The original robo-scorpion was created before the Great War by Dr. Mobius[1] and his team in the X-42 robo-warfare facility in Big MT, based on scorpions and powered by a fission battery. They were created for security at the Big Mountain Research and Development Center as robotic guardians with a tail-mounted energy bolt blaster, optical systems allowing anyone in the X-42 robo-warfare facility to see through them with monitors, and a self-destruct system which, after their death, causes electrical explosion damage to anyone around. Additionally, their public address systems allow anyone in the X-42 robo-warfare facility to speak through them. According to Mobius, they can form themselves from floor panels along with any other random parts lying around. X-42 giant robo-scorpions, unlike the others, were a project for the US military. Despite 18 prototypes being requested, certain kinks in design and programming prevented them from reaching battlefield deployment and only one functional prototype was completely finished, remaining idle in the X-42 robo-warfare facility.
Sometime after the Great War, Mobius, after hacking his colleagues and altering their personalities, chronometers, and geometers, among other things, was disgusted by his actions against his friends and erased some parts of his own memory to ease his conscience, including the knowledge of his creations. Later, Mobius removed himself to the X-42 robo-warfare facility which he renamed the "Forbidden Zone" and began to "re-create" the robo-scorpion, now based on the radscorpions which occasionally wandered into the Big MT. He added the suffix "b" onto his new creations and retained all features of the pre-War model. He also took the control of the previous models of robo-scorpions and they became his personal army, principally used to constantly distract the Think Tank.
Characteristics
Robo-scorpions are very fast and extremely resistant to most damage. The effect of pulse weapons cause less damage to them compared to other robots. The X-42 giant robo-scorpion is a special model adorned with a Saturnite armor plating, making it virtually impervious to small arms fire and an improved EMP shield. It is also equipped with a powerful tail-atomic laser, with which it draws the required energy from its internal generator, which is capable of causing severe damage and leaving residual radiation of about 30 rads per second for one second, as well as having a blast area of about 3 meters. It also equipped with a self-destruct system like other robo-scorpions but with a small nuclear device, leaving radiation of about 15 rads first and decreasing every second, stopping after five seconds.
Variants
Robo-scorpions appear in Mk. 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 5, 5b, and come in stinger, blaster, and bomber variants, as well as different sizes relative to their Mark. Their appearance in the game depends on the player level and importance of the location in which they appear.
Pincer series
The fastest robo-scorpions. They can only use their pincers and use melee quickly.
Encountered in the Forbidden Zone, the X-42 giant robo-scorpion is a unique robo-scorpion and Dr. Mobius' ultimate guardian. It is armed with a powerful atomic laser capable of causing severe damage and radiation damage of about 30 rads per second for one second as well as having a blast radius of about that of a pulse grenade.
It sometimes fires at you while you are behind cover, and you will still absorb the reduced amount of radiation, about 2~15 rad per second.
All robo-scorpions can be disabled with the Robotics Expert perk, including the X-42 giant robo-scorpion. However, the X-42 giant robo-scorpion will restart itself after a set amount of time has passed, a unique feature compared to all other robots. You can exploit the latter for unlimited xp by deactivating the X-42 giant robo-scorpion again and staying hidden when it reactivates.
Robo-scorpions are normally found in groups of 2-4.
Mobius stops speaking through them after you complete Old World Blues.
Even if you team up with the Think Tank and Mobius after completing the Old World Blues quest, robo-scorpions are still hostile to you.
The legs of a giant robo-scorpion, much larger than the X-42 can be seen poking out of the ground next to the Waste disintegration platform. Later, you learn through terminals and Mobius' declarations that once a bigger version of the X-42 giant robo-scorpion became frenzied and left the Forbidden Zone and started consuming a lot of energy, so Mobius had to disable, and dispose of it.
The X-42 giant robo-scorpion explodes upon death in a similar manner to how Gabe explodes should he be killed in A Brain's Best Friend. The explosion leaves radiation around and lowers at the same rate of a Fat Man.
As seen in the trailer, X-42 giant robo-scorpion was to appear in Higgs village, but that encounter was removed in the final release for some reason.
The X-42 giant robo-scorpion is the second largest enemy the Courier comes across without using console commands.
Bugs
Sometimes when encountering the X-42 giant robo-scorpion, it will not make hostile contact with the player, making the fight a whole lot easier.
Xbox 360 Some roboscorpions may continue to quote Mobius if the player completes Old World Blues without killing him.
Notable quotes
It should be noted that quotes are from the robo-scorpions, but are transmitted to the Courier by Mobius through the robo-scorpions' public address systems connected to the X-42 robo-warfare facility.
"Robo-scorpion... attack!"
"Go my minion, sting them in the name of all that is Mobius."
The robo-scorpion is based on the scorpitron of Wasteland, the 1980s game which is considered to be Fallout's predecessor.
Gallery
Pre-release image of Old World Blues, showing robo-scorpions.
Robo-scorpion self-destruct system
The X-42 giant robo-scorpion
Robo-scorpion concept art.
Remains of a giant robo-scorpion in Old World Blues.
References
↑One robo-scorpion appears in the Big MT's snow globe and snow globes were manufactured before the Great War. Also, tests on some X-42 giant robo-scorpions prototype was performed before the Great War as can be seen on the terminals of the X-42 robo-warfare facility, but despite 18 prototypes being requested, only one functional prototype exists. In addition, when you take the audio sample - robo-scorpion, a message says "This holotape contains an audio sample from Mobius' giant robo-scorpion".
Some roboscorpions may continue to quote Mobius if the player completes Old World Blues without killing him.
