If you've seen a certain event in Archives, you probably wondered what some of the defunct bots were like or what parts they might have used. I've often wondered this myself. Some of these bots have readable descriptions, but many do not except for a couple of words. So I ran with it and wrote some completely non-canon Archives lore for these bots as well as a couple of made-up bots. I originally posted a few of these in discord but I figured it would be a good idea to put them all in one place. I used REXpaint for the art, usually with ingame art as a base, and aoemica's Cog-Minder site as a basis for each item's stats window.
I started off with the G-11 Fodder. This one does have a description but I wrote one from an earlier timeframe where some of them are still in use. I applied this principle to the other old bots as well--in most cases MC is still in the process of phasing them out. An "Archived" schematic is one that could be pulled from the Archives before they got trashed, and a rating 0 item is something that Cogmind would never reasonably want to use except as food for an FRU.
Analysis: "G-11 Fodder"
The first of the G-series grunts, this model is no longer in production and the relevant schematics will be moved to the Archives. The G-11 was intended to be fast and cheap to produce and deploy as a deterrent for unarmed Derelicts. As a result it has a low-integrity core, low-coverage legs and its weapon is a repurposed low-power fabricator laser. Existing units still number in the hundreds and are being either scrapped or deployed to the caves where they are sometimes useful as diversions. Many Derelicts still rely on obsolete signal interpreters or seismic detectors, so they are unable to tell the difference between these bots and more capable models.
Here's a made-up bot and a story that many players can probably relate to.
Analysis: "G-30 Squaddie"
The G-30 Squaddie was a modest upgrade over the original grunt model with the main differences being a slightly more durable core and a standard combat-rated laser. But with the added firepower came added heat that accumulated faster than the core's internal dissipators could deal with it during a fight. Only a few hundred Squaddies were produced before the G-34 design superseded it, providing a dedicated heat sink and a more durable engine and legs. The core is identical so all surviving units were simply converted to Mercenaries, except possibly for [The Unkillable Grunt].
Record: "The Unkillable Grunt"
Derelicts have a way of embellishing stories if not fabricating them entirely. However, one recent legend has some evidence from my own aggregated combat logs to back it up. Out of the many grunts sent to disputed cave regions, one specific [G-30 Squaddie] consistently made it back to its assigned outpost forty-four times. G-30-H7-NX2's log data indicates frequent damage to its legs and engine as well as regular overheating issues consistent with other G-30 units. Its core was never damaged in any of these battles and all damaged parts were repaired or replaced whenever it returned to the outpost. My own combat simulations suggest that this level of performance is virtually impossible but the data is there to prove it, as well as intercepted Derelict transmissions referring to this specific bot as "The Chad Grunt," "Why Won't You F%^*ing Die," and most frequently "The Unkillable Grunt." Unfortunately G-30-H7-NX2 did not return from its 45th combat encounter, but a few Derelicts seem to believe that it was rewired and given a full refit (including a cooling system) as a tribute to its combat prowess.
Analysis: "L-11 Stabber"
The first dedicated melee robot, this duelist derivative of the grunt class was armed with a small but fast dagger. Best suited for corner ambushes as its lack of core coverage made open attacks impractical. A few minor modifications included switching the dagger for a spear and the addition of a low-powered transmission jammer to prevent victims from warning others. Current duelists are focused on reliability in open combat, but ambush traps ensure that they (along with brawlers) enjoy the benefits of sneak attacks from time to time.
For some reason I wanted to do subdweller parts so I imagined a new class of sub as well. This is one I would hate to see in the game though. Imagine getting ambushed with EM weapons on -10.
Cyclist Record: "Sublurker"
Megaunit here with a sighting of a funny-looking Subdweller in Recycling, of all places. And this is one Sub who really doesn't want to be seen. I missed him at first because he has some kind of cloaking device instead of the more common Sub optics, and he uses an EM weapon that I haven't seen before. He tagged a grunt with a couple of shots and rolled out of sight, letting the slightly corrupted grunt lose track of him instead of going for the kill. This may be further evidence that Subs aren't as violent as they seem. My observations ended there because he spotted me and I had to avoid being corrupted so that I could get this entered into the database.
A swarmer that crawls instead of flying? That can hide? In the right circumstances it could still be nasty.
Analysis: "S-02 Bug"
One of my first robot designs was a small hexapod walker made in mass quantities to spread out and survey the surface. When I began producing combat bots, I revisited this design and added an assault rifle and light armor. The Bug's armored shell employs adaptive camouflage while the robot is dormant, enabling it to hide from distant hostiles until it wakes up. The shell also compensates for the core's inherent weakness to explosive damage. Bug squads were commonly used as patrols or stationed to guard an open area, but flying swarmers and sentries have replaced them in these roles. All remaining units have been recalled to garrisons to supplement security positions. So-called "garrison divers" who challenge a seemingly lone sentry might be surprised when three or four nearby Bugs reveal themselves.
Launchers never went out of style. You'd have to be pretty desperate to use that hover though.
Analysis: "D-43 Bomber"
Sometimes tactical situations require explosive solutions. The demolisher class was conceived to enable rapid pacification of large Derelict gatherings in the caves. The D-43 model was armed with a grenade launcher but lacked many of the features that would be standard for future models: no shock absorption system outside of core resistance, a basic targeting computer instead of one optimized for launchers, and regular airjets instead of combat hover. The initial version of the Bomber was actually equipped with uparmored hover units, but these produced too much heat and offered too little support. Although the components needed improvement, the overall concept was vindicated by the success of demolishers in large-scale battles, and Derelicts were quick to hack the schematic for their own [Martyr] designs. Bombers became priority targets whenever they were deployed and none are known to exist today.
Analysis: "H-44 Whirlwind"
This was the first hunter to enter regular service and does not have the Fly drone interface of the newer models. The Whirlwind's tracking capabilities are on par with those of the Commando, so the lack of the drone is rarely an issue. This model's most distinctive feature is an antiquated anti-materiel rifle chosen for its ability to penetrate walls and machinery. The rifle is quite powerful but also slow to operate. I decided to give future hunters multiple weapons to enable more efficient volleys and some degree of redundancy if one weapon is destroyed. A few Whirlwinds still see service in low-threat cave regions where they utilize other combat robots as spotters.
I'll probably do more of these over time. Feel free to add your own!
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Topic: Fanlore and Art for Older Bots and Fictional Parts (spoilers) (Read 1237 times)