HECU Laser Tripmine

The Laser Tripmine is a high-tech tripmine used by the HECU in Half-Life and its expansions.

These mines are attached to walls and project a laser beam as high-tech tripwire. If the laser beam is interrupted, the mine detonates in an explosion as powerful as a satchel charge. To place a mine, get close to a wall and aim the crosshair where the mine will be placed. When the mine is placed on the wall, will give off a rising whining sound, signifying the laser warming up. The mine will project a laser in three seconds. Then if an enemy runs past this point they will trigger the laser causing it to explode. Tripmines can also be detonated by shooting them. Laser tripmines have no secondary attack mode.



Tripmines were also a minor plot device when Gordon had to go through an old ordinance storage facility filled with mines. Triggering any of the mines resulted in a huge chain of explosions which also triggered a nuclear warhead located there.

Tripmines seem to be tweaked in a way that no matter how healthy/armored the player is, he will die when the mine is triggered.

In multiplayer, the best places to put tripmines are usually around corners where players cannot spot them in advance. By placing two or more mines at varying heights in the same location, other players won't be able to jump over, or crawl under them. Mines can also be planted on the floor - simply crouch and then aim the crosshair at the ground before pressing the primary attack button. Although enemies are less likely to interrupt lasers projected vertically upwards, the player can use this technique to set up traps in multiplayer. Put the mine in a highly visible place if the player wants to use it vertically. Then put another vertically upwards in a corner or behind a pillar out of plain sight, then if a player shoots at the clearly visible horizontal mine the explosion can trigger the secondary mine that was out of sight, damaging or killing the player.

Trivia

 * This weapon appears in the Deleted Scenes portion of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. However, it cannot be used by the player.