Festus (Fallout: New Vegas)

Festus the Animated Rancher is the automated mascot robot residing in the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters' lobby in Fallout: New Vegas. The Sunset Sarsaparilla Company's mascot is still active in 2281.

Background
Festus is an animatronic automaton made by RobCo Industries, designed as an interactive display for visitors and tourists takes away some the mystique. Unlike most other robots in the wasteland, who operate with a degree of autonomous artificial intelligence, Festus is a simple machine that only responds to a set of about a dozen designated command phrases and answers with pre-recorded responses. Such as the reluctant case with advisory about drinking too much Sarsaparilla that was broadcast on channel 6 television.

Before the Great War, an urban legend circulated that if anyone collected enough specially marked bottle caps and took them to the headquarters building, they would receive a prize. The legend has persisted after the war, becoming a grandiose wasteland legend. One where Festus is a centuries old guardian of the Sunset Sarsaparilla treasure.

Festus is still operational with centuries of wear and tear, despite his wooden cabinet having been shot several times, breaking the front glass window and taking his right arm and right eye. Festus' speaker is also damaged, shifting in quality and volume as the prerecorded lines are played.

Quests

 * The Legend of the Star: Festus will introduce the legend of the Sunset Sarsaparilla Stars and tell the Courier that there is a reward for collecting enough of them.
 * A Valuable Lesson: Festus unlocks a door containing the reward for collecting 50 Sunset Sarsaparilla Stars.

Other interactions

 * When first meeting Festus, it may be best to respond with "Pleased to meetcha." This option will explain all of the dialogue options available.
 * If the Courier asks Festus to tell about the "Silly Ol' Advisory," he will list numerous serious health problems associated with drinking Sunset Sarsaparilla. He will ask the player character to repeat themselves twice before finally telling.
 * After redeeming 50 Sunset Sarsaparilla star bottle caps for the quest, Festus will tell the story of "The Legend of the Star." He will make mention of Nuka-Cola, the principal rival soft drink of Sunset Sarsaparilla. After this, he mentions that to avoid legal action from the Nuka-Cola Corporation, he will inform the Courier that Nuka-Cola is a "swell" drink, but sometimes, people just want something "different."

Effects of the player's actions

 * After completing The Legend of the Star, Festus will begin to tell a different version of the star cap origin tale. In this story, all major events are mostly the same as the first time, but some happen in a different order (for example, the bar owner receives the recipe before he hears news of the stranger's death).

"Lucky Horseshoes"
If the dialogue option "I Feel Lucky" is chosen, the Courier has the option to play a variant of blackjack called Lucky Horseshoes. Festus can be asked for instructions on which buttons perform which action.

Each win grants a 6% chance of getting a Sunset Sarsaparilla star cap and a 24.44% chance of getting a card for the Caravan deck. Otherwise, the reward is up to 9 bottle caps. The game can be played repeatedly to garner more and more prizes.


 * Rules
 * Number cards count as face value.
 * There are no face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Jokers).
 * The goal of the game is to get closer to 21 than Festus in order to win the hand.
 * Unlike blackjack, going over 21 is not an instant loss.
 * Players may draw or hold, however, once they hold, they are done drawing for that hand.
 * If the players are equally close to 21 (for example 17 - 25), the player who got there first has the advantage.
 * If a player draws and their new total equals the other player's total, the other player's total is increased (bumped up) by one. This is known as lucky horseshoes, and ensures that ties are not possible.
 * A mental tally of the Courier's and Festus' totals must be kept, as Festus does not announce the running totals, except that he will declare when either hand has reached 21.

Appearances
Festus appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes
Festus is a reference to the character Festus of the 1952 radio and 1955 television Western drama series Gunsmoke.

Bugs

 * Sometimes, when entering the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters, a loud metal crashing noise can be heard (like when a robot crashes to the floor), due to Festus having turned 180 or 45 degrees to face the wall. Interaction is still possible, even though the player character will only be able to see the back panel. He may eventually turn back if one re-enters.
 * It is possible to knock him unconscious with the Golden Gloves or boxing tape. If done so, the Courier cannot speak to him and he will not regain consciousness. They can also walk through him.
 * Sometimes, when entering dialogue, the words may skip to the next line. The next lines will also skip until the player character is ready to talk.