollermines will destabilize them, however, they will invariably emit red light and throb unstably before exploding a few minutes later.
Related Achievements[edit]
| Half-Life 2 | |
|---|---|
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Two Points (2G) |
| Use Dog's ball to make a basket in the scrapyard. | |
Behind the scenes[edit]
The Rollermine model met in the playable Half-Life 2 leak looked significantly different, bearing some resemblance to a sea mine and was more aggressive, attacking the target constantly, whereas in the retail version when it attacks it has to charge before attacking again.
In the game files of Half-Life: Alyx, all of the Combine soldier units have voice lines for spotting, avoiding, and being stunned by Rollermines which were presumably reprogrammed by Alyx to turn hostile against Combine forces. However, Rollermines don't appear in the game, leaving these lines unused.
Trivia[edit]
Like other Rollermines, Dog's ball will also stick to the Scout Car and shock it if it's still active.
Reprogrammed Rollermines seem to do varying damage to different targets. They can take out Combine Soldiers (50 HP) in two hits, and take out a Combine Sniper (125 HP) in one hit.
In Half-Life 2: Episode One during the scene where the sniper is first seen, even if the player only lets Alyx reprogram one Rollermine, all of the Rollermines in the area will explode once the sniper is killed as if the other Rollermine is reprogrammed.
Dog's Ball[edit]
It is possible to take Dog's ball through Ravenholm to Nova Prospekt, but invisible walls and glitches that have to do with friendly NPCs attacking it make it a very tough feat. If Dog's ball is taken through Ravenholm and through the mines, there will be an invisible wall blocking the way to Shorepoint Base which will prohibit the Rollermine's entry to Shorepoint. However, if launched with the Gravity Gun high enough, it will go over the wall and the player will be able to enter the base and the later chapters. This tactic can be repeated for at least three more invisible walls later on. At the end of Sandtraps, the Rollermine can be placed outside the entrance of Nova Prospekt. When the ceiling crumbles, the player will be blocked, but the Rollermine can still enter regardless of the debris. There are also environmental challenges such as the other Rollermines and water, which will destroy Dog's ball if it is submerged too deeply.
The upside of keeping the ball is that it is easy to kill or knock over Antlion Guards and hostile Antlions, Headcrab Zombies, and individual Headcrabs. It also proves to be a great distraction for Combine soldiers when held with Gravity Gun, and it can be used as a shield or a projectile. It will react to the G-Man's presence outside Shorepoint but will do nothing more than follow him. If one can get Dog's ball to New Little Odessa and place it in front of the Vortigaunt under one of the tables, the Vortigaunt will randomly say all of the responses that a Vortigaunt gives once it has finished charging Gordon's suit.
Gallery[edit]
The Rollermine's original model (in activated position).
Dog getting ready to throw a Rollermine at Gordon.
Combine Soldiers attacked by reprogrammed Rollermines on the Citadel train platform.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
Other[edit]
- Source Particle Benchmark (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)
