Fallout 3 Companions: A Guide to the Best Followers & How to Recruit Them

Introduction

The Capital Wasteland, a desolate expanse of shattered buildings and mutated creatures, can be a lonely place. As the Lone Wanderer, you’re tasked with navigating this treacherous landscape, searching for your father and uncovering the secrets of Vault one oh one. But you don’t have to go it alone. Fallout three companions, or followers as they are commonly known, offer invaluable assistance, companionship, and unique perspectives that enrich the overall experience. They’re more than just bullet sponges; they’re characters with their own stories, motivations, and skills that can significantly impact your gameplay.

Fallout three’s followers offer combat support, unique perks, and engaging storylines, enriching the player’s experience in the Capital Wasteland. This article provides a comprehensive guide to finding and utilizing these valuable companions. Whether you’re a seasoned Wastelander or a newcomer, understanding the intricacies of the follower system will drastically improve your chances of survival and enhance your immersion in this iconic post-apocalyptic world.

Why Use Followers? Benefits Abound

Venturing into the ruins of Washington D.C. without backup is a recipe for disaster. Followers provide a multitude of benefits, making them essential allies in your quest.

Combat Support

Firstly, there’s the undeniable combat support. A companion adds significant firepower to your arsenal. They can draw enemy fire, allowing you to flank or take cover, and their presence alone can deter weaker enemies from attacking. Whether you prefer a heavily armed soldier or a stealthy scout, having someone watching your back can be the difference between victory and a game over screen.

Inventory Management

Beyond combat, followers significantly ease inventory management. Encumbrance is a constant struggle in Fallout three. Followers can carry a substantial amount of extra weight, allowing you to loot more resources, collect valuable items, and keep yourself stocked with essential supplies like stimpaks and ammunition.

Roleplaying and Storytelling

Perhaps less tangible, but equally important, is the roleplaying and storytelling aspect. Companions aren’t just tools; they’re characters with their own histories and beliefs. Interacting with them offers different perspectives on the Wasteland, revealing insights you might otherwise miss. Their dialogue and actions add depth to the gameplay, making the world feel more alive and dynamic. You’ll learn about their past, their motivations, and their opinions on the events unfolding around you.

Unique Perks

Each companion also offers a unique perk once they are actively following you. These perks can range from increased accuracy with certain weapons to enhanced damage resistance. Strategically choosing a companion based on their perk can provide a significant advantage, tailoring your experience to your preferred playstyle.

Morality System Influences

It’s also crucial to be mindful that some companions may have moral standards that you must be careful about. If you are a good character they may not like you committing evil acts and can leave if you perform too many.

The Companions of Fallout 3: A Detailed Look at Your Potential Allies

Let’s delve into the specifics of each available companion, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and how to recruit them.

Loyal Canine: Dogmeat

Dogmeat is perhaps the most iconic companion in the Fallout series, and he makes a welcome return in Fallout three. You’ll find him at the Scrapyard, a location easily discoverable early in the game. He’s instantly recruitable and fiercely loyal.

Dogmeat’s strengths lie in his combat prowess and ability to locate items. He can quickly dispatch smaller enemies and distract larger ones, giving you crucial breathing room in a firefight. He can also be directed to search for items, alerting you to hidden stashes or enemies lurking nearby. His weaknesses? He’s still just a dog and isn’t heavily armored so he can die easier.

Dogmeat doesn’t offer a specific perk, but his combat assistance and utility are invaluable. He is best used for close-quarters combat and for scouting ahead.

The Ruthless Mercenary: Jericho

Jericho is a hardened mercenary residing in Megaton. He’s a cynical and pragmatic individual, reflecting the harsh realities of the Wasteland. Recruiting him requires having negative karma and paying him a sum of caps.

Jericho’s strengths are his combat skills, particularly with assault rifles. He provides a significant boost to your firepower. His weaknesses lie in his relatively low health pool and his moral alignment.

Jericho perk is that he provides a boost to your weapons skill. Use him in combat to help you shoot enemies from a distance.

The Sarcastic Robot: RL-3

RL-3 is a modified Protectron found at the RobCo Production Facility. To recruit him, you’ll need the Robotics Expert perk.

RL-3’s strengths lie in his combat capabilities and resistance to radiation. He’s a durable and reliable ally in irradiated environments. His weaknesses include his inability to be healed with stimpaks, relying instead on repair.

RL-3 provides you with bonus AP points when you recruit him. Use him to help you deal with stronger enemies and resist radiation.

The Righteous Paladin: Star Paladin Cross

Star Paladin Cross is a member of the Brotherhood of Steel stationed at the Citadel. Recruiting her requires having positive karma and progressing through the Brotherhood of Steel questline.

Cross’s strengths lie in her heavy armor and proficiency in melee combat. She’s a formidable tank who can withstand significant damage. Her weaknesses include her inability to utilize stealth effectively.

Star Paladin Cross perk is that she provides you with better damage resistance. She is best used as a tank in combat.

The Greaser: Butch DeLoria

Butch can be found at the Tunnel Snakes Hideout. You have to complete the trouble in the Tunnel Snakes quest.

Butch is a greaser who provides melee bonus, his weakness is that he has low health. He can be recruited if you return to the hideout after a quest.

Butch Deloria perk is that he provides a bonus to your melee damage. Use him when you are up close and personal with enemies.

The Super Mutant: Fawkes

Fawkes can be found at Vault eighty seven, after escaping the vault. He has no weaknesses and will automatically join your team.

Fawkes has strong ranged and melee combat skills, and is immune to radiation. He is a strong teammate, as he has no weaknesses.

Fawkes perk is that he has high damage resistance. He is best used when you have to fight enemies or enter a place that has radiation.

The Mechanical Menace: Sergeant RL-3

Sergeant RL-3 can be found by random encounters. He is a tough robot that has high weapon skill.

Sergeant RL-3 has a high weapon skill, but his repair skill is weak.

Sergeant RL-3 provides you with a bonus to your small gun skill. Use him as a team when fighting long ranged enemies.

Managing Your Followers: Optimizing Their Performance

Effectively managing your followers is crucial to maximizing their potential.

Giving Commands

You can issue commands to your followers using the command wheel. This allows you to direct them to specific locations, instruct them to attack certain targets, or tell them to wait in a particular area. Proper positioning can significantly improve their combat effectiveness.

Equipping Followers

Equipping your followers with appropriate weapons and armor is essential. Consider their skills and perks when selecting their gear. A follower proficient with energy weapons should be equipped accordingly, while a melee-focused companion should be given a powerful melee weapon and durable armor.

Supplying Ammo

Keep a supply of ammo for them.

Healing Followers

Followers can be healed with stimpaks, just like the player character. Regularly check their health and administer healing as needed to keep them in fighting shape.

Dealing with Death

Unfortunately, followers can die in Fallout three. Losing a valuable companion can be a significant setback. To prevent this, prioritize their safety, equip them with appropriate gear, and be mindful of their health.

Karma and Followers

Your actions and choices in the game can affect your relationship with your followers. Some companions may disapprove of certain behaviors, while others may be more tolerant. Choosing followers who align with your moral compass can lead to a more harmonious and rewarding experience.

Choosing the Right Follower: Tailoring Your Team

The best follower for you depends on your playstyle and the specific challenges you face.

Playstyle Considerations

Stealth players may prefer Dogmeat, who can scout ahead and silently dispatch enemies. Combat-focused players might opt for Jericho or Star Paladin Cross, who can provide significant firepower and tank damage. Good karma players will likely find Star Paladin Cross to be a more suitable companion than Jericho.

Team Composition

Creating a balanced team with different skills and strengths can be highly effective. A combination of a tank, a damage dealer, and a support character can provide a well-rounded approach to combat.

Quest-Specific Companions

Consider the specific quests you’re undertaking when choosing a follower. Some followers may have unique knowledge or skills that are particularly useful for certain objectives.

Tips and Tricks for Using Followers Effectively

Be aware of friendly fire. Followers are not immune to your attacks, and accidentally hitting them can damage your relationship and potentially turn them hostile.

Use your followers to carry loot. This can significantly increase your carrying capacity and allow you to collect more valuable items.

In Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Companionship

Fallout three companions are more than just extra muscle; they’re integral characters who enrich the world, provide tactical advantages, and add depth to the storytelling. By understanding their individual strengths, weaknesses, and how to manage them effectively, you can significantly enhance your experience in the Capital Wasteland. Experiment with different companions, explore their unique storylines, and discover the power of companionship in a desolate world. The Wasteland is a harsh place, but with the right allies by your side, you can overcome any challenge and forge your own legend. So, venture forth, Lone Wanderer, and find the companions who will help you shape the future of Fallout three. Don’t hesitate, dive into the depths of the wasteland today and you’ll quickly find it becomes all the more enjoyable with a friend by your side.