You wake up in the village

[Kuja]

Rover is a big white bubble able to engulf men whole and simply hold them. Once it catches up to a target it pounces and covers them all like a white blood cell gone mad. When you're caught you are unable to escape and probably paralysed in the process.

It has been said it can easily take nuclear strikes it would seem.

Plus it's cute.

How fast/agile is it? Can it pass through walls? What kind of sensors does it use?

[Admiral Valdemar]

Rover is a big white bubble able to engulf men whole and simply hold them. Once it catches up to a target it pounces and covers them all like a white blood cell gone mad. When you're caught you are unable to escape and probably paralysed in the process.

It has been said it can easily take nuclear strikes it would seem.

Plus it's cute.

How fast/agile is it? Can it pass through walls? What kind of sensors does it use?

It can easily catch up with running men or someone using a Jeep.

Sensors: Unknown.

Can't pass through walls but can negotiate water easily and is stealthy.

Generally, it sneaks up on anyone trying to escape the Village and has a success rate of 100%.

[Kuja]

It can easily catch up with running men or someone using a Jeep.

Sensors: Unknown.

Can't pass through walls but can negotiate water easily and is stealthy.

Generally, it sneaks up on anyone trying to escape the Village and has a success rate of 100%.

What if the target manages to keep a limb outside the bubble, can they roll out and escape, assuming it doesn't compensate?

IG carries sensor-baffling devices, whcih he used to access a guarded complex in one comic, so Rover's better be pretty damn good.

How fast was the Jeep moving? IIRC, IG was able to keep up with a landspeeder while it was accelerating, but it left him behind when it hit top speed.

How stealthy?

[Admiral Valdemar]

It can easily catch up with running men or someone using a Jeep.

Sensors: Unknown.

Can't pass through walls but can negotiate water easily and is stealthy.

Generally, it sneaks up on anyone trying to escape the Village and has a success rate of 100%.

What if the target manages to keep a limb outside the bubble, can they roll out and escape, assuming it doesn't compensate?

IG carries sensor-baffling devices, whcih he used to access a guarded complex in one comic, so Rover's better be pretty damn good.

How fast was the Jeep moving? IIRC, IG was able to keep up with a landspeeder while it was accelerating, but it left him behind when it hit top speed.

How stealthy?

Rover bounces pretty fast, no one can keep one limb out anyway since it swallows whole. As for sensors, I gather things like IR or UV or normal light, maybe ultrasonics.

Best bet would be to run, fast! Or get some transport like one of the dozens of Village helicopters, maybe even the rocket...

[Admiral Valdemar]

Found this on The Prisoner newsgroup.

Open, ROVER and PRESENTER on set of "Probe-around." PRESENTER (ideally Eric
Idle) has British accent. Rover, for some reason, talks like he's from New
Jersey....

PRESENTER: Well it's good to have you with us, Rover. You're definitely
looking...
ROVER: Round?

PRESENTER: Fit. I was going to say fit.
ROVER: Yeah, yeah. Just messing with you. It's like a joke with me. Everybody
says "you're looking a little round there, buddy," and then I laugh and then I
eat them.

PRESENTER: What's it been like for you since "the Prisoner"?
ROVER: Well, you know -- the glass is either half full or half empty. I can say
I was there when it happened -- or I can say I peaked early, know what I'm
saying?

PRESENTER: Not exactly.
ROVER: OK. Well let's not mince words then. My career's been in the toilet
since 1967. A bit part here...a bit part there. I got a scene in Woody Allen's
"Everything you wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask" -- but that
was my last movie appearance ever, besides which they had me in all this makeup
so I go no recognition -- none. After that...more bit parts.
"Loveboat"..."Hollywood Squares"...dinner theater..."The Simpsons." And the
convention circuit...

PRESENTER: Prisoner conventions?
ROVER: No, "Star Trek" conventions. They put pointy ears on me and pretend I'm
Spock -- OF COURSE PRISONER CONVENTIONS....

PRESENTER: Sorry.
ROVER: Yeah, yeah, it's OK. Once or twice a year there I am -- back on the
beach at Portmerion just like the old days. I'm getting all this sand in my
membrane, that's always been the worst part, I think that's the most
irritating...really coarse sand too, not like Florida, I'm already pissed off.
Can I relax and take a shower? No. Because here's some shmuck in a striped
shirt and a boater with a megaphone going "Run from Rover...ten pounds a
pop....run from Rover"...all these fanboys dressed up like that guy on AC-DC in
these stupid black jackets with white piping shoving out fistfulls of money. I
try not to eat them...but it's tempting, you know?

PRESENTER: What was it like working with Patrick McGoohan?
ROVER: What was it like. That's what they all wanna ask...and thanks for not
making it your first question. What's it like working with McGoohan? (laughs)
Nobody really works with McGoohan, know what I'm saying?

PRESENTER: What was he like then? Personally, professionally...
ROVER: Patrick was -- and is -- a genius, no question about that. A genius and
an Irish drunk -- they all are -- that's a joke, I'm just joking, I love the
guy. Easy to work with? No. Open to suggestions? Sometimes yes, sometimes
no...depending on the weather.

PRESENTER: Suggestions such as...
ROVER: Suggestions such as...you know...suggestions concerning me for example.
Creative suggestions. About my character...

PRESENTER: What did you want?
ROVER: What I wanted and..you know, I think this is basic...what I wanted and
what I think would've really helped the show was more motivation for my
character. Here I am. I'm always chasing the guy -- why? ROARRARRRGH,
dah-dah-dah...it's not enough. What's my motivation? I needed more
backstory....subtext...all that stuff. I was thinking along Strasberg
lines...Actors' Studio lines...

PRESENTER: A method-acting Rover?
ROVER: Exactly. So what I pictured was. Here I am, you know, ARRRRGHHH, the
weather balloon from hell who makes a noise like a musting elephant and Yoko
Ono's doorbell. Rover, whiteblood cell in the bloodstream of the Village.
Rover, embodiment of conformity and control, the Bad Shepherd's Sheepdog,
yattayatta. But what makes Rover tick, you know? Is Rover happy with his role?
Does Rover question? Does Rover dream? Does Rover find romance?

PRESENTER: How did you intend to show this?
ROVER: Well...you know. A sensitive treatment. Like Fellini or those old black
and white spaghetti commercials. Rover wanders the streets. Rover climbs the
belltower...stares off at other horizons he can never know wondering why...why?
Rover contemplates suicide. Rover takes to drink. Maybe Ilsa could come....

PRESENTER: Ilsa?
ROVER: Yeah. You know. From "Casablanca." Ilsa, Ingrid or whatever her name
was. An old love returns. Rover's heartbroken. "Of all the modern-day bastilles
masquerading as a pocket-democracy, why'd she have to step into mine?" And then
I could tell Ron Grainer at the player piano to play it again...

PRESENTER: That's incredibly stupid.
ROVER: Yeah, well -- that's what McGoohan said. What I told him was -- "It's
just a suggestion. I just want to get the ball rolling" -- so to speak. Ha-ha.

PRESENTER: Ha-ha.
ROVER: The point being it's not easy being a two-dimensional character and
round at the same time. Especially if -- I mean, in terms of my own self-image
-- you have a basically masculine, action-adventure sensibility and you are,
instead, cast in -- let's face it -- what amounts to a feminine role. Rover,
the big round teat that sucks you. Rover, the roving womb that won't let you be
born. Rover the ova. Rover the egg on wheels. See what I'm saying?

PRESENTER: Yes, I suppose...so you imagined a more masculine approach for your
character?
ROVER: Definitely.

PRESENTER: In what sense? I mean...how did you imagine this?
ROVER: Incredibly scary balloon animals.

PRESENTER: Incredibly scary balloon animals...
ROVER: Yeah. I mean imagine it. Here's #6 -- or the Prisoner if that's your
preference -- running like hell. Running like a girl, I might add -- just a
joke, I love the guy. All of a sudden YARRRGHHH...a fifty foot balloon animal
dachsund! He's like what the...You get that Ron Grainer music up
DAH-DAH-DAH...look out! Here comes the dachsund...maybe next week an elephant.
Really frightening animals! And masculine animals...

PRESENTER: I take it that McGoohan didn't go for this...
ROVER: Yeah, well, no. None of my ideas. None of my scripts -- there's one I
rescue some kid from a burning building -- a musical dance number -- a bit
where Rover rebels against authority and all these Swedish models use their
insidious massage techniques as a form of mind-control and it makes me remember
these displaced childhood memories where I was abused by styrofoam packing
peanuts -- ideas like that -- thinking out of the box, you know? He didn't go
for it. No, no, no -- zero, zip, nada. Was not open. No. "It's my show, Rover.
Do your job and shut up, Rover..."

PRESENTER: Are you bitter about that?
ROVER: No, no, no, no. Like I said I love the guy. He's a genius...you can't
judge a genius by the standards of normal decent human beings, no, no, no. And
I'm not complaining, OK? It's a growth experience working with the man! He puts
you through it? Sure he does. He demands the best! He gets in your head -- or,
in my case -- whatever. Like that "Degree Absolute," you know, except you're a
better person for it when it's all over instead of being dead. He sorta shakes
you up and you're like, "Hey, here I am on a different level. You brought me to
a different level, Patrick. You're the man." But that's usually a once in a
lifetime thing...

PRESENTER: And if there was a chance it could be a twice in a lifetime thing? A
sequel, say?
ROVER: I'm there. From day one, baby. (bouncing up and down) I LOVE YOU
PATRICK! YOU'RE THE MAN!

PRESENTER: Thank you, Rover. I'm afraid that's all the time we have for
today...
ROVER: ROARARRGGGHHHHHHHHH!

PRESENTER: This has been...
ROVER: (bouncing violently) YOU DIDN'T LET ME TALK ABOUT MY BOOK!

PRESENTER: "Probe-around" on BBC...
ROVER: ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

(chases host off stage...sounds of screaming...things breaking)

Theme music up. End credits. Go to black...

[Darth Garden Gnome]

Well IG-88 is adroidwith or without guns, he can still run at superhuman speeds, and if we are to believe SotE video game, he can jump real good too (but, by that token, so can Dash Rendar so.....).

I think a droid such as IG-88 could escape had it been captured, it couldn't kill Rover, but he could definatly escape.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Well IG-88 is adroidwith or without guns, he can still run at superhuman speeds, and if we are to believe SotE video game, he can jump real good too (but, by that token, so can Dash Rendar so.....).

I think a droid such as IG-88 could escape had it been captured, it couldn't kill Rover, but he could definatly escape.

Yeah, generally Rover wins because it appears at the last minute and the escapee is either running or driving. If you can stay airborne or jump and dodge enough then Rover may not do anything.

Of course Rover may be able to fly but I'm unsure, it is a weather balloon like thing afterall.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Heh, anyone remember one of The Simpsons epsiodes that parodies The Prisoner (the one where Homer is Mr. X and gets taken to the Village). He simply pops it with a sharp instrument.

"Why did you think a balloon would stop him?"
"Shaddup!"



Then there is the ep where the whole town is taken in by this cult like the Raellians and Marge escapes just as Rover is released but it gets Hans Moleman instead and you see his face poking through as it engulfs him.

[paladin]

Lol, not quite what I meant but shocking nontheless.

So, what is a Degree Absolute?

Mind fuck. Totally, basically it involves you being sealed in a room with Number 2 and his accomplice midget dude for a week as he basically rebuilds your memory and redefines your view on life. Sort of like mind reading only now.

Sounds like fun compared to what I thought it was!