Recon Patrol Vehicle
From Duke Nukem Wiki
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The Recon Patrol Vehicle (commonly abbreviated to RPV or called the Recon Car) is a relatively rare enemy in Duke Nukem 3D. It, like all Pig Cop-related enemies, does not appear in any level of the second episode Lunar Apocalypse. It is first encountered in the second level of L.A. Meltdown, Red Light District.
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[edit] Description
The Recon Patrol Vehicle is a quick and agile reconnaissance flying vehicle, formerly owned by the LAPD but now in the hands of the Pig Cops. Armed with twin laser blasters and minimal armor, the RPV cannot take much damage, but its manoeuvrability easily makes up for it. It can effortlessly dodge projectile weapons (such as rockets), making it very difficult to hit with anything powerful enough to do it serious damage.
Its main use is for patrolling and scouting outdoor areas. It has a set flight plan, and will protect the area in which it flies by firing upon intruders with its twin laser blasters. It is often to be found flying around city streets a few metres above them, although it may be assigned to other locations as well. It flies high in the air to allow the sturdy underside of the vehicle to take shots from below, thereby protecting the exposed pilot.
The RPV is equipped with a jettison device which automatically ejects the pilot (a Pig Cop) when it is destroyed and spiralling to the ground. This makes it two enemies in one, and all the more dangerous for it.
[edit] Appearance
The Recon Patrol Vehicle is a sleek and angular flying vehicle, large enough for one occupant (the pilot). It is grey, with a rounded nose. It has a chaingun on either side of its nose, which fire lasers. The underside of the nose has a shark's mouth and eyes painted on it in red. Towards the back, it has two small tail fins on the top, and two larger wings on the sides, at the ends of which appears to be rockets or ballast tanks. On the underside of the vehicle the acronym "LARD" is written in yellow. At the back are manoeuvring thrusters.
The pilot is a Pig Cop, who sits in an open cockpit in the middle of the vehicle. Its head and bulky arms jut outside the cockpit.
[edit] Combat analysis
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The Recon Patrol Vehicle is armed with two laser blasters, which fire as quickly as those of other laser blaster-wielding enemies.
It is very manoeuvrable, and can easily evade incoming projectile weapons such as rockets. This means that projectile weapons are not recommended for use against this enemy. However, if the player is lucky enough, a single RPG rocket will take it out. When the RPV attacks, it will hover stationary in the air while firing.
Being mechanical in nature, the RPV cannot be shrunk by the Shrink Ray.
When the RPV takes lethal damage, it is not destroyed immediately. Instead, it spirals towards the ground spewing clouds of smoke. Just before crashing and exploding, it will automatically eject its pilot (a regular Pig Cop) safely. This happens regardless of how it takes lethal damage, and it cannot be damaged or destroyed as it falls to the ground.
[edit] Data
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[edit] The Recon Patrol Vehicle in other games
 The RPV in Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown. |
- In Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown, the Recon Patrol Vehicle is a much brighter shade of grey, almost silver.
[edit] Trivia
 Early version. |
 Concept art. |
- The Recon Patrol Vehicle cannot be shrunk by the Shrink Ray.
- While the RPV always flies in a higher position, it behaves as though it has infinite height. That is, an enemy standing in its flight path but at a different height to it can stop it from moving).
- This is a sure-fire way to get it to stop moving. However, it will begin attacking the enemy instead.
- The RESPAWN flag doesn't work for the RPV. Because of this, an RPV in Red Light District that was originally intended to spawn once Duke enters the area with the Blue Access Card doesn't.
- When attacking, the RPV will not evade incoming projectiles, which makes it a good time to use an RPG against it.
- The RPV will eject its pilot just before it hits the ground, regardless of its height above the ground when it was destroyed. If it was flying high in the air when destroyed, it won't eject its pilot until the very end of its lengthy plummet.
- The RPV seems to constantly become brighter as development continues. An early version of the RPV shows it a very dark grey, the Duke Nukem 3D version has it as grey, and the Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown port has it as nearly silver.
[edit] See also
