Protectron (Fallout 3)

Protectron is a pre-war robot type, shaped per the classic Robbie the Robot model. Their primary function seems to be protection, their secondary programming is very modular and they can do many things from being greeters, to ticket-takers and bartenders, to even functioning as celebrity/historical figure impersonators. They were created by the RobCo corporation.

Many Protectrons in various areas have been programmed differently; the Protectrons within the Nuka-Cola Factory, for example, mention that they are operating under the authority of Nuka-Cola 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 the one guarding The National Archives, but these are the exception rather than the rule.

Many Protectron robots were commissioned by the U.S. Army before the Great War. They are painted a dark olive drab with the Army's white star on their chest. The Lone Wanderer will encounter these mechanized soldiers still wandering the wastes, attacking everything from Radroaches to Brotherhood Outcasts. Interestingly, you will also see the Brotherhood Outcasts using their own Protectrons, which have a Orange-and-Black-flecked paint job.


 * The Protectrons could also be Enclave robots sent to just harass the Wastelanders.(Then the Enclave would maybe offer "protection" to the wastelanders.) The reason behind this is in a Random encounter a Scavenger will be running away from a Protectron and when you kill the Protectron and talk to the scavenger he will say "Don't you dare take that Enclave tech it's mine!" So once you take the Energy cells he will promptly become hostile to the PC. Though different robot types could be used in this encounter.

Combat Statistics
Protectrons are one of the weaker robots in Fallout 3, but they can pose a threat to the player, especially at lower levels or if encountered in groups. The Protectron is armed with a trio of laser weapons - one in each hand, and one mounted in its head as well. All three are roughly as powerful as a AEP7 Laser Pistol, and it can only use one of its lasers at a time, changing up only when the Protectron needs to shoot over or around obstacles. Protectrons aren't particularly great shots, but they are reasonable enough to threaten enemies from afar. Protectrons move at a very slow rate and can be out run or even out walked with ease. Most Protectrons are programed to protect "something" so if one is found there is usually a group of raiders to follow or an important building in the area.

Protectrons are much more durable than Raiders, but they are still weakly armored for robots; they lose battles to many indigenous wasteland critters - especially Yao Guai, Giant Radscorpions, and Deathclaws, which can destroy them in only 2-3 hits. They are also rather vulnerable to standard gunfire; they generally go down in only a few bursts from rapid-fire weapons like the 10mm Submachine gun or Assault Rifle, and are vulnerable to higher-caliber hardware as well, including the AER9 Laser Rifle, though it isn't hard to take one down even with the Hunting Rifle.

Most Grenades will instantly cripple, if not flat-out destroy a Protectron, making these a good way to deal with them. If fighting Protectrons, the best advice is to deal with them quickly and not to stay at medium-range; though their weapons are hardly the scariest thing to be on the recieving end of, sustained fire from their weapons can cause a fair bit of damage. Because of their slow turning speed it is quite easy to circle around them and attack with a close combat weapon.

A Pulse Grenade will kill a Protectron instantly.

Protectrons drop Energy Cells when destroyed. They may also drop Scrap Metal and/or Fission Batteries.

If shot with a Combat Shotgun in the direct center of its hull, the robots will fall down and die in 1 shot.

Appearances
Protectron robots appear only in Fallout 3.

Tips
One common mistake when fighting Protectrons is to aim at the small glowing bulb on top of their heads when trying to score a head shot. This is a small target, and it's easy to miss and hit nothing but air. In actuality, the robot's "head" consists of the entire metal structure on top of their torso, including the large metal "neck/jaw" in front. This is a large target that's fairly easy to hit, so aim at the center of the metal "head" for best results. However, if you are trying to destroy a Protectron that is friendly or simply not attacking, then an easy way to destroy it would be to stand right in front of it and repeatedly fire into it's head without a pause. The Protectron for some reason won't even begin to attack; rather it will stand there and speak untill you either stop for any reason (it will attack if given time) or destroy it. Alternativley, you can target the combat inhibitor in it's back, let it go crazy, and let other NPCs kill it off for you, though they may turn on you later.

Protectrons seem to have a weakness to the Power Fist, Flamer, and the Shishkebab. The removal of the combat inhibitor on a Protectron's back (ie. shooting it off) will cause the robot to frenzy, attacking friend and foe alike. Also a Plasma Rifle, Laser Rifle or any energy weapon will easily kill it. The Protectron inside Metro Central won't attack you once you activate it if you have a metro ticket. - There are several of these in different stations in rooms usually close to the Entrance/exit. Once activated they will check the player for a Metro Ticket, and if you have one, it will remain non-hostile to the player.

Another similar situation is the unit in Super Duper Mart. There should be an Employee ID on top of the computer next to it that it will scan for, and will then wander off to attack the raiders. Yet another in the Old Olney Sewer, with a Uitility Worker I.D. clutched in the hand of a skeleton, although... this Protectron won't last very long. Specifically, activating the unit will cause a Deathclaw to saunter into the room.

Protectrons are RIDICULOUSLY easy to kill once you get near them, as they turn extremely slowly. Simply stay behind them and club them with a nail board or something similar. You dont need to waste ammo on them. You can even kill them unarmed if you dont have a weapon.

Known Protectron robots
Deputy Weld

Shakes

Button Gwinnett

Metro Protectron

Dean Dewey

Factory Protectron (The Pitt)

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 it happens, they get flung high into the air.

Another Bug, is when you kill a Protectron by shooting its head, but it doesnt explode, it will never stop rolling on the floor. Even if you pick it up and put it on the flat side, it just rolls over again

In the RobCo Facility the robots can spawn with their combat inhibator floating in the air.