For an overview of collar models, see collar. |
The Dead Money collar is a piece of headwear that is worn around the neck in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Dead Money.
Background[]
Available in several models before the Great War,[1] slave collars follow a simple, but deadly design: A small explosive charge encased in five pounds of durable steel. A microphone/speaker and a radio wave receiver and transmitter may also be present though models vary.[2] When remotely triggered, the receiver signals the detonation of the charge, obliterating everything above the neck of the wearer without damaging the surrounding area. The collar's transmitter constantly broadcasts its position and environmental input to the controller, meaning wearers can be constantly monitored and eavesdropped upon.[3][4][5]
In addition, the collars are designed to detonate when tampered with. Some models were sensitive enough simply trying to pry them open would cause them to detonate,[6] and all require at least a disarming signal and key to safely take off;[7] it takes quite the expert in explosive circuits to get one off without such a signal.[8][9][3][10] The collars can even be adjusted to detonate if the outgoing signal of another nearby collar goes silent.[11] Their simple design also allows for easy modification of additional electronics and even completely repurposing the collars function.[12][13] However, this simplicity can be the downfall of their wearers: the collars do not have selective radio wave jammers, meaning that rogue background electromagnetic waves can interfere with the receiver and set off the collar.[14][15]
Obtained by Father Elijah at Little Yangtze during his investigation of the Big MT, these collars are more advanced than the more commonly seen slave collar due to Elijah's adjustments. He altered and improved them during his stay in the Big MT, so now they can be detonated remotely through a special radio frequency, as well as being programmed to detonate should other slave collars go inactive (due to the wearer's death). Because of these added features, Elijah finds the collars a perfect tool to get unsuspecting wanderers of the wastes to aid him in his efforts to break into the Sierra Madre vault.
Characteristics[]
Providing a Damage Threshold of 3, this collar can be remotely detonated by Elijah should the wearer try to disobey his order, or attempt to escape the Sierra Madre. Being far from perfect, the collar can be accidentally set off by certain radio frequencies. This makes it a dangerous thing to wear around any of the casino's decayed, yet still active, radios or speakers. Coming within 8 yards of a radio or 12 yards of a speaker will start a 10-second countdown; if the Courier does not leave the radius or disable the radio or speaker within that time the collar explodes, they will die instantly. If the Courier has Christine Royce as a companion, the countdown is extended by 5 seconds.
An additional feature of the collar, installed or activated by Elijah when it became clear that groups tended to fail because of fighting among themselves, is a dead man's switch function. This will detonate all collars within a specified group should one of those members die or be killed. The signal can, however, be blocked by Saturnite alloys.
Locations[]
- One is automatically equipped at the beginning of Dead Money and cannot be removed until the completion of Heist of the Centuries.
Notes[]
- Despite the radio signals presenting a time limit before the collar explodes, when in proximity, it is possible to sleep in a bed for many hours while the collar is beeping.
- Even with the use of inventory editors, reducing the quality of the Dead Money collar to 0 will only remove the item from the Courier's inventory. They can still be blown up if they stay around a radio too long.
- If the radio source cannot be found, throw a grenade into the general area it is suspected to be in. Table radios in particular are very sensitive to blast and easily destroyed.
- Red speakers cannot be destroyed, although some have switches and can be turned off.
- Radios can either be turned off or easily destroyed with firearms or explosives.
- As mentioned by Elijah on his radio frequency, the Courier carries Collar 21.
References[]
- ↑ The Courier: "Where did you get the collars?"
Elijah: "The collars. They're Pre-War tech, I suspect this great land had... compliance issues before the war. It's one of a series of models. The one on your neck? Special, easier to make adjustments. Unreliable in other ways, notably radio interference."
The Courier: "If they're Pre-War tech, where did you get them?"
Elijah: "A place far from here, called the Big Empty. Almost didn't make it out. Were two others there... a woman. And a man, a courier. The woman was familiar... the other... I don't know what happened to him."
(Elijah's dialogue) - ↑ Fallout: New Vegas loading screens: "Bomb collar technology existed before the war, they come in several models. Their Pre-War use was unknown."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Lone Wanderer: "How does the collar work?"
Grouse: "It's got a radio signal we monitor here at Paradise Falls. If a slave's going the wrong direction, we push a button, and boom. His head pops. Once you get a collar on, you can't take it off in the field. They're wired to blow if anyone tinkers with it. So don't."
(Grouse's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "I convinced him that staying here was more dangerous than moving on."
Nolan McNamara: "Yes, you exploited his fear of Powder Gangers very effectively. The collar includes a microphone, you see. Part of the test. He'll keep his distance, setting ambushes, never suspecting that these bunkers house something far more dangerous to him than criminals. Well-played."
(Nolan McNamara's dialogue) - ↑ Elijah: "Are you listening? Good. From now on, when I talk, listen - and follow my instructions. Play stupid, play clever, make the mistake of saying "no?" That collar on your neck'll go off and take your head with it."
The Courier: "Collar? What are you talking about?"
Elijah: "It's like that Pip-Boy on your wrist, except filled with explosives. A little radio of the Old World, just needed some tuning. Do what I say, and the collar won't go off... refuse, try and run, disobey me? I'll kill you and find someone else. There's no escape from here until I let you go. The sooner you accept your situation, the better."
The Courier: "As long as you can find me, you mean."
Elijah: "[FAILED] As long as you're wearing that collar, you're not far from me. A press of a button, and I'll find you - I'll just listen for the explosion."
(Elijah's dialogue) - ↑ Eastern Regional Penitentiary terminal entries, Security system terminal, Inmate incident
- ↑ Slave collar key
- ↑ The Lone Wanderer with sufficient enough Explosives skill can disarm slave collars
- ↑ The Courier: "How about this explosive collar around my neck?"
Ranger Dobson: "I'll be. Let me take a look at that. All this is, is a slave collar. Seen plenty of these infernal contraptions in my day, and I know just how to spring 'em. Hold still. There, it's off. Now thing is, a slave collar seems a little too basic for the Brotherhood. That's not to say I don't believe you, bu- did you just hear something?"
(Dobson's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "RF detonator? Give me a second.<Deactivate the charge and remove his collar>"
Kenny Weathers: "[SUCCEEDED] Hey, you did it! Nice work!"
(Kenny Weathers' dialogue) - ↑ Elijah: "If only the others would've obeyed orders half as well as this one... should have thought of linking the collars together the first few times."
(Elijah's dialogue) - ↑ Elijah: "Good thing I installed radios in the collars, Pip-Boy's letting me pick them up."
(Elijah's dialogue) - ↑ Weasel's slave collar was modified to allow her to talk
- ↑ The Courier: "Radios and speakers?"
Elijah: "Yes, music was intended to be broadcast all over the Villa... over time, however, the radio signal has decayed and emits a different frequency. Speakers and radios interfere with the bomb collar frequency, and can trigger the detonators... prematurely. It is an unfortunate side effect, one I did not anticipate. I was unable to calibrate the collars to block the signals - so you'll have to make do."
The Courier: "Radios and speakers can set off my collar?"
Elijah: "Yes. But not immediately. You'll hear a beep from your collar's detonator - when you do, step back, scan the area, and find the signal source. There are damaged speakers, and shielded ones... the damaged ones you can destroy at range - don't get close, you can't switch them off like a radio. The damaged speakers are sparking, ha... hard to miss. The casings are resistant to vandalism - punching or hitting them will not destroy them."
(Elijah's dialogue) - ↑ Slave collar instructions
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