“Salutations, Commander! Sergeant RL-3, gutsy-class robotic soldier, reporting for duty!”
Sergeant RL-3 is a Mister Gutsy that was created before the Great War and a possible companion in 2277.
Background
Scavenged from parts by a wandering trader named Tinker Joe, Sergeant RL-3 is a General Atomics Mister Gutsy model, created for mobile attacks prior to the Great War. Utilizing both plasma and flame as its main weapons system, "Sarge" is always ready with a quip ("Pain is just weakness leaving the body! Hooah!"), but has an experimental "personality," making it difficult for Tinker Joe to offload him.[1]
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
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This character is a permanent companion. | |
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This character is a temporary companion. | |
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This character is a doctor. |
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This character is a merchant. |  -Sells: - |
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This character can repair items. | Max Repair condition: - |
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This character rents beds. | -.
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This character drops an ear upon death (Contract Killer). | |
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This character drops a finger upon death (Lawbringer). | |
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This character can be enslaved with the Mesmetron. | |
Recruiting
Sergeant RL-3 may be purchased from Tinker Joe between the RobCo Facility and Tenpenny Tower for 1,000 caps, provided that the Lone Wanderer has neutral Karma. If the player character's Barter skill is high enough (70), RL-3 may be purchased for the reduced price of only 500 caps.
Effects of player character's actions
- If Tinker Joe is dead, and the player did not get the robot already, there is no way of getting this follower.
- If separated from the player character, RL-3 will return to Canterbury Commons after first being bought regardless of the reason the robot is separated.
- Neutral Karma will remain a requirement to recruit RL-3 back into the Lone Wanderer's group. Otherwise the robot will refuse to join.
- When attempted to be re-hired with low Karma, he'll exclaim that he "cannot accept orders from an officer under a Court Martial."
- When you attempt to re-hire him with your Karma too high, he states that he "can't follow such an irresponsible officer." further saying "A soldier's job is to soldier. Not play hero."
- RL-3 is marked as essential until hired as a companion.
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| - | Flamer Plasma rifle |
- |
Stats
| Combat Skill | Attack Damage | Attack Reach | Turning Speed | Foot Weight | Speed Mult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 23 | 96 | 150 | 3 | 110% |
* Robots are considered creatures rather than non-player characters and thus have an additional list of stats present for creatures.
Notes
- RL-3 is unable to sneak.
- Like all Mister Gutsies, he is also capable of hovering over water.
- His carrying capacity is 197.5 pounds.
- He always refers to the Lone Wanderer as "Sir", regardless of what gender is selected.
- RL-3's plasma rifle is incredibly inaccurate, usually missing a stationary super mutant. Oddly, he is much more accurate when attacking the Lone Wanderer (if turned hostile), and will hit even over long range.
- RL-3 can be asked to activate the purifier during the quest Take it Back!. If one does not have Broken Steel installed, he will refuse, and exhort the Lone Wanderer to finish the work his/her father started.
- If one does have Broken Steel installed, RL-3 will willingly start the purifier, aware that the radiation in the control chamber poses no threat to him, and he will be referred to as a hero in the epilogue. When the game resumes after the epilogue, RL-3 will be waiting in the infirmary at the Citadel.
- If you board Mothership Zeta, RL-3 will wait next to where you are abducted from.
- When in incredibly dark areas (e.g. Vault 87) RL-3's eyes will glow.
Notable quotes
- "Salutations, Commander! Sergeant RL-3, gutsy-class robotic soldier, reporting for duty!"
- "Old war-bots never die; we just rust away."
- "There's nothing I like better than making some other poor bastard die for his country."
- "I cannot wait to find you, so I can kill you as a personal favor to Uncle Sam."
- "Another glorious day in the U.S. army!"
- "Kill them all, let God sort them out!"
Appearances
Sergeant RL-3 appears only in Fallout 3.
Behind the scenes
- The line, "You're making me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry!" is a line from the 1970s TV show The Incredible Hulk.
- The line, "Old war-bots never die; they just rust away." is a reference to an old Army ballad line, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," made famous by General Douglas MacArthur's farewell speech.
- The line, "There's nothing I love more than making some other poor bastard die for his country," is based on the quote from American General Patton, "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
- The line "Kill them all, let God sort them out!" is based on a Latin quote (Caedite eos, novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius) from Cisterian church leader Arnaud Amalric, during the Albigensian Crusade.
- RL-3's designation closely resembles the initials of actor and former Marine drill instructor R. Lee Ermey. (RL-E)
Bugs
- You may not be able to talk to RL-3 when trying to rehire him at Canterbury Commons. If this happens simply reload your most recent save and go back. He should now talk to you and you shall be able to rehire him as normal. [verified]
- With Broken Steel installed, RL-3 possesses a staggering amount of health at higher levels. At level 20 he has fully several thousand HP, more so than even a super mutant behemoth. This is due to a badly adjusted setting concerning RL-3's leveling, which grants him 350 HP per level gained. Dogmeat and Fawkes are similarly affected. This only occurs if Broken Steel is installed prior to meeting RL-3, otherwise RL-3's level does not scale and his health is fixed at 350. [verified]
- If in sneak mode, having the Robotics Expert perk produces the usual dialogue box with RL-3. However, selecting "Talk" does nothing. [verified]
- RL-3's plasma projector uses the laser rifle's firing sound, not the usual Mister Gutsy sound effect. [verified]
- When traversing over mountains, RL-3 may get stuck on, or in, a rock. [verified]
- Some events cause RL-3 to become hostile towards everyone (including the player) indefinitely after ever being dismissed from the party. These include destruction of the combat inhibitor, him witnessing Tinker Joe die, Crow's death in general (because RL-3 has some sort of scripted-in co-affiliation to Crow like he has with Tinker Joe) and investing any money in Crow's business during the Merchant Empire Quest (because the game treats merchants you invested in like they were dead in some regards). [verified]
- RL-3 may remain frenzied even if his combat inhibitor appears repaired. To check, open the console, click on RL-3 (or enter prid 94285), and issue the getav aggression command. If it returns 3.00, RL-3 is frenzied, which can be repaired with setav aggression 1.
- RL-3 can be waiting in the Commons even if you did not purchase him and he can be hired for free. This can be used to the players advantage. [verified]
- RL-3 will sometimes attack friendly or neutral non-player characters. He has a knack for attacking everyone inside of the Republic of Dave Capital Building, and Scribe Yearling and the Brotherhood of Steel knights inside of the Arlington Library. What is odd is that you must walk to a certain spot in these areas before he will become hostile towards them. To fix this, simply have RL-3 wait in an area away from these spots, but don't dismiss him. Conduct your business, and when it is concluded, reacquire him. (If you want RL-3 in the Arlington Library to help you out with the raiders further in, just go another way that won't trigger this bug). [verified]
- It is possible to recruit sergeant RL-3 at the same time as another companion by dismissing your current companion, then speaking to Tinker Joe and purchasing RL-3, followed by quickly re-hiring your old companion before RL-3 speaks to you. This glitch works with Butch, Charon and Dogmeat. Leaving the Capital wasteland to point lookout or the Pitt will need you to fire all companions, and this glitch cannot repeat. [verified]
Gallery
References
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