Companions' Reactions If Asked to Start the Purifier - Fallout 3

When we ask the companions to activate the purifier instead of us, they have unique dialogue lines on that in Fallout 3 (in original game and with broken steel DLC).
00:00 Intro
00:29 Charon (without DLC)
00:42 Charon (with Broken Steel DLC)
1:09 Dogmeat (no interactions)
1:24 Paladin Cross
1:45 Butch
2:06 Fawkes (without DLC)
2:30 Fawkes (with Broken Steel DLC)
3:40 Clover
3:54 Jericho
4:06 Sergeant RL-3 (without DLC)
4:23 Sergeant RL-3 (with Broken Steel DLC)
5:06 THANKS FOR WATCHING!
#fallout
#fallout3

[@xxlCortez]

Broken Steel reminded Charon that you're his employer and Fawkes also remembers that he's immune to radiation.

[@DAethrys]

My understanding is Charon ought to be immune to radiation as well

[@theillusiveman2139]

Charon' s one is kinda dumb, if you ask Charon to take the GECK for you, he' ll say that on the contract he doesn' t have to carry this type of duties.

[@MadHappyPrime]

​@@DAethrysCharon is a Ghoul. They are immune to radiation, like Super Mutants.

[@karmitdafruge1]

​@@MadHappyPrime they are immune in the sense it doesn't have immediate effects but ghouls seem to go feral in heavily irradiated areas.

[@dancingcarapace]

@@DAethrysghouls aren’t 100% immune to radiation, it’s how ferals happen. A ghoul’s mind is still susceptible to radiation damage. The longer a ghoul stays in a heavily irradiated environment, the quicker they will go feral. It’s why ghouls in the cities are fine, but ghouls out in the wastes tend to be ferals. A city in the wastelands is always set up in areas with very low/no radiation. So a ghoul will be perfectly safe, even pre-war ghouls like Daisy in Goodneighbor

[@Celestine1313]

I love how the military robot basically calls you a bitch for not killing yourself. Imagine if he was ordered to clear a minefield in alaska and was like "No, you do it pussy"

[@NeoVault_]

Mr Gutsy robots tend to be a-holes, even in Fallout 4.

[@failuregaming6611]

I am amazed the writers are able to write that crap and don't see the problem with it. These writers are going to be replaced by AI so hard.

[@ddunfuh9239]

The soldiers are just cowards, we all know from the wasteland survival guide all you need to do to disarm a land man is jump up and down on it

[@realname8362]

​@@ddunfuh9239Particularly dumb cowards at that, how is a Mr Gutsy even supposed to clear a minefield in the first place when it has no legs to jump with?

[@dumbsow9420]

Almost like in the WW1 where men were ordered to run out from their trenshes towards the enemies very well knowing they will almost undoubtedly die

[@HydraKittten]

"Fawkes can you please go press a few buttons for me?" "Ugghh, No, something something destiny" *slides fawkes five dollars* "Sir yes Ughh sir, glory to Todd Howard!"

[@ImCastorTroy8]

Good lord, you’re right… The DLCs were only about five bucks weren’t they? And they provided us with hours of entertainment. It’s so sad how things have changed in the past 15 years.

[@FalloutUrMum]

The ending of Fallout 3 without Broken Steel: "The Lone Wanderer bravely sacrificed himself, despite the company of his friends - immune to radiation - who just needed to punch 3 numbers and pull a lever and they'd be fine." With Broken Steel: "That cowardly pussy, the Lone Wanderer, pooped in his diaper at the sign of danger. Giving the act of heroism to his companion who really would have been fine doing it, completely robbing the Capital Wasteland of a heroic sacrifice story the Brotherhood could use for propaganda"

[@skiperinofanerino2506]

Poor Lone Wanderer. Can't ever win🤣

[@Woahahaha3]

I mean yeah, their parents both died sacrificing themselves, I think it’s fitting the lone wanderer did the same

[@ziimulhah3223]

​@Woahahaha3 Thematically, yes. But the Lone Wanderer is 19, that's barely any life lived at all. Why throw it away when there's still good they can do for the Wasteland and have three possible companions who are literally immune to radiation?

[@janitordel6296]

​@@Woahahaha3no? Catherine had a heart-attack during childbirth. James, admittedly did sorta sacrifice himself but that was more so him "jumping on the grenade" because he didn't trust the Enclave for some reason

[@thebruh9547]

So, theres a Trolley thats going to kill 1,000,000 people. You have 2 options: you can press a button to stop the trolley entirely, or you can push your friend into the tracks for a chance at stopping for this is their destiny, and you wouldnt want to rob them of that.

[@Rhino-Prime]

Bethesda writing in a nutshell

[@damonedrington3453]

That friend is also immune to the trolley

[@chlvic3252]

​@@damonedrington3453only with supernatural plot armor created by additional paid downloadable content, yes.

[@yazidefirenze]

A Trolley crashing will destroy a hospital, killing the million people inside and millions more waiting for repairs. If the trolley goes to an alternate rail, it will pass over a lever in the middle of the rails. The lever must be pulled to divert the trolley, and could easily kill someone like your friend. You, an incredibly agile and strong being in body and character, would not die if you pulled it, as you can either dodge out of the way of the trolley or cause it to crash into you, leaving yourself unharmed and the trolley destroyed. Your choices are as follows: A) Pull the lever in the middle of the track. Be hailed as a hero. B) Force your friend to pull it, where there is a 100% chance he will die in the process. In this scenario, all companions choose B. If you have Broken Steel, Fawkes, Charon and Sarge will all choose A.

[@om3ga109]

@@chlvic3252 What? No you simpleton ghouls, robots, and super mutants are immune to radiation

[@Marzo7866]

The Lone Wanderer: go in there Charon, Fawkes & RL-3: no *buys Broken Steel* Charon, Fawkes & RL-3: ok

[@SithEmpiredidnothingwrong]

pay2win at its finest

[@zopheir5019]

Dumbest sequence in the game for me.

[@broostysprinkler6389]

Turns out the real activation code was the magic 3-digit number on the back of your credit card all along

[@Yoricle]

@@broostysprinkler6389😂

[@justinportillo3996]

@@broostysprinkler6389lol

[@AFGuidesHD]

"We need to input a code into the computer" "I'll send my dog in there" 🤨

[@user-jh5dq9vc1v]

Dogmeat smarter than average twitter user, sure he can input the code

[@arbiterskiss6692]

Good boys like Dogmeat would put in the code, but he needs hands, so he says No.

[@DarknessOfRedbone]

Dogmeat: “I really want to help boss, but unlike you, I don’t have fingers”

[@ricekrispies4994]

he’s immortal so he’d be fine, the problem is the lack of opposable thumbs

[@Kspice9000]

​@ricekrispies4994 My head canon is Dogmeat mutated to asexual reproduce when exposed to radiation and death.

[@Coldtea25]

Even fawkes sounds like hes reading a script and going "what were they thinking"

[@BonnieBoestar]

I don't remember him struggling to speak that much during most of his other dialogue. It feels like he physically is restraining himself from breaking the script.

[@nd9814]

I always hated how Ron Pearlman gives you crap at the end for sending Fawkes/Charon in there. As a kid I sent Fawkes in without it even occurring to me to sacrifice myself since he was immune and even helped you in a very similar situation earlier in the game.

[@manoftherainshorts9075]

When kid realizes that scenario makes no sense but grown-ass writer doesn't.

[@thealmightyuntensil2368]

​@@manoftherainshorts9075I guarantee they did, it's just that the corporate bigwigs that actually make the decisions just didn't give a fuck and said send it

[@ddelarosa96]

@@manoftherainshorts9075it’s not even the writer. This is the dialogue if you let Sarah Lyons do it instead from the original game, they just weren’t willing to pay Ron Pearlman to come back and narrate a new ending so they just used the original “letting someone else do it.” That being said, the new mods coming out that can mimic voices could be used to put in an ending narration that does make sense

[@mr.d9626]

Yeah my first time playing through the game was mostly blind and with the DLC. It seemed like such an obvious no-brainer to send Fawkes in there, was shocked to find out after that you couldn't do so originally.

[@jibbanibba2000]

And he does so since you deserve it

[@MrPapageorgio]

Me and Jericho are on the same wavelength. How do you argue with the super logic of "Fuck that."

[@kitosjek9541]

Funny how Charon suddenly breaks his brainwashing and denies.

[@ericktamez5968]

Clover to

[@ethanreyes9549]

Bethesda sucks at writing.

[@Nin10doGuy772]

Bethesda writing moment

[@JohnCastleSmokeless]

Right...? "I'm brainwashed to do whatever my employer as...ks... wait, what?! You want me to go into a radiation filled chamber? But... I'm a ghoul, and radiation to us is like taking a nice, soothing dip in a hot tub! No way I'm doing that, smoothskin!"

[@theillusiveman2139]

I' m pretty sure that Azrakhul (or whatever was his name) was wrong, it was already pointed out after you buy his contract, that he isn't just a lobotomized man. For sure he isn' t normal but he' s not mindless. If in Vault 87, you ask him to go and take the GECK, he will say that he won' t do that because it' s not part of his contract.

[@roryscott2941]

Next time someone asks me to hand them something within my reach: "I'm sorry, my companion, but no. We all have our own destinies, and yours culminates here. I would not rob you of that."

[@ParadigmZwei]

Unless they give me whatever Broken Steel cost when it released.

[@adamsinclair1959]

For the radiation-resistant companions, you're literally just asking them to open a door and punch in some numbers. Their reluctance/refusal is SO annoying. I actually like Fallout 3 for the most part, but it's hard to defend the ending when they literally had to do a DLC to fix it, and even that still shames you for taking the logical route. I always either dismiss the companions before the final battle, or roleplay it that the Lone Wanderer was suicidal after all he lost.

[@Paradox-es3bl]

But don't the Broken Steel missions come after the purifier? Or was it one of those things where t reverts you to just before the ending like Witcher 3 Heart Of Stone?

[@sebassm12]

​@@Paradox-es3blyou have the same ending, sending a companion or enter yourself, but instead of dying you are rescued by the brotherhood and woke up 2 weeks later in the medical area of the Pentagon. After that you can play the Broken Steel quest and continue to roam the wasteland. It's not the best solution for that original ending but at least you don't have to die.

[@sebassm12]

Yeah, I do the same thing. Go to the purifier alone and in that moment just attempt to die in the purifier, knowing what he had to go through in the past months or year, it wouldn't be surprising if he took that path. I usually play with the TTW mod so after finish broken steel my LW travel to the other coast of the US in a quest to find some kind of purpose to his life again.

[@Danny15877]

You can like Fallout 3, I do, just don't defend the ending and admit it's shit "YOU AGAIN" "Erm your president is an AI" "OK, and?" "That's kinda fucking lame I think. Fucking weirdo." "I see. I'm leaving now, wanderer."

[@DarknessOfRedbone]

I found it really annoying that the narrator basically calls you a coward if someone besides you turns on the purifier

[@bobbyferg9173]

The radiation immune companions without the DLC really sound like that one black guy with the lightning

[@jaycewxsted]

huh

[@maestrofeli4259]

​@@jaycewxstedI think he means low tier god

[@Kadett-rr7ry]

"treat yourself now"

[@blackspy8331]

“You should die of radiation NOW!!!”

[@joro8693]

I thought he was talking about static shock im confused either way ahah

[@princesspupcake1269]

I think I hate Fawkes' denial the most obnoxious. Dooood, it's your destiny to go in there and die painfully of acute rad poisoning :) You can't fuckin deny DESTINY, bro. Then basically implies you should go die in the chamber anyways even w/ the DLC dialogue.

[@SithEmpiredidnothingwrong]

My bro Fawkes is just indirectly saying kys. 10 charisma, the best companion ever.

[@Sephiroth08150]

Feels like the rad-immune fellas were self inserts of Bethesda on that moment.

[@rektified4508]

Proof fallout 3 is just a simulation they called me a madman

[@unifieddynasty]

If they wanted it to be more realistic and impactful, they should've found a way in the story for your character to get separated from everyone else so that you're the only one able to reach that room. And if they wanted to make it a choice, they should've had an option before you get separated from your companions for you to voluntarily start the chain of events that leads to you reaching the finale where you know full well that you will likely be separated from your companions. And if they wanted to make a 'sly' or 'bad karma' option, they could allow you to convince or trick your companion to do the finale for you if some skill checks are passed.

[@aceclover758]

Why Bethesda sucks with writing It’s why NV is “overrrated” for a reason

[@BodhiF]

There’s a million ways they could have written this better, and actually earn the sacrifice trope. Whoever wrote the ending either thinks people are really stupid, or didn’t think of the dozens of reasons it’s a pointless sacrifice.

[@jacobhernandez323]

​@@aceclover758Obsidian made New Vegas dumbass

[@BM-yy8db]

They could've pulled a Doctor Who and made it so that your companion gets trapped in an adjacent compartment that will be flooded with radiation first if you don't enter the chamber. This way the player has personal incentive in not wanting their companion to die a painful radiation death.

[@yourfriendlyneighbourhoodl6206]

​@BM-yy8db Sounds good But some companions are immune completely to radiation so it doesn't really work

[@TheTSense]

Me: Man, I die if I go in there Game: Just ask this Super mutant to get the Geek Me: Man, I die if I go in there Game: Sucks to be you lol

[@ElGeecho]

Yep. Terrible writing.

[@LordDaret]

That’s the worst part because creates a natural Chekov’s gun. You think you’re so smart, but then the game either forces you to die, or calls you a coward.

[@PeteTheGrouch]

3:40 I like how Clover seems to forget that she literally has a freakin' _bomb_ strapped to her neck... what exactly makes her think she's in ANY position to refuse..?!?

[@richardgomez8010]

Having your head blown off seems better than a slow radioactive death.

[@4plus20isHappy]

If she’s going to die, she might as well make it quick and painless by detonating the collar instead of going slowly and painfully through radiation poisoning.

[@ventexovakon2178]

"If I'm going to die either way, then I'll die refusing your last request. Blow the collar, honey."

[@PeteTheGrouch]

@@ventexovakon2178 "Why make a mess"? **Equips Alien Blaster**

[@realname8362]

"Go die an awful death for me or I'll kill you instantly and without any pain" is not a particularly good threat.

[@alexmercer2743]

This would have been such an easy problem to solve. Imagine if a trap separated you from your companion, or he remained behind to hold back the Enclave forces while you went ahead to deal with Autumn. The solutions are endless and the heroic sacrifice can still happen.

[@PatGunn]

A heroic sacrifice is undesirable. No reason for it

[@thomasdallor2128]

W fire emblem fate profile

[@janitordel6296]

​@@PatGunnthat's true but at Fo3's launch they wanted the game to end when you beat it. So, this was the coolest way

[@pteroid11]

It would have been so funny if you had the option to try and tell Dogmeat to go in the purifier if you had like...3 INT or something

[@olknoxlo]

I don't like that the companions seem to know the credits are gonna roll.

[@giggyjupiter8246]

The fact that the characters that would survive still say no, knowing full well that you would die is hilarious. "Ah yes i could but i don't want to. Now get in there and die, can't refuse your destiny now." 😂😅

[@johnspartan5722]

yeah. actually 0 reason for fawks or FL-3 to say no. Charon was kinda an asshole so its at least in character even if he wouldn't be killed.

[@VoIacious]

@@johnspartan5722Charon actually makes the absolute least sense in his refusal. He is quite literally brainwashed to obey whoever holds his contract, which is you. Never mind the fact that he says it’s “risking his ass for you” even though he’s a ghoul and the radiation would realistically have little to no impact on him

[@marinmarinhola]

​@@VoIacioushe's the most vulnerable out of the 3. Fl-3 and fawkes are completely immune. Charon isn't, large dose of rads can turn a ghoul feral. So out of the original 3, Charon was the most understandable

[@manoftherainshorts9075]

If only paladins in a power armor could, you know, put on their helmet that would give a solid resistance to a radiation and could turn the dosage non-lethal. AND use a Rad-X.

[@sergeantquackers7815]

acting like you dont still get radiation with power armor lol. like yeah you could put on a hazmat suit but the radiation is still gonna fry your brain like a microwave

[@manoftherainshorts9075]

@@sergeantquackers7815 > turn the dosage non-lethal >acting like you don't still get radiation Brother, you lack reading skills.

[@JetFiiire]

​@@manoftherainshorts9075lore wise there's absolutely no way a power armor and a rad-x can save you from this amount of radiations, as the guy that answered to you said.

[@manoftherainshorts9075]

@@JetFiiire lore wise it was explained where?

[@noctotainlowry9246]

By the fact it still kills if if your wearing power armor dumbass​@@manoftherainshorts9075

[@i_will_not_elaborate]

Sergeant RL-3 is the only one that seems excited to help you post-DLC. Fawkes is the good karma companion (not to mention LW rescuing him) yet he still whines about your "destiny". I'm blaming this mostly on Bethesda's writing though because he wouldn't be doing this otherwise.

[@Paradox-es3bl]

The dialogue post-DLC was actually them trying to make fun of themselves, from what I heard. He said, "Nah, that's YOUR destiny." pre-DLC, so post they were like, "What if we make him say something about how he WOULD say it was the player's destiny? That'll be clever!" Lol

[@LordDaret]

@@Paradox-es3bl”but destiny brought YOU to me. You are now a part of my destiny, and we are now both here. I only ask you to retrieve the GECK once more, and we both get what we want. Safety of the wasteland and the respect of the people.”

[@TheTinMan2077]

If Fawkes can get you the Geck which he suggested then he can definitely make the purifier work by his own will but Bethesda being Bethesda since the 2000's

[@nashrinibrahim1823]

Man, I love the response of Charon when sent to air lock. He has been my loyal servant from the beginning to end

[@Ironmaidenportugal]

Fawkes: "What's up there? RL-3: Out of the way sentinel, we have a mission to accomplish!

[@demoncore4467]

I can either send a ghoul who’s healed by radiation, or a robot or super mutant who’s immune. But then Ron Perlman calls me a coward basically like WAT!?!? Also a side thought here, isn’t circuitry and optics and such affected under heavy radiation. So RL3 would just get cooked wouldn’t he? I did a lot of research into Chernobyl when I was younger and I remember hearing or reading that when they’d take pictures next to the elephants foot the pictures get all messed up and freaky looking cuz of the radiation. Someone with more knowledge on that plz lemme know

[@mrcat5179]

yeah, the pics have artifact-ing from the radiation prematurely/over exposing some of the film. Same thing used to happen to film in airports going through the scanner, and fun fact the kodak company had to be sworn to secrecy during the development of the atomic bomb, they'd had complaints about their film near the areas of testing, they investigated and realized it was radiation exposure, having no known sources they contacted the government, and were subsequently told to stfu lol. As far as the effect on robots, you're pretty spot on i think. There have been many attempts to use robots to clean up fukushima, differing designs etc and to my knowledge these robots only last for a short while. If you're interested i'm sure there is some coverage about it floating around.

[@demoncore4467]

@@mrcat5179 hey thanks man appreciate it

[@funny3scene]

Yes that’s actually why the roof had to be cleared by humans, the sent multiple robots on that roof that just died instantly.

[@Brandon-ff1yo]

knowing fallout, the chances they would have radiation proofed their robots in some way is likely.

[@beastwarsFTW]

1. Robots in fallout are immune to radiation thanks to being both built around radiation immunity and their more bulky computer parts. 2. That robot is an insane jerk, him thinking your a coward is in character for him.

[@fleetwoodcraic4235]

The funniest thing about their refusals is how they say it’s your destiny in the base game but with the dlc they list all the reasons that they should do it instead

[@memorymangaming1665]

honestly, when taking in all the radiation resistant perks you can get including cyborg and the perk from the Pitt that gives 10% radiation resistance, it not all too crazy to think your character can survive the purifier. including with the fact he could wear power armor or use rad-x for additional protection.

[@mitchhamilton64]

thats literally what i did! i injected myself with rad resistant stuff as much as i could, put on a fucking hazmat suit and thought "i should be fine. hazmat alone should protect me, plus all the rad resistant chemicals i got in my veins, i should be good." i go in and die... i have never been more disappointed in an rpg in my life.

[@badgermcbadger1968]

​@@mitchhamilton64tbf strong enough radiation is going to kill you Hazmat suit or not

[@andrewredfern8811]

There's an area where super mutants come from that's highly irradiated, i though I could cross the land with the radiation suit....nope died. Lol

[@MrKrabsburger42]

@@andrewredfern8811 near vault 87 entrance(not the one in caves, but on a surface) it is, if you somehow get to the door, it will be locked requiring a key(or inaccessible, I don't quite remember) and near it you'll find dead person in hazmat suit and suitcase with a couple of rad-aways

[@JohnCastleSmokeless]

Right? There's the big Oops -- it should be possible, with the right perks and being at the right level when you get to that point, that the rads in there _wouldn't_ kill you.

[@pepethegood]

i always shot them on spot when they refused a direct order

[@DanielDangerous]

I do that to my friends all the time

[@alexaasmr3035]

This is why I poisoned the water.

[@basketbomberslackingson4417]

The only way to justify going in there yourself is to have all immune companions not present.

[@Thesavagesouls]

I liked Fallout 3 in its own weird oblivion-with-gun kind a way. But i can't help to think it could have been a fantastic Fallout game if it had a good writer.

[@ElUltimoLeviathan7901]

Bethesda always has bad writers.

[@silversnail1413]

Hot take: Fallout 4's story is better than 3's. At least Fallout 4 had different factions and a bit more idealogical nuance than "Go die a pointless, easily avoidable death or you're a giant coward." 3 also lacks any concept of grey morality and you're essentially forced to choose between playing either a self-sacrificing goody two shoes or a psychotic mass murder with almost nothing in between. Plus the absolute idiocy of the evil ending where you inexplicably poison the water supply with modified FEV which will literally make it fatal to you too if you drink it just makes me shake my head in disbelief every time I think about it.

[@NCR_trooper-69]

Typical Bethesda you get insulted if you're smart

[@namelessstranger1270]

Remember. Fallout 3 received multiple awards including one for its story.

[@KiiBon]

To be fair, the game is extremely good. It's just this specific moment where the writing just nosedives and you can clearly tell they wrote themselves into a corner

[@namelessstranger1270]

@@KiiBon You are being generous. The story is unpolished. Most of F3's story critically fails to answer extremely basic questions about the world and its people. What they eat & drink/how they survive day to day/their thoughts on the world/etc. There's borderline no agriculture or industry in the Capital Wasteland so people are *still* grifting off the old world for all basic necessities including ammo 200+ years after the war. It's small but when these questions get answered; the world feels much more alive. New Vegas is an excellent example in motion. It's sort of a frontier but even so; there is much agriculture ongoing with small towns managing farms/livestock, most towns have clean water, there are craftsmen, doctors, producers, miners, merchants, etc. There are even dedicated ammo crafters and gunsmiths in the Mojave (a frontier). Even without the quests, the Mojave still feels alive or at least it makes a respectable attempt to appear so. I can tell you've heard this before, but NV is objectively and creatively superior to F3 and that's before the NV DLCs get included.

[@boof994]

All the radiation immune people refusing to press three buttons like why

[@theLOSTranger234]

so only if you have a DLC that will save your life (so you can continue playing the game) the companions who are immune to radiation will in instead, but without the "safety of post game" they be like "nope- you do it!"

[@xshadowwidness]

I always hear how this ending was pretty F up for the conpanions being like "Sure i can survive, but You need to die cause the plot demands it" then broken Steel came out and those who play the vanila just return to life 😅

[@t5hammer871]

I dunno why Charon and Fawks refuse. Fawks kinda makes sense as off screen, you probably told him your story and he recognizes this is the culmination of your journey. As a romantic and a scholar at heart, I can see that… but why not Charon? To say nothing of you holding his contract, why would he suddenly become defiant IC?

[@andrewparker1622]

My only guess is that it could turn him feral

[@TheFattestBlunt.]

​@@andrewparker1622i think somewhere it was stated that ferals often lost their ninds due to receiving a far worse dose at some point or another . So you might be right

[@TheMasterUnity]

Dude if a super mutant who, mere hours ago did the same thing for me. Told me, to my face a 19 year old kid that i had to go and die horribly in the radiation filled chamber because it is my "destiny" i would shoot them dead right then and there.

[@mattiaachille233]

@@TheMasterUnity Relatable 😂

[@shogunpug4071]

No. Fawkes has no reason for this. You saved him. Amd then he explained that he SHOULD get the GECK. In my playthrough I just did, I lost him and he wouldn't fetch it. So I did it myself. And he shows up afterward saying I was stupid for fetching it myself. But then speaks of destiny shit later like he wasn't patronizing me about taking the Radition from the GECK retrieval

[@pedroholsbach8592]

I can't believe you need to buy a DLC in order to be able to send the characters immune to radiation into the irradiated chamber and not kill yourself

[@changsiah2]

But if you do it after buying the DLC you get to continue playing the game

[@pedroholsbach8592]

@@changsiah2 Why would I want to do that

[@darronlockett9211]

It really is just bad writing that companions were even with you at this point. Fawkes demanding you commit suicide to save everyone always bothered the shit out of me. Even when I was a teenager I was like wait what that is fucking stupid you can literally do it and live why would you refuse to save everyone. The story is better if the hero dies here, but they literally just had to have a scene leading up to this where you get separated and have to say goodbye to your companion.

[@maceface2892]

Fawkes and Charon: Immune to radiation Also them: Nah, you do it

[@tfordham13]

Find dumb nither the ghoul or super mutant won't do it without dlc

[@CPTHAP]

RL-3 was MADE for this.

[@DoratTheKiller]

The fact that Sarah is the only one willing to do so without the DLC and knowing she'll die, proves that she's the MVP *and* the GOAT of the entire party.

[@elmecaniconaranja1126]

A shame we didnt have her on fallout 4 as elder and instead had a grown ass squire dressed as a Top Gun pilot that would killed his men without doubts

[@starwish1037]

@@elmecaniconaranja1126 agreed, damn shame she got killed off screen.

[@pupper9474]

"Fawkes, can you activate the purifier for us? It's too irradiated and you're the only one of us immune." "no u"

[@FestusOmega]

If this game was made today, I'd suspect that they made the ending intentionally shit just to sell more units of the DLC that fixes it.

[@1retiredknight]

I wish they would try. With Bethesda's track record, I have to assume that an attempt to make a deliberately terrible story ending would result in an accidentally delivering a masterpiece of fiction.

[@JayIceColdD]

I didn't know they could refuse. I mean... It just makes sense that they'd be like, "yo fam, this is all me. No sweat."

[@Paradox-es3bl]

I knew the DLC fixed Fawkes but I'm not sure I ever knew it fixed Charon (kinda forgot he was a potential companion), and totally didn't even remember RL-3 or whatever the robot's name is, so definitely wasn't aware of that fix.

[@PhantomSavage]

This in particular is a prime example of how Obsidan's writing was infinitely better than Bethesda's.

[@Chadsteryaah]

I can't believe I never thought about Charon or the robot. I always just went with Fawkes.

[@colemarvel3988]

Three companions that are immune to radiation and it takes a DLC to remind them that giving you a dramatic ending is not as productive as just punching in a code themselves.

[@kermitarson4250]

Sarah Lyons seems a little pissed that there's a third option where nobody dies

[@ZoN1ng]

Gotta love Emil Pagliarulo's hack writing, dude turned a 6/10 game into a 3/10 with his writing alone. That's impressive.

[@Kuroji2137]

2:12 he said the thing!!

[@Feewzz]

I still don't know how everyone at Bethesda looked at the script and thought that this would be a good ending lol

[@rougenarwhal8378]

So this is how I learn butch was actually a companion

[@oscars4608]

Fawkes, a super mutant, saying no is peak Bethesda writing. God damn.

[@MegaHellstrike]

I feel like without Broken Steel Fawkes wasn't just an asshole, I think he straight up forgot that he's a Supermutant. RL-3 was programmed to be a dickhead though

[@Dededeleted]

Fawks not going in made sense to me, because he'd been locked in a room reading books for the last two hundred years. he sees whats going on and is like "no way man, you HAVE to finish your 7 act hero's journey. This is where your dad died, it's way too poetic for you to not kill yourself to save the wasteland."

[@ebrim5013]

Yeah, someone got a little too attached to how they thought this should end. Having someone who doesn’t care about radiation go in there and take care of it is awesome and should be rewarded.

[@antipsychotic451]

i really love how you can hear the writer's pure hatred for having to re-write the ending to actually make sense. the passive-aggressive nature of lyons and fawkes going "okay, fine, you wanna do it this way? that's fine" is coming straight from the writer's mouth

[@miserjonesakamaestropirouette]

This moment was so poorly executed that it's not even funny. All they had to do was contrive a reason for you to get separated from your companions before making it to this room. Instead, they opened the door for possibly the worst ending in RPG history. Marvelous.

[@TheSexhaver2625]

I always thought it would’ve been brilliant if your companion tragically died right before

[@howmanybabiesdidNestleKill]

RL-3 is my favorite.

[@nepetaren1267]

Charon is already groaning before you even turn to him lmaooo

[@curvingfyre6810]

I had no idea fallout 3 had so many companions. Literally never had any of them lol

[@bobhihih]

The fawkes original ending wasnt available because they didnt get the narrator to read another one.

[@basketbomberslackingson4417]

That doesn’t change the fact they forgot a radiation immune follower could finish the job with no drawbacks (there are two other followers who are immune to add to this).

[@MrCrespo583]

Bethesda Writing in a nutshell! Writing themselves into a corner and doing absolutely nothing to fix it. Pretty cool how nobody, not even the radiation inmune characters are willing to go into the purifier, because Bethesda wants really badly to have a "you're a hero for your sacrifice" ending but they dont put in the effort to make it make sense in the context of this world.

[@EliteKnight97]

I like how clover suddenly not only breaks her brainwashing, but also loses her accent

[@flashn00b]

Fawkes: "My immunity to radiation would make me a far suited candidate!" Also Fawkes: *nearly dies in the chamber*

[@samsizer2919]

I don't remember nearly as much about games as I would like, but, I do distinctly remember being like 15 and once this situation came, my immediate thought was "I have Fawkes, he retrieved the G.E.C.K., radiation is nothing to a super mutant" and then his response confused the shit out of me. It was the first time in my first FO3 playthrough where I was openly questioning the writing and how bullshit that was. Of course, today, I question so much more of the writing, but, for a 15 year old me to be blown out of the immersion of a finale to a game like Fallout 3 because of some horrible vague excuse like Fawkes gives is pretty bad. Broken Steel was such a big deal for me because it corrected such a dumb error. Though, it still shames you for not doing it yourself and even if you do it yourself, you still live thanks to the DLC. Just a mess.

[@robertspence402]

Fawkes rl3 and charon should not be bad ending they can handle radiation

[@MIchaelArlowe]

Also what is Bethesda’s obsession with making every main character a vault dweller searching for a missing family member?

[@aidanmcwhirter2612]

HOW DO YOU GET BUTCH AS A COMPANION

[@TopGameWorld]

after the Trouble on the Homefront quest he can be found in the Muddy Rudder in Rivet City.

[@zekun4741]

You have to be very cool. Nerds don't get the option

[@aidanmcwhirter2612]

@@zekun4741 I’m going to put my quantum harmonizer in your photonic resonation chamber if you don’t take that back

[@apreviousseagle836]

@@zekun4741 What about nerds with power armor and a plasma rifle?

[@Kris.G]

And he will only join if your karma is neutral

[@bogdanwalewiadro5717]

🤓 EEeeehh you gotta go in there and die because me bethesda story writer said so go in there and die what a glorious death innit? What some characters are immune to radiation ? Dosent matter there is so much glory in death *snorks* eeeeh mm 🤓

[@Rayne__79]

“Find yourself another guinea pig”-🍀

[@solusaldrain]

I couldn't hear anything over all that railroading...

[@Luca___00]

Hearing these explanations is what led me to poison the water. If everyone wants my character dead then all the other characters in the game will die too.

[@flashn00b]

Double post cuz I love how the literal slave will defy your order to activate the purifier, completely forgetting that she has an explosive collar

[@punk4adayoioi]

This is the only game where being forced to buy a dlc for a better ending is exceptable

[@outlawbackwoods931]

So you have to buy a dlc to not go in the death room?

[@basedandredpille]

nah just send Sarah or wait till the memorial goes boom

[@Kumire_921]

When i did this part i just said fuck no to self sacrifice, told Lyons to go there and input the code herself then didn't give her the combination until she begged me for it. Then i simply watched her die and the narrator insulted me at the end of the game. 10/10 would do it again

[@CyberSpider35]

The everyone except for Butch put on so weak excusitions.

[@AmericanCaesarian]

This game suffers from the ending having stupid writing, as well as the main story having stupid writing, with the enclave making zero sense as a faction ( a computer makes them the bad guys, and when you play nice with them Bethesda goes Um aktually no 🤓 and kills you)

[@vylbird8014]

Fallout 3 just serves to remind everyone how good New Vegas is.

[@rustyjones7908]

I feel like charon just telling you to go tuck yourself in was at least in character

[@610Hobbies]

Do your companions die if they go in? I know Sarah does if you tell her to punch the code, but I don't remember if the other companions do as there is an explosion that KOs them out.

[@cullenatwood5149]

The companions immune to radiation like Charon and Fawkes don’t die

[@Rad-Dude63andathird]

I actually like how they rewrote Fawkes' bit about destiny.

[@MisiekCentralny]

When i was playing F3 for the first time i had Fawkes as a companion. After his refusal i just killed him.

[@grievetan]

Fawkes is a real one

[@travismcnasty4239]

I don't want to purify the water if I can drink a cup of it.

[@charliemcmillan4561]

literally about to cry because you can tell dogmeat goodbye

[@edmundprice5276]

The worst part about this is that even if you send someone else in there that won't get harmed you still get punished by the person reading the cut scene for your supposed cowardice

[@PresidentMikeJohnson]

jericho was always my favorite

[@jinx1987]

Wow, that is an annoyingly forced sacrifice. Like they couldn’t come up with a better reasoning why it’s gotta be you besides “It’s your destiny”

[@shishoka]

I miss the alternate ways to get past the vault guards at the beginning of the game.

[@rossrockomurphy2277]

Hahaha asking butch is such a story arc.

[@pknuttarlott4934]

I always used Fawkes with no issues.

[@Redgrave2442]

The best part about this is I’m pretty certain everyone who says no and that it’s what your father would’ve wanted is basically them bitching out and being afraid to die. The only difference is the narrator will call you out and not them

[@Redgrave2442]

I also hate that everyone just expects you to die for this because your father started it. Since when does your parent starting something warrant that you have you be the one to end it and die?

[@Azure_fae]

If a having a poetic or big moment to end your journey is enough of a reason to kill yourself( or as Fawkes described it, being your destiny), when there's perfectly logically superior options to resolving this, one that has no casualties, then the world truly has gone to shit and all common sense has went out the window. This is Bethesda writing at it's finest, botching the story at it's climax because they were likely in a rush to finish the game or just didn't care and wanted the story to fit their narrative rather than giving players a choice. This is why most people say new Vegas was way better, because it actually gives the player choices instead of the story holding your hand and following a single path with no way to branch out and do something different, I don't even recall if putting FEV virus in the water does much of anything, it certainly doesn't if you don't have the DLC other than painting a clearly black and white choice of good choice versus bad choice and anything that doesn't fit into that, anything gray is thrown out, it's why their writing is piss poor, you're not playing an RPG game, you're playing an interactive book. Now I should probably say I still love fallout 3, atleast for it's setting and atmosphere and world building, they did a great job with that stuff and it's still a blast to play, unfortunately the games story sucked and it's characters were bland. Still a 7/10 game I'd say, just needed better writing.

[@vylbird8014]

There's an old - very old - sci-fi story, The Cold Equations, which got a reputation for a similar problem. It was supposed to be a sort of moral dilemma: A stowaway on a spaceship making an urgent medical supply run unknowingly throws off the mass calculations for the very delicate FTL drive - the only way for the ship to make it to the destination is to get rid of the unplanned mass. In the end she accepts her mistake and willingly dies to save the ship and the colonists. Nice, simple little moral story about the nobility of sacrifice and accepting when one is to blame. At least it was until it was published, and the nerdy sci-fi types started writing to the author and magazines pointing out a hundred very obvious resolutions to the dilemma in which no-one dies. How about venting the same mass in atmosphere, and making do with a slightly reduced pressure? Or stripping non-structural panelling out? Or the packaging material from the supplies? Go naked and use the space-toilet if you need to save another couple kilos. Unbolt the furniture and throw that out the airlock. So many possibilities. Here we have the same problem: The writers have decided that their ending should feature a noble heroic sacrifice. Great trope, everyone loves a good death like that - gives a character a chance to go out on the ultimate high note. But having decided on this, they just have to twist and shoehorn the story in order to force it, even if that means defying basic logic. There's a nice modern example in Lost, when the characters discover the power cable leading to a secret undersea facility just below the low tide level off-shore, containing a radio jammer. Someone has to make the heroic sacrifice, diving down and into the facility from below to find and turn off the transmitter - even though this is a certain death mission with a slim chance of success, because disabling the jammer is the only hope of calling for rescue. Great setup... and somehow, no-one makes the obvious suggestion of cutting or burning through the very exposed, very vulnerable power cable which is conveniently sitting on the beach.