Automaton

An **Automat** (plural: **automats** or **automata**), **automaton**, or **robot** is a self-operating humanoid machine that appears in *Steelrising*.

Automata include Aegis, bodyguard of Queen Marie Antoinette, as well as the forces that comprise the army of King Louis XVI. The robot army is deployed by Louis during the French Revolution, while Marie orders Aegis to oppose them.

Aegis will meet a variety of different automatons in the game as her opponents. Like Aegis, these automatons are designed to fight and to defend themselves. On her way to find Eugène de Vaucanson, Aegis often will meet many lesser enemies, but also stronger mini bosses and Titans.

## List of Automatons

### Prototypes

*-- Due to the need to produce a large number of Automat soldiers quickly, Prototypes have not received the same treatment as their more sophisticated counterparts. These machines with a varied appearance and unpredictable behaviour are flawed due to a rushed design, inferior materials, and short testing periods. They frequently malfunction.*

* Dextral Prototype - *The Dextral Prototype holds its weapon in its right hand. When it is deployed with one or more Sinistral Prototypes, it can confuse its opponents.*
* Sinistral Prototype - *The Sinistral Prototype holds its weapon in its left hand. When it is deployed with one or more Dextral Prototypes, it can sow confusion in the enemy ranks.*
* Heavy Prototype - *The most powerful Automat in its class, the Heavy Prototype is capable of wielding supremely devastating weapons.*

### Guards

*-- The simple and sturdy Guards were once tasked with protecting homes and public spaces. They have been modified for military use and are confined to limited and predefined areas. Because of their relatively basic design, they sometimes malfunction during combat.*

* Lancer - *The most basic Automat in the Guard class, the Lancer is armed with a long spear, which it thrusts at any enemy that comes within range. It tries to take advantage of its weapon's length to keep its enemies at a distance and avoid hand-to-hand combat.*
* Musketeer - *In addition to its spear, which it uses for thrust attacks, the Musketeer is equipped with an arm-mounted piece of light artillery. It uses this four-pound cannon to shoot projectiles when far from its target. The cooldown time this weapon requires is a significant disadvantage.*
* Hoplite *- The main asset of the Hoplite is not its spear but rather its shield, which it uses as both a bulwark and and blunt force weapon. It is less agile than the standard Guards and tries to avoid hand-to-hand combat. After each successful parry, it delivers a powerful counter-attack.*
* Master-at-Arms

### Serpents

*-- Once assigned to botanical and agricultural tasks on the royal estates, these multi-armed Automats were endowed with an astonishing ability to blend into the background from the start. With their unpredictable movements, they have become masters of camouflage and ambushes.*

* Stalker - *Armed with two fearsome scimitars, the Stalker delivers sharp blows that an unarmoured opponent is unlikely to survive. Its alchemical breath, once adapted for gardening, accompanies these attacks with incredibly damaging effects.*
* Pruner *- With its deadly sharp blades, the Pruner's triple cutters deliver targeted attacks to vital parts of the body. Its most destructive move is a vertical strike from the bottom up. In addition, the clippers on its right arm channel and deliver alchemical attacks to devastating effect.*
* Harvester

### Felines

*-- When they were still innocent leisure automatons, mechanical Felines were the playthings of aristocratic children. Their jumping, attacking, and dodging--depending on the species that inspired their design--have been improved to meet the needs of combat. These quick and agile machines are designed to hunt in packs and try to surprise their prey and grab it by the throat. This strategy makes up for their relative structural fragility.*

* Light Jaguar *- The lightest Automat in its class, the Jaguar mimics the behaviour of an authentic wildcat. It stays at a distance from the target, circling around and observing its prey's behaviour. It waits to attack at the right moment. Unlike other machines in its class, its only weapons are its claws and sharpened steel fangs.*
* Tiger Grenadier - *Armed with explosive substances, the Tiger Grenadier has instructions to self-destruct on contact with the enemy. After setting its charges, it leaps onto its prey and holds on tight until the device detonates. Dodging would seem to be the only way to escape this lethal attack. It is also best to avoid any sudden moves that could cause an accidental explosion.*
* Lion Gunner

### Musicians

*-- Automats designed purely for entertainment, Musicians are the most complex machines ever designed in Eugène de Vaucanson's workshop. Their wide range of behaviours and extreme mobility gave them pride of place in the Royal Mechanical Army. Their instruments have been converted for military use, and they now form a corps of fearsome fighters with sprightly moves that are hard to predict.*

* Trumpeter - *The Trumpeter is sturdier than others in its class and wields a modified instrument that delivers deadly alchemical blasts. However, it is also vulnerable to certain alchemical attacks itself.*
* Violinist - *The Violinist delivers slashing attacks with its fiddle and bow. The organ that serves as its body produces alchemical effects that can be unleashed on its enemies at will. Despite its strengths, it is also vulnerable to certain alchemical attacks.*
* Bassoonist

### Acolytes

*-- Originally designed for use by the high clergy to celebrate mass and provide protection for church officials, Acolytes have undergone substantial modifications. Their censers are now used as flails.*

* Assault Acolyte *- The ultimate shock Automat, the Assault Acolyte is the most basic machine of its class. As its censers are not equipped with extendable chains, it smashes them together in order to crush its target. When conditions permit, it swings the censers rapidly, delivering extremely violent blows.*
* Frost Acolyte - *With chains that can be extended or shortened on command, the Frost Acolyte inflicts damage over a very wide range. Its censers produce icy emissions that spread throughout its entire structure. It can then destroy its opponents with just a touch. Its torso houses a volley gun that can release a powerful blast without warning.*
* Flame Acolyte

### Cooks

*-- Before being armed and made part of the clockwork army, the Cooks served in the kitchen of the Grand Commun, responsible for preparing royal meals. Their abdomens, once designed to accommodate various domestic tasks, now deliver a variety of deadly short-range attacks.*

* Ice Squire *- Once limited to food storage, the Ice Squire now wields extreme cold in combat. Its arsenal consists of a block of ice that it uses like a sledgehammer and a pistol loaded with Frost projectiles. However, it can only use its weapons effectively if it keeps its abdominal ice chest tightly closed.*
* Butcher - *Once used to cut meat, the Butcher has undergone some gruesome modifications. For example, its sharpening wheel now has a powerful electrical current along its cutting edge. Not only does this greatly increase the damage produced by the blade, but it also allows the Automat to increase the frequency of its attacks. The flaw in its design is that this sharpening process makes it vulnerable to enemy attacks from time to time.*
* Master Chef

### Hunters

*-- Created specifically to serve the royal army, Hunters are aggressive Automats of war. Inspired by birds of prey, they have wings and talons that are used to strike, pierce, and slash at the enemy. They are also remarkably mobile.*

* Falcon *- The Falcon carries an imposing broadsword blade under its torso which it uses for thrust attacks. When it strikes its target, this attack causes irreparable damage.*
* Phoenix - *The Phoenix is equipped with a four-pound cannon mounted under its torso. This weapon delivers powerful explosive cannonballs at high speed. If the tide of the fight turns against it, this machine can also burst into flames, throw itself at its prey and explode on contact.*
* Gargoyle

### Labourers

*-- These mechanical workers and craftsmen were designed to work on the great royal construction sites. Improved and then put into military service, they now form His Majesty's Engineer Corps. Despite their lack of mobility, they are no longer restricted to their original functions and are now well-suited to close-quarters combat.*

* Forger *- The military duties of the Forger are no different from its original role. It is still used to manufacture weapons and Automat parts. However, recent modifications allow it to fight off potential enemies and defend its production tools.*
* Lumberer
* Miner

### Rams

*-- Inspired my medieval military engineering, Rams are used in sieges. The only difference between these tall, slow, yet relentless bipeds is in how they are armed.*

* Lightning Ram - *Based on the electrostatic properties described by Charles François de Cisternay du Fay, the Lightning Ram can harness bolts of lightning for offensive purposes.*
* Statuary Ram - *Partly made of gold and marble, the Statuary Ram carries a heavy Greek column, which it wields like a gigantic club. Its considerable weight gives it extraordinary strength and stability.*
* Ballista Ram

### Arachnids

*-- Arachnid Automats are exceptionally stable thanks to their eight limbs. They were used by members of high society to send and receive mail and other small items. Recent improvements have made them stronger and faster, and they are now used for a variety of purposes by the Royal Mechanical Army.*

* Courier - *Couriers have kept their original function of transporting items. They supply the royal troops with the ammunition and goods they need to function properly.*
* Watchmaker
* Gunner

### Mini bosses

* Unstable Ballista Ram
* Unstable Butcher
* Unstable Falcon
* Unstable Forger
* Unstable Frost Acolyte
* Unstable Gargoyle
* Unstable Lancer
* Unstable Lumberer
* Unstable Lightning Ram
* Unstable Scout
* Unstable Statuary Ram

### Titans

* The Bishop of the Cité
* The Centaur
* The Executioner
* The Selenite of the Louvre
* The Treasurer of Les Invalides
* The Royal Orpheus
* The Iron Queen
* The Alchemist of Luxembourg

## Images

Dextral PrototypeSinistral PrototypeHeavy PrototypeLancerMusketeerHopliteStalkerPrunerLight JaguarTiger GrenadierTrumpeterViolinistAssault AcolyteFrost AcolyteIce SquireButcherFalconPhoenixForgerLightning RamStatuary RamCourier