Mesmetron

The Mesmetron is a unique weapon in Fallout 3.

Background
Developed by Implied Hypnotics, Inc. before the War, the Mesmetron is an experimental "non-lethal subjugation device" provided to the United States military for them to assist in experimental trials. It operates by sending a series of waves that the brain attempts to decode, but because the synapses are being overwhelmed by the neural static, the brain becomes confused and switches off important higher-level mental functions and voluntary motor control, leaving the target extremely susceptible to suggestion. Still in its testing phase, the weapon was found to have the potential to trigger two undesirable side-effects: extremely increased aggression or a "resonant brain wave feedback loop" which resulted in spontaneous cranial eruption. Despite the prototypical nature of the device, several were attached to robobrains to add in interrogation processes. (Officially noting the 10-15% casualties due to spontaneous cranial eruption.)

The model given to the Lone Wanderer in Paradise Falls was scavenged from an old military base by Grouse. The Mesmetron is invaluable to slavers, making it a cakewalk to capture slaves, which are left senseless by the Mesmetron waves. However, caution must be exercised when using the Mesmetron around already collared slaves, because the waves interfere with the collar's radio signals and cause it to unintentionally detonate.

Characteristics
When used on the specified quest non-player characters, it puts them into a hypnotic stupor, allowing the player character to rob and enslave them (by putting a slave collar on them) and send them to Paradise Falls. It also appears to work on many other non-player characters (aside from quest related ones), but can simply send them into a berserk frenzy in which they turn hostile to the Lone Wanderer and every other non-player character in the area. Occasionally, victims will run several steps before their heads explode.

Durability
The Mesmetron can fire a total of 2500 waves, or 500 full cells, from full condition before breaking.

Using the Mesmetron
As previously mentioned, using the Mesmetron on a non-player character can have 3 different outcomes. These effects vary and are generally unreliable, so it is advised to save before using this weapon on anyone important. Due to the fact that using the Mesmetron is considered assault, it is advised to "mezz" someone while undetected. Be aware that mezzing anyone who is already wearing a slave collar will cause the collar to malfunction and explode, killing the victim. Hostile non-player characters who were mezzed can also be turned friendly by being freed by the player character (high Science skill required). An analysis of the Mesmetron's effects:

Mesmerize/Stun
With a 50% probability, this effect stuns the target for a few seconds, during which time the victim will stand with their head swaying from side to side and it is possible to engage them in conversation. Some characters cannot be stunned, in which case the probability of the Frenzy effect is raised to 80%.

While in conversation, there are three dialogue options: The first convinces the character to allow having their things taken (by either telling them it's a magic trick, that there is a thief on the loose, that the player character thinks they stole something from them, or by just telling them to give their things) and will open up the victim's inventory (even what they are wearing/using), allowing the player to remove or add any item. The second slips a slave collar on the character (instantly netting negative Karma). The third simply tells the victim to "walk it off"; this will exit the conversation and make the character resume what they were doing (assuming no onlookers turned hostile).

The second set of dialogue options is unlocked by slipping a collar onto the victim: The first is the "cruel" way to tell the victim that they are now a slave ("...your head will explode!"), the second option allows access to the slave's inventory, and the third option is a slightly friendlier way to inform the victim of their "new occupation" ("...nothing personal").

If the character is not spoken to before the stun effect wears off, they will turn hostile towards anyone they can see, that includes the player character.

Frenzy
For a 30% chance to occur, this second effect causes the victim to go into a state of frenzy, attacking anyone nearby (most likely the player character), and causing all other characters to turn on them. The onlookers may also turn hostile to the PC if caught stunning the victim. This method can also be a reliable way to get rid of victims without attacking them or getting negative Karma. This is dangerous, however, especially if one of the enemies has any high-damaging weapons.

Spontaneous cranial eruption
With a 20% probability, this final effect of the Mesmetron may not be the most useful, but is definitely the most spectacular. When victims are affected by the Mesmetron in this way, they will turn hostile (and either run, stand still, or attack) for just a moment before their heads literally explode. This effect will instantly give negative Karma (if the victim was good/neutral) and turn any nearby non-player characters hostile to the player character.

Variants

 * Microwave emitter - A similar weapon designed for killing targets as opposed to stunning them, found in the St. Aubin medical facility at Point Lookout. It uses microfusion cells instead of Mesmetron power cells.

Location
The Mesmetron is given to the Lone Wanderer by Grouse, the Paradise Falls entrance guard, upon starting the quest Strictly Business.

If deciding not to take the quest, the Mesmetron can be obtained by killing Grouse and looting his corpse. It cannot be stolen from him, meaning he needs to be dead to get it. If this is done, it's no longer possible to purchase any Mesmetron power cells nor slave collars from him, thus one can't enslave non-player characters. The Mesmetron can still be exploited to frenzy or stun and rob non-player characters, however.

Related quests

 * Strictly Business
 * Strictly Profitable

Bugs

 * Freshly enslaved non-player characters will often be reported by Grouse to have died once the Lone Wanderer arrives at Paradise Falls. This is caused by a condition in the Mesmetron effect script which automatically moves the slave to Paradise Falls—indirectly marking them as dead in the process—once the non-player character is no longer being actively rendered. Aside from leaving the non-player character's immediate vicinity, numerous actions have a random chance to cause a non-player character to stop being rendered, including accessing the Pip-Boy, facing away from the non-player character for a certain period, or even accessing the game menu.
 * A third-party bugfix has been released which addresses this issue: Mesmetron and Enslavement Fixes at Nexus Mods
 * "Mezzing" characters who are seated, leaning on a wall or lying down may cause them to spin rapidly in place before their heads explode.