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ShockCollar-NukaWorld
Gameplay articles
Fallout 3Slave collar
Cut content Control collar
Fallout: New VegasSlave collar
Destroyed collar
Explosive collar
Dead MoneyDead Money collar
Old World BluesDeactivated bomb collar
Nuka-WorldShock collar
Fallout 76Prisoner collar
Dud explosive collar
Not quite. If you fit it just right, their body never gets used to the feeling of wearing it. It cuts in just enough when they swallow or turn their head to remind them who they belong to. And it's that constant reminder that keeps them docile.Silus, Fallout: New Vegas

The prisoner collar[1] or total pacification collar[2] was a pre-War control device used to enforce discipline through a variety of measures, from non-lethal electric shots to lethal decapitation with explosives. Greatly reducing the need for oversight and personnel expenses,[3] the multiple models of collars became commonly known as slave collars, as they allowed slavery to proliferate across the remnants of the United States.

Background[]

Available in several models before the Great War,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7][8]

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,[9] and all require at least a disarming signal and key to safely take off;[10] it takes quite the expert in explosive circuits to get one off without such a signal.[11][12][6][13] The collars can even be adjusted to detonate if the outgoing signal of another nearby collar goes silent.[14] Their simple design also allows for easy modification of additional electronics and even completely repurposing the collars function.[15][16] 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.[17][18]

After the war, the collars enabled the rapid emergence of slavery in the wasteland, to enforce compliance among their victims. Particularly sadistic use involves setting a timer on the collar to detonation, which slavers and raiders are known to do in the Capital Wasteland to persons they have captured. However, some also use it for simply ensuring cooperation, such as the Brotherhood of Steel[19] and Father Elijah, for forcing others to perform his bidding[20] and without the risk of hostilities. But has achieved limited success employing the collars in such a way.[21][22]

Slave collars are an increasingly rare find, with the only known pre-War users - aside from going to the former manufacturer[4] - being concentration camps[23] and at least one prison, Eastern Regional Penitentiary, making their use limited even among slavers.[24]

Variants[]

Slave collar[]

Slave Collar
Gameplay articles: Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas

The standard run-of-the-mill slave collar was used to subjugate slaves to the will of their master.

Explosive collar[]

Slave Collar
Gameplay article: Fallout: New Vegas

Explosive collars are used by the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel to make sure detained prisoners comply.

Destroyed collar[]

Slave Collar
Gameplay article: Fallout: New Vegas

A slave collar that has already been detonated. In Freeside, on the corpse simply named "Man." He is equipped with a destroyed slave collar that can be taken off of him. It is implied that he tried to remove the collar himself but ended up triggering the explosive. It is identical to normal collars.

Dead Money collar[]

Slave Collar
Gameplay article: Dead Money

A slave collar from Big MT that Elijah tinkered with to make his captives obey orders to crack open the Sierra Madre Casino & Resort.[25]

Deactivated bomb collar[]

Slave Collar
Gameplay article: Old World Blues

A slave collar from Little Yangtze that Elijah tinkered with in order to understand its internal workings. This allowed him to alter other bomb collars, namely the Dead Money collar.

Shock collar[]

ShockCollar-NukaWorld
Gameplay article: Nuka-World

A slave collar modified to administer electrical shocks to their wearers if they don't comply with the Nuka-World raider gang's orders.

Prisoner collar[]

ShockCollar-NukaWorld
Gameplay article: Fallout 76

Employed by the Eastern Regional Penitentiary for use on all of its inmates, from parking ticket violators to murders. These explosive collars can be easily found 25 years after the Great War in abundance littering the halls of the fully automated prison.

Dud explosive collar[]

ShockCollar-NukaWorld
Gameplay article: Wastelanders

A fake explosive collar worn by the Vault Dweller for a scheme orchestrated by Johnny Weston.[26]

Behind the scenes[]

Exploding collars are frequently used as plot devices in fiction entertainment. The earliest known use of an exploding collar was in the Starchild Trilogy, a trio of novels published between 1964 and 1969.

References[]

  1. Eastern Regional Penitentiary terminal entries, Guard terminal, Prisoner collars
  2. Little Yangtze terminals; Little Yangtze log terminal, log entry 03
  3. Eastern Regional Penitentiary terminal entries, Warden Brennan's terminal, Transcript: D-Block Recording
  4. 4.0 4.1 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)
  5. Fallout: New Vegas loading screens: "Bomb collar technology existed before the war, they come in several models. Their Pre-War use was unknown."
  6. 6.0 6.1 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)
  7. 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)
  8. 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)
  9. Eastern Regional Penitentiary terminal entries, Security system terminal, Inmate incident
  10. Slave collar key
  11. The Lone Wanderer with sufficient enough Explosives skill can disarm slave collars
  12. 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)
  13. 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)
  14. 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)
  15. Elijah: "Good thing I installed radios in the collars, Pip-Boy's letting me pick them up."
    (Elijah's dialogue)
  16. Weasel's slave collar was modified to allow her to talk
  17. 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)
  18. Slave collar instructions
  19. The Courier: "I can take care of the Ranger."
    Nolan McNamara: "Very well. I'll be interested to see how thoroughly and efficiently you carry out your mission. Paladin Ramos will escort you back to the bunker's entrance and set you loose. Notice that I said "loose," not "free." You are not free to carry the secret of this bunker's location beyond Hidden Valley - until I'm convinced that you're capable and dependable. To underscore this point, you'll be fitted with an explosive collar. Wander off, and it will detonate. Focus on your mission, and you'll be fine."
    (Nolan McNamara's dialogue)
  20. Veronica Santangelo: "I don't like the sound of this. Hope that collar isn't what I think it is. What did you do, Elijah?"
    (eronica Santangelo's dialogue) Note: VDialogueVeronicaGiftShopReact
  21. The Courier: "How many of these victims did you bring here?"
    Elijah: "Too many. This place is dangerous... and its quarantine measures, its hazards... have claimed many. Failures upon failures. Do you think I wanted to place collars on you to ensure compliance? No... if robots could have done this, I would've sent them. The Sierra Madre is a complicated lock. Cracking it open requires human hands."
    (Elijah's dialogue)
  22. The Courier: "I'm looking for an antique rangefinder somebody might've sold you."
    Sarah Weintraub: "Wow, I wish I had more of them. All this interest. It'd be my biggest seller. I sold it to a man not too long ago. Real twitchy, nervous sort of guy. Kinda seemed like he was wiggin' out about something. Had a funny collar on. I wanted to ask him about it but I figured maybe I'd regret asking. People are weird around here."
    The Courier: "What kind of collar?"
    Sarah Weintraub: "Well it was metal, and kind of thick. At first I thought he'd come from Gomorrah, but they're more into leather there. Didn't look comfortable. He kept reaching up like he was gonna itch it, but he always stopped himself."
    The Courier: "Did you happen to find out where he was from?"
    Sarah Weintraub: "No, but I know where he was going. He asked me if I knew of any place where he could hide out for a while. Wanted somewhere with concrete walls. Something about airwaves. I forget. But I guess he spent all his money on the rangefinder, because he said it had to be somewhere free to stay."
    The Courier: "What'd you tell him?"
    Sarah Weintraub: "I said I didn't know about anything like that around here. But if he wanted to live for free, a lot of people do that in Freeside. I know there's a concrete building there across from Mick and Ralph's. No ceiling, but I think it still counts. Went up there one time to try and... you know... meet my neighbors in the biz. But you know, I don't think they took me very seriously."
    The Courier: "What did he look like?"
    Sarah Weintraub: "Oh he was pretty average, I'd say. Average height, average age. Dark hair. Beard of some kind."
    (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
  23. Little Yangtze
  24. The Lone Wanderer: "Sure, I'll buy another one. Here's 100 caps."
    Grouse: "You ain't got enough caps, asshole. This ain't a soup kitchen, and those collars ain't easy to come by. Come back when you got some money."
    Grouse's dialogue)
  25. The Courier: "I've never heard of the place you're talking about."
    Elijah: "Big Empty's a treasure box, a scientific graveyard of Old World misery. Like the Sierra Madre... there's treasures there, sleeping. Some, awake. The Holorifle, the Saturnite alloy... the hologram technology, hibernation chambers, Securitrons, the collars... ...even the suits attached to those things stalking the Villa... that's only the surface of what's there. Right now, the Sierra Madre is what I want."
    (Elijah's dialogue)
  26. Events of The Ol' Weston Shuffle
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