tank constructor

I was speaking to my comrade and fellow lobpot-swamp-creature skuggtheother about the glory and misery that is artillery and trench warfare in the lobpot. We aren't the most clever, but you all can help us. Imagine taking a minotaur, copy-paste to a new unit, and swap one cannon out with a construction beam. No other changes. We have the idea this would make trench warfare better, not worse. Yes/no?

(1) reclaim under fire
(2) aggressive build-pushing
(3) terraform-flattening under fire
(4) superunit escorting
(5) TAAAAAANKS

One thing I have observed is that late game lobpot heavily favors things that don't die to lucky merlin volleys. Or if they stop moving for 5 seconds in sight of impalers. I don't want to give away too many top-secret clever strategic thoughts or anything, but small things are a bit short lived, late in the lobpot.

Would need to be all terrain, then it's basically older funnelweb without the supershield. Which I personally think would be a good unit.

quote: Would need to be all terrain

Would it? I had really been thinking minotaur (or cyclops) mobility. No climbing cliffs, no ninja hiding on the backside of spikes, no building cannons in crazy places, but the potential to cover ground and exploit opportunities under fire.

quote: Would it be more or less expensive?

Well, in the crude thought experiment I had going, it would be exactly like a minotaur with one cannon barrel swapped. I like that in several ways. For one, choosing which to build is a decision about a single variable. For another, it seemed appealing that the minotaur and this other beast could run around together, if desired, without any extra micro overhead.

I suppose the real truth is that it comes down to balance. Losing half the firepower is a big deal, but I don't doubt there exist niches it would be worth it. Are there un-fun ways this could be used, spammy things?

I could see them used as a meat-wall around a friendly paladin. Seemed OK, given their weaknesses (i.e. glaives would eat them). They could perhaps do raiding where they set up a cluster of turrets inside enemy territory. Meh? A lot of reclaim under fire. Generally running around doings no other construction unit would dare attempt.

quote: yeah spider movetype is needed, in latestage pot terrapoc vehs just don't path due to all the craters.

Well, I've seen plenty of tanks around, and a tank that can fix minor terrain issues in combat would only help. I am specifically not interested in a new porc-dweller.

quote: This niche might already be filled by funnel or convict.

Funnels are big, expensive, slow, attention-attracting, and not a unit that one takes risks with. Convicts do well against some threats, but that mostly seems to be an early game prank. A liko is particularly good at removing them. I want something that rampages around, takes chances, shoots back, and generally contributes to a dynamic frontline.