Robo-scorpion

The robo-scorpion is a robot found in Big MT in 2281.

Background
A robo-scorpion is a specialized security robot produced by the Big MT research company to serve as robotic guardians for the Big Mountain Research and Development Center. As expected from their name, robo-scorpions take the form of a scorpion and are painted with a yellow body, two red pincers, and a red tail; connective parts are green. The original robo-scorpion was created before the Great War by Dr. Mobius and his team in the X-42 robo-warfare facility in Big MT. Prototypes became popular security measures at the Big Mountain Research and Development Center equipped 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 to ensure component destruction and ward off reverse engineering. 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 to create automated tanks for the United States Armed Forces for use against communist China. The entire robot from stinger to pincers is forged from Saturnite and is fitted with atomic laser, but is still susceptible to electromagnetic pulse discharges. Despite several 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". According to him "every scientist needs an army" and he drew inspiration from the radscorpions that wandered into the crater of Big MT. The radscorpions had survived when nothing else had, making them perfect candidates for improvement. He set to work improving upon the original design adding energy weapons, computer data drainers, optical cameras for remote surveillance, and audio systems to act as bull horns; he added the suffix "b" onto his new creations and retained all other 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.

The Think Tank eventually came to see the Robo-Scorpions as evil minions that Mobius was utilizing in an attempt to steal their intellect and stupefy them as a result of his bio-gel negligence and insanity. The group came to rely on O's findings that they drained intelligence, due to lack of actual experimentation and inability to "comprehend Mobius' Robo-Schematics", though the reality was that their self-detonation made him unable to study them. Due to this lack of evidence, some did have their doubts on their intellect-draining abilities, seeing them more as nuisances to annoy or irritate them.

Characteristics
Robo-scorpions are very fast and are normally found in groups of 2-4. They are 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, 4, 5, and 6, and come in 'standard', pincer, blaster, and bomber sub-variants, as well as different sizes relative to their Mark. Standard robo-scorpions with models between 1 and 5 can also appear with a 'b' suffix, which indicates a 'buffed' version (except in the case of the Mk. 1b, which is actually weaker than the standard Mk. 1).

Their appearance in the game depends on the player level and importance of the location in which they appear. Robo-scorpions below Mk 3 do not naturally appear in the DLC.

Pincer series
The fastest robo-scorpions. They can only use their pincers and use melee quickly.

Blaster series
These shoot a long-distance electric blue beam from their tail with an average rate of fire and very high damage.

Bomber series
They have the ability to become invisible due to the Stealth Boy integrated in them.

X-42 giant robo-scorpion
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's also armored with experimental Saturnite armor and EMP shielding giving it a large DT.

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.

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!"nvdlc03gen attack 00015ed9 1.ogg
 * "Go my minion, sting them in the name of all that is Mobius."nvdlc03gen attack 00015eda 1.ogg
 * "X-42, attack! In the name of Mobius!"nvdlc03gen attack 00015ee0 1.ogg
 * "Stop that, you'll damage the hull!"nvdlc03gen hit 00015e7b 1.ogg
 * "Destroy this one, I'll make more!" nvdlc03gen hit 00015e7d 1.ogg

Appearances
Robo-scorpions appear only in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes

 * The robo-scorpion is based on the scorpitron of Wasteland, the 1980s game which is considered to be Fallout's predecessor.

Bugs

 * Some roboscorpions may continue to quote Mobius if the player completes Old World Blues without killing him.
 * 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.