“Hell yeah, I do! I could be out there and kicking butt in my own gang and everything. The Tunnel Snakes could ride again! Or, y'know, slither again. Whatever!”
Butch DeLoria is a resident of Vault 101, the leader of the greaser-type gang known as the Tunnel Snakes, and possible companion of the Lone Wanderer in 2277.
Contents
Background
Born in 2257[verification overdue], Vault 101's resident bully, Butch masks his fear and sense of inadequacy regarding his alcoholic mother and the lack of a father figure by becoming boorish and overbearing. This masking of his shortfalls has stunted his secret desire to become a barber.[1]
Carrying his switchblade nicknamed "Butch's Toothpick," Butch is usually found among his fellow Tunnel Snakes: Wally Mack and Paul Hannon Jr.
During their formative years, the Tunnel Snakes harassed other students in the vault, even being bold enough to taunt the overseer's daughter Amata Almodovar. Due to an agreement with the overseer, the Tunnel Snakes are largely left to their own devices, and few stand in their way.
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
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This character is a permanent companion. | |
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This character is involved in quests. | |
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This character drops an ear when killed (Contract Killer). | |
Quests
- Growing Up Fast: On July 13, 2268, Butch attends the tenth birthday party of the Lone Wanderer. Butch mentions to other boys that he would not have come to the party if his mother did not insist he should attend. During the party, Butch holds a small meeting with his friends to toss around ideas for a name for their gang, during which he insults the idea of being called "Vault Dweller." He picks on the Lone Wanderer in an attempt to get a sweetroll, which can end with him starting a fight.
- Future Imperfect: On August 3, 2274, Butch and his friends are verbally and sexually harassing Amata. At this point, the player character can choose to: fight Butch and his gang, bully Amata about her weight, tell Butch that Amata's father will punish them, convince Wally to make the others leave with him by telling him that he is "just a follower," or ignore them and continue to the classroom. Later, after the G.O.A.T. examination, the teacher informs Butch that his G.O.A.T. exam answers determined him to be a hairdresser, something that amuses the long-suffering teacher and outrages Butch, who proclaims angrily, "I'm a barber, not a hairdresser!" He walks out of the room infuriated and meets his friends outside the classroom.
- Escape!: After James' escape, the Vault becomes infested by radroaches, and Butch's mother, Ellen DeLoria, is attacked by the insects. Butch asks the Lone Wanderer to help save her. They can choose to help Butch and his mom or leave them to their own demise. Butch can also be convinced to save his mother himself, either by giving him a weapon or passing a Speech check. Helping his mother earns the player character a Tunnel Snake outfit. Another option (if one's Charisma and/or Speech skills are sufficient) is to further torment Butch about his fear of radroaches via a successful Speech check, causing him to flee and abandon his mother. However, if choosing this option, Butch will be found dead as the player character goes upstairs to the atrium; the cause of his death unclear. There is also the choice to kill Butch outright, albeit with the consequence of making him unavailable as a companion later in the game.
- Trouble on the Homefront: During Vault 101's factional crisis, Butch sides with Amata's rebels. He will be upset about the Lone Wanderer's return due to all the problems they and their father's escape caused. Butch wishes to leave the Vault so he can make his own choices in life, and somewhat naively wants to start a new gang in the wasteland. If asked about the events after the escape, he will mention Stanley's fears about the damage the vault's systems sustained, and hints that permanent damage to the air filtration systems may force the vault to be evacuated. Of course, if Butch was killed during Escape!, he will not be in Vault 101.
- Tunnel Snakes Forever: When finishing up the Trouble on the Homefront quest, make sure Butch is still alive and the overseer has lost control (either by convincing him to step down, killing him, or sabotaging the vault). Travel to the Muddy Rudder, strike up a conversation, and he can be convinced to join up for some adventuring - but only if the player character's Karma is neutral.
Effects of player's actions
- Butch is one of the two neutral followers in Fallout 3. Following the resolution of the crisis, Butch can be found in the Muddy Rudder in Rivet City. Once one has recruited Butch, he will not leave if their Karma goes below or above the neutral range, but if they are separated or if they fire Butch, their Karma must return to neutral in order to recruit him again.
Other interactions
- Butch can give the Lone Wanderer a haircut after they return to the vault. If choosing to recruit him, he can also give a haircut anytime during their travels.
Inventory
- Fallout 3
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Snake outfit | 10mm pistol Butch's Toothpick Butch's switchblade* 10mm pistol* |
* Should you take his 10mm pistol, toothpick, and ammunition and don't replace them, Butch will use a non-player switchblade and 10mm pistol.
- Fallout Shelter
 | Outfit |
|---|---|
| Tunnel Snakes' outfit | |
| Weapon | |
| Lone Wanderer |
Notes
- Butch is afraid of radroaches. He admits this to the Lone Wanderer if asked why he himself does not go into the room to rescue his mother from the roaches instead of asking somebody else to.[2] He can be induced to overcome this fear with a Speech check.
- After becoming a companion in the Muddy Rudder, it is possible to obtain Butch's switchblade without killing him, as it is a tradable item in his inventory.
- If he is killed after he declines to be the player character's follower, the occupants of the Muddy Rudder will not turn hostile.
- Snowflake of Underworld insists that he is a stylist rather than a barber, seemingly the opposite of what Butch claims to be after taking the G.O.A.T.
- The male haircut, the "Tunnel Snake," is named after his gang and is sported by Butch himself.
- Unlike all other followers, Butch must have at least one round of 10mm ammunition in his inventory to use his default weapon (the 10mm pistol). However, he will not actually use up ammunition when firing his default pistol.
- Butch will occasionally mention needing some sunglasses while idle or walking around with the player character. Even if they place some sunglasses or the lucky shades in his inventory, he will wear them, but will still mention needing sunglasses.[3]
- In the Growing Up Fast quest, Butch can be heard discussing possible names for his future gang. Paul Hannon suggests the name "Vault Dwellers," which Butch calls out as stupid. This may be an homage to the Vault Dweller, the original Fallout protagonist.
- Despite wanting to form a gang, when trying to recruit him while having a current companion, he will complain about "crowding."[4]
- After the Lone Wanderer is given the BB gun, their father, James will say he fixed the gun with a spring from Butch's switchblade.[5]
- If the Lone Wanderer tries to recruit him with a Karma level that is too low, they will ask him to "rampage the wastes" with them, to which he will graciously decline saying that "...you're too intense." He will back this up, stating that "Butch likes a little action, but you...you're a psycho!"[6]
- Butch can also be found in Vault 106, as a hallucination in his Tunnel Snake outfit (along with the rest of the Tunnel Snakes) during the fight with the survivor in the lowest level of the vault.
- Despite requiring the player character to have Neutral karma to recruit him, Butch's karma is listed as Good in the game files.
- If the Lone Wanderer is female, some of Butch's dialogue will be flirty with them, saying, "If you wanna get closer to me, that's all you gotta say girl."[7]
Notable quotes
- "Tunnel Snakes rule!"
- "Hell yeah, I do! I could be out there and kicking butt in my own gang and everything. The Tunnel Snakes could ride again! Or, y'know, slither again. Whatever!"
- "I can show you a real Tunnel Snake, Amata."
- "Yeah, because that's how Snakes fight! Right up in your face, with fangs and... knives and stuff!"
- "I heard there were dragons out here... you ever seen one?"
- "You should have just given me the sweetroll."
- "What's the matter, teacher's pet? Gonna cry? Awww... Waaahh!"
- "You've changed. I mean, bad is one thing. Evil is another."
Appearances
Butch DeLoria appears in Fallout 3 and Fallout Shelter.
Behind the scenes
- Butch and his gang are modeled after 1950s-style juvenile delinquents known as "Greasers" seen in movies like West Side Story, The Wild One, Rebel Without A Cause, as well as later "retro" movies and TV programs that hark back to the same era.
- Butch trying to steal the sweetroll is a direct reference to one of the character creation questionnaires of Elder Scrolls 1, 2 and 3, also made by Bethesda. The scenario is also referenced by a guard in Elder Scrolls V, who asks: "Let me guess; someone stole your sweetroll."
Bugs
- If the player character has Fawkes as a companion and enters the Muddy Rudder, Fawkes and Butch will instantly turn hostile towards each other. [verified]
- If the player character enters the Test Labs of Vault 87, as a companion, Butch will not follow and die. Even having him wait anywhere outside the door; he will still die or disappear. [verification overdue]
Gallery
Butch during Growing Up Fast
Butch during Future Imperfect
Butch concept art by Adam Adamowicz
As seen during Trouble on the Homefront
References
- ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.64: "Butch DeLoria
Vault 101's resident bully and leader of the Tunnel Snakes, Butch masks his fear and sense of inadequacy about not having a father and having an alcoholic mother by becoming boorish and overbearing. Masking his shortfalls has stunted his secret desire to become a hairdresser."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Why do you need my help, anyway? Afraid of a few Radroaches?"
Butch: "Well... yeah, so I hate Radroaches. So what? I tried to go back in to help her, I swear I did! But I just can't do it! So I'm begging you, please help her. I don't know what I'd do without my mom."
(Butch's dialogue) - ↑ Butch: "I need some shades or something..."
(Butch's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Come along with me, and we'll make an awesome gang."
Butch: "I really wish I could, man, but three's a crowd, you know? I'll just stay here for now. Tunnel snakes rule!"
(Butch's dialogue) - ↑ James: "You know how tough it is to find a spring that small? Good thing Butch "misplaced" that switchblade of his. Ha ha ha!"
(James' dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Ride with me, and we can rampage across the Wasteland."
Butch: "Whoa, hey, that's cool and all, but you're just a little too... intense, y'know? I mean, Butch is down for action, but you... You're a psycho!"
(Butch's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Let's talk about how close you're following me."
Butch: "If you wanna get closer to me, that's all you gotta say, girl."
(Butch's dialogue)
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