Automatons

Automatons
Automaton is a term used to describe a machine that automatically follows a preprogramed set of instructions with little or no human contol. There are many sorts of Automatons encountered by Booker and Elizabeth in the city of Columbia. Some havee been built for military purposes, others provide services to the civilians of Columbia or perform some sort of duty such as piloting a gondola.

Automaton Construction and Technology
Columbia’s automatons are a prime example of the strange technological mix in the city. The automatons are constructed of wood, iron, some steel and what appears to be brass in a few instances. The automatons use clockwork mechanisms for at least part of their ability to move, but some possess an artificial intelligence that is at least equal to, if not superior to the most cutting edge modern systems being developed today. How Columbia is able to create these sophisticated systems without the advanced materials normally required is never explained, but the possibility exists they use ADAM in their construction in some fashion. Some automatons are powered by Shock Jockey such as the Automatic Stallion. The power source for others is unknown.

Automatons and Vigors
All automatons are immune to Bucking Bronco and Murder of Crows for various reasons. Charge does damage as normal to military automatons if you are able to target them. Though getting close to a Motorized Patriot may not be the best idea. Devil's Kiss also causes damage as it normally would.

Most automatons can be affected by Possession though the effect may be different. For vending machines like the Dollar Bill, Possession will cause the machine to drop a number of coins that the player can pick up. The one time an Admission Automaton can possessed, it causes the machine to think Booker is a VIP and allows him through a gate he could not get past otherwise. When military Automatons are possessed it causes them to change sides temporarily and attack Booker’s enemies. How long Possession’s effects last depends on the type automaton. Automatons do not destroy themselves when the Vigor wears off.

Return to Sender is useful to help deal with most military automatons as it can absorb the incoming fire and then throw it back at them to inflict damage.

The Shock Jockey is very a good tool to use against automatons as it can stun them and any damage done while they are stunned is doubled. Some automatons recover faster than others though.

Another useful Vigor is Undertow as a normal cast will damage and stun most military automatons and leave them vulnerable. The charged attack does not effect many automatons, but it is capable of grabbing and hauling a Motorized Patriot towards the user.

Admission Automaton
These automatons serve as greeters, guides and security checkpoint. They wear a blue coat with red and white lapels and a straw boater hat. The lower portion of the machine has the same red white and blue paintjob as the Minuteman's Armory. The Admission Automatons only appear at three points in the game, at the entrances to Raffle Square, Fink Manufacturing, and the Good Time Club. While they appear similar to the other Vending Machine Automatons these machines appear to be more sophisticated since they are able to recognized specific individuals and speak without using pre-programed sentences, though they clearly are not sentient. Unlike most other vending automatons the Admission Machine does not play a jingle or drop Silver Eagles when possessed.

Automated Stallion
Created as a mechanical replacement for horses on board Columbia, these automatons are seen at a number of points early in the game performing task that a horse would normally perform. These automatons have been programed pretend to be horses and will throw their heads about. On their back is a Shock Jockey Generator.

Dollar Bill
This vending machine sells supplies such as Salts, Medical Supplies, Ammunition and Lockpicks. The automaton speaks frequently, plays a jingle attempting to attract customers and is dressed as a well to do businessman of the time period.

Gondola Pilots
Some gondolas in Columbia do not run on cables but are free flying craft. These gondolas are piloted by a sophisticated automaton clad in something that looks like a mixture of a ship captain’s uniform and trolley driver with a bushy beard. This automaton is capable of talking to people in simple phrases, but its main purpose is to guide the craft across the city safely. Having an automaton piloting free ranging gondolas also serves as a security measure since it makes the craft difficult, if not impossible, to hijack.

Medical Bag Vending Machine
This automaton only appears once in the main game inside a building near the Plaza of Zeal and is summoned from an alternate version of Columbia by Elizabeth. This vending machine is malfunctioning with occasional sparks flying out of it and neither moves or speaks. The automaton is dressed like a doctor and the product it is supposed to sell are large Medical Kits, several of which are spilling out of the bottom and can be picked up and used.

Mendelssohn Kinematic Couture
This is a rare automaton that only appears in only two locations. The first is inside the headquarters of the Fraternal Order of the Raven and the second in Shantytown. Both automatons are out of order when they are found. These machines were intended to sell Gear to the public of Columbia and change their Gear loadout. The automaton is dressed as a Hebrew Tailor complete with a kippah. Despite being out of order, or perhaps because of it, a Gear can be found in front of these machines.

Minuteman's Armory
This vending machine sells upgrades for the weapons used in Columbia, including those used by the Vox Populi. The base of the machine uses the same red white and blue paint scheme as the Admission Machines while the automaton itself is wearing a stylized version of the uniform of an American Revolutionary Soldier including a tricorn hat. The automaton speaks in a deeper voice than other vending machines of the same type and the jingle it plays is a marching song played on a drum.

Salts Machine
A very simple automaton that supplies Salt to those that use of it. The main body of the machine depicts a stylized gentleman in an oversized top hat and blue suit holding a funnel which dispenses the Salt. After use the machine will shut down for a short time while it replenishes its Salt supply.

Veni! Vidi! Vigor!
This vending machine sells Vigors and Vigor Upgrades to the citizens of Columbia. The automaton is dressed in similar to that of a stage magician of the time period and holds a wand in one hand. The jingle played by this automaton is a tune on a pipe organ.

George Washington Automaton
In several locations in Columbia such as Battleship Bay and the entrance to the Hall of Heroes there are large automatons that resemble George Washington. Intended for propaganda purposes these machines regularly spout pro Columbia and allow people to have their photograph taken with “George Washington”. These automatons appear very similar to the Motorized Patriot but are much less capable and are not intended for combat. Visually, the main difference between the two automatons is that Motorized Patriot has a large set of gears on its back while this automaton does not.

Barrage Automaton
Barrage Automatons are large turrets which fire a barrage of rockets. They are mounted both on buildings and on the underside vehicles like Security Zeppelins and Gunships. Unlike the Basic Security Automatons, they are rarely seen around Columbia.

Comstock Gate Security Automaton
Only the voice of the automaton that controls the security gate to Comstock House is heard and we never see the automaton itself. While clearly one of the most advanced automatons in Columbia, it is still no that bright. This is seen when it mistakes Elizabeth for Lady Comstock despite knowing that Lady Comstock is dead. The automaton can see using a camera that is focused on the gate and receives information from the fingerprint reader on the gate itself only opening the gate for those people who have authorized finger prints.

Gun Automaton
These automatons act as immobile machine gun platforms capable of attacking targets on their own. The main body of the automaton resembles a person wearing a World War I era Brodie helmet operating a machine gun that looks similar to the Maxim Gun. While not particularly smart or accurate these machines are still a threat and should be dealt with carefully. Gun Automatons provide security at numerous locations around the city and can be found on Gunships as well.

Gunship Pilot
The Gunship Pilot Automaton is the military version of the Gondola Pilot Automaton and as the name suggests, they pilot Columbia’s many gunships around the city. It is difficult to get a good look at this automaton as it is locked in the gunship’s pilot house and can only be seen through a heavily armored window, but it seems the only real difference from the civilian version is that these have a more militaristic uniform.

Mosquito
These are more or less a flying version of the Gun Automaton. Supported by three armored balloons and a large rotary fan, these machines float above their targets and fire down on them with a heavy machine gun mounted on underside of the gondola. Mosquitos are fairly uncommon and found most often in Finkton.

Motorized Patriot
The Motorized Patriot is a very large automaton built to resemble George Washington, though there are versions that look like Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and Zachary Hale Comstock to be seen. Motorized Patriots are one of the more powerful enemies encountered and it attacks relentlessly with a Pepper-Mill Gatling gun while letting loose a stream off a stream of pro-Columbia propaganda. The Patriot is relatively fast and can withstand a large amount of damage before being disabled. The only weak point of these automatons is the large gears on its back and hitting them causes extra damage.

Rocket Automaton
A variant of the Gun Automaton, these machines attack by firing rockets instead of a machine gun and wear a stylized US Civil War era cap rather than a helmet. While the rockets these automaton’s fire can do more damage than the Gun Automaton’s machine gun, the rockets are not all that fast and can be avoided.

Automatic Gentleman
Little is known about this type of automaton outside of the concept art for it. What is known is that they were supposed to be servants to Columbia’s rich. In this role they would perform menial tasks, wait and foot and on their owners and possibly even care for children. It was these automatons that provided inspiration for the Motorized Patriots.

Oil Automaton
It is possible that this small oil spewing automaton was created more as something to help develop the look and feel for Columbia, rather than something that would actually appear in game.