Protectron (Fallout 3)

Protectrons are robots encountered in the Capital Wasteland in 2277.

Background
Many protectrons were commissioned by the U.S. Army before the Great War. They are painted a dark olive drab with a white star on their chest. These mechanized soldiers still wander the wastes, attacking everything from radroaches to Brotherhood Outcasts. Interestingly, the Brotherhood Outcasts use their own protectrons which are painted in red-and-black. The Pitt adds a new variety of protectron called the "factory protectron," which lacks a glass dome but possesses a single ocular lens, and a cage around the combat inhibitor. The top of where the dome would be appears to be made to look like a construction hard-hat and the body has a yellow coloration. Broken Steel adds "Enclave protectrons", which appear to be much newer, with red glass domes and a polished steel-gray finish. A special red-painted protectron appears at the House of Wares in Point Lookout.

Protectrons in various areas have been programmed differently; the protectrons in the Nuka-Cola Factory for example, mention that they are operating under the authority of the Nuka-Cola Corporation as they attack you, with the words "Nuka-Cola!" being dubbed in from an exterior source. Other protectrons have even been supplied with sophisticated personalities, such as Button Gwinnett and Dean Dewey.

A protectron with the basic personality loaded can execute 'sequences', lists of tasks to complete, such as patrolling an area for intruders. Some sequences may have been added by RobCo Industries, while others were written by robotics technicians at the locations where they are used. When not in use, a protectron unit is stored in a base pod, which also charges its battery. The protectron is connected to its base pod via radio uplink, and the pod is in turn linked to a control terminal or computer system.

Specifications
Protectrons have a glass dome that acts as an ocular lens that allows the protectron to scan its surroundings and act accordingly. In this glass dome is a laser emitter that shoots a high-powered laser. This laser is also in both "hands". The body of the protectron can swivel at the waist from side to side with about 90 degrees of freedom, before having to step into a different position.

The protectron comes with a combat inhibitor on its back that when broken will cause the robot to frenzy and attack anything in its surrounding area.

Gameplay atrributes
They have three laser weapons, one in each arm and another in their head. Like most robots in Fallout 3, the protectron has a combat inhibitor on its back. Crippling this part of the robot will cause it to frenzy and start attacking the closest targets indiscriminately.

Protectron
These may be found roaming many parts of the wasteland. The player's first encounter with one may be Deputy Weld outside Megaton, but they will be found in many other places. Protectron carcasses are not uncommon, as robots will frequently attack stronger non-player characters, often with fatal consequences to themselves.

Metro protectron
Metro protectrons are protectrons found in many metro stations that will ask for a metro ticket from the player when activated. The ticket will then be removed from the player's inventory. If the player does not have a ticket in his or her inventory, the protection will turn hostile. When presented a ticket the protectron will remain friendly, walk around the metro station, and attack enemies; such as raiders, feral ghouls, super mutants etc.

Nuka-Cola security
A model of proctectron only found on the Nuka-Cola plant's factory floor, which has its head and hands painted in the distinctive red color and logo of the Nuka-Cola Corporation. Due to their role as guards, they will attack the player on sight. When attacking the player, they may occasionaly shout "Nuka Cola!"

Factory protectron
This common protectron model can be found in the Nuka-Cola plant's storage and mixing vats room, along with a nukalurk. It's in a holding pod, and can be activated by a nearby terminal, at which point it will begin to walk around confused but friendly. They want to show you your office ID. If the player does not have an ID in their inventory, the Protectron will become hostile towards the player. Upon showing the ID, the Protectron will remain friendly towards the player, but will be hostile towards, and attack opponents such a raiders, mirelurks, super mutants, etc.

Maintenance protectron
This protectron only appears during the quest Reilly's Rangers, found in a storage room of the Statesman Hotel's restaurant in a deactivated state. Once the Lone Wanderer's broken through to the roof, Butcher will ask to for its fission battery to be retrieved, so it can be used to repair the broken elevator.

Backup protection unit
A one of a kind named protectron model, which is locked up in a holding pod in the National Archives' Archival Strongroom. The player will encounter it (and be able to activate it) during the last part of the quest Stealing Independence, just before going back up again by elevator. It has the same appearance as Button Gwinnett, most likely because this robot was in standby in case Button Gwinnett broke down. Once activated it will walk around, and remain friendly.

Outcast protectron
This protectron model is patrolling the overpass bridge near Fort Independence in service of the Brotherhood Outcasts. It does not have the blue color of the common protectron, nor the typical Outcast red paint job, but a rusty, brownish color. Once the raider attack begins, it will not help defending. At times it can be found roaming the Wasteland with the Brotherhood Outcasts near Vault 101 as well as the scrapyard.

Notable quotes

 * "Put down your weapons and submit to authority."
 * "Move along, please."
 * "Critters of unusual size detected."
 * "Tickets, please."
 * "Commencing attack on hostile."
 * "Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear."
 * "Hold it right there."
 * "Commencing lawful use of deadly force."

Notable protectrons

 * Button Gwinnett
 * Dean Dewey
 * Deputy Weld
 * Shakes

Appearances
Protectrons appear in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
Protectrons are modeled after Robby the Robot from the 1956 sci-fi movie, Forbidden Planet.

Bugs

 * Protectrons are known to have physics glitches when laying dead in ragdoll mode, specifically when transiting from a cell via doorway into one with a dead protectron in it, or when loading a saved game with a dead protectron in the vicinity. When this happens, they get flung high into the air, or will jiggle as if being electrocuted.
 * Sometimes protectrons are rendered as allies, but will attack on sight. Sometimes the compass will still render the protectron allies, until you kill or knock them down.
 * Even if one or both of a protectron's legs are crippled, they can still run normally.
 * Sometimes a protectron will literally fall out of the sky to be crippled on impact.

Video
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