A widespread and popular model in RobCo Industries' line of products, the Protectron was designed as an inexpensive work drone, capable of performing a wide variety of tasks such as construction, firefighting, and office duties.[1] Some models were designed for security and have defensive capabilities.[2]
Characteristics[]
A bipedal, ambulatory robot capable of instigating combat, the Protectron has a transparent faceplate with several blinking red lights within. The dome that serves as their head scans surroundings, and two arm appendages serve as both laser and melee weapons. The upper body of a Protectron can swivel to either side and change direction of movement by way of two legs.
Gameplay attributes[]
All Protectrons are constructed with a combat inhibitor mounted on their back that allows them to selectively target opponents. The combat inhibitor can be disabled. When the combat inhibitor is crippled, the robot will go into a frenzy, automatically engaging any nearby targets. Protectrons take reduced damage from shots directed at their head, but damage to the rest of their chassis is taken normally. When a Protectron has lost a limb, such as an arm or leg, its audio system will also sound damaged, as the robot will speak but with some audio garbled.
If both of the Protectron's arms are destroyed, it will initiate a self-destruct sequence. The unit will begin to glow yellow and explode shortly thereafter. Legendary Protectrons also self destruct in this way.
Personalities[]
Each Protectron has a programmable personality, each serving a different role. This can be set to default, fire brigadier, law enforcement, medical responder, construction worker or subway steward,[3] by accessing the terminal connected to the Protectron's charge pod. Using this terminal, personalities can be changed remotely without having to shut down the Protectron.
The personality changes the behavior of the Protectron, what it says as it patrols, and creatures it attacks:
Default: Will be any of the five other personalities that are initialized on them.
Fire Brigadier: Attacks anyone carrying weapons (and certain junk items that are fire hazards) in their inventory.
Law Enforcement: Attacks anyone who un-holsters their weapon and fires a shot.
Construction Worker: Attacks characters not wearing a work helmet (or any helmet such as the army helmet).
Medical Responder: Attacks any hostile creature and anyone who attacks it first. Will not heal anyone but would "resuscitate" them with electrical melee attacks.
Subway stewards: Attacks hostiles and the player character if they do not give it a subway token immediately upon request, or do so by way of reverse-pickpocketing.
Variants[]
Protectron[]
The standard Protectron can use its arm lasers to attack foes from a distance or swat foes away for a substantial amount of damage when up close. If their arms are destroyed, they will initiate their self-destruct sequence and waddle toward their enemies in a last-ditch attempt to take them out. It appears in green, blue, and tan color schemes.
This Protectron model is equipped with an internal "cryo-gun", which it can utilize in battle. Before the war, it was utilized to help suppress fires. Attacking anything near the robot will cause it to become hostile. If the Sole Survivor is equipped with a Molotov cocktail, the Protectron fire brigadier or any Protectron set to fire brigadier personality mode will warn that the item they are holding is possibly a fire hazard and should be disposed of.[4] Found outside the Boston Police rationing site, at Robotics Pioneer Park and inside D.B. Technical High School.
A somewhat stronger and more powerful variant of the original Protectron, this type can utilize dual laser arms in combat and a better melee attack. It can also appear in several different colors.
This type can be distinguished by its yellow hazard color scheme with a light on their heads. In close range combat, it will attack its target with simple punches. If its target is outside of melee range, it will attack with one or two nail guns (similar to the railway rifle), rapidly firing spikes. It can also be spawned with two cargo loading arms that deal a large amount of melee damage. If the Sole Survivor is wearing a hard hat or mining helmet, the Protectron will note how they are wearing proper safety equipment for the location they are in.[5]
Police Protectrons are similar to the utility variants due to the fact that they have reinforced plating over their inner workings. They can be distinguished due to their blue paint job. These Protectrons utilize a stun gun or electric shock in close range combat.
Similar to the Protectron and Protectron watcher, this variant is has the highest HP of any regular Protectron. It can use both dual rapid lasers, and has powerful melee attacks.
Protectron devils are Protectrons created by the Rust Devils. They are usually seen in packs with them or other Protectron devils, but are less powerful than their base-game counterparts.
Protectron scourges are a tougher variant of the Protectron devil, with a stronger melee attack and better laser damage. They are usually seen with Rust Devils or other Protectron scourges.
Doom Protectrons are an even tougher variant of the Protectron devil, with proportionally stronger melee attack and laser damage. As with the other variants, they are usually seen with Rust Devils or other Rust Devil Protectrons.
Protectron basilisks are very high level encounters, with heavily armored chests and legs. They wield a railway rifle in their right arm and a flamer in their short left arm. The right wrist, arm and leg plates are spiked and serrated, causing their melee attacks on targets to leave them bleeding. Their heads are tall, like a spiked crown, with the skull of a human on the lower part. They can be seen accompanying legendary Rust Devils, assaultron gorgons or Mister Handy war machines.
Protectron golems are the strongest of all Protectron variants, with an even deadlier melee attack and even better laser damage. Seen with Rust Devils and accompanying robots.
Unique to the Nuka-World amusement park, five variants include Nukatrons, Nukatron watchers, guardians, defenders, and sentinels. They resemble Nuka-Cola machines with a monitor at the top, sometimes playing a "Park Safety Rules" promotional video complete with audio.
Galactrons are another variant of the Protectron added in Nuka-World in the Galactic Zone. Although marketed as "never-before-seen prototypes", Galactrons are, in reality, customized security Protectrons with a custom white and gold paint job and enhanced laser weapons.
The Galactron technician is a Galactron in the projection booth of the Starlight Interstellar Theater. It will initially be in a charging station until the booth is entered.
Unnamed Protectron sheriffs are not present in Nuka-World, but Protectrons Sheriff Eagle and Sheriff Hawk do appear in Dry Rock Gulch, manning the entrances as tour guides.
There are two Protectrons inside Revere Beach station; one near the cashiers and one in a side room by the tracks.
There are two Protectrons inside Hester's Consumer Robotics; a fire brigadier Protectron and a utility Protectron.
There is a fire brigadier Protectron in the Medical Center metro station, near the subway cashiers booth.
There are two Protectrons in Mass Bay Medical Center. A police Protectron is in a pod by the main entrance on the first floor, and a medic Protectron is in a pod nearby on the second floor, towards the Emergency area.
There are two utility Protectrons in pods at a construction site near a railroad bridge. The bridge is west of Fallon's department store and north of Egret Tours Marina. The construction area is almost due west of Fairline Hill Estates, up a hill across the railroad tracks.
There is a Protectron inside the parking garage in Lexington, near the Super Duper Mart.
There is a Protectron located at the top floor of Corvega assembly plant, near Jared's position. Activating this Protectron often causes Jared to come out and investigate.
The Boston Public Library is entirely manned by Protectrons and will defend the premises if invaded by super mutants.
There are two Protectrons in the Mass Fusion building, a standard Protectron and a Protectron watcher on the first floor to the left.
There are four Protectrons inside Haymarket Mall as well as one more in the parking garage adjacent. A door inside the parking garage leads into the mall. There is a fire brigadier Protectron and a medic Protectron inside pods on the first floor, and two Protectron watchers on the top floor.
There is a Protectron inside Fort Hagen, on the first floor of the building, on the left at the bottom of the stairs. It can be reprogrammed at a nearby terminal.
A utility Protectron can be found in Saugus Ironworks on the room by the catwalks.
Two Protectrons can be found in College Square. One upstairs behind the subway token cashiers desk and one below by the subway tracks. One terminal activates both Protectrons.
Protectron control terminals can be loaded with the Protectron override program holotape which gives additional options when linked with active Protectrons. There are three options: "Disengage Safety Sensors," "Override Alliance Parameters" and "Hijack VIP Escort Protocols." The first option reverts the Protectron to view all entities as hostile, including the Sole Survivor. The second option sets the Protectron to be friendly towards the Sole Survivor and any companion(s), and hostile to their enemies. The third option, which appears when the holotape is loaded into a terminal, sets the Protectron to be a temporary follower. This option will not be present when loaded into the Pip-Boy, only when loaded on the terminal connected to the charging station.
When hacked to follow the Sole Survivor, if the player character moves quickly, Protectrons will waddle towards them faster than normal to catch up.
Hacked Protectrons do not regenerate health over time.
It is possible to encounter a radioactive Protectron. The Sole Survivor will take radiation damage from being in proximity to this Protectron whether it is hostile to the Survivor or not. This radioactivity can sometimes interfere with their ability to hack the Protectron's controlling terminal if the terminal and Protectron are in proximity.
In Robotics Pioneer Park, there are two shacks, one with a leveled deathclaw and one with the four models of Protectron in it, and an Advanced terminal. If the latter is set to defend, they can engage the deathclaw in combat.
If the Sole Survivor is wearing a hard hat or mining helmet while a utility Protectron is active, the Protectron will note how they are wearing proper safety equipment for the location they are in.
The Art of Fallout 3 states that during development, Emil Pagliarulo's input on every robot was to "make it more like Robby the Robot." The protectron's original design went through many iterations before artists settled on a design that has "the vintage character of Robby" and that "captures the quintessential 1950's robot character more than any other."[6]
Protectron fire brigadier in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
Police protectron in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
Utility protectron in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
References[]
↑Fallout 4 loading screens: "The RobCo Protectron was constructed for a multitude of civil service applications, from security to firefighting."
↑Fallout: New Vegas loading screens: "The sturdy Protectron model of robot was created before the great war, and served as a security automaton in both the private and business sectors."
↑Utility Protectron: "Your compliance with hard hat regulations has been noted. Thank you for your cooperation." (Utility Protectron's dialogue)
↑The Art of Fallout 3, Robots p. 45: "Emil's input on every robot was "make it more like Robby the Robot!" and this was the mind-set we had in approaching the various mechanical creatures in the world. The Protectron is an original design that went through many iterations before settling on something that does have the vintage character of Robby, and we think he captures the quintessential 1950's robot character more than any other."
.jpg "FO4 - Protectron (Construction 3).jpg (143 KB)")
