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[varkarrus]

Dwarves and the Flying Race would be able to build these using mechanics.

Different types attack in different ways. The Flying Race has a special kind of automaton called "Automaton Beetle". They are fired out of cannons at the ground, suffering no damage, then attacking as ground troops.

[vitaoma]

No.

[Duke 2.0]

 Dammit, that is a horrible reply. It doesn't even offer proper criticism.

 I'm sure there is either a powergoal for this, or a feature for the wizard mode.

 Although I must admit, it appears you are not thinking in terms of DF's goals. DF has the lofty goal of one day simulating everything. See the raw files? Imagine that for everything. Thus suggestions like these would be more likely to happen if they were more general, like buildable servants and cannons.

 Although I must warn you, guns and cannons in DF is a hot topic 'ere.

[varkarrus]

Well, I think this would be cool for 2 reasons

A) I like the idea of dropping warriors onto the ground, then having them unfold and start killing
B) Artifact/Legendary Automatons. Think having a megabeast fight for you.

[Duke 2.0]

 If you make them tough enough, they should be able to take a high impact. And seeing as they will be metal monsters, not impossible.

 Just remember that DF is striving to have as few hard-coded things as possible as to be a fantasy generator for anything you can modify in. Of course, some mechanisims should be left to the player to make.

[Jakkarra]

why isnt this inside the flying fortresses thread you made?

this is a good idea, hopefuly as something modded, however, so as not to upset people who build their beautiful fort, only to have robots fallinginto their courtyard,

Also, why exactly ae so many things in DF hardcoded? unless its to retain rights, so others cant simply steal the script, i cant really think of a reason why there is so much Hardness in DF?

Love, jakkarra

[Duke 2.0]

 Because it is in development, and making things editable is difficult.

[SolarShado]

Because it is in development, and making things editable is difficult.

Yes, i have a little experience in this, and believe me it is.

To answer the inevitable "why didn't he make it editable to begin with?": so we'd have something playable and therefore playtest-able that can be used to debug the engine part by part.

No, I don't have an official quote to back me up, but that's how/why I'd do it. If you've never done any programming, you have no clue how hard it can be to pull all of the pieces into a working program.

/rant

sorry if i've over-reacted.

EDIT: not a bad idea, not sure if it really fits within the DF world, but would make a cool mod if nothing else

[Aquillion]

This has actually been suggested a lot before.  The most common thought is that they might exist as rare artifacts or things powerful wizards could make, but probably not as things dwarves could just produce whenever they want.

They do have a place in mythology (and, therefore, in fantasy.)  Vulcan had two mechanical servants who helped him at his forge, for instance.  I think the Arabian Nights also had a few.  But they're always rare and fantastic things, not something common or easy to make.

Note that this is listed on the dev page as a possible Bloat:

# Bloat42, AUTOMATONS, (Future): Automatons could be created, but it's campy to overdo it, at least in the standard world model. An artifact creating dwarf could make special automatons.

Also note Power Goal 45:

# PowerGoal45, MEET THE CYBERFIST, (Future): You use your iron geared prosthetic hand to crush a piece of stone in front of the cowering goblin, and it passes out.

[Neonivek]

In the case of Vanilla, I don't think a mechanical robot army is a good dirrection to go in.

It should however be possible for Modding in by allowing creatures to be created.

[LegoLord]

Also note Power Goal 45:

# PowerGoal45, MEET THE CYBERFIST, (Future): You use your iron geared prosthetic hand to crush a piece of stone in front of the cowering goblin, and it passes out.

Whoa, he's actually doing that?  I had no idea.

Yes, automatons = good, as non-artifacts = eh, not so much.

[TettyNullus]

We already have a crude form of automoton warrior. It's called a weapon trap 

But yes, I would like to have automations around, though not something fancy like full-out mobile military machines, but rather something like factory robotics and industrial machines ( Basically just something that do repeative jobs, good application of mechanisms around, and expansion of power usage systems, I believe it would be possible with clockwork technology in a crude fashion )

[sweitx]

Dwarves and the Flying Race would be able to build these using mechanics.

Different types attack in different ways. The Flying Race has a special kind of automaton called "Automaton Beetle". They are fired out of cannons at the ground, suffering no damage, then attacking as ground troops.

We already have a crude form of automoton warrior. It's called a weapon trap 

But yes, I would like to have automations around, though not something fancy like full-out mobile military machines, but rather something like factory robotics and industrial machines ( Basically just something that do repeative jobs, good application of mechanisms around, and expansion of power usage systems, I believe it would be possible with clockwork technology in a crude fashion )

Not sure about a flying race.
But I like the idea of a dwarven built automaton that can act as a soldier.  It will have severe on break and require multiple pieces of mechanism + metal bar to build.  The skill of the automaton will have to be determined at built time (A Hammer-ton, Bow-ton, Sword-ton, etc).
The stat of the automaton will depend on the quality of the mechanism.

[RavingManiac]

Automatons sound like a big leap from weapon traps and screw pumps. It would be more "realistic" to have them be produced only by strange moods.

An automaton should basically be a dwarf that does not need to eat/drink/sleep and performs a specific type of primitive labor with Master skill, like hauling, mining or fighting. Normal automatons would require mechanisms and metal bars, while combat automatons would require mechanisms, metal bars and a non-ranged weapon(the mechanic will pick the most damaging one available).

In combat, automatons would have a tremendous DAMBLOCK, inability to have organs pierced and great damage, but cannot wear armor, wield additional weapons, parry, dodge or use a shield. Neither combat nor civilian automatons will flee from enemies. An injured automaton would have to be repaired by a legendary mechanic, such as its creator.

Obviously, automatons cannot form relationships, adopt pets, be elected mayor, etc.

[Tormy]

In the case of Vanilla, I don't think a mechanical robot army is a good dirrection to go in.

This.