The Protectors' Weapons

[Dorkpool]

So, there's something I was wondering about the Protectors: those weapons they have. You know, the 2015 launcher (which I'm not sure has a name). Are those things attached to them organically, or can they be separated from the Protector? If the latter, then why not disassemble the weapon, find out what makes it tick, then hand one out to every villager or a specialized squad (think Ta-Koro Guard) to combat the Skull Spiders? And even if that can't be done, why aren't the Protectors teaming up and going after the Skull Spiders? Based on the animations, they can hold their own pretty well. Sure, they eventually got overwhelmed, but that's because they were facing a giant horde. And even then, it was just one Protector.

Also, where did they get those things? Did Ekimu make them or something?

[The 1st Shadow]

Supposedly some kind of ancient technology from the City, since we see the undead Skull Warriors using a variation if it. The blasters are all artificial, yes. In the cases of Fire and Earth, the blasters are fixed on their armor, and can be removed as easily as that can. They may not be able to recreate it out in the wilderness because they lack the tools and materials, rather than intelligence and skill to do so.

[Dorkpool]

Supposedly some kind of ancient technology from the City, since we see the undead Skull Warriors using a variation if it. The blasters are all artificial, yes. In the cases of Fire and Earth, the blasters are fixed on their armor, and can be removed as easily as that can. They may not be able to recreate it out in the wilderness because they lack the tools and materials, rather than intelligence and skill to do so.

Oh. Makes sense.

[Bonkle]

Pretty much what Shadow said. I believe the official term is Elemental Blaster.

[Lyichir]

So, there's something I was wondering about the Protectors: those weapons they have. You know, the 2015 launcher (which I'm not sure has a name). Are those things attached to them organically, or can they be separated from the Protector? If the latter, then why not disassemble the weapon, find out what makes it tick, then hand one out to every villager or a specialized squad (think Ta-Koro Guard) to combat the Skull Spiders? And even if that can't be done, why aren't the Protectors teaming up and going after the Skull Spiders? Based on the animations, they can hold their own pretty well. Sure, they eventually got overwhelmed, but that's because they were facing a giant horde. And even then, it was just one Protector.

Also, where did they get those things? Did Ekimu make them or something?

I assume the main reason the blasters aren't distributed to the other villagers is that they're powered by the elemental powers of the Protectors' masks. It's entirely possible that the blasters could be reverse-engineered, but without a sufficient source of elemental power they'd be useless.

 

The Protectors joining up to go after the Skull Spiders directly is probably a really, really bad idea. Not only are the Skull Spiders incredibly numerous, but they're also spread all over the island. Even assuming that united the Protectors could hold their own against the spiders, assembling in any one location would leave at least five of the six villages almost totally defenseless. And remember, Skull Spiders can control villagers and use them for their own army—unless the Protectors want to have to fight the very people they're sworn to protect, defending the villages should remain their number-one priority.

 

As for where the Protectors' weapons come from... well, we don't know. But assuming they've been passed down since the villagers still populated the Ancient City, Ekimu having made them is as good a guess as any.

[MrSciFiGuy]

Perhaps the villagers have the same mentality as matoran, whereas they never fight and prefer to huddle and wait for 6 elemental heroes 

[northmarch]

Perhaps the villagers have the same mentality as matoran, whereas they never fight and prefer to huddle and wait for 6 elemental heroes

 

But... The Matoran did fight. They organised military factions and led raids against their enemies when they could. The only time we've seen the Matoran as a dosile faction while under threat, they built Vahki to protect them (even from themselves).

[Dibble Flubwibbler of DOOM]

The Protectors joining up to go after the Skull Spiders directly is probably a really, really bad idea. Not only are the Skull Spiders incredibly numerous, but they're also spread all over the island. Even assuming that united the Protectors could hold their own against the spiders, assembling in any one location would leave at least five of the six villages almost totally defenseless. And remember, Skull Spiders can control villagers and use them for their own army—unless the Protectors want to have to fight the very people they're sworn to protect, defending the villages should remain their number-one priority.

plus,their already sizable respective skull spider hordes would be multiplied and grouped together.