Robobrain

Robobrains or brain bots are multi-purpose robots whose memory and programs are stored inside an organic or partially organic brain contained in its dome shell atop the machine. Robobrains were created before the Great War by General Atomics International for the U.S. military. They are considered superior to most robots, as their human brains allow them a wider range of responses and functions than other robots. Their hands are suited to use most tools and weapons usable by humans.

Robobrains were going to be the next wave in warfare but their costs made it slow to implement. They mostly use human brains taken from "volunteers". Many of these subjects were criminally insane, so they are not entirely mentally stable, despite complete reprogramming. Thanks to pre-war medical technology (biomed gel to be specific), the brains are kept alive even 200 years after the Great War.

Although it appears as if Robobrains have minds of their own, they cannot control their actions, and most (in Fallout 3 anyway) seem to have grown to dislike what they were programmed for, but at the same time can do nothing to stop themselves from carrying out their programmed orders. This is hinted at by their battlecries of (but not limited to) "Please don't take this personally," "They could have programed me to love, to forgive, but nnnoooo," and "When this is all over, I hope we can still be friends."

Robobrains in the Capital Wasteland have a noticeably feminine personality, in both voice tone and speech, however this could be a result of their reprogramming. A special, brainless Robobrain called Masterbrain can be found in the Vault-Tec Headquarters in DC. There are also non hostile, essential (Immortal) Robobrains in Vault 112.

West Coast
Robobrains in California and neighbouring States do not posess integrated weapon systems inside their frame. Rather, their flexible arms and organic processors were tailored to use regular firearms (such as rifles) in combat, something they are able to do with disturbing efficency. Most pre-War robobrains (such as those in the Glow) carry sniper rifles and assault rifles, although units with City-Killer combat shotguns were also sighted.

East Coast
Though not expressly intended for combat, Robobrains are substantially more durable, accurate, and dangerous than the more commonly-encountered Protectron robot. Armed with a pair of integral laser weapons roughly equal in power to a Laser Pistol, and capable of firing extremely quickly and accurately, the Robobrain is actually a moderate threat if hostile ones are encountered, though Robobrains are more easy to damage due to a vulnerability to head shots. They are quite durable, but nowhere near as much as a Mr. Gutsy or Sentry Bot.

Most of the Robobrain's threat comes from its accuracy, which is considerable even at a distance, in no small part due to the Robobrain's abilities to actively target you with its laser weapons. Though a Robobrain in combat will appear to be flailing randomly about, it is, in fact, actively aiming its laser weapons towards its intended target, letting fly with laser blasts with surprising accuracy as well. As the player gets closer, the Robobrain (rather ironically) shows some difficulty in hitting closer targets, so getting up-close and personal with Robobrains is often the way to go.

On the back of every RoboBrain is a Combat Inhibitor. If it is crippled, the RoboBrain will frenzy, attacking everything indiscriminately.

One thing to note is that Robobrains possess some kind of sonic or telepathic projection abilities, like that of the Mesmetron. This attack doesn't cause much damage, but if it manages to hit, it instantly cripples your head (dealing 1000 damage to the body part) and gives you the Concussion status effect, resulting in blurred vision, hindered accuracy, and -4 base perception. This attack is used to discourage melee and close-range combatants from getting too close, as that is where the Robobrain is weakest. Stay moving, and be ready to pump your head full of Stimpak goodness at a moment's notice.

Robobrains, being mostly robotic in nature, are vulnerable to Pulse Grenades and Pulse Mines. If destroyed, they always leave Energy Cells (presumably which act as either a power source for their weaponry or themselves), and usually drop either Scrap Metal, Fission Batteries, or both.

Sierra Army Depot Robobrain
The Brain Bot in Sierra Army Depot is a partially complete one of these, who can be completed by the Chosen One with one of four different brains depending on his/her science skill (from worst to best): the Abnormal Brain, Chimpanzee Brain, Human Brain (90%), and Cybernetic Brain (121%).

The brains have varying levels of competence. The abnormal brain is the worst, unable to obey any commands. The chimpanzee brain can leave and rejoin the party on your command, like other NPCs (except Miria and Davin). The human brain gives the Brain Bot mediocre gunfighting skills. If you implant the cybernetic brain in the brain bot, the AI Skynet downloads itself onto this brain. This is the only version of Brain Bot which can level up, and is a skilled rifle and SMG fighter, with full self-repair algorithms.

General Barnaky
After general Simon Barnaky was abducted by the Calculator's robots, his brain was put into a humanoid brain bot that served as the cybernetic protector of the Calculator and the game's final enemy (alongside several of the Calculators humanoid robots) before the confrontation with the Calculator itself at the end of the game.

Barnaky's new form was about the same size as a Super Mutant, and equipped with a left arm cannon that was a combination of machine gun and missile launcher, as well as a large claw on its right arm for melee combat. It had good armor (being a robot) and a few hundred hit points, and was a tougher-than-average opponent, although not nearly as powerful as, say, the Enclave's Frank Horrigan.

Appearances
Brain Bots appear in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and Fallout Tactics.

Trivia

 * Herbert "Daring" Dashwood has a bit of a fascination with the Robobrain robot, and has often wondered what goes into making one. He mentions that he likes their "sexy voice". He also was exposed to its mind-blast once, and wrote later in his journals that "his head hurt for nearly a week afterwards."

Gallery
 Image:Maroboaa se.gif|Fallout in-game model Image:FO3 Robobrain.jpg|Fallout 3 screenshot Image:FO3 Brain Bot concept.jpg|Fallout 3 concept art Image:Barnaky_Bot_FoT.jpg|Humanoid robobrain in Fallout Tactics