“I can show you a real Tunnel Snake, Amata.”
Butch DeLoria is a resident of Vault 101 in 2277. He leads the local gang known as the Tunnel Snakes, and is a possible companion of the Lone Wanderer.
Contents
Background
Being a ten year old boy in 2268,[Non-canon 1] Butch grew up in Vault 101 to become a resident bully, while being under the care of his alcohol-addicted mother Ellen.[Non-canon 2] On July 13, 2268, he attended the Lone Wanderer's tenth birthday party, despite not liking them, and only because his mother insisted on it.[1] During the party, Butch held a small meeting with his friends, Wally Mack and Paul Hannon Jr., to toss around ideas for a name for their gang,[2] which later would be decided to be the "Tunnel Snakes." The "Vault Dwellers" was among the proposed gang names, but was ultimately rejected by Butch.[3]
Six years later, on August 3, 2274, Butch was involved in the verbal harassment of Amata,[4][5] which took place outside the classroom of Vault 101. On the same day, Butch took the G.O.A.T. examn, which determined his future to be that of a hairdresser.[6]
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
  |
This character is a permanent companion. | |
  |
This character is involved in quests. | |
  |
This character drops an ear upon death (Contract Killer). | |
Quests
- Growing Up Fast: Butch attends the Lone Wanderer's tenth birthday party. He tries to bully them in an attempt to get a sweetroll from them, which can result in both kids fighting over it.
- Future Imperfect: Butch and his friends harass Amata. At this point, the Lone Wanderer 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.
- Escape!: Butch asks the Lone Wanderer to save his mother Ellen, who is under attack from radroaches. They can choose to either attack him, help him, or ignore and leave him. Butch can also be convinced to either save his mother himself, or to flee and abandon her, resulting in his death. The former requires to either give him the Lone Wanderer's BB gun (found in their room) or passing a Speech check, while the later requires passing another Speech check. Helping his mother results in Butch giving the Lone Wanderer a Tunnel Snake outfit.
- Trouble on the Homefront: If Butch was not killed during Escape!, he will side with Amata's rebels. If the Lone Wanderer decides to open or destroy Vault 101, Butch wishes to leave the Vault so he can make his own choices in life, and wants to start a new gang in the wasteland.
Effects of player's actions
- If Trouble on the Homefront was completed by either opening or destroying Vault 101, Butch can be found in the Muddy Rudder in Rivet City. He can be recruited as a companion by the Lone Wanderer, but requires them to have neutral Karma in order to do so. Once hired, Butch will remain a follower, even if the Lone Wanderer's Karma goes below or above neutral.
Other interactions
- Butch can give the Lone Wanderer a haircut during Trouble on the Homefront, and if recruited later on, also at any time during their travels.
Inventory
- Fallout 3
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Snake outfit | 10mm pistol Butch's Toothpick Butch's switchblade* 10mm pistol* |
* Items will be replaced by a non-player switchblade and 10mm pistol, if no replacement weapons are left in Butch's inventory while he is a companion.
- Fallout Shelter
 | Outfit |
|---|---|
| Tunnel Snakes' outfit | |
| Weapon | |
| Lone Wanderer |
Notes
- Butch is wearing the "Tunnel Snake" haircut.
- Butch is one of two companions in Fallout 3 requiring the Lone Wanderer's Karma to be neutral in order to be recruited, the other being Sergeant RL-3.
- Trying to recruit Butch with Karma below neutral results in him commenting on the Lone Wanderer being "too intense" and a "psycho."[7]
- Butch admits being afraid of radroaches to the Lone Wanderer when asked during Escape![8]
- Killing Butch in the Muddy Rudder, after he refuses to join the Lone Wanderer in their travels, does not turn the bar's occupants hostile.
- Unlike all other followers, Butch must have at least one round of 10mm ammunition in his inventory to use his default weapon. However, he will not actually use up ammunition when firing the weapon.
- Butch will occasionally mention needing some sunglasses while idle or walking around with the Lone Wanderer.[9] He will continue to speak this line, even after he received and equipped sunglasses.
- Despite wanting to form a gang, when trying to recruit him while having a current companion, he will complain about "crowding."[10]
- The BB gun, given to the Lone Wanderer by their father James during Growing Up Fast, was fixed with a spring from Butch's switchblade.[11]
- Butch will be flirty with a female Lone Wanderer, if she discusses with Butch how close he should follow her.[12]
- A hallucination of Butch can also be found in Vault 106, during the fight with the survivor.
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's appearance resembles that of the 1950s Greaser subculture.
- Butch trying to steal the sweetroll is a direct reference to one of the character creation questions asked in the first three The Elder Scrolls games.[Non-canon 3]
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]
- When the player character enters the test labs of Vault 87 while having Butch as an active companion, he will not follow inside and die. Even having him wait anywhere outside the door; he will still die or disappear.[verification overdue]
Gallery
Butch during Future Imperfect
As seen during Trouble on the Homefront
Butch concept art by Adam Adamowicz
References
- ↑ Butch DeLoria: "My mom made me come to your stupid party, but don't expect me to hang out with you. Get lost, loser."
(Butch DeLoria's dialogue) - ↑ Butch DeLoria: "So what do you think we should call our gang? It's got to be totally killer, though."
(Butch DeLoria's dialogue) - ↑ Paul Hannon Jr.: "Hey, how about the Vault Dwellers? Get it?"
Butch DeLoria: "Who wants to go around all day being called a 'Vault Dweller'? Sometimes I think you really are as dumb as you look."
(Paul Hannon Jr. and Butch DeLoria's dialogue) - ↑ Butch DeLoria: "Amata's not fat, she's just 5 feet too short."
(Butch DeLoria's dialogue) - ↑ Butch DeLoria: "I can show you a real tunnel snake, Amata."
(Butch DeLoria's dialogue) - ↑ Mr. Brotch: "You've surprised me, Butch. I didn't think you had it in you. Hairdresser! Who would have thunk it?"
(Edwin Brotch's 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: "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) - ↑ 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) - ↑ 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)
Non-canon
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dialogue script notes: {tough-guy 10 year old}
- ↑ 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." - ↑ Morrowind class quiz, question 9: "While in town the baker gives you a sweetroll. Delighted, you take it into an alley to enjoy only to be intercepted by a gang of three other kids your age. The leader demands the sweetroll, or else he and his friends will beat you and take it.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
