Head Paladin Edgar Hardin is a member of the Mojave Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel, living in the Hidden Valley bunker in 2281. He can usually be found in his chamber off the left of the main chamber on the bunker's second level.
Background[]
Hardin is the head paladin of the Mojave chapter[2] and its most experienced veteran. He was one of the key advisors of Elder Elijah and attempted to convince the elder to abandon HELIOS One.[1] When defeat became imminent, he followed the new acting elder, Nolan McNamara, in the retreat to the McCullough range and Hidden Valley.
The enactment of the lockdown and the strain it put on the Brotherhood's resources affected Hardin deeply. McNamara's refusal to lift it or send scouts out has resulted in Hardin becoming disillusioned with the current leadership. The safety came at the cost of not fulfilling the Brotherhood's mission.[3][4] Convinced that McNamara was leading the chapter poorly, Hardin took it upon himself to find a way to oust the former. Only his respect for McNamara's actions at HELIOS prevented him from challenging the commander outright.
Hardin's plans for the chapter are to send out scouts to recon the area, resume patrols and start sending out search teams to reestablish the Brotherhood presence. Hardin's uncompromising attitude would preclude a cease-fire or alliance with any of the factions in the Mojave.[5]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
Interactions | ||
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This character starts quests. | ||
This character is involved in quests. |
Quests[]
- Still in the Dark: During this quest, Hardin asks the Courier to help him remove Elder McNamara from power so he can become the new elder.
- Tend to Your Business: Hardin, after becoming the new elder, asks the Courier to kill all of the Van Graffs in Freeside, to prove the player character's loyalty to the Brotherhood.
- For the Republic, Part 2: If the player character has decided to help Hardin in an effort to overthrow Elder McNamara and Hardin becomes the new elder, it will be impossible to complete the quest peacefully. The only option left would be to destroy the Brotherhood.
Inventory[]
Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
---|---|---|---|
Brotherhood T-51b power armor Brotherhood elder's robe (optional) |
Gauss rifle | Head paladin's keycard Elder's keycard (optional) |
Notes[]
- Hardin is mentioned by Father Elijah in the first act of Dead Money. This can be heard when eavesdropping on Elijah through the radio frequency 743.00Hz ULF.[6]
- With Veronica Santangelo is an active companion, Hardin will tell her that "it's dangerous outside" and that he "hopes she's been practicing her drills."
- Veronica mentions that Hardin taught her how to box when all the other paladins refused.
- During her quest, I Could Make You Care, Veronica describes Hardin as an unyielding man who would charge her with sedition if she continued to push her ideas of getting the Brotherhood to change its course.
- If Hardin becomes elder, the optional objectives of the quest Still in the Dark must be completed.
Notable quotes[]
- "Name's Hardin. I'm the Head Paladin of this chapter, and I think we might be able to help each other out."
- "Elijah was a strange one. His even becoming Elder was highly questionable, seeing as how he was a Scribe. Typically, only Paladins are eligible. But an exception was made in his case, on account of him being a genius. Unfortunately, whatever scientific acumen he had didn't extend to tactics. Trying to defend HELIOS was a blunder of the worst kind, and many brothers lost their lives because of it. Many of the senior paladins, myself included, advised him to fight a retreating action, but he refused to budge. Said he almost "had it working". We never did find out exactly what he was talking about. When the perimeter was finally overrun, the Elder had simply vanished."
- "As you may have already heard, this entire base is under a state of lockdown. No one goes out except small patrols at night. Morale has plummeted as time has gone by, and many of our current paladins haven't even seen combat outside of training simulations. Most of the chapter has been sealed in here for years, and those few who were outside when the lockdown was initiated are forbidden from returning. And all because of the Elder's explicit order that no one be allowed in or out. The only way things will change is if a new Elder is installed."
- "Yes, I know the loss of the patrols has weighed heavily on his mind for some time. He took it very personally when they first went missing. That was when I first began to seriously question his ability to lead us. A commander has to be able to deal with the potential loss of his men. It's strange that he would ask you to find mission discs on them, however. The missing paladins were all on standard patrols, which don't need them. Only Brothers sent on special assignments are given mission discs. If you should find any on the lost patrols, let me know."
- "Back when we were stationed at HELIOS, our scouts reported that a group was establishing itself in the area as a distributor of Pre-War weapons. Our Elder at the time, Elijah, was too concerned with getting HELIOS running and fending off the NCR, so he ordered us to leave them alone. It's time that we correct that oversight, and show this region that the Brotherhood is still a force to be reckoned with. I want you to visit these weapons dealers, this Van Graff family, and make an example of them. Leave no one alive. When the job is done, report back, and i'll arrange for a team to clean up the site, and retrieve the weapons."
Appearances[]
Edgar Hardin appears only in Fallout: New Vegas and is mentioned by Father Elijah in Dead Money.
Behind the scenes[]
Hardin was written by designer Jesse Farrell.[7]
Gallery[]
Magic: The Gathering[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Courier: "Tell me about your last Elder."
Edgar Hardin: "Elijah was a strange one. His even becoming Elder was highly questionable, seeing as how he was a Scribe. Typically, only Paladins are eligible. But an exception was made in his case, on account of him being a genius. Unfortunately, whatever scientific acumen he had didn't extend to tactics. Trying to defend HELIOS was a blunder of the worst kind, and many brothers lost their lives because of it. Many of the senior paladins, myself included, advised him to fight a retreating action, but he refused to budge. Said he almost "had it working". We never did find out exactly what he was talking about. When the perimeter was finally overrun, the Elder had simply vanished."
(Edgar Hardin's dialogue) - ↑ Edgar Hardin: "So, you're the outsider that's been given leave to wander around freely. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Name's Hardin. I'm the Head Paladin of this chapter, and I think we might be able to help each other out. I don't know what the Elder talked to you about, but I can tell you this chapter is in trouble, and he's at the center of it. Are you willing to listen to what I have to say?"
(Edgar Hardin's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "What do you think of the lockdown?"
Edgar Hardin: "It's a travesty, is what it is. Every second we sit on our hands down here is another second that we're not fulfilling our sworn duty."
(Edgar Hardin's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Why do you dislike McNamara so much?"
Edgar Hardin: "It's not that I dislike the Elder, but I strongly disapprove of his current style of leadership. We're safe, yes, but at what cost?"
(Edgar Hardin's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "What would you do if you became Elder?"
Edgar Hardin: "After lifting the lockdown, the first thing I'd do is send scouts out to recon the area. We need to know what's going on out there. Next, I'd resume patrols in the near vicinity, and begin sending search teams out to the spots the scouts reported were relatively safe. It's standard procedure when a chapter relocates to an area, but standard procedure wasn't our last Elder's style, either."
(Edgar Hardin's dialogue) - ↑ Elijah: "Hnh. Going to wipe the slate clean. Kimball, the Republic... Hardin, McNamara, my "brothers." Then I'll head back West."
(Elijah's dialogue) Note: This line can be overheard on 743.00Hz ULF radio signal in act one of the add-on Dead Money. - ↑ J.E. Sawyer on Tumblr: "Jesse Farrell wrote the King, Pacer, a bunch of other Freeside and BoS folks (Hardin, McNamara). Jesse handled the setup of Rex, but I believe Jeff Husges did Rex's brain quest."
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