Alien Ruins

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	Last updated for version 0.19.14.0 Last mentioned in changelog 1.1.18.0 The current game version is 1.4.5.0 Stub Notes: Add images.

The Alien Ruins are vast, underwater complexes that the player can encounter in Barotrauma. They are most commonly found embedded into rocks and ice underwater, sometimes spawning as mission locations in Salvaging an Artifact missions. Exploring the Alien Ruins will often yield one or more Alien Artifacts, exotic alien materials or even powerful Alien Weaponry.

Description

Alien Ruins are characterised by their sturdy walls, massive rooms, and the absence of ladders or stairs in vertical passages. However, many doors and corridors connecting the rooms are slightly smaller in size than a regular human, implying whoever built them is smaller then humans.

Missions

There are 3 types of Missions which can take place in Alien Ruins.

• Salvaging an Artifact, where the player has to find the Vault, then bring the Artifact from it onto the submarine.
• Scan Ruin, where the player has to scan 3 spots in the ruins using provided Ruin Scanners, then bring the scanners back onto the submarine.
• Clear Ruin, where the player has to eliminate all Fractal Guardians and destroy all Guardian Pods in the ruins.

Hazards

Exploring Alien Ruins is dangerous, they are a filled with collosal menacing rooms connected by many claustrophobic and confusing corridors full of dangers and traps acting as obstacles which players must work around or defeat if they wish to explore the ruins to their full extent.

Creatures

Alien Ruins are often inhabited by Fractal Guardians as well as Swarm Feeders and Husks, which can be a considerable threat to an unprepared player. Proper weaponry and medical supplies, including Calyxanide or Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics are recommended when exploring a ruin.

Traps and Contraptions

Alien Terminal
Alien Terminals are used to control various installations and many doors in the ruins. They require one of the minor artifacts inserted into them in order to be operable,

Guardian Pod
Guardian Pods provide a secure place for wounded Fractal Guardians to retreat to, and heal. They can be destroyed using any weapon, but preferably using the Alien Terminal next to them.

Ruin Vent
Ruin Vents can spawn Swarm Feeders in great numbers when the player is nearby.

Gravity Sphere
Gravity Spheres attract to itself any character within 10 meters of it and will slowly crush them if they are within 5 meters. They can be turned on or off using the Alien Terminal they are connected to.

Motion Sensor
Alien Motion Sensors are the trigger for some of the traps in Alien Ruins. When the player moves within proximity, the sensor detects the movement and sends a signal to the trap its connected to.

Alien Coil
Alien Coils discharge electricity when activated by a signal. They are usually linked to one or more Alien Motion Sensors. Triggering the sensors causes the walls of the room to be electrified, stunning and inflicting heavy burns on unfortunate divers within. Remaining in proximity of motion sensors will cause the coil to emit a constant shock, which could ultimately result in asphyxiation and death of the divers. They can be turned on or off using the Alien Terminal they are connected to.

Button puzzle
This obstacle features two sets of doors locked by a simple puzzle and a treasure room behind them. The puzzle is composed of three Alien Buttons in a line, and two sets of three doors. Each button will toggle the state of different doors. All three doors in a single set must be opened in order to pass through. Notably, the third door of the top set is not connected, and therefore will never open, meaning it's only possible to pass through the lower set of doors.

Loot

Alien Ruins are the best location to gather sizable amounts of rare alien crafting materials and unidentified genetic materials. These are the main incentives for players to explore ruins they come across.

Artifacts

Main article: Artifacts

During some Salvage Missions they can be found in an Artifact Holder, and have a 5% chance to spawn in the treasure room outside of missions. It's advisable to bring a Artifact Transport Case for the artifact, to make it's transportation much easier. They can be deconstructed to gain a good amount of alien crafting materials.

There are 5 types of artifacts:

• Faraday Alien Artifact which grant 3 Fulgurium Chunks upon deconstruction.
• Nasonov Alien Artifact which grant 3 Physicorium Bars upon deconstruction.
• Psychosis Alien Artifact which grant 3 Dementonite Clusters upon deconstruction.
• Sky Alien Artifact which grant 3 Oxygenite Shards upon deconstruction.
• Thermal Alien Artifact which grant 3 Incendium Crystals upon deconstruction.

Minor Artifacts

They can be deconstructed to gain some alien crafting materials, or used to operate Alien Terminals.

• The Alien Trinket which grant a single Oxygenite Shard upon deconstruction.
• The Alien Curio which grant a single Sulphurite Shard upon deconstruction.
• The Alien Ornament which grant a single Physicorium Bar upon deconstruction. Rather uniquely, it gives off the same proximity sound effect as an alien artifact.

Other

• The Alien Power Cell is used to power Alien Weapons.
• The Alien Pistol is a ranged weapon that deals Burn Damage and inflicts Psychosis.
• The Ancient Weapon is a ranged weapon that deals Burn Damage and high damage to structures.
• The Alien Flare is a bright and long burning Flare item.
• The Unidentified Genetic Materials which can found in Incubation Bubbles and then identified in a Research Station.

Trivia

• As of Version 0.8.2.0, items taken from the ruins in Campaign mode will now be present in the next round. Previously, these items were deleted after ending the round.
• Before Thunder Under the Ice update was released, players were unable to cut open Alien Doors with a Plasma Cutter and had to use a Crowbar to force the doors open instead.
• Contrary to popular belief, the relic holder does not negate the various disruptive effects caused by Alien Artifacts. This is most easily seen as Faraday Alien Artifacts still emit EMP shocks (and corresponding visual effects) when they are in relic holders. In addition, Thermal Alien Artifacts have been observed to set themselves ablaze while still remaining inside relic holders in ruins.

Media

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  A typical Alien Ruin.

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  A Fractal Guardian healing inside of a Guardian Pod after a fight.

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  A player killing a group of Swarm Feeders using the Prototype Steam Cannon.

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  A player swimming into the treasure room after solving the button puzzle

• A very unfortunate diver getting crushed by the Gravitation Sphere while at the same time getting sprayed by a Fractal Guardian

  A very unfortunate diver getting crushed by the Gravitation Sphere while at the same time getting sprayed by a Fractal Guardian