How to save carl semkin?

[Vladdy Baddy]

I know there are 2 ways to unplug the power, but it seems both of them kill him, I know there is a way to save him since in HarshlyCritical's playthrough Simon doesn't mention killing Carl on the comms, but I cant discern what he did differently. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Luminous]

I have tried both ways. Unplugging the flow control jack permanently removes power from "Carl" so he will "die" and Simon will refer to this as if he "killed Carl". When I electrocuted Carl he didn't seem to die because shutting down the power through the cable revealed that the robot/Carl was operational. Also I NOTED that Simon did not tell Cath that he had killed Carl when I did so.
But he wouldn't speak after I did that, and he didn't speak when I entered the room so maybe it was a dialogue bug causing it to not play.
I also didn't get any sign that the Assembly room robot/Carl was Carl, because he didn't speak and neither did Simon apart from asking if "the robot" heard him or was ok etc.
That was during my first playthrough and I only found Carls corpse and Simon said "he's dead", there wasn't much I understood when people on the webs said that Carl spoke and that he was the robot on the assembly line. There was no such evidence that I found that time. Very, annoying.
There doesn't seem to be any consequences though. And "Carl" is busted so he can't do much either way.

[Vladdy Baddy]

Originally posted by aeonized:

I have tried both ways. Unplugging the flow control jack permanently removes power from "Carl" so he will "die" and Simon will refer to this as if he "killed Carl". When I electrocuted Carl he didn't seem to die because shutting down the power through the cable revealed that the robot/Carl was operational. Also I NOTED that Simon did not tell Cath that he had killed Carl when I did so.
But he wouldn't speak after I did that, and he didn't speak when I entered the room so maybe it was a dialogue bug causing it to not play.
I also didn't get any sign that the Assembly room robot/Carl was Carl, because he didn't speak and neither did Simon apart from asking if "the robot" heard him or was ok etc.
That was during my first playthrough and I only found Carls corpse and Simon said "he's dead", there wasn't much I understood when people on the webs said that Carl spoke and that he was the robot on the assembly line. There was no such evidence that I found that time. Very, annoying.
There doesn't seem to be any consequences though. And "Carl" is busted so he can't do much either way.

I didnt catch most of that, but are you saying I should just unplug the flow control jack and dont mind it?

[halfmonkey]

Did you touch either WAU port (the one near the computers or near flow control?) I've noticed that using these will cut nearby power, such as the second computer terminal. When I played this section I left both of those alone, did not turn on the power to storage on the computer and "Carl" was still alert when the comm stairs powered up. I did not get additional dialogue from him though...

[Vladdy Baddy]

Originally posted by halfmonkey:

Did you touch either WAU port (the one near the computers or near flow control?) I've noticed that using these will cut nearby power, such as the second computer terminal. When I played this section I left both of those alone, did not turn on the power to storage on the computer and "Carl" was still alert when the comm stairs powered up. I did not get additional dialogue from him though...

Thanks I'll try that!

[Raidey]

You have to pull one of the levers in order to proceed. One kills Carl, one leaves him alive but in pain. I just watched HarshlyCritical play through that bit, and I'm confused as to why Simon didn't say that he killed Carl, because he did. The switch that he pulled cuts off all power, including Carl's.

[Luminous]

Originally posted by COOLSKELETON95:

Originally posted by aeonized:

I didnt catch most of that, but are you saying I should just unplug the flow control jack and dont mind it?

Late reply, anyway in Soma decisions don't matter because you won't get punished for them, which is great because a lot of game overdo that just to make the game feel like it matters.
So kill Carl if you want. It's better than causing him endless pain...

SOMA forces choices on you, and IF you have a conscience; you know that thing that makes you feel guilty and miserable, then you'll make SOMA feel like it matters on your own!

It's like how in amnesia and penumbra the mere fear of the monsters that might show up around the corner but rarely do makes you feel worried, so does guilt in SOMA. Everything feels punishing but it's you punishing yourself, not the game.
It'd have been the game punishing you if you somehow got hindered or obstructed directly because you did something in the game.