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.

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.

Quotes
The protectron offers a supple and humorous supply of quotes.

"Warning. A dangerous fugitive is on the loose. Do not attempt to apprehend." -While searching for enemies.

"Attention. Fugitive is armed and dangerous." -when searching for enemies.

"Do not be alarmed. Law and order will be restored shortly." -When attacking enemies.

"Violence will not be tolerated." -When attacking an enemy.

"Please clear the area until violence has been restored." -When attacking an enemy.

"Firing weapons." -When attacking an enemy.

"Please take cover until the enemy is eliminated." -When attacking an enemy.

"Hostile detected". -When finding an enemy

"Do not make any more escape attempts, criminal." -When finding a lost enemy.

"Please stand clear. This is a free fire zone." -When attacking enemies.

"Put down your weapons and submit to authority." -When attacking enemies.

"Area secure." -When defeating/losing an enemy.

"Failures de-" -When dying.

"Failure state". -when dying.

"Unable to contin-". -When dying.

Named Protectron robots

 * Deputy Weld
 * Shakes
 * Button Gwinnett
 * Dean Dewey

Varieties

 * Metro Protectron
 * Factory Protectron (The Pitt, Supply Plant)
 * Outcast Protectrons
 * Nuka-Cola Protectron (on display in the entrance of the RobCo Factory)

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 doesn't explode, but 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.

In The Pitt supply plant, a dead protectron can be thrown into the air by just picking it up and landing in the lower area.

Also in The Pitt the Protectron may occasionally get "stuck" in the floor violently seizing and causing a loud ruckus which is quite annoying.