Translocator

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Translocator
Lore info
Ammunition	None.
Game info
Type	Utility
Appears in	Unreal Unreal Tournament Unreal Championship Unreal Tournament 2003 Unreal Tournament 2004 Unreal Tournament 3 Unreal Tournament 4
Properties
Primary Fire	Launch disc
Primary Fire	Launch disc
Secondary Fire	Teleport
Secondary Fire	Teleport

The Translocator is a device originally used as a personal teleportation before also becoming a weapon in the Unreal Tournament series.

Overview

The Translocator is a personal teleportation device which doubles as a weapon in the hands of expert players. Its two fire modes are related: primary fire launches the translocation module, while the alternate one teleports its user to the module's location. Objectives such as flags being held by a teleporting user will not be teleported, though, and may be lost in the way. Another disadvantage is that the module is susceptible to weapon damage; if a Translocator user teleports to a damage module, they die. On the other hand, enemies being teleported to the user's module during the teleportation may be fragged (something known in gaming lingo as a Telefrag).

This basic functionality remains unchanged across all of its incarnations, but some games give the utility either a limitation (such as charge limits starting from 2003/UC) and/or other features (such as a camera mode like in 2004).

Unreal and Return to Na Pali

Translocator
Game info
Type	Utility
Death messages
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was telefragged by <Fragger>."
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was telefragged by <Fragger>."

The Translocator in Unreal (formerly a cut weapon that was restored in the OldUnreal patch for ver. 227) has the same functionality as every other version of the weapon: the primary fire launches the disc, the secondary fire teleports the user to its destination. Unique to this version of the Translocator is that the teleportation has a zoom-in effect.

Unreal Tournament

Translocator
Game info
Type	Utility
Death messages
Weapon fire	"<Fragger> telefragged <Fragged>!"
Weapon fire	"<Fragger> telefragged <Fragged>!"

"The Translocator is a portable teleporter. It functions as a weapon, a defensive device and a mode of movement.

The Translocator consists of two parts, a source module and a destination module. Throw the destination module with the primary fire button; then press the secondary fire button to instantly teleport to the spot where the destination module landed.

If you throw the destination module close enough to an enemy and then teleport there, you can "telefrag" your opponent, killing him and getting his weapon. This requires some skill to accomplish, but is extremely gratifying to pull off and results in an instant kill.

In Capture the Flag games, translocating while holding the flag will cause you to drop the flag."

– UT manual

Classification	Personal Teleportation Device
Primary fire	Launches the destination module. Throw the module to the location you would like to teleport to.
Secondary fire	Activates the translocator and teleports the user to the destination module.
nTechniques	Throw your destination module at another player and then activate the secondary fire, and you will telefrag your opponent! If you press your primary fire button when activating your translocator with the secondary fire, the last weapon you had selected will automatically return once you have translocated.
Source: UT Weapon Priority menu.

Unreal Championship, Unreal Tournament 2003 and Unreal Tournament 2004

Translocator
UT2004
Game info
Type	Utility
Ammo
Maximum Ammo	5 (UC/UT2003) 6 (UT2004)
Maximum Ammo	5 (UC/UT2003) 6 (UT2004)
Death messages
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> had their atoms scattered by <Fragger>."
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> had their atoms scattered by <Fragger>."

"The Translocator was originally designed by Liandri Corporation’s R&D sector to facilitate the rapid recall of miners during tunnel collapses and other emergencies. The technology has saved countless lives, but not without cost. Rapid deresolution and reconstitution of the subject organism can have several unwelcome effects, including increases in aggression and paranoia, as well as increased probabilities of respiratory and cardiac arrest. Artifacts of synaptic disruption accumulate in the biological snapshot of the individual, leading to Teleportation Related Dementia (TReDs), an incurable disease that has stricken some of our greatest champions. In order to prolong the careers of today’s contenders, limits have been placed on Translocator use in the lower-ranked leagues. This was deemed necessary to prevent new recruits from becoming too reliant on the device, thereby sealing their own doom. The latest iteration of the Translocator features a remotely operated camera, exceptionally useful when scouting out areas of contention. It should be noted that while viewing the camera’s surveillance output, the user is effectively blind to his immediate surroundings."

– UT2004 weapon description

The Translocator on Unreal Tournament 2003 was slightly changed from the UT version. It now has 5 destination modules that slowly regenerates, making the Translocator slower for the recharge rate. The destination module only drains when you teleport, not if you return it with the primary fire again or pick it up. In addition the Translocator now has an internal camera that is activated by pressing the translocator key again, usually Q. This allows you to see what is happening in the place you are going to teleport to or for scouting without being detected. When using the camera, though, you are a sitting duck and can be easily taken down in open areas. If the destination module is hit with weaponry, it becomes corrupt and using both teleport and return module function will cause a telefrag on the Translocator user. With the internal camera, though, it is possible to see if the module is broken or not. The only safe way to use the Translocator again without dying is to pick up the module by hand.

The Translocator in UT2004 is nearly the same as in UT2003, the only differences being that the model is different and that it has gained one more charge.

Unreal Tournament 3

Translocator
Game info
Type	Utility
Ammo
Maximum Ammo	7
Maximum Ammo	7

"The Translocator was originally designed by Liandri R&D for rapid rescue of expensive mining equipment during tunnel collapses and related emergencies. The technology also saved countless lives, but not without cost; rapid deresolution and reconstitution led to synaptic disruptions, and the debilitating symptoms like Teleportation Related Dementia (TReDs). Today, after years of lucrative military development contracts, portable teleportation technology has been declared "sufficiently safe" for regular use by front-line infantry."

– Weapon description

The Translocator returns to the Capture the Flag gametype, except for maps that contain vehicles, where the Hoverboard becomes the secondary method of transportation.

The translocator functions more or less identically as ever. It still has regenerating charges, but it recharges faster (about 1 charge per second), the charges are increased to 7, the beacon was flattened (making it easier to aim), its trajectory is lower and faster than UT2004, and the distance covered is set between UT and UT2004 levels.

Unreal Tournament 4

Translocator
Game info
Type	Utility
Death messages
Primary fire	"<Fragged>'s atoms were scattered by <Fragger>."
Primary fire	"<Fragged>'s atoms were scattered by <Fragger>."
Module damaging	"<Fragged>'s translocation was disrupted by <Fragger>."
Module damaging	"<Fragged>'s translocation was disrupted by <Fragger>."
Suicide (Primary)	"<Fragged> translocated into the void."
Suicide (Primary)	"<Fragged> translocated into the void."
Suicide (Male - Module damaging)	"<Fragged> disrupted his own translocation."
Suicide (Male - Module damaging)	"<Fragged> disrupted his own translocation."
Suicide (Female - Module damaging)	"<Fragged> disrupted her own translocation."
Suicide (Female - Module damaging)	"<Fragged> disrupted her own translocation."

Primary fire

Shoots a translocator disc in an arc - pressing fire again will recall the disc.

Alternate fire

Will teleport you to your disc if it is deployed. Be aware that discs can be destroyed by enemy fire in which case teleporting to it will result in a suicide.

Tips - Telefragging

Besides being a navigational tool the translocator can also be used as a weapon. An enemy that is touching your translocator as you teleport to it will die as a result.

Tips - Swift navigation

The Translocator is an extremely valuable tool when it comes to getting around quickly. Finding the right timing between throws to maximize distance is key. Try using this short course to test your Translocator skills and see if you can improve your time.

Tips and tricks

• The Translocator can be used to gain access to weapons and pickups that would otherwise be unaccessible by normal means.
• A player can travel around faster by translocating, rather than running. This tactic is extremely useful, while playing defensively in Capture the Flag matches.
• The Translocator trick is heavily exploited by the speedrunning gamers, to capture enemy flags quickly and finish the matches faster. It involves a series of simple steps as follows: Reach the enemy base, fire your Translocator pod somewhere near the enemy flag, leave the pod active for the time being, grab the enemy flag, capture the flag as usual, and finally, teleport back to the enemy base, using the Translocator Alt-Fire.
• If an active Translocator pod is destroyed, the user will be killed upon teleportation. Therefore, the Translocator trick is never recommended for real world PvP matches, where a human enemy might spot your pod and destroy it, before you can teleport to that exact pod location.

Trivia

• The Translocator was introduced in Unreal Tournament to complement the Tournament's new Capture the Flag gametype, even though the device itself originates in the Unreal betas. This version is put back in the OldUnreal version 227 of the game.
• In Unreal Championship, prior to the update, there was a glitch where players would get the beacon behind or following them.

References in other games

Main article: References to the Unreal series in other games

• Overwatch: One of Sombra's abilities is a teleportation device which is shoot in a wide arc, bounces on walls and gets her to otherwise unreachable places. It's called the Translocator.

Preview notes

Unreal Tournament

"This is a portable teleporter, which (...) basically it works like this--you have two pieces, a source module and a destination module. Throw the destination module anywhere in the level and when you later activate the source module, zoom, you're instantly moved to the destination module. The Epic guys like to use this as a telefragger gun, throwing the destination module on a bad guy and then activating it right away, causing a telefrag."

– IGN, UT

Unreal Tournament 2003

"I have also read much debate lately concerning the translocator. Yes, it is back, and yes, it does have limits. But it also has many improvements over the current version. First of all, it goes far... really far. Second, it has a little secret; there is a camera mounted on it. This camera can be rotated 360 degrees. You can launch it over obstacles or into the opponent’s base, and do a little surveillance before translocating in. The disc leaves a red vapor trail as it flies, another cool effect. The limitation? After 5 xlocs, it takes ten seconds to recharge. I think the distances you can launch this baby will make up for having to wait to recharge."

– Unreal Playground

"There are also some interesting tweaks to the special weapons. The translocator is limited to five shots, which slowly recharge, and it has a secondary remote camera ability. The quality of the camera image depends on distance, so it seems to be mostly useful for checking around corners for enemies."

– GameSpot

Gallery

UT3 Concept Art

UT3 Game Render

Unreal Tournament Translocator guide

UT4 Translocator guide

UT4 concept art by Sly

UT4 concept art by Sly

UT4 concept art by Sly

UT4 concept art by Sly