A cybernetic organism, more commonly known as a cyborg, is any biological organism whose physical or mental abilities are extended beyond normal limitations by either electronic, mechanical or robotic elements built into the body (i.e. implants). In the Fallout series, humans, ghouls, super mutants, dogs and even deathclaws have all been seen with cybernetic modifications.
The use of prosthetics and other implants was substantial before the Great War, with prosthetic organs[1] and more extensively with military and police equipment.[2] Pre-War prosthesis and implants were often more detrimental to those being implanted and doctors recommend their surgeries only for life-saving emergencies[3][4] (or sheer necessity),[5] and experimental life extension procedures often left little to no autonomy to the end-users.[6] Advancements into organic preservation with bio med gel allowed for more radical full-body prostheses being possible through brain extraction, though the brain extraction was largely designed for mass-produced Robobrains and cyberdogs, experiments from various scientific and medical facilities would be conducted on the use of human mind preservation with many producing results just prior to the Great War.[7] Prosthesis research was continued post-War by more scientifically inclined factions such as the Institute, who made considerable breakthroughs with life extension procedures and less invasive implants, many with combat applications, although their cybernetics programs were eventually phased out in favor of artificial humanoid development.[8][9][10] While the use of prostheses has waned because of insufficient surgical knowledge post-War, those with a functional Auto-Doc, such as the Followers at the New Vegas medical clinic or Vault City's clnic under Dr. Troy, can still run the operation procedure to perform implant surgery.
While it is possible to replace a limb with a prosthetic, experiments into cloning were being done by Vault-Tec on completely regrowing a new limb negating the need for mechanical attachment surgery.[11][12][13]
Fallout series[]
Cyberdogs - dogs with at least a mechanical part and an organic part. Their physical and mental abilities have been modified robotically and cybernetically, creating a kind of canine-robot hybrid. Unique models include Gabe (enhanced with a huge intake of psycho) and K-9 (with enhancements to the brain and vocal organs). Known cyberdogs include Robodog (pet of Dr. Henry), Rex (pet of The King) and Roxie (temporary companion of the Courier).
Robobrains - robots that use the brains of humans or chimpanzees[Non-game 1] suspended in bio med gel as their organic central processing unit.[14]CODE Conditioning Protocol procedure would be performed to flush the former sense of self from the extracted brains before implanting.[15][16] Unique models include Masterbrain (control Robobrain of the Vault-Tec Headquarters) and Skynet (advanced AI system). Other known Robobrains include Super-Ego (a powerful Robobrain in Big MT).
Generation 3 synths - the term cyborg does not technically apply to generation 3 synths as they are created with their synth component implant and it has no function for the synth outside of being a tracking device and memory whiping device for use by Institute scientists, synths are essentially a cybernetic human. However, synths may receive additional implants and upgrades.[17]
Coursers - these synths receive specialized hardware and software upgrades to suit their role. Their synth component is upgraded with a courser chip to allow them to relay with and teleport them into and out of the Institute,[18][19] and they also receive other upgrades (such as improved musculature[20] and targeting software)[21] for combat purposes.
Fallout[]
The Master - neurolinked to an overseer's chair and computer which generates its speech in real time from various voice samples.
Lieutenant - the Lieutenant has a few augmentations, as can be seen in the picture above.
Frank Horrigan - fused to a modified version of Enclave power armor specifically made to encapsulate Horrigan's bulk, Horrigan cannot separate from his power armor as it acts as life support keeping him alive by pumping him full of drugs. His eyes were also replaced with bionic eyes.[22]
Skynet - an advanced AI, when placed within a Robobrain. Especially if the Chosen One used the cybernetic brain that Skynet helped develop.
John Cassidy - Not necessarily a cyborg, as his implants appear to be simply metal. A metal plate was placed in Cassidy's head as well as a fake eye. He mentions both of these modifications in combat dialogue should he be hit in those locations.[23]
Star Paladin Cross - Cross has been enhanced by Head Scribe Rothchild to the point where she no longer needs to eat or sleep after she sustained critical injuries protecting Owyn Lyons in the field.
Professor Calvert - Calvert's brain was extracted from his body using the same procedures for robobrains to extend his longevity. His mind was isolated in a suspension chamber deep with in the St. Aubin medical facility, where his brain was wired to the facility's controls, allowing him to command its robotic staff and fully operate the facility's cognitive broadcast technology. Calvert was further involved in experiments with bio med gel composition, which gave him the ability to project his thoughts into the minds of others, and wishes to use this ability to achieve "psychic domination." The procedure Calvert undertook was a success in keeping his personality intact, but a researcher suspected that prolonged isolation might induce psychological abnormalities.[24][25][26]
Deathclaws - Deathclaws experimented on by the Enclave had domestication units implanted into their brains. This piece of cyberware would control the deathclaw's natural impulses to effectively utilize them for combat encounters. However, Scribe Vallincourt of the Brotherhood of Steel would find a weakness to exploit in the domestication units by passively scrambling the control signal with a device that would turn the deathclaws on their Enclave handlers when in range.
Fallout: New Vegas[]
Robert House - Kept alive for over two hundred years via a hermetically sealed life support chamber, House controls the computers and PDQ-88b Securitrons through his "command helmet" which is bolted into his skull that directly interfaces with his brain through a cerebral interface.[27][28][Non-game 2] Another tube is also present around his crotch called the "penis tube."[29]
Christine Royce - Forcefully given implants at the Big MT Research and Development Center, Christine has had several cybernetic modifications implanted to her brain increasing her intellect and processing capabilities and allowing her to do complicated equations and math relatively easily. However, complications during surgery have affected parts of her brain, such as the Broca's area and primary visual cortex, possibly giving her Broca's aphasia as she is unable to comprehend reading or writing and is completely unable to write a simple sentence.
Think tank - A special type of brain bot and the invention of the Big MT company. A Think Tank consists of hovering, robotic spheres housing a human brain suspended in bio med gel with three monitors coming down from the main body, two monitors depict eyes (that also function as optic sensors) and one below that displays a mouth. There are only six Think Tanks, and those include, Doctors Borous, Dala, Klein, Mobius, 0 and 8.
Courier - Forcefully turned into a cyborg after their visit to Big MT. The brain, heart and spine have been removed and replaced by high-tech artificial mock-ups of the organs adding durability to the Courier. Because of the implants essentially turning the Courier into a lobotomite, the Courier is also under the influence of the Pacification field of Big MT.
Lobotomites - Humans captured by the Big MT and surgically altered with "enhancements" such as the complete removal of the brain replaced with artificial components, like Tesla coils. This has removed any semblance of the person they were before and left them with only the most base instincts and motor functions.
Fallout 4[]
Conrad Kellogg - A century-old mercenary who works for the Institute had undergone several cybernetic procedures to extend his life, enhance his brain and limbs with a brain augmenter and a limb actuator, as well as a cybernetic pain inhibitor. This is just the surface of Kellog's implants, however. Further updates would include synthetic eyes.[30]
Vault 118 dwellers - Inhabited by custom-built Robobrains that have retained their original personalities. These Robobrains are almost entirely made up of self-centered celebrities and wealthy billionaires from before the Great War. However, the imperfect nature of extracting a human brain from a body and keeping it in a robot frame has made their personalities become evermore skewed and exaggerated. This includes Santiago Avida, Gilda Broscoe, Keith McKinney, Ezra Parker, Bert Riggs and Julianna Riggs.[31][32]
John-Caleb Bradberton - Once the powerful founder and CEO of Nuka-Cola Corporation, he is now nothing but a cryonically-preserved head kept alive by machines created for the LEAP-X Program. The procedure to keep Bradberton preserved like this has left him with no autonomy and only the ability to talk and operate doors in his personal holding vault. Bradberton views himself as a monster now trapped in a living hell of his own making.[33][34]
Doctor Siggi Wilzig - The Ghoul shoots off his left foot to stop him from escaping, but Ma June uses a Jim's Limbs brand self-attaching prosthetic to allow Wilzig to walk again.[35]
Jamila (repairwoman in Filly) - Has a vocal box grafted into her cheek.[36]
Bud Askins - Had his brain implanted into a small brain robot so he could remain Vault 31's Overseer for 219 years.[37]
B1000 - A unique cybernetic brahmin covered with living brahmin tissue over a metal T-bone.
Calculator - The controller and Overseer of Vault 0, composed of several human brains.
Dos - A Brotherhood Knight and a potential recruit having a mechanically improved vision and cybernetic implants in his hands. He is always looking for new ways to tweak his body.
Reavers - The Reavers make heavy use of cybernetics enhancements and surgical augmentations, often use for their body, mostly scanning sensors that allow at least to sweep an area of twenty feet, detecting even a person who is sneaking. They are also known to use enhanced eyesight, hand surgical implants, central processors and valve-tube augmentation.
Simon Barnaky - After being kidnapped by the Calculator, Simon Barnaky became a unique humanoid brain bot. It consists of a large humanoid robotic suit equipped with a cannon on its left arm that a combination of a .50 machine gun and a missile launcher as well as a large claw on its right arm for close combat housing a human brain connected to a robotic program.
End of information based on information from Fallout Tactics
The following is based on Van Buren design documents and is not canon.
Diana Stone - would have been the core processor for the Nursery's central computer system. Using this connection, she would present herself as the goddess of the Twin Motherstribals.
End of information based on Van Buren design documents
SPECIAL[]
In Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout: New Vegas, the player character can make themselves a cyborg by buying implants from Dr. Lorri in Fallout, from various doctors in Fallout 2, or Dr. Usanagi in Fallout: New Vegas. Also, in Fallout 3, the Lone Wanderer can become one with a unique perk. In Van Buren, the player character would have been able to obtain the NEMEAN and PHOENIX implants.
Appearances[]
Cyborgs appear in every Fallout game and most of their add-ons. Implants were also to feature in Van Buren.[38]
References[]
↑The Courier: "Tell me about the Brotherhood of Steel." Robert House: "They're a terrorist group, basically. Militant, quasi-religious fanatics obsessed with hoarding Pre-War technology. Not all technology, mind you. You don't see them raiding hospitals to cart away Auto-Docs or armfuls of prosthetic organs. No, they greatly prefer the sort of technology that puts people in hospitals. Or graves, rather, since hospitals went the way of the Dodo." (Robert House's dialogue)
↑Implants range from ability improvements to defensive improvements for combat, Robobrains, and cyberdogs
↑The Chosen One: "{377}{}{Do you know anything about dermal implants?}" Doctor Troy: "{341}{}{Yes, I'm familiar with them. It's an invasive procedure, where impact plates and thermal dissipator membranes are grafted to the skeleton to help protect against physical trauma and heat. Why do you ask?}" The Chosen One: "{343}{}{I ran across them in the Vault City medical database. Could you perform the operation on me?}" Doctor Troy: "{348}{}{No, I'm sorry... as I said, the implants are an invasive procedure and the recovery period is long and arduous. Patients undergoing the operation in the past have also frequently developed skeletal deformities.}" The Chosen One: "{349}{}{I'm willing to risk it. Can you do it anyway?}" Doctor Troy: "{350}{}{I would consider performing the operation only in the event of an emergency, not for the sake of convenience. The risk is too great, and the implants are not a substantial improvement over standard combat armor.}" (Doctor Troy's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "I've found your android. It's Harkness, Rivet City's security chief!" Zimmer: "Harkness, you say? Yes... Yes, that makes sense. He used to work for a special branch of the Commonwealth Police, after all...And he's right here in Rivet City! Excellent! I must wait... find an opportune moment to confront him...Thank you for your discreet assistance, and continued discretion regarding this matter.And now for your payment. This combat module will directly affect your central nervous system. I think you will find it quite beneficial." (Zimmer's dialogue)
↑Wired Reflexes perk description: Advanced technology from the Commonwealth has increased your reaction speed, giving you a higher chance to hit in V.A.T.S.
↑Troy: "{108}{}{Maybe we can clone that spleen from those cells taken this afternoon.}" (Troy's dialogue)
↑The Chosen One: "{290}{}{You mentioned before you were a doctor... I'm something of a doctor myself.}" Troy: "{124}{}{You are? It's a pleasure to meet you. If you have the time, perhaps we could compare notes? It is not often that I get the chance to speak to another physician.}" The Chosen One: "{125}{}{Absolutely. I'd love to learn some of the medical techniques you Citizens use.}" Troy: "{128}{}{Excellent! Well, first, let me take you on a tour. Over here, we have the monitoring systems...}" "{130}{}{... and that is how we can clone cells to make replacement limbs. We have to be careful that the tissue cultures don't get contaminated, but... in any event, I think I've talked enough... hope it was informative.}" The Chosen One: "{132}{}{Thanks for the tour, Doctor Troy. It's been very educational.}" (Troy's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You must be, like... a brain in a jar!" Robert House: "[FAILED] No. While brains demonstrated some use as organic processors in the robots produced by General Atomics International... They never retained personality once removed from the human body." (Robert House's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "The android is dead. See, here's an internal component. <Lie.>" Zimmer: "What? Let me see that! This is a Neuro-Servo... Unique to the A3-21... I... And you say you got this from his corpse? I suppose there's no other way you could have obtained it. Well... damn it. I was afraid this would happen, out here in this, this... Wasteland. Well. Here's 50 caps for your troubles. Try to buy yourself an education out here in this hell. Good day." (Zimmer's dialogue)
↑Fallout 4 loading screens: "Inside every synth Courser is a specialized chip that is instrumental in 'relaying' into the Institute. Obtaining that chip is the first step in infiltrating the shadowy organization."
↑The Sole Survivor: "Why do I have to kill one?" Brian Virgil: "Because you want to get into the Institute, remember? They're your ticket in. Every Courser has special hardware that gives them a direct connection to the Relay in the Institute. It's embedded in a chip in their heads. You need that chip. But to get it, you'll have to find a Courser. Now I don't know exactly where you can find one. They haven't sent any after me, and sitting here waiting doesn't seem like a good plan. You're going to have to hunt one down. I can tell you where to start, and give you some help finding one, but you'll have to do the dirty work." (Brian Virgil's dialogue)
↑Max: "SRB's asking if we can prioritize the Courser musculature upgrades. I'm swamped right now. Can you accomodate them?" "Advanced Systems says the new linguistic software is ready for installation. Any chance you can take that on?" "Facilities has gently reminded us that the gen 1s are overdue for maintenance.I was hoping you could handle it. I'm overtasked as it is." Alan: "I'll see what I can do." "No promises, but I'll try to fit it in where I can." "It'll take a few days, but I should be able to get it done." Max: "Thanks." "Sounds good." "Alright, I'll let them know." (Institute Robotics dynamic conversations; Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue)
↑Justin: "I'm seriously thinking of heading over to Robotics to knock some heads together." Alana: "What now?" Justin:"They're dragging their feet on the targeting package upgrades I asked for. Maybe I should take some Coursers with me. You know, send a message." Alana: "Please don't. There's enough friction as it is between us and pretty much all the other departments." Justin: "You going soft on me, Alana? My methods get results, and they will this time. You'll see." (Institute SRB dynamic conversations; Justin Ayo and Alana Secord's dialogue)
↑Frank Horrigan's combat descriptions:
"# Series 7100 - End Boss" "{7100}{}{, blowing past the Bodyguard's armor}" "{7101}{}{, bringing the Bodyguard to his knees}" "{7102}{}{, destroying his arm control mechanism}" "{7103}{}{, destroying his leg rotator mechanism}" "{7104}{}{, shattering his bionic eye}" "{7105}{}{, causing him to pause and shake of your massive attack}" "{7106}{}{, compacting his chest plate}" (COMBAT.MSG)
↑John Cassidy's combat lines: "# target hit in head" "{40807}{}{Thank god for that metal plate in my head, or I'd be dead...}" "# target hit in eyes" "{40886}{}{Thank god that eye was fake...}" (COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout 2))
↑Calvert: "No, not "astral knowledge" you simpleton! Psychic domination! And that still won't be possible until you destroy Desmond's jamming device." (Calvert's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You won't be able to control anything, but I'll let you live." Mr. House: "No! ...Don't disable... cerebral... I'd rather be... killed... just kill... me..." (Robert House's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "I'd like to hear more about your research." Bert Riggs: "Oh wonderful! No one else here really wants to talk about it. Functionally this model is more or less the same as the previous versions I worked on, but without the neural inhibitor and reconditioning. The voice modulator seems to have some minor issues interfacing with the neural matrix, which can add some moodiness. But that's easily solved with regular tune ups. Was there something else, Detective?" (Bert Riggs' dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "Robobrains have a voice modulator? Tell me about that." Bert Riggs: "That's what allows us to recreate our original voices. They can mimic any normal human voice, actually. I've speculated for some time that the issues we had with our hm... recruited subjects are due to the brain attempting to preserve a sense of self. Maintaining our original voices helps reinforce the neural network, sort of like playing music for an Alzheimer's patient." (Bert Riggs' dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "We solved your Hidden Cappy contest." John-Caleb Bradberton: "The Hidden Cappy contest... it all seems so long ago. Another lifetime.That was before I became this monster. Before I was trapped here for centuries to suffer in solitude.This was General Braxton's plan all along. Damn the man! He called it Project Cobalt. In exchange for my weapon design, he would give me access to life-extending technology. I'm such a fool for taking him at his word. He never told me that this would be the price!" (John-Caleb Bradberton's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "Come on, you're a disembodied head trapped in a vault. You've got so much to live for!" John-Caleb Bradberton: "Despite your obvious sarcasm, you clearly recognize my situation for the living hell that it is." Sierra Petrovita: "You can't kill him! He's a great man! He invented Nuka-Cola, the best thing in the world!" John-Caleb Bradberton: "Young lady, you don't know what a torment it is, being trapped here alone and staring at the same wall, decade after decade.Now please shut up while I talk to your more rational friend here I realize that what I'm asking isn't easy, but there's something in it for you.}} When the power is cut, the door to the prototype storage room will open automatically. Take anything you want. I don't care anymore. Just... please... set me free at last. I can't bear this loneliness any longer. Sierra: Wait, wait, wait! I have an idea!" Sierra Petrovita: "Wait, wait, wait! I have an idea! Mister Bradberton wants to die because he's lonely, right? Well, maybe I could stay with him. You know, keep him company, give him someone to talk to. He's like a hero to me." (John-Caleb Bradberton and Sierra Petrovita's dialogue)
↑Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p. 33: "Robobrains The Robobrain is a jack-of-all-trades robot. They have hands and are usually armed with assault rifles. The chimpanzee, or other primate, brain that was implanted into them makes them excellent guard robots. It's rumored that some were set up to accept human brains, but this has never been proven."
↑Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.463: "At the ripe age of 281, Mr. House is physically frail in the extreme, his appearance evoking pity or disgust. Long, greasy white hairs sprout from beneath his command helmet, and from his sunken cheeks. He is emaciated to the point of being skeletal, bones visible under pale, translucent skin crisscrossed by faint blue blood vessels. House's command helmet is not detachable - we don't want to imply that the player could put it on and take his place. The helmet might be bolted right into his skull, like a "halo" used to stabilize severe neck injuries. Or it might not be a helmet at all, the top of Mr. House's skull having been removed and fitted with transistors and vacuum tubes. It's essential that the helmet feature indicator lights or similar gizmos that can change states to show whether Mr. House is plugged in or unplugged." (Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City) Note: This is the description underneath the image of the in-game Mr. House.