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For an overview of this weapon, see Fat Man. For the Gun Runners' Arsenal version of this weapon, see Fat Man (GRA). |
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The Fat Man, officially the M42 Fat Man, is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.
Background[]
The M42 Fat Man was developed at Fort Strong near Boston, Massachusetts. Development began in February 2076, with the goal being the development of a man-portable tactical nuclear launcher easy enough for use by troops on the ground, to destroy reinforced and entrenched positions.[1][2] Problems manifested instantly, as warheads were simply too heavy to clear the blast radius fast enough to provide safety for the operator. Even stripping them to the minimal possible size failed to produce an acceptable effect. Instead, the development team decided to increase the power of the launcher unit, even considering using railgun technology to accelerate the warhead. The notion was largely academic, as it would require for the overburdened soldier to carry an additional power pack the size of a suitcase and turn the Fat Man into a crew-served weapon.[3] Concurrent development ran on the MIRV version of the launcher. Live-fire testing claimed lives, in fact, with two soldiers killed during a test. No remains were recovered and the commanding officer in charge of the project, General Brock, covered up the incident, ordering his subordinates to send sand packed in an urn to their relatives.[4]
The project hit a breakthrough in December 2076,[5] when the project lead discovered a solution for the launcher problems. Six hours, fourteen cups, and one concerned night shift lab crew later, the future M42 launcher was conceptualized: Based on the spigot mortar mechanism, the launcher would only have to accommodate a firing through and system, relying on mechanical launching, rather than chemical or electrical means. The Fat Man warhead would be propelled by a sub-charge embedded inside the warhead, "catapulting" the warhead through the air to the target - giving plenty of range with the added bonus of not producing a smoke trail that could reveal the firing team to the enemy.[6]
By September 2077,[7] after one hundred test firings the weapon was complete and ready to be shipped to units overseas. A large number of units was manufactured and shipped together with the appropriate warheads to select locations throughout the United States.[8]
Characteristics[]
A shoulder-mounted tactical nuclear catapult. Its most prominent characteristic is its high damage output. The weapon's (unmodified) weight of 30, the second-highest weapon weight in the game, is only surpassed by Esther, its unique variant's weight of 40. This is especially evident in Hardcore mode when combined with the need to carry a healthy supply of the mini nukes that arm it. The weapon can be used outside of V.A.T.S. for indirect fire over a long distance.
Durability[]
The Fat Man can launch about 495 standard mini nukes from full condition before breaking.
Modifications[]
- Fat Man Little Boy kit - Decreases weight by half (from 30 lbs. to 15 lbs.).
Variants[]
Esther - a unique variant added with Gun Runners' Arsenal, sold by Vendortron at the Gun Runners kiosk.- Fat Man (GRA) - the customizable variant added with Gun Runners' Arsenal.
Comparison[]
| Legend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | - Weapon name (melee or unarmed) |  | - Attacks in V.A.T.S. | |
 | - Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive) |  | - Action point cost | |
 | - Damage per attack (damage per projectile) |  | - Damage per action point | |
 | - Damage per second |  | - Weapon spread | |
 | - Area of effect damage |  | - Magazine capacity (shots per reload) | |
 | - Effect damage & duration |  | - Durability (number of attacks before breaking) | |
 | - Bonus effects |  | - Weight | |
 | - Attacks per second |  | - Value in caps | |
 | - Critical chance % multiplier |  | - Value to weight ratio | |
 | - Critical damage |  | - Skill required | |
 | - Critical effect damage & duration |  | - Strength required | |
 | - With all mods attached | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Man | 400 | 1578.9 | 600 | 1.58 | x0 | 0 | 65 | 15.4 | 0.5 | 1 | 495 | 30 | 6000 | 200 | 100 | 8 |
| Fat Man | 400 | 1578.9 | 600 | 1.58 | x0 | 0 | 65 | 15.4 | 0.5 | 1 | 495 | 15 | 8500 | 566.7 | 100 | 8 |
Fat Man  | 400 | 1578.9 | 600 | 1.58 | x0 | 0 | 65 | 15.4 | 0.5 | 1 | 495 | 30 | 8000 | 266.7 | 100 | 8 |
| Fat Man | 400 | 1578.9 | 600 | 1.58 | x0 | 0 | 65 | 15.4 | 0.5 | 1 | 495 | 15 | 10500 | 700 | 100 | 8 |
| Esther | 475 | 2036.8 | 600 | 1.89 | x0 | 0 | 55 | 19.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 620 | 40 | 18000 | 450 | 100 | 8 |
Locations[]
- Cottonwood crater - On the body of a dead prospector in poor condition.
- Quarry Junction - Lying near the edge of a radioactive pool to the southwest of the quarry.
- Nopah cave - On the corpse of a super mutant master. Upon returning to the cave several days later, this super mutant may be found alive with another Fat Man and only a small amount of health. He continues to respawn every few days thereafter.
- Hidden Valley bunker - Can be purchased from Knight Torres in the Brotherhood armory after one is granted full access.
- Nellis Air Force Base - Can be bought from the Boomer munitions manager in the mess hall & munitions storage, after receiving permission from Pearl.
- A Fat Man and three mini nukes can be pickpocketed or looted from a Boomer while they are sleeping in one of three tents near crops to the southeast of the mess hall & munitions storage. If killed, this Boomer respawns every three days, providing a steady source of mini nukes.
- A Fat Man can be found on the body of a super mutant master near a cazador nest directly south of Jacobstown. This location is marked during the quest Bleed Me Dry. Facing away from the Jacobstown gate and climbing up and around the hills to the right will lead to the path. The area is also accessible by going west from Red Rock Canyon, over some very steep trails.
- Crimson Caravan Company - May be purchased from Blake.
- 188 Trading Post - May be bought from the arms merchant.
Notes[]
- The specialty mini-nuke variants made available with the Gun Runners' Arsenal add-on are not usable with the base game Fat Man. They can only be launched from the GRA variant or from Esther.
- The Demolition Expert and Splash Damage perks can make this weapon dangerous for the wielder and allies, as the risk of standing in the explosion radius of one's own mini nuke is greatly increased.
- The Fat Man in Fallout: New Vegas is actually weaker compared to its counterpart in Fallout 3, doing 1,000 less damage (unless getting a direct hit on the target), and having an explosion radius of roughly half the size.
- In Prima's Official Game Guide, the Fat Man is considered a unique weapon.
- The Fat Man is unaffected by the true iron sights setting and will use the same aim animation regardless.
Behind the scenes[]
- The weapon's name and that of its sole weapon mod are references to the code names of the atomic bombs dropped by the United States on Japan in World War II. Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima while Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki.
- As with Fallout 3, the Fat Man was renamed to the Nuka Launcher in the Japanese translation of Fallout: New Vegas due to the original name's relation to the World War II event. However, the Little Boy mod kept its original name.
Bugs[]
- Sometimes, when a second mini nuke is fired at a distant location, an explosion will not be seen at a certain distance.[verified]
- If you cripple your legs and go into third-person, it will look like your character is holding the Fat Man, but there will be nothing there. Instead, it will be laying on the ground near you or floating in the air. If you fire it, the mini nuke will go in whatever direction it is aiming.[verified]
- Direct hit damage from the projectile does not get applied. This is a bug that applies to all non-hit scan projectiles that cause explosions.[verified]
Sounds[]
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Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 001
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - February 2076
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 002
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 003
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - December 2076
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 004
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - September 2077
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 005
