History Main / PointlessDoomsdayDevice

* The ''StarWars'' ExpandedUniverse features the Shawken Device, which is supposed to destroy the universe. It is notable for operating on principles that are considered dubious at best even by characters in the comic book in which it appears. But nobody really wants to test it, just in case.

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* In ''DwarfFortress'', making these is a typical dwarven hobby. They usually involve magma. Notable examples from [[LetsPlay succession games]] include Boatmurdered's Project: Fuck The World (which incidentally shortens to FTW), and Headshoots' [[spoiler:WEAPON.]]

* ''Possibly'' the Time Matrix from ''{{Animorphs}}.'' Originally, in ''The Andalite Chronicles,'' it was implied to have been created by [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens the Ellimist(s)]], the theory being that they used it to AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence in the first place. Years and dozens of books later ''The Ellimist Chronicles'' told the ''real'' story of how this happened without ''any'' mention of the Time Matrix, so how that fits in (if at all) is a mystery.
** There is a bit of [[JustifiedTrope justification]] for it just being left behind, though--neither the Ellimist nor [[EldritchAbomination Crayak]] want the other's side to have it, so their "game" presumably had some rule about neither doing anything with it. Still leaves its origin (and how it got on Earth before the [[TheGreys Skrit Na]] found it) a mystery.

* In the ''Stargate'' setting, the Ancients seemed to make a hobby of building these. Prominent examples include:

* The planet-eating "doomsday machine" that appears in an episode of StarTrekTheOriginalSeries seems to be one of these. Kirk can only guess as to where it may have come from or why it was activated, but he still has to stop it before it destroys anything else.

* Also from the StarWars EU is Centerpoint Station, a massive space station with the power to both move and destroy celestial bodies. Built by a ancient race called the Celestials, it doesn't seem to serve a purpose besides being a handy superweapon for the plot. [[spoiler:Until FateOfTheJedi revealed it SealedEvilInACan...]]

** A weapon used for destroying Stargates. There is no other conceivable use for the device, since it is stationary, and the beam it projects is specifically tuned to [[ExplosiveOverclocking detonate the gate]] on the other end of the wormhole. Bear in mind that Stargates targeted with this weapon explode with enough force to [[EarthShatteringKaboom destroy an entire planet]]. Truly, the [[NeglectfulPrecursors Ancients]] were paragons of morality and pacifism.

->Self destruct lever. A mechanism that, for example, could [[KillItWithFire flood your fort with magma]], or release a trapped [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever megabeast]]. For bonus points, build the whole fort on a single support.\\

-> I suppose I can part with ''one'' and still be feared.
--> -- ''[[MadScientist Professor Farnsworth]],'' '''{{Futurama}}'''

** Boatmurdered's FTW is more an example of a standard DoomsdayDevice, in that it was used repeatedly and to great effect protecting the fortress from ''everything'' from [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblin invasions]] to [[Golem Bronze Colossi]] to unfortunate merchant caravans who arrived at just the wrong time. [[spoiler: The fact that it ultimately lead to the firey downfall of the settlement is more a tribute to its epic mismanagement.]]

** Boatmurdered's FTW is more an example of a standard DoomsdayDevice, in that it was used repeatedly and to great effect protecting the fortress from ''everything'' from [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblin invasions]] to [[GoLem Bronze Colossi]] to unfortunate merchant caravans who arrived at just the wrong time. [[spoiler: The fact that it ultimately lead to the firey downfall of the settlement is more a tribute to its epic mismanagement.]]

*** Boatmurdered also featured a lever to flood the siege workshop. None of the players could remember why (though it was likely because the room used to be a farm).

->Self destruct lever. A mechanism that, for example, could [[KillItWithWater flood your fort with magma]], or release a trapped [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever megabeast]]. For bonus points, build the whole fort on a single support.\\

-->-- '''DwarfFortress [[http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/40d:Stupid_dwarf_trick Wiki]]'''

-> [[MadScientist Professor Farnsworth]], {{Futurama}}

* The primary goal of the World Nobles in ''OnePiece'' appears to revolve around either obtaining or preventing anybody obtaining the ancient, obscenely destructive warships Pluton and Neptune. It has yet to be revealed who made these ships, why they were made, exactly what they could do, or even if they still exist.