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Klavrig Workshop Skitterer: Difference between revisions

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|name=Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler
|name=Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler
|image=[[File:HW2 - Skitterer.jpg|300px]]
|image=[[File:HW2 - Skitterer.jpg|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Armory of Gethrog]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|manufacturer=
*[[Klavrig Workshop]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*[[Armory of Gethrog]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|line=
|line=
|model=
|model=
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|engine=
|engine=
|hull=
|hull=
|armament=Twin-linked beam cannons<ref name="LML">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/leggo-my-lekgolo '''Halo Waypoint''' ''Canon Fodder - Leggo my Lekgolo'']</ref>
|armament=Twin-linked beam cannons{{Ref/Site|Id=LML|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/leggo-my-lekgolo|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Leggo my Lekgolo|D=17|M=04|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Game|Id=PL|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Skitterer}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|crew=[[Lekgolo]] colony{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}
|crew=[[Dipholekgolo]] colony{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|complement=
|complement=
|consumables=
|consumables=
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|affiliation=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}<br>
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}<br>
[[Banished]]{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}
[[Banished]]{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}
|hideb=yes
}}
}}
{{Quote|These small mechanical units are considered “little brothers” of the Locust and what they lack in toughness they more than make up for in sheer numbers and symbiotic impact.|[[Brian Jarrard]] on Skitterers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/welcome-colony '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Welcome Colony'']</ref>}}
{{Quote|These small mechanical units are considered “little brothers” of the Locust and what they lack in toughness they more than make up for in sheer numbers and symbiotic impact.|[[Brian Jarrard]] on Skitterers.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/welcome-colony|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Welcome Colony|D=13|M=07|Y=2021}}}}
The '''Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler''', colloquially known as the '''Skitterer''', is a fast scout walker used by the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=457}} They are cheap, expendable vehicles, though their twin-linked beam cannons are surprisingly lethal given their size. Their most notable feature is that they can use a defend ability to set up a protective overwatch on other friendly units and act as a weapon turret and defense shield.{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}
The '''Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler''', colloquially known as the '''Skitterer''', is a fast scout walker used by the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=457}}  
 
==Overview==
===Design details===
Skitterers are quadrupeds outfitted with small rocket boosters and a set of twin-linked beam cannons. While their legged nature means their primary method of locomotion is walking, the rocket boosters do allow them the ability to hover - which they use to act as overwatch support for friendly units, and act as a weapon turret or defensive shield. Skitterers are cheap and easy to construct, which makes them an attractive option for deployment in large numbers{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}{{Ref/Reuse|LML}} - something the Banished (especially [[Colony]]) take advantage of.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
===Development history===
The Skitterer was originally a creation of the [[Covenant]]'s [[San'Shyuum]] technicians, as a response to the empire's restrictions on [[artificial intelligence]] research. With autonomous systems so limited in nature, Covenant engineers instead looked to [[lekgolo]] hives as substitutes in select applications, resulting in select [[Dipholekgolo]] hives to be pruned and curated for use in driving the machines. The Skitterers created by the Covenant proved the idea's merits and echoed the approach of adopting [[Rhulolekgolo]] hives for use in [[Scarab]] walkers, though the risk of aberrant and erratic gestalts in such small colonies proved to great a risk for the Covenant - ultimately leading to the idea never seeing mass usage.{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
The rise of the [[Swarmlord]] brothers "[[Colony]]" to leadership within the Banished has seen a larger proliferation of Skitterers, thanks to the Swarmlord's ability to more effectively control and direct Lekgolo hives. As such, Colony was able to adapt and perfect the work started by the Covenant to create the Skitterer.{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}{{Ref/Reuse|LML}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The development of the Skitterer vehicle itself was done by the [[Klavrig Workshop]], with large-scale production done by the [[Armory of Gethrog]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


==Operational history==
==Operational history==
Harsh restrictions on AI research in the Covenant limited the development of autonomous weapon systems, though clever [[San'Shyuum]] technicians did find that carefully selected and pruned [[Lekgolo]] colonies could substitute for artificial minds in some applications. Though never widely used, combat machines such as the Skitterer proved this approach had merit, though the risk of aberrant gestalts in small colonies meant it never saw widespread use. "[[Colony]]" later adapted and perfected this technique, which allowed for the integration of Lekgolo with the Banished [[Barukaza Workshop Locust|Locust]] and mass production of Skitterers without the behavioral issues that plagued earlier work.{{Ref/Reuse|LML}} Skitterers were deployed by "Colony" against the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in [[2559]] during the [[Second Ark Conflict]].<ref name="HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''</ref> Skitterers were manufactued by the [[Armory of Gethrog]] and developed by the Klavrig workshop.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''</ref>
Skitterers were deployed by "Colony" against the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in [[2559]] during the [[Second Ark Conflict]].{{Ref/Game|HW2|Skitterer in-game unit}} They were also deployed by Banished forces during their [[Battle for Zeta Halo|occupation]] of [[Installation 07]].{{Ref/Novel|TRP|Chapter=12}}


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
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*'''Info:''' Mech Scout, Light beam attack, Can attach to other units as a turret
*'''Info:''' Mech Scout, Light beam attack, Can attach to other units as a turret
*'''Tier:''' 1
*'''Tier:''' 1
*'''Cost:''' Population 2, Supplies 150, Power 20
*'''Cost:''' {{HW2Pop|2}}, {{HW2Supplies|150}}, {{HW2Power|20}}
'''Skitterer upgrade: Focused Beam'''
'''Skitterer upgrade: Focused Beam'''
*'''Info:''' Weapon Upgrade, Increases Beam output, Increases damage and range
*'''Info:''' Weapon Upgrade, Increases Beam output, Increases damage and range
*'''Tier:''' 2
*'''Tier:''' 2
*'''Cost:''' Supplies 0, Power 400
*'''Cost:''' {{HW2Supplies|0}}, {{HW2Power|400}}
In ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' Skitterers are exclusive units for "Colony" and can be made at [[Banished outpost]]s once the leader power has unlocked them. Like other scout units the Skitterer can be used to gather resources. The number of Skitterers able to attach to a unit depends on the unit's size. For example a Scarab is able to have three Skitterers, a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair two Skitterers, and a [[Huragok]] one Skitterer. Once attached to the unit the Skitterer will only be destroyed if the host unit is destroyed. In addition to providing more health to the host unit the Skitterers will continue to attack enemies. Without a host unit Skitterers perform okay against infantry, vehicles, and structures, but poorly against aircraft. Once the ''Focused Beam'' upgrade has been purchased the Skitterer will perform well against infantry. In [[Blitz]] a Skitterer Mob, consisting of five Skitterers, costs 90 energy.
In ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' Skitterers are exclusive units for "Colony" and can be made at [[Banished outpost]]s once the leader power has unlocked them. Like other scout units the Skitterer can be used to gather resources. The number of Skitterers able to attach to a unit depends on the unit's size. For example a Scarab is able to have three Skitterers, a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair two Skitterers, and a [[Huragok]] one Skitterer. Once attached to the unit the Skitterer will only be destroyed if the host unit is destroyed. Although it's very rare to happen where the Skitterers can be destroyed first before the host unit, reverting them to pre-attach. In addition to providing more health to the host unit the Skitterers will continue to attack enemies. Without a host unit Skitterers perform okay against infantry, vehicles, and structures, but poorly against aircraft. Once the ''Focused Beam'' upgrade has been purchased the Skitterer will perform well against infantry. In [[Blitz]] a Skitterer Mob, consisting of five Skitterers, costs {{HW2BlitzEnergy|90}} energy.
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Skitterers}}


====Skitterer Attachment====
====Skitterer Attachment====
====Core====
====Core====
*'''Grunt Squad:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Grunt Squad:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Chopper:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Chopper:''' 1 Skitterer
=====Infantry=====
=====Infantry=====
*'''Goliath:'''2 Skitterers  
*'''Goliath:''' 2 Skitterers  
*'''Suicide Grunts:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Suicide Grunts:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Elite Rangers:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Elite Rangers:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Hunters:'''2 Skitterers
*'''Hunters:''' 2 Skitterers
=====Air=====
=====Air=====
*'''Engineer:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Engineer:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Banshee:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Banshee:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Shroud:'''1 Skitterer  
*'''Shroud:''' 1 Skitterer  
*'''Blisterback:'''2 Skitterers
*'''Blisterback:''' 2 Skitterers
=====Vehicles=====
=====Vehicles=====
*'''Marauder:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Marauder:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Locust:'''1 Skitterer  
*'''Locust:''' 1 Skitterer  
*'''Reaver:'''1 Skitterer
*'''Reaver:''' 1 Skitterer
*'''Wraith:'''2 Skitterers
*'''Wraith:''' 2 Skitterers
=====War Council=====
=====War Council=====
*'''Hunter Captain:'''2 Skitterers
*'''Hunter Captain:''' 2 Skitterers
*'''Scarab:'''3 Skitterers
*'''Scarab:''' 3 Skitterers
 
====Phoenix log====
{| class="wikitable": style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width: 45%"
|+ '''[[Phoenix Logs|Phoenix Log]] - Skitterer'''
|-
|{{:Phoenix Logs/Banished Units/Skitterer}}
|}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Isabel could have Skitterers (or any vehicle or aircraft) if she Combat Salveged a hijacked unit that contained any Skitterer in it.
*Isabel could have Skitterers (or any vehicle or aircraft) if she Combat Salvaged a hijacked unit that contained any Skitterer in it.
*The Skitterer is the only unit that will still try to kill any Spartans hijacking any unit they attached themselves with.
*The Skitterer is the only unit that will still try to kill any Spartans hijacking any unit they attached themselves with.
*In Blitz the [[Suicide Unggoy|Suicide Grunts]] is the only unit the Skitterer won't attach themselves to.
*In Blitz the [[Suicide Unggoy|Suicide Grunts]] is the only unit the Skitterer won't attach themselves to.
Line 75: Line 91:


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HW2 Skitterer.png|Concept art of the Skitterer for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2 Skitterer.jpg|Concept art of the Skitterer for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2-Skitterers.png|Skitterers in front of a Banished [[Banished outpost]] in ''Halo Wars 2''
File:HW2-Skitterers.png|Skitterers in front of a Banished [[Banished outpost]] in ''Halo Wars 2''
File:HW2-Skitterers1.png|A trio of Skitterers on Installation 00.
File:HW2-Skitterers1.png|A trio of Skitterers on Installation 00.
Line 90: Line 107:
==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==

Latest revision as of 12:10, January 27, 2024

Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler
Blitz card artwork of Klavrig Workshop Skitterers.
Production information

Manufacturer:

Technical specifications

Length:

21.8 meters (71.5 ft)[1]

Width:

22.2 meters (72.9 ft)[1]

Height:

12.6 meters (41.4 ft)[1]

Mass:

58.4 metric tons (57.5 LT; 64.4 ST)[1]

Armament:

Twin-linked beam cannons[2][3][1]

Crew:

Dipholekgolo colony[1]

Usage

Role(s):

  • Scout walker
  • Escort

Affiliation:

Covenant[2]
Banished[2]

 

"These small mechanical units are considered “little brothers” of the Locust and what they lack in toughness they more than make up for in sheer numbers and symbiotic impact."
Brian Jarrard on Skitterers.[4]

The Klavrig Workshop Support Crawler, colloquially known as the Skitterer, is a fast scout walker used by the Banished.[1]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

Skitterers are quadrupeds outfitted with small rocket boosters and a set of twin-linked beam cannons. While their legged nature means their primary method of locomotion is walking, the rocket boosters do allow them the ability to hover - which they use to act as overwatch support for friendly units, and act as a weapon turret or defensive shield. Skitterers are cheap and easy to construct, which makes them an attractive option for deployment in large numbers[3][2] - something the Banished (especially Colony) take advantage of.[1]

Development history[edit]

The Skitterer was originally a creation of the Covenant's San'Shyuum technicians, as a response to the empire's restrictions on artificial intelligence research. With autonomous systems so limited in nature, Covenant engineers instead looked to lekgolo hives as substitutes in select applications, resulting in select Dipholekgolo hives to be pruned and curated for use in driving the machines. The Skitterers created by the Covenant proved the idea's merits and echoed the approach of adopting Rhulolekgolo hives for use in Scarab walkers, though the risk of aberrant and erratic gestalts in such small colonies proved to great a risk for the Covenant - ultimately leading to the idea never seeing mass usage.[3][2][1]

The rise of the Swarmlord brothers "Colony" to leadership within the Banished has seen a larger proliferation of Skitterers, thanks to the Swarmlord's ability to more effectively control and direct Lekgolo hives. As such, Colony was able to adapt and perfect the work started by the Covenant to create the Skitterer.[3][2][1] The development of the Skitterer vehicle itself was done by the Klavrig Workshop, with large-scale production done by the Armory of Gethrog.[1]

Operational history[edit]

Skitterers were deployed by "Colony" against the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire in 2559 during the Second Ark Conflict.[5] They were also deployed by Banished forces during their occupation of Installation 07.[6]

Gameplay[edit]

Halo Wars 2[edit]

  • Info: Mech Scout, Light beam attack, Can attach to other units as a turret
  • Tier: 1
  • Cost: Population 2, Supplies 150, Power 20

Skitterer upgrade: Focused Beam

  • Info: Weapon Upgrade, Increases Beam output, Increases damage and range
  • Tier: 2
  • Cost: Supplies 0, Power 400

In Halo Wars 2 Skitterers are exclusive units for "Colony" and can be made at Banished outposts once the leader power has unlocked them. Like other scout units the Skitterer can be used to gather resources. The number of Skitterers able to attach to a unit depends on the unit's size. For example a Scarab is able to have three Skitterers, a Mgalekgolo pair two Skitterers, and a Huragok one Skitterer. Once attached to the unit the Skitterer will only be destroyed if the host unit is destroyed. Although it's very rare to happen where the Skitterers can be destroyed first before the host unit, reverting them to pre-attach. In addition to providing more health to the host unit the Skitterers will continue to attack enemies. Without a host unit Skitterers perform okay against infantry, vehicles, and structures, but poorly against aircraft. Once the Focused Beam upgrade has been purchased the Skitterer will perform well against infantry. In Blitz a Skitterer Mob, consisting of five Skitterers, costs Blitz Energy 90 energy.

Skitterer Attachment[edit]

Core[edit]

  • Grunt Squad: 1 Skitterer
  • Chopper: 1 Skitterer
Infantry[edit]
  • Goliath: 2 Skitterers
  • Suicide Grunts: 1 Skitterer
  • Elite Rangers: 1 Skitterer
  • Hunters: 2 Skitterers
Air[edit]
  • Engineer: 1 Skitterer
  • Banshee: 1 Skitterer
  • Shroud: 1 Skitterer
  • Blisterback: 2 Skitterers
Vehicles[edit]
  • Marauder: 1 Skitterer
  • Locust: 1 Skitterer
  • Reaver: 1 Skitterer
  • Wraith: 2 Skitterers
War Council[edit]
  • Hunter Captain: 2 Skitterers
  • Scarab: 3 Skitterers

Phoenix log[edit]

Phoenix Log - Skitterer
Phoenix log artwork

Fast scout walker and escort.

Skitterer units are mechanized scouts piloted by Lekgolo. They are cheap, expendable vehicles, and their twin-linked beam cannons are surprisingly lethal for a vehicle of this size. Their most notable feature is that they can use a defend ability to set up a protective overwatch on other friendly units and act as a weapon turret and defense shield, increasing the health of the attached unit as well as providing additional firepower. Most units can have at least one Skitterer attached, including infantry and aircraft. The defensive link cannot be undone during a mission.

The harsh restrictions on AI research in the Covenant limited the development of autonomous weapon systems, though clever San’Shyuum technicians did find that carefully selected and pruned Lekgolo colonies could substitute for artificial minds in some applications. Though never widely used, combat machines such as the Skitterer proved this approach had merit, though the risk of aberrant gestalts in small colonies meant it never saw widespread use. Colony has adapted and perfected this technique, which allows for the integration of Lekgolo with the Banished Locust and mass production of Skitterers without the behavioral issues that plagued earlier work.

Trivia[edit]

  • Isabel could have Skitterers (or any vehicle or aircraft) if she Combat Salvaged a hijacked unit that contained any Skitterer in it.
  • The Skitterer is the only unit that will still try to kill any Spartans hijacking any unit they attached themselves with.
  • In Blitz the Suicide Grunts is the only unit the Skitterer won't attach themselves to.
  • In Terminus Firefight, it is possible to receive units Colony can't build normally, such as Ghosts, from Reinforcement waves. Skitterers can attach to them regardless in the same numbers the normal equivalent supports.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 457
  2. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Leggo my Lekgolo (Retrieved on Apr 17, 2021) [archive]
  3. ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Skitterer
  4. ^ Halo Waypoint, Welcome Colony (Retrieved on Jul 13, 2021) [archive]
  5. ^ Halo Wars 2, Skitterer in-game unit
  6. ^ Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 12