Herr_Garrett on 28/12/2010 at 08:51
I mean the "cameras" in MA. Because, apart from having an external power source, they do not seem to be dependent on anything else. No guy sitting in a room in front of TVs, no recording device, nothing. Plus, they can control the turrets all by themselves. I also have noticed that their "stare" changes, not just the colour of those little lamps.
What the hell are they?
Azaran on 28/12/2010 at 09:01
Quote Posted by Herr_Garrett
I mean the "cameras" in MA. Because, apart from having an external power source, they do not seem to be dependent on anything else. No guy sitting in a room in front of TVs, no recording device, nothing. Plus, they can control the turrets all by themselves. I also have noticed that their "stare" changes, not just the colour of those little lamps.
What the hell are they?
Yeah, and how do they know who's an intruder and who's not?
Azaran on 28/12/2010 at 09:17
Actually, something just occurred to me that might explain a lot of this stuff. I think they are part machine, part magical device: the Mechanists, like the Hammers have mages in their ranks, which shows that they have some familiarity with magical forces. Maybe they also have their mages create, or magically consecrate some of components of their machines, or even trap some kind of spirit or elemental into the device. Magical foces might also explain the hammerite watchers in T1 (Cragscleft).
jtr7 on 28/12/2010 at 09:55
Friend Gorrick doesn't seem to know how they work, which is fine considering the unknown portion of Precursor tech present:
"Comparative Power Ingestion Rates of Immobile Security Units
A Concise Study of Watchers and Sentries, by Friend Gorrick
Abstract: For the Sentry, the act of Focusing upon any Foe, or the Casting of Projectiles, large or small, is known to cause said Sentry to swiftly consumeth its Fuel Resources in abundance. Therefore, Sentries, in most instances, have been placed in conjunction with Watchers, whose workings doth require comparatively insignificant fuel resources whilst demonstrating superior capabilities in the detection of trespassers. Whilst this pairing doth seem to create a seamless o'erlap of function and power ingestion, in truth the inherent delay of the Watcher hath been known to compromise the security value of the Sentry. This study then, seeketh to combine the advantages of both Watcher and Sentry, indeed to create a Sentry Innovation which hath the Foe Discrimination abilities of a Watcher, yet consumeth fuel resources of comparatively small quantities.
Summation of Findings: Thus far our efforts have focused on the management of Sentry power ingestion levels. We hath created Sentries that remain functional at all times, without the need for refuelment. However, they must then be fueleth continuously from a power resource external to themselves. Soulforge hast proved to be an ideal research area for testing these Sentries, since power resources there be aplenty. Unhappily we hath made little progress toward a model that functioneth extensively outside such convenient circumstances."
ganac on 28/12/2010 at 22:53
I think it may rely also on the Heisnberg Compensator effect, or Climbing Gloves effect:
mc10407A: The Watcher is ready and operational. Now, to activate the alarm whenever an intruder doth approach.
sg50407B: How does it know the difference between us and an intruder?
mc10407C: To find the answer to that question, thou must attend the Mechanist Seminary, and join our Order. The wisdom of Karras is not for the eyes of the 'common' man.
sg50407D: What about maintenance for all these contraptions?
mc10407E: Thy sheriff did insist that all information for thy security systems be left in the care of Lieutenant Hagen. Instructions are locked in thy 'Secure Records' area.
sg50407F: What 'secure area'?
mc10407G: The sheriff requested us to construct a 'Records Hall' that only he and his lieutenants may view. 'Tis no doubt to keep them from the eyes of incompetents such as thee.
They can have uncanny vision, yet they cannot tilt thier heads or thier eyes to see what is in its own blatant blindspot.
theBlackman on 29/12/2010 at 00:01
Actually, the various "authorized" personnel have a coded radio microchip. Just like the new "pass" credit cards. The "watchers' get a coded signal from all "authorized" personnel.
:ebil:
No chip, low survival rate.
R Soul on 29/12/2010 at 01:30
I like to think that the robots have some kind of soul trapped in them, like the servants.
jtr7 on 29/12/2010 at 02:01
Me too. I find it ultimately creepy and villainous.
ganac on 29/12/2010 at 02:22
Thou'rt not the first to be afeared of them. For their visage is wrought to strike terror into the enemies of Karrasss... or... those who might consider becoming enemies. Thinkest thou thy own soft body of leaky flesh and wheezing gasses is glorious to the eyes of The Builder? Nay! 'Tis thy soul that is the only thing of any worth. So it is with the children of Karras, for they are the blessed and immortal heirs of The Builder, while I and thou are but the paltry tools that forged them.
What a fool.... Karras would be well rid of that one.
Briareos H on 29/12/2010 at 10:33
It's pretty easy to invent a nerdish and non-canon explanation for the sake of preventing disbelief, e.g.:
You can bind parts of a mind to a precursors mask (would require an original soul to sacrifice, making the mechanists as evil as they are portrayed in the game), specifically the functions of recognition and classification. Then they would just have to teach the watchers who's who like you teach to a child, and what you get is some kind of cyborg part machine, part human reasoning tied with magic. This would also explain the time taken to identify with certainty a threat.
well that's what I'd think anyway
