Courier

The Courier, also known as Courier Six, is the player character of Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
Before taking contract to deliver the Platinum Chip, the Courier had traveled across the former American Southwest, on the Long 15 to Primm, to Circle Junction, New Reno, Vault City, Fort Abandon and on brahmin drives at the Big Circle. They were also hired to deliver a package to a community near Death Valley, the technology contained within the package resulting in underground nuclear detonations after their departure, creating a hostile area known as the Divide.

The Courier was one of six messengers hired by the Mojave Express at Robert House's behest to deliver packages to the New Vegas Strip. The Courier was carrying the only item of worth, House's Platinum Chip. In order to steal the chip, Mr. House's protégé Benny intercepted the Courier, shot them in the head twice, and buried them in the Goodsprings Cemetery. The Courier was dug out of their grave by Victor, a Securitron under Mr. House's control. They were operated on by Doc Mitchell, the resident doctor of Goodsprings, who then monitored the Courier's recovery over the following days.

Dialogue
The player character can make several statements about their past through in-game dialogue options. They do not form part of their background until they have been selected. Below is a list of elements of the character's past which can be learned through gameplay.

Appearances
The Courier is the player character of Fallout: New Vegas. They are also mentioned in the graphic novel, All Roads.

Behind the scenes

 * Originally, players would have been able to select from three different playable races for the Courier during character creation. Obsidian had planned to include both ghouls and super mutants, however, Bethesda strongly advised against doing so on the basis that armor and weapons would need to be reworked for each race. Obsidian followed Bethesda's advice and left the Courier human.
 * The Courier is the Joker in the deck of Vault playing cards included with the Collector's Edition of Fallout: New Vegas.
 * Josh Sawyer stated that the developers had "intentionally left the Courier's origins and the exact nature of the initial transaction vague" except that they had carried their "delivery from southern NCR, toward the Hub."
 * According to Chris Avellone, the story of the Divide began with the NCR finding Enclave technology, recognizing symbols which matched a different location, and subsequently hiring the Courier to take it there.