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For the Van Buren character, see Arcade Gannon (Van Buren). |
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“I'm really very boring. You'd get better stories out of a Freeside junkie.”
Arcade Israel Gannon[1] (born 2246)[1] is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse and possible companion in 2281.
Arcade is currently researching the potential medicinal uses of naturally occurring compounds in the Mojave Wasteland for the chapter residing in Freeside's Old Mormon Fort. Research into the project is slow going, as Arcade considers many of the avenues "fantastic improbabilities" but is enthusiastic about helping people regardless.[2] However, if someone were to come to him with a more pressing issue, he would step away from his research to help with more pressing matters.
Contents
Background
Arcade Gannon is the son of an Enclave officer,[3] born in Navarro in 2246,[4][5] four years after the destruction of Control Station Enclave.[4] His father died while Arcade was still an infant, killed in combat on an away mission; to this day, the specifics of his father's death are unknown to him.[6] As he grew up, he bonded closely with his mother and his surrogate family, the Enclave remnants, a group that had formerly served in the same unit as his father. In the wake of the NCR's sacking of Navarro, the group fled the area and attempted to integrate into civilian life, but this was short-lived. Between the Republic and the Brotherhood of Steel both launching aggressive campaigns to track down all personnel that had not already been killed or detained during the siege, the Remnants were forced to retreat further into the eastern territories.
They eventually settled in the Mojave Wasteland and started new lives, their past associations kept secret for fear of further reprisals. Gannon joined the Followers of the Apocalypse to find a peaceful application for his skills and began working in Freeside. Though he's attempted to put the past behind him, he continues to dwell on the shared experiences of his family and his father's old unit, hoping that someday he can repay the Remnants for their unwavering loyalty to both him and his mother. Gannon trained as a doctor with the Followers in the NCR.[7] He prefers research to healing because he is "not good with people."[8][9] In his spare time he reads "Pre-War books about failed socioeconomic policies".[4] Gannon speaks fluent Latin, although he is quick to assure the Courier that it was not a skill he picked up from Caesar's Legion.[10]
Personality
Arcade is highly intelligent, personable, and quick-witted. He sports a strong self-deprecating sense of humor, which he frequently uses to deflect questions of a personal nature. He shares the idealism of the Followers, but he also tries to be more pragmatic than some of his colleagues. He understands the post-apocalyptic world is one in which sometimes people just have to be killed, but if something is failing it will fail on its own.[11]
He has a deep-seated desire to effect societal change on a broad spectrum, but he is only too familiar with what can happen when ideals become more important than the needs of individuals. This has led him to take a more balanced approach to the troubles of the post-war landscape, taking up the Followers' cause to help those around him achieve independence, assisting in the effort to make the less fortunate communities become more self-reliant. Though he may concede that the NCR's motives are in some ways similar, it's likely that he sees their 'clean up' efforts as distressingly corollary to what he offhandedly describes as the 'fascist' tactics of the Enclave.[12]
Arcade is strongly averse to groups he views as fascist and imperialist, such as the New California Republic and especially Caesar's Legion.[13][14] Arcade feelings on Caesar's Legion are by far the strongest, viewing Caesar as a regressive megalomanic that's re-creating the past instead of creating anything new.[15]
Relationships
Forced to conceal his past for fear of NCR persecution, he has a desire for companionship from someone he knows he can trust. While he admits to having had many men in his life, he says "lovers make poor confidantes."[16]
Arcade's mother has recently died,[16] so the only people he remains close to are the Enclave remnants, whom he sees as an extended family, though they've grown distant from each other over the years. His closest bond is with Daisy Whitman, who he describes as being "the only woman in his life" after the death of his mother.[16] His other experiences with the remnants vary. Memories of Judah Kreger are of him keeping the remnants together, an astonishing feat considering Cannibal Johnson and Orion Moreno's hostility, and how Kreger was always kind and welcoming to him but never getting too close. Arcade believe it was more of a sense of loyalty to his father.[17] Arcade's memories of the other members are weak, but of Moreno, he remembers his unwavering loyalty to the Enclave,[18] and of Cannibal Johnson he remembers his subversion of orders and him praising his father entirely and further comparing Arcade to him.[19]
By far the most affecting memories Arcade has are of his father. From the praise he's heard from all members of the remnants, he feels conflicted about his lot in life and how well he's lived up to the example his father set. Despite doing a great deal of good for people in Freeside, he still worries about whether or not the path he's taken is one his father could be proud of.[20] Arcade still keeps his father's personal suit of power armor, should the need arise for it,[21] but is at a crossroads between following his father's footsteps with the remnants or forging his own path he's personally proud of.[22]
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. Status expires when Hardcore mode begins. | |
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This character is a temporary companion. | |
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This character is a permanent companion. They grant the Better Healing perk. | |
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This character starts quests. | |
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This character is involved in quests. | |
Recruiting as companion
There are several ways for the Courier to recruit Arcade. In each case, assuming the requirements are met, they just need to talk to him, exploring the dialogue options until some variant of "Why don't you come with me?" shows up. He will agree if any of the following are true:
- The Courier has a high reputation with the Followers.
- The Courier has successfully completed High Times and given Julie Farkas the needed medical supplies.
- Note that for this approach, the Courier needs to first ask, "Do you need any help?" after which Arcade will thank the Courier for their work for the Followers and a "join me" option will appear.
- The Courier can pass a Speech check of 75.
- The Courier has the Confirmed Bachelor perk.
- If the Courier has an Intelligence of 3 or lower while speaking with him, Arcade will take pity on them. Temporary Intelligence-reduction effects can be useful in this situation if the Courier who cannot pass any of the other checks.
- As with Craig Boone, Arcade will refuse to join the Courier if they acquire a positive reputation with the Legion. To bypass this, the Courier can wear NCR faction armor and talk to Arcade again. It will temporarily bypass the faction check and allow Arcade to become a companion.
- However, unlike some of the other companions who are associated with their respective faction, Arcade is not affected by a negative reputation with the Followers of the Apocalypse when the Courier tries to recruit him.
Quests
- For Auld Lang Syne: After the Courier shifts the balance of power between factions and explores several locations Arcade will recall memories of his days with the Enclave. This will reunite the members of his father's old squad in order to have them render assistance in the upcoming battle at Hoover Dam.
- Beyond the Beef: The Courier can offer Arcade (or any other human companion) as a substitute main course to Mortimer for the banquet. Mortimer makes remarks about his height and his chin.
- Bitter Springs Infirmary Blues: Arcade can give Markland the specialized medical training he needs, bypassing the part of the quest that requires the retrieval of Tiny, Tiny Babies: All You Need to Know About Pediatric Medicine and Stress and the Modern Refugee: A Primer.
- Et Tumor, Brute?: The Courier has the option of selling Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor, completing the quest but losing Karma.
- ED-E My Love: When asked about which faction to send ED-E to near the end of ED-E My Love, he will unsurprisingly urge you to give it to the Followers.
- That Lucky Old Sun: In HELIOS One (and after listening to Fantastic), Arcade will urge the Courier to divert power to Freeside and outer Vegas on the belief that the NCR already has power from Hoover Dam and Mr. House has resources unlike the unfortunate citizens of Freeside.
- The White Wash: Arcade will be very vocal over his preference for the player character to help Tom Anderson rather than turn him in.
Other interactions
- When recruiting Arcade with ED-E or Rex as a companion he will make a comment on either of them.
- Wearing a Legion outfit before recruiting Gannon and trying to activate conversation with is impossible as he will refuse to talk to the player character, stating he is only willing to talk after saying "take off that ridiculous Legion uniform. It's insulting."
- When putting Nuka-Cola in Arcade's inventory, Arcade will eventually drink the Nuka-Cola leaving only empty bottles and bottle caps.
- Arcade will comment on many quest events as the player character finds or completes them, such as when Vulpes Inculta gives the player character the Mark of Caesar commenting that Vulpes is the Legion's "most notorious" spy, when being asked to plant a bug in the Lucky 38 by Emily Ortal, or activating ARCHIMEDES II.
Comments
| Arcade Gannon's comments | |
|---|---|
| Location | Comment |
| Silver Rush | “That's a lot of energy weapons. Brings back some interesting memories.”
|
| Westside, before the completion of The White Wash. | “Westside, huh? I passed through here with another Follower a while back, Anderson. The locals were having a lot of trouble getting water through.”
|
| Westside, after the completion of The White Wash. | “Westside, huh? I heard about what happened with Anderson. Can't say I'm surprised. He was always a fringe operator in the Followers.”
|
| Crashed vertibird | “A vertibird. Interesting. It's been a long time since I've seen one of these.”
|
| The Tops, after getting the Mark of Caesar | “So Mr. House doesn't care that one of Caesar's most notorious Legion spies is walking around on the Strip. Either that or his Securitrons' AI is too primitive to recognize the threat. Neither answer is particularly comforting.”
|
| Lucky 38, upon accepting The Moon Comes Over the Tower | “Oh, hello Emily. Yes, it is I, Arcade Gannon, fellow member of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Would I like to help infiltrate the Lucky 38? I'm so glad you asked...”
|
| The Strip | “The Strip's not a bad place if you love terrible things and people. I'll never understand the allure of giving away your money to the rich.”
|
| REPCONN headquarters, front entrance | “I've read about REPCONN. I think they did some work with the... the government before the war. Rockets and some energy weapon prototypes, I think.”
|
| Camp McCarran, after talking to Thomas Hildern and leaving the OSI's section of the camp | “Hildern is a good example of 'big picture' obsession gone too far. At some point he became so fixated on large scale results that he lost the concept of 'the common good' along the way. It's an inhumane kind of public service when people and the basic resources they need become numbers in a ledger.”
|
| The Fort, entrance | “Wait, wait, wait a second. What's going on? Am I playing Vergil to your Dante? I'd like to assume that we're tiptoeing into the mouth of hell out of academic curiosity, but I'm not so open-minded that I've lost my brains.”
|
| Vault 22, entrance | “I'm no botanist, but I think this may not be entirely natural.”
|
| Bitter Springs, entrance path | “It's a shame what happened up here. I understand arguments about the 'fog of war', but that can't be much consolation to the survivors. Or to the NCR soldiers who have to live with what they did here.”
|
| Hoover Dam, near Hoover Dam visitor center | “Well, I'll be. Hoover Dam. One of the last remaining functioning wonders of the Pre-War world. I'm amazed it's still running at all. Too bad everyone's killing each other over it.”
|
| Old nuclear test site | “Nuclear waste disposal. Pre-War, people figured there was so much desert in Nevada, you might as well turn it into a big dumping ground. People didn't like it, but they weren't about to give up easy access to power, not with all of the petroleum drying up.”
|
| Accepting quest Three-Card Bounty | “I'm not exactly a mercenary, but taking out scumbags of this magnitude wouldn't cause me to lose any sleep.”
|
| Asking him to join while having ED-E as a companion without having finished ED-E My Love | “There's something about that robot that doesn't seem... all right to me. I'm not saying we shouldn't take it with us. I'm just saying that if it were to "fall" into Lake Mead and be irreparably damaged... and if you threw an EMP grenade in after it... Well, there are worse things happening in the world, right?”
|
Non-player character comments
- As a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse, Arcade is recognized all over the wasteland. When traveling with Arcade:
- The citizens of Freeside will often say "Howdy, Arcade." and will sometimes state that they are surprised to see that he is outside the fort, as they thought that "those scientist types liked to stay indoors."
- Members of Caesar's Legion will express their disbelief that a Follower had the courage to step out of Freeside.
- Powder Gangers and escaped convicts will speak of him in a derogatory manner, calling Arcade "four eyes."
- NCR citizens will berate the Courier for keeping company with "anarchist cultists" instead of "civilized persons."
- Great Khans will say "I haven't seen a Follower around here in years."
- The Kings gang members will comment "I see you've hired a Follower doctor. Smart move, with Freeside being what it is."
Making him quit
Arcade will get fed up with the Courier if they do or say things that he dislikes. He has an internal counter of "dislike" points that are increased by doing or saying stupid or mean things or doing things that hurt the Followers. Once he has accumulated 3 "dislike" points, he will warn the Courier that they are "acting crazy." Most of these possible "dislike" points may be obtained during The White Wash quest. At 6 points, he will leave permanently. He also tracks "like" points, but those are only used to decide if he will start the For Auld Lang Syne quest early or not.
The "dislike" points are triggered by the following statements or actions:
- Relating to The White Wash quest:
- 1 point for saying "Right. The Followers don't endorse his actions, and all that." when Arcade comments on Anderson, when visiting Westside after already having completed The White Wash without Arcade.
- 1 point for saying "They profit from crime, now I profit, too." when Arcade chastises the Courier if they finished the quest by extorting money from the Westside Co-op.
- 2 points for saying "Anderson killed White. He deserved to pay for what he did." when Arcade challenges the Courier if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
- 1 point for saying "What's done is done." when Arcade challenges the Courier if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
- 1 point for saying "You're assuming a motive without evidence. Please be rational." (which requires Intelligence 7), followed by "It was either this or spend the rest of his life in an NCR chain gang." when Arcade challenges the Courier, if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
- During the first visit to The Fort with Arcade along:
- 2 points for saying "With how messed up New Vegas is, do you really think Caesar has nothing to offer?" followed by "Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting." when Arcade asks why they are there.
- 1 point for saying "He seemed smart to me." after meeting Caesar for the first time when Arcade is a companion.
- After speaking to Thomas Hildern (any conversation that ends with "Yes...Goodbye" or "Wrong turn?...") with Arcade (one time) he will talk about Hildern's motives.
- 1 point for saying "But in the end, doesn't it all just come down to numbers anyway?"
- 1 point for murdering non-hostile innocents. (Dislike is not raised until Arcade comments negatively.)
Arcade will leave immediately and permanently if any of the following happens:
- The Courier responds to one of his challenges with some variation of "If you don't like it, leave."
- They enter the Legate's camp in preparation to help Caesar attack Hoover Dam.
- Convincing the Remnants to support Caesar's Legion during the For Auld Lang Syne quest.
- Activating Archimedes I. He will also turn hostile if the player character responds that it's "Time for the NCR to roast." (Diverting power to Archimedes II is not a problem.)
- Reporting back to Caesar after assassinating Kimball. He will leave regardless of the Courier's preparation to move on to the final mission. He will stay as long as the quest is unfinished.
Endings
This section is transcluded from Fallout: New Vegas endings. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.
| # | Slide | Voice-over narration | In-game condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Though Arcade's intentions were pure and his goals were noble, he ultimately succumbed to the harsh brutality of the Mojave like so many before him. |
Arcade dies. |
| 2a |  |
Tricked by the Courier and imprisoned by the Legion, Arcade remained Caesar's personal physician for several years. Caesar grew fond of speaking with such an educated man on philosophical matters. Arcade became his unwilling intellectual sparring partner. After years of such servitude, during an unguarded moment, Arcade used a surgical scalpel and his bare hands to disembowel himself. Lacking any other skilled medical personnel, the Legion was unable to prevent his death. Caesar mourned his loss for months. |
Sell Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor during Et Tumor, Brute?, complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion. |
| 2b | |
Though the Legion was victorious at Hoover Dam, the Legate did not have the same medical needs as Caesar. Lanius quickly tired of Arcade's acerbic wit and had the doctor crucified. |
Kill Caesar during Et Tumor, Brute? then sell Arcade to Lucius. Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion. |
| 3 | |
During the retreat of Caesar's Legion from the Mojave Wasteland, Arcade was a sad casualty, one of many. His body was heaped with those of many others in a nameless ravine on the Legion's long march home. |
Sell Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor during Et Tumor, Brute?, complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas. |
| 4 | |
Though Arcade had not hoped for an NCR victory, he was proud of his role in the defense of Hoover Dam against the forces of Caesar's Legion. Unfortunately, when word spread that Arcade was once a member of the Enclave, he was forced out of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Pursued by bounty hunters, NCR rangers, and the Brotherhood of Steel, Arcade pushed deep into the eastern plains and was never heard from again. |
Complete Eureka! for the NCR; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants. |
| 5 | |
Arcade had hoped that Freeside would be able to remain independent of NCR rule, but he was glad that Caesar's Legion had been stopped at Hoover Dam. He tended to the sick in Freeside for a while longer, then returned to NCR territory to become a teacher with the Followers there. |
Complete Eureka! for the NCR; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside. |
| 6 | |
Though Arcade was crushed by the Legion's victory at Hoover Dam, he was not among NCR's casualties. During the NCR's retreat from the Mojave Wasteland, he helped defend NCR citizens and refugees on their way to Mojave Outpost. Unfortunately, a NCR ranger identified his father's armor as Enclave property. He was arrested, tried as a war criminal, and imprisoned indefinitely. |
Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for the Legion; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise both Arcade and the Remnants to aid the NCR. |
| 7 | |
When news reached Freeside that Legion forces were approaching New Vegas, Arcade did his best to help people escape with adequate supplies. A Legion explorer saw Arcade helping locals escape and pointed him out to a centurion. Arcade's group was run down somewhere near Westside. There were no survivors. |
Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for the Legion; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside. |
| 8 | |
Arcade was outraged by Mr. House's power play following the defeat of Caesar's Legion at Hoover Dam. Though he remained in Freeside for a short time after the Securitrons established widespread control, he eventually traveled back into NCR territory. Disillusioned with the Followers of the Apocalypse, he settled down in the outskirts of the Boneyard, where he worked happily as a family doctor. |
Complete All or Nothing for Mr. House; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside. |
| 9 | |
Though Arcade was proud to have been one of the defenders who turned back the Legion at Hoover Dam, he was crushed by Mr. House's ascent to power. Saddened by the loss of life and liberty in the area, Arcade left the Mojave Wasteland for parts unknown. He was never heard from again. |
Complete All or Nothing for Mr. House; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants. |
| 10 | |
Arcade was proud to have been one of the defenders who helped repel the Legion from Hoover Dam. He was prouder still to see the area freed from the shackles of the NCR and Mr. House. Though independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it could be, Arcade used his Enclave knowledge and technology to keep order wherever he could. |
Complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants. |
| 11 | |
Arcade was tending to the locals of Freeside when he learned that Caesar's Legion had been defeated and NCR was being pushed out of New Vegas. Though he found that independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it would be, Arcade did his best to help the locals govern themselves. |
Complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside. |
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade's lab coat Eyeglasses Gannon family Tesla armor* Gannon family Tesla helmet* |
Arcade Gannon's Plasma Defender** Arcade Gannon's Ripper |
Stimpak x3 |
* Only worn if fighting at Hoover Dam.
** Because Arcade's Plasma Defender uses magical companion ammo instead of energy cells, it does not have the -2 DT effect that comes from using standard energy ammunition. Otherwise, the weapon has the same statistics as the standard version.
Notes
- Arcade is the most intelligent companion, with an Intelligence of 10, and is the most charismatic companion, with a Charisma of 6.
- Arcade is noticeably taller than most non-player characters, as well as the Courier. The only characters taller than Arcade are The King, Pacer, Jean-Baptiste Cutting and Legate Lanius.
Notable quotes
- "If you set aside his leadership capabilities, extensive knowledge, and ruthless cunning... he's just another jerk who steps on people to get his way."
- "I'm no botanist, but I think this may not be entirely natural."
- "I don't think you need to worry about the specifics. Basically, expect a lot of firepower and dead bodies."
- "I'm enthusiastic about helping people, but nihil novi sub sole. (There's nothing new under the sun.)"
- "I'm really very boring. You’d get better stories out of a Freeside junkie."
- "I'm not exactly a mercenary, but taking out scumbags of this magnitude wouldn't cause me to lose any sleep."
- "Victrix causa deis placuit sed victa Catoni. (The conquering cause pleased the gods, but the conquered cause pleased Cato.)"
- "I can't comprehend how Caesar could so extensively scramble your sense of morality to make you think the Legion is a better alternative to anything."
- "No, really. Have you ever snorted a ground up Cazador venom sac? Neither have I, but I can guarantee you that a Freeside junkie has."
- "Okay. I just wanted you to confirm that I'm traveling in the company of an insane fascist. Thanks."
- "The people who live here don't deserve to be victims of your misguided attempts at political engineering. Or are they just collateral damage?"
- "'Knowledge is power,' but to what end for Henry, I have no idea. The problem was what mattered to him, not its practical impact."
- "I mean, I'm not like them. I was born at Navarro and my father served with them, but I wasn't really part of the Enclave. It seems presumptuous of me to think that I could join the fight, even if this is a cause worth fighting for. Because I know once the fighting breaks out at the Dam, all hell is going to break loose in Freeside. They're going to need every doctor they can get."
- "Great! You're either unimaginably cruel or profoundly insane!"
- "I still don't know how this is all going to shake out in the end, but at least the Enclave can atone a bit for all the damage it's done."
- "All I ask is that you put it to good use. This place has lived in the shadow of Caesar for long enough. I may not be the one to help stop him here, but you are. Fortis fortuna adiuvat. Good luck, and good bye."
- "Oh, you know. Finding alternative treatments for common illnesses and injuries. Stimpaks out of barrel cacti and other fantastic improbabilities. As far as fruitless wastes of time go, it's quite noble in its aims."
- "Hey there! Was it always your plan to sell me into slavery to Caesar, or was that just a spur of the moment thing?"
- "Why don't you make like Odysseus and get lost?"
- "...Wow. You sound like you really do need some help."
- "Wait, wait, wait a second. What's going on? Am I playing Vergil to your Dante? I'd like to assume that we're tiptoeing into the mouth of hell out of academic curiosity, but I'm not so open-minded that I've lost my brains."
Appearances
Arcade Gannon appears only in Fallout: New Vegas. He was originally set to appear in Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios (see Arcade Gannon).
Behind the scenes
- Arcade Gannon was one of several player characters J.E. Sawyer used while playing a Fallout tabletop RPG developed by Chris Avellone. As a character, he is also inspired by Sawyer's idealism.[23]
- Sawyer possesses a notebook of his original design for Arcade's character, created during the course of this tabletop game. During an October 2020 livestream, Sawyer revealed some content from this notebook, including the reference image used for Arcade (see gallery). In Arcade's profile, he is stated to be 34 years old and around 145 pounds. His middle name was originally "Daniel."[24]
- When brought to The Fort, Arcade will get upset with the Courier and ask "What's going on? Am I playing Virgil to your Dante?" This is a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy.
- Arcade's worst ending directly mimics the suicide of Cato when Julius Caesar became ruler of Ancient Rome; Cato slipped over while attempting to stab himself, and was forced to disembowel himself to succeed in what he sought; Caesar was unhappy at his death.
- If questioned about the Legion's use of Latin, Arcade will respond that "Caesar can cite Cato to suit his purposes." This is a paraphrase of the line "The devil can cite scripture for his purpose," from The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
Developer quotes
“Arcade's conflict is about his identity. He is torn between a sense of loyalty and tradition to his father and adoptive family and a desire to be independent, self-made. He feels caught between generations and cultures and isn't sure who he should be or how, if at all, to use the "legacy" (material and otherwise) left to him by his father.
Arcade's endings are intended to reflect that no one is damaged more by reality than the idealist. He does his best to be practical and rational, but there is a strong idealist streak in him/the Followers in general. In some of Arcade's "best" endings (meaning, the circumstances he thought he wanted), he is still somewhat disappointed by how things turned out. In his "worst" endings, he can wind up bitterly disillusioned, brutally murdered, crucified, casually executed and discarded in a ditch, or even defiantly suicidal.
Arguably the worst ending is the one in which Arcade is given to Caesar as an enslaved doctor. The existence is so unbearable to him that he does what the historical Cato the Younger did at Utica: rather than give Caesar satisfaction, he disembowels himself. Like Cato, Arcade cannot live in a world where everything he tried to resist has come to pass.”— Joshua Sawyer on Formspring“Hey, sorry if this has been asked before, but I had a question about Arcade Gannon, specifically the ending where he’s sold to Caesar. Why doesn’t he kill him during the surgery, or even refuse to do the operation so Caesar might die of his tumor? Sure, he’d probably be crucified for either of these things, but given that he’s willing to disembowel himself later on I would have assumed he would have been willing to die in order to strike a blow against the legion, especially since slavery is the only thing to look forward to if he lives.
Arcade is an idealist, so I did not think that he would do harm in his capacity as a doctor, nor would he refuse to provide medical aid even to a mortal enemy. Yes, Arcade will follow you around and blast everything in the Mojave Wasteland with his plasma defender, but the circumstances of gameplay are different from when he’s put in the position of providing (or not) medical aid.
Arcade is not a pragmatic person, so in the circumstances where he becomes a long-term instrument of Caesar (post-endgame), he disembowels himself rather than living as a tool of evil (in his mind). His suicide is intended to mirror the death of one of the most notable idealists of the Roman Republic, Cato the Younger.
His name is also intended to reflect his idealism. At a certain point in time, the region of Arcadia became associated with an idyllic state of being, later utilized in the memento mori Et in Arcadia ego.”— Joshua Sawyer on TumblrBugs
- Follower-related
- If you have Lily and ED-E as a companion it is possible to recruit him as a third companion. This is also true for Veronica Santangelo. It is also possible to have Rex, Raul, and Arcade at the same time.[verified]
- After dismissing Arcade as a companion to the Old Mormon Fort, he sometimes becomes un-recruitable again through dialogue. Dismiss your non-humanoid companion (ED-E or Rex) to the Lucky 38/their Home and try Arcade's dialogue again. His follower dialogue will reappear.[verified]
- After completing For Auld Lang Syne and convincing Arcade to stay in Freeside instead of returning to Freeside he may just wander around the lucky 38 suite unrecruitable and just becomes an information hub until all of his speech options are exhausted. This happens when Arcade is sent to the Lucky 38, then completing For Auld Lang Syne. If you don't want Arcade in the Lucky 38 send him back to the Old Mormon Fort when firing him. This may happen even if he is not fired before completing the quest.[verified]
- Sometimes he will still be recruitable after completion of For Auld Lang Syne. He will not display a companion screen and will die in casual mode instead of being knocked unconscious, but will still follow the player.[verified]
- After completing his quest For Auld Lang Syne, when you talk to him you cannot exit the conversation. In order to exit, you must reload a save.[verified]
- There is a way to get Arcade Gannon to still be your follower after For Auld Lang Syne. Be sure to save before you go outside as he can disappear after he gives you the Gannon family Tesla armor, you can follow him out when he is getting his father's armor and then ask him to be your follower again, as many times until it works, you have to pick the option to go back to Freeside as this is the only way he will not be locked in the remnants bunker's command center.[verified]
- Sometimes when you don't have any followers, you may ask him to be a follower and he will claim that there are too many people in your party already. Recruiting Rex or ED-E before asking Arcade to join will alter his response tree and get him to accept your offer to join.[verified]
- Arcade will occasionally die upon fast travel.[verified]
- While in combat, explosions may occur around Arcade, and permanently cripple his legs. Trying to use stimpaks and/or doctor's bags will not work, nor does dismissing Arcade as your companion and waiting a considerable amount of time. (after dismissing him you can watch him hobble around at the Old Mormon Fort at Freeside). A possible fix is to change his apparel and get him to attack, this should bring him out of his crippled state. He will also be unable to fast travel with the Courier. Waiting for him to catch up is a possible solution if you cannot remember where you lost him.[verified]
- Sometimes when you enter the Old Mormon Fort, Arcade may become duplicated.[verified]
- Sometimes when either non-humanoid companions are in the party when conversing with Arcade the travel together option will not display, dismissing the other companion will allow him to be recruited.[verified]
- When speaking to Arcade while he is recruited the option to tell him to follow you may not appear. This can be fixed by telling him to wait then telling him to follow you in the companion wheel.[verified]
- Enemies turned to 'goo piles' by Arcade's plasma pistol will sometimes remain for the entire game. This can be especially annoying as it will take up more memory and possibly lead to lags in FPS.[verified]
- Inventory-related
- When Arcade returns any items the courier has given to him (Due to leaving should the player activate the Archimedes, or at the end of For Auld Lang Syne), it is possible that he will not re-equip his default Followers outfit, leaving him "naked" for the remainder of the game.[verified]
- Give Arcade a pre-War bonnet to put on & the game rendering messes up. Might happen on other gaming platforms & maybe on different companions but not tested yet.[verified]
- Boone will take his Plasma Defender if both are waiting in the Lucky 38. He will use it instead of his hunting rifle, leaving Arcade unarmed. The weapons don't appear on the inventory. A way to fix this bug is by doing the companion glitch with Veronica.[verified]
- Sometimes after entering a casino and you hand over your weapons, Arcade will not get his default weapon back (or any you issued him) and will attack with fists (During this glitch I could not issue him another weapon, due to the fact he would equip it and the first time he engaged in combat he would instantly deplete the condition of the weapon to 0% and drop it saying "This weapon is done for") Not sure if this problem is isolated to the Xbox360.[verified]
- Arcade will not use any GRA ranged weapons.[verified]
- Sometimes if Arcade equips a weapon that is placed into his inventory, it will vanish from his inventory after fast-traveling and he will switch back to his Plasma Defender.[verified]
- Sometimes weapons issued to Arcade such as the Gauss rifle may appear as though they have a full condition, but after a short battle with one or more enemies the weapon will become completely depleted with no warning except an occasional remark from Arcade about needing a new weapon. To further complicate matters, he will likely discard the depleted weapon, making it difficult or impossible to locate and repair. It is highly recommended that the courier saves the game frequently and checks his inventory often when giving Arcade any rare or named weapons.
- Arcade might stop following the "stay back" command. This persists on any new or old save file. There is no known fix.[verified]
Gallery
Collector's Edition playing card
Arcade Gannon inside the Old Mormon Fort
Arcade Gannon's original reference image
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Meet the Companions
- ↑ Arcade Gannon: "Hi. If you're looking for medical help, try the other doctors. I'm just a researcher. Not even a particularly good one."
The Courier: "What kind of research"
Arcade: "Oh, you know. Finding alternative treatments for common illnesses and injuries. Stimpaks out of barrel cacti and other fantastic improbabilities. As far as fruitless wastes of time go, it's quite noble in its aims."
The Courier: "Why do you do research instead of providing medical assistance?"
Arcade: "Not all Followers are 'people persons.' Besides, someone needs to do research. I have no problem with Julie sticking me back here. Out of sight, out of mind. There are worse things one can be, though I do admit, it is a bit boring. Though it has a noble goal, I don't think this research will yield much fruit. No pun intended."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "What are you talking about?"
Arcade Gannon: "I wasn't always with the Followers, or with the NCR. My late father was an officer in a group called the Enclave, a remnant of America's Pre-War government. Memories being short around here, not a whole lot of people remember them. But they did bad things. Terrorized communities, kidnapped people. Eventually, someone stopped them. I was born a few years later at a military base on the coast, a place called Navarro."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Courier: "Arcade, I'm asking you because I'm interested. Don't put yourself down."
Arcade Gannon: "Oh, all right. I'm thirty-ish. Well, late thirties. I was born...west of here. I was an only child and spent most of my time with my mother. My father died when I was young and I never got over it. Oh... and I like medicine and reading books about failed Pre-War socioeconomic policies."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "You've certainly done your part."
Arcade Gannon: "I've been wondering about Daisy and the others for so long, I still haven't figured out what I should do. I mean, I'm not like them. I was born at Navarro and my father served with them, but I wasn't really part of the Enclave. It seems presumptuous of me to think that I could join the fight, even if this is a cause worth fighting for. Because I know when fighting breaks out at the dam, all hell is going to break loose in Freeside. They're going to need every doctor they can get."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Where did the Enclave go?"
Arcade Gannon: "A lot of different places. I only know what I was told. Some of them were cut down by the NCR and the Brotherhood. Some of them went east. My mother never told me what happened to my father, but she and I went south with some others and integrated into the NCR. When the NCR learned that Enclave personnel had integrated, we kept moving to the fringes. It's one of the reasons why I wound up out here."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "How did you join the Followers?"
Arcade Gannon: "Honestly, it isn't too difficult if you have half a brain and aren't a complete jerk. I wanted to help people and I enjoyed learning, so I signed up. New Vegas is in trouble, so I came out here. If someone doesn't step up and try to help the people here, it's going to end very badly."
The Courier: "Where did you get your medical training?"
Arcade Gannon: "The Followers taught me everything I know about medicine. Despite our humble abode here in New Vegas, we have great facilities back in the NCR. We may have over extended ourselves by setting up camp in Freeside, but the people here need help from someone. If not us, who?"
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Why do you do research instead of providing medical assistance?"
Arcade Gannon: "Not all Followers are 'people persons.' Besides, someone needs to do research. I have no problem with Julie sticking me back here. Out of sight, out of mind. There are worse things one can be, though I do admit, it is a bit boring. Though it has a noble goal, I don't think this research will yield much fruit. No pun intended."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Why do you do research instead of providing medical assistance?"
Arcade Gannon: "Like I said before, not all Followers are good with people. I'm fine doing research back here, even if it is a bit boring... and pointless... and a complete waste of time. Don't mind me. I'm just voicing my thoughts so they don't burrow out of my skull in a fit of abject despondency."
The Courier: "You don't sound too enthusiastic about it."
Arcade Gannon: "I'm enthusiastic about helping people, but nihil novi sub sole."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Where did you learn that?"
Arcade Gannon: "Not from the Legion, if that's what you're getting at. Books. Sheet music. Gladiator movie holotapes. Bits and pieces here and there. The Followers have extensive libraries, but we all draw water from the same old well. Even Caesar."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "NCR is broken beyond repair. Its time has come."
Arcade Gannon: "If the NCR is broken, it will fail on its own. The people who live here don't deserve to be victims of your misguided attempts at political engineering. Or are they just collateral damage?"
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Do you always deflect personal questions?"
Arcade Gannon: "Only to obfuscate my past association with a fascist paramilitary organization. I'm joking, of course. I will deflect personal questions at any opportunity."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "The NCR needs help against the Legion before Caesar moves on the dam. We could use your skills."
Arcade Gannon: "The NCR had a chance to use the Followers' skills before, but being imperialists mattered more to them. No thanks."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "I don't think either of us can fully understand what he and the tribes have gone through."
Arcade Gannon: "A fair point, but from the perspective of someone on the east side of Arizona, the man is clearly out of his mind. Maybe he didn't intend for things to wind up this way, but that doesn't mean he needs to perpetuate this bizarre anachronistic myth. And it doesn't mean that we should sit by and nod our heads at every absurd faux-Roman casus belli he can dream up. He's a tyrant. The bad kind. And there's no way we're letting him take Hoover Dam."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "He's a madman. What did you expect?"
Arcade Gannon: "Well, yeah! Right. What did I expect? The man's a megalomaniac. He acts like this is some pre-ordained cycle we're returning to. Of all the people who could learn from our past mistakes, he goes and throws all of our knowledge off of a cliff. Instead of trying to learn from the past, he re-creates it, runs back over the same old barren ground."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Arcade Gannon: "Since my mother died, Daisy's been the only woman in my life. She was the only other woman close to my father, too. She flew him out on over a dozen missions, including his last. I've always been close to Daisy. There have been some good men along the way, but lovers make poor confidants. Daisy never had children of her own, so she was always there to listen. Being in the Enclave didn't mean much to her. She just loved to fly. It broke her heart to be grounded."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ Arcade Gannon: "Judah Kreger is the glue that's kept us all together over the years, and with good reason. Anyone who can command Moreno and Johnson in the same unit without somebody getting fragged is one hell of a leader. Kreger was polite and kind, but never warm. He always did his best to make me feel welcome in the group. I think he did it out of a sense of loyalty to my father. Loyalty means a lot to Judah. Not loyalty to the Enclave, or even the ideals they fought for, but to the people who served with him."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ Arcade Gannon: "Moreno took the fall of the Enclave hard. He never questioned his orders, never questioned the legitimacy of what the Enclave was doing. To him, it was all one unbroken chain, from Washington to Richardson. When we left Navarro, I remember looking up at Moreno. He said, 'Kiss America goodbye, boys.' When we left the Enclave behind, the love in him burned itself out. Now there's just a bitter old man left."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ Arcade Gannon: "If I had to pick anyone who didn't belong in the Enclave, it would definitely be Johnson. He hated what the Enclave was doing. Day to day, week to week, he would question orders, subvert mission objectives, do anything he could to serve without serving. It's amazing he was never court-martialed. He always had good things to say about my father. Said I was like him in a lot of ways. I wish I knew."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "I'm sure your father would be proud of you."
Arcade Gannon: "I wonder if he would. It's pointless, I know, but sometimes I wonder what he wanted me to be. Maybe being a doctor in the middle of Nevada wasn't exactly what he had in mind for his little boy. I grew up without him. I'll always feel like something is missing from my life. But you're right. It's not like I'm the only kid in the wasteland who's grown up without a dad. Johnson always said my father was a good man. If that's the only thing about me that's like him, that's enough for me."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Thanks, I guess."
Arcade Gannon: "I have to admit, I did not expect that sort of response. This is one of the last surviving suits of original-issue Tesla armor from Navarro and it was worn by my father but... yeah I guess it's no big deal. Good luck at Hoover Dam. I'll uh... be going now, I guess."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "You've certainly done your part."
Arcade Gannon: "I've been wondering about Daisy and the others for so long, I still haven't figured out what I should do. I mean, I'm not like them. I was born at Navarro and my father served with them, but I wasn't really part of the Enclave. It seems presumptuous of me to think that I could join the fight, even if this is a cause worth fighting for. Because I know when fighting breaks out at the dam, all hell is going to break loose in Freeside. They're going to need every doctor they can get. "
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ J.E. Sawyer on Formspring
- ↑ Arcade portrait (clipped from larger livestream; October 24, 2020)
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