Sergeant RL-3

Sergeant RL-3 is a comical soldier created before the Great War who can become one of your party members in Fallout 3. The metal patriot can be purchased from Tinker Joe outside the RobCo Factory for 1000 caps. The player character can only buy if his karma is neutral. Otherwise Tinker Joe will just say Sergeant RL-3 "...doesn't like the looks of you."

Sergeant RL-3 has an experimental soldier personality making him, "unstable," and to only like particular characters (thus the neutral requirement). During combat he will also say things like "Another glorious day in this man's army! Hooah!" making him quite a comical follower.

Sergeant RL-3 won't leave you if you get good or bad Karma, however if fired he can only be re-hired if you have neutral Karma. If you fire Sergeant RL-3 it will wait for you at Canterbury Commons where you can pick him back up for free.

Combine With Prototype Medic Power Armor for hours of commie-killing fun complete with double voiceover.

Equipment
RL-3 can hold many items. In fact, his "storage compartment" has the largest storage capacity out of all available followers. For example, other followers could only hold 2 sets of power armor and a few weapons while Sergeant RL-3 can hold 3 sets of power armors and weapons. Only Fawkes Bests the storage capacity of Sergeant RL-3.

Sergeant RL-3 cannot wear armor and cannot wield human weapons. Total carrying capacity: WG 197.5

Combat
RL-3 uses a weaker Plasma Rifle and when in close range it uses a very effective Flamer. He is extremely vulnerable to Energy Weapons, Big Guns and strong melee attacks like those from Yao Guais and Deathclaws. He does however appear to be highly resistant to flame attacks, such as those from the Fire Ants. Sergeant RL-3 repairs itself automatically after combat. In addition, despite his mechanical nature, if stimpaks are placed in his inventory he will use them to heal himself during a firefight.

RL-3 CAN die, which is very costly to the character since he costs 1000 caps. It is better to keep him out of dangerous situations, much as you would with Dogmeat. He does have a very high attack with the flamer, however, making him good for small party kills, i.e. Raiders, Slavers, etc.

Another negative feature of having Sergeant RL-3 as a follower is when the player is in Sneak mode RL-3 will still follow as usual but has no special sneaking ability. When detected he may just rush off in to combat. As other humanoid followers (like Charon, Clover, or Jericho) will go into a sneak mode and will only attack when detected or when the player attacks a target.

Trivia

 * Unlike most Mr. Gutsy robots, RL-3 has an alpha-numerical designation. This is most likely a subtle reference to R.L. Ermey, best known as Drill Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. (The leetspeak 3 would make the E, and R.L. Ermey spells his name in the same way as RL-3's name is written.)