Star Paladin Cross

Star Paladin Cross is a possible companion NPC in Fallout 3.

Star Paladin Cross is a member of the Brotherhood of Steel who answers directly to Elder Lyons. Formerly, she was directed to protect the player's father, James, on his missions, and because of this, desires to fight alongside the player.

Location
The player first meets Star Paladin Cross after The Waters of Life quest, and she will join so long as the player have good karma and speaks respectfully when conversing with her. Note however that she will leave and return to the The Citadel if the player's karma drops too far for her liking.

She will also join you at any time if you use the glitch to walk under the map by jumping over all the rocks near the citadel. This means you can have Cross at level 2 as there are no enemies on the way if the difficulty is on normal.

Equipment
Cross' default equipment consists of a Super Sledge, Laser Pistol and the Brotherhood of Steel Power Armor.

Cross can be given a variety of weapons. Considering her Brotherhood training, she will switch between weapons to fit the situation, and is effective with Big Guns, Small Guns and Energy Weapons. She will wear any armor better than her own - the only sets of which seem to be Enclave Power Armor, T-51b Power Armor (And its winterized version), Tesla Power Armor, and Enclave Hellfire Armor.

Being a member of the Brotherhood, logically Cross is always following the organization's main agenda: searching out new weapons and technology. She will sometimes loot certain bodies before the player can get to them, especially if they carry energy weapons or other advanced technology. Like any companion, she may lose her weapon due to enemy sniping and not recover it, so it is important to monitor her carefully if she is given a unique weapon, such as Vengeance. Also note that any weapon provided by the player must have ammo, unlike her default weapon, which has infinite ammunition. It is not advisable to give her an Auto Axe, because she will swing like a hammer instead of using it the correct way.

Cross's maximum carrying capacity is 198 pounds. Note that in her case, the default Super Sledge and Power Armor count against her total carry weight, which makes actual total carry weight less than her maximum.

Cross is one of the NPCs that can be equipped with the Tesla Cannon.

Cross is also very effective with the Heavy Incinerator, she hits about 90% of the time and if it's in good Condition she is potentially better than the player can be, depending on the amount of hits the player has.

Combat

 * With default equipment, Cross prefers close combat, although her Melee Weapons skill is poor compared to her other weapon skills.
 * Even though she regenerates her health after a battle, Cross can apply stimpaks on her own during combat if they are given to her via dialogue.
 * With her high health and Power Armor, Cross is extremely tough. She can even take several direct missile hits before dying in combat. If given exceptionally well-maintained armor, she rivals Fawkes in staying power. Furthermore, unlike Fawkes, Star Paladin Cross sneaks when the player does, making her useful for stealth-based characters. Still, though strong, Cross can be overwhelmed by multiple large enemies, such as the Giant Radscorpion.
 * Cross is probably the most deadly follower one can have when given the Alien Blaster, rivaled only by her shooting Mini Nukes - minus the danger to herself and everyone around her.
 * Cross is also incredibly destructive with the Tesla Cannon, although she tends to shoot enemies even after their expiration. While it is rather easy to acquire Electron Charge Packs the PC should allow Cross to discharge her precautionary shot before approaching any spent enemies.
 * If the player decides to destroy The Citadel during Broken Steel's Who Dares Wins mission, Cross will permanently turn hostile towards the player upon completion of the mission.

Quotes

 * General
 * "There is a foul stench on the wind. Let us not tarry for long." -- When spoken to.
 * "Vigilance is advised." -- Random
 * "I shall reflect on battles past and battles to come until your return." - When told to wait.
 * "In the words of Elder Theus: a Brother well-equipped is a brother keeping to his duty."-- When trading equipment.
 * "Helping the people of the Wasteland is of the utmost to the Lyons Doctrine." -- Random.
 * "Is this relevant to the mission?"-- When player lingers in one area for too long.
 * "You are wearing out my patience." -- When player lingers near radiated sites for too long.
 * "Make no mistake; Your father would be proud of what you have done."-- When player has very good karma.
 * "You are a credit to your father." -- When player has good karma.
 * "We all stray from our paths sometimes, I trust that you will return to yours."-- When player has neutral karma.
 * "Your actions are beginning to disturb me."-- When player has evil karma.
 * "I've been here before." -- Random
 * "If you prefer conversation, perhaps you have brought along a Scribe."-- When changing dialogue topics.


 * Combat
 * "Engaging!" -- When engaging an enemy.
 * "Just me, or are these things actually getting uglier?"-- When engaging a Super Mutant.
 * "I've got a present for you, Frankenstein!" -- When engaging a Super Mutant.
 * "Flank' em!" -- Combat
 * "There's another one!" -- Combat (note that she may say this even if all enemies have been killed)
 * "Damn it! Would you die already?"-- In combat.
 * "You're facing superior weapons and training. Submit!"-- In combat.
 * "Better her/him than me." -- When player kills a non-hostile person.
 * "Come on out and let's fight face to face!" -- When searching for an enemy.
 * "Continuing sweep." -- When searching for an enemy.
 * "This is a coward's game!" -- When searching for an enemy.
 * "Face me, dammit!" -- When searching for an enemy. 


 * End of Combat
 * "Enemy down."
 * "Victory!"
 * "Sound the all clear"
 * "One more for the Brotherhood!"
 * "Area secured."


 * Sneaking
 * "Come out of there and fight me like a real man."

Bugs

 * It has been reported that when fast traveling to Arefu, Cross can suddenly go berserk and kill Evan King. If you did not complete the Blood Ties quest, it will automatically fail when she does that. Traveling with her may also set all NPCs from Arefu hostile for no apparent reason.
 * When trading items with Cross, if Biker Goggles are placed in her inventory, the game may crash.
 * When you first meet Star Paladin Cross, she will join you (as long as you have good karma) even if you already have Dogmeat and another permanent follower. In the conversation, you will come to a point where you have 2 conversation options:

1) "I want you to come with me."


 * 2)"I don't suppose I could stop you."
 * You must choose the 2nd option in order to have Cross follow you even if you already have a humanoid companion. Apparently, she's only willing to overlook that if you play hard to get. NOTE: This only works during Cross's introductory dialog, and only by choosing the second option. If you ask Cross to join you any other way she will refuse.


 * Sometimes, if Cross dies in battle, you will receive a message many in-game weeks later, stating that "Star Paladin Cross has returned to the Citadel."[Has happened with Jericho, Clover and Charon at the same time even though they were laying down in the wastes dead]
 * When the Lone Wanderer kills a non-hostile person in-game Star Paladin Cross will say "Better her than me" even if the person was male.
 * After a long period of playing, Star Paladin Cross may randomly disappear and when you go to V.A.T.S. to find out where she is it will go to a random location showing Star Paladin Cross laying down.
 * When entering the testing lab area of Vault 87 Cross will not follow you. And when one returns to the previous area, they may find the Star Paladin lying on the ground as if dead, but still appearing alive in the compass (same happens with Charon Dogmeat and Jericho). (Xbox, PC confirmed)
 * If you have Star Paladin Cross as a Follower when taken by the Enclave after retrieving the GECK in Vault 87 she may disappear from the game. In the PC version of Fallout 3, this can be resolved by typing and then  in the console. She will appear next to you and you will have to reinvite her to your party. This way, she will still have her inventory and you will not lose the items you gave her before retrieving the G.E.C.K.
 * After downloading Broken Steel, Cross seems to have trouble following you: she will stay in the Citadel until you have completed the main quest. Even after you get her to follow you again, telling her to wait somewhere will present a similar challenge. Reloading a previous save seems to help. Also, telling her,"We must part ways, Paladin Cross," and, before she walks out of site or through a door, speaking to her and asking for her assistance again, will get her to follow you again.(Xbox 360)
 * There is a partial solution for PC users on Broken Steel Bugs page.


 * Sometimes, Cross will be stuck wearing her own suit of BOS power armor, and will not put on any other outfit, even if it is better than hers. (Xbox confirmed)
 * If you decided to use the glitch to enter the Citadel early and aqquire Paladin Cross, and then complete the Waters of Life quest, it is possible to recruit Star Paladin Cross two times. (confirmed on Xbox 360 and PC)
 * Sometimes the Shishkebab's gas tank freezes in midair when you give it to her.
 * As in the case of the Biker Goggles, a Combat Helmet might cause the game to crash if it is given to Cross.
 * When given more than one Heavy Incinerator, when you take one it will remove both and one of them will disappear. (Xbox unconfirmed)'
 * Sometimes if you have Dogmeat with you, Star Paladin Cross will join you despite Fawkes being your partner. (Xbox 360 confirmed)