Swampfolk

Swampfolk are hostile NPCs encountered in the Fallout 3 add-on: Point Lookout. Their physical deformities are most likely the result of inbreeding and radiation. They are typically equipped with axes, shovels, lever-action rifles, and double-barrel shotguns.

Swampfolk all act, look and sound like stereotypical "hicks" from the odd ways they walk, to what they say such as "There you is!" and "I gonna kill you!". They are very territorial and are hostile to anyone who doesn't look like a native of Point Lookout. Areas in which they live are all decorated with ritualistic bones, dolls and mannequin heads (scavenged from the Pilgrim's Landing). These decorations serve as both a warning to outsiders and as a part of their own religion, which is based on worshiping unknown deities. There is a Ritual Site which serves as a place for their bloody rituals. The Krivbeknih, a book believed to possess an occult power, is kept there as a holy artifact.

Behavior
Swampfolk usually attack in groups of 2-4. Like Radroaches, they are territorial and, even though they are marked as enemies in the HUD, they do not actually become hostile until you get too close to them or shoot at them. However, the range at which they become hostile is quite far, more than 100 feet.

Frighteningly, their tactics and strength are far greater than one would think. Usually the groups will consist of one melee attacker which is often the strongest of the group, and the others attack with firearms. While the melee one charges at you, the other two will fire at you, and even while a far distance away, they can still hit you pretty often.

Swampfolk, just like tribals, do an additional 35 unresistable damage to the player with all of the weapons they normally use due to an object enchantment in the DLC's data files. This makes them much more dangerous than most enemies in the game. Even on lower levels of difficulty, they still prove to be formidable opponents. Long range or high-rate-of-fire weapons are best used to prevent serious or even lethal injury.

They can set a trap for players while looting the basement of the Trapper's Shack. The trap consists of frag mines surrounding the entrance to the basement and a number of hidden swampfolk.

The bruiser and the tracker, when running at you, have their mutated arm shielding their face, making a clean shot difficult. Despite this, V.A.T.S. may still display 95% as the calculated success chance on a headshot.

Varieties
There are 5 basic variants of swampfolk with 3 different archetypes when it comes to appearance. Scrappers and creepers are the smallest, brawlers are medium-sized, and trackers as well as bruisers are the largest.

Scrapper
Scrappers are the smallest swampfolk, skinny with distended bellies and only wearing trousers. Depending on their preference, they either carry baseball bats or BB guns and hunting rifles. They have somewhat more health than regular super mutants.

Creeper
Despite sharing the same body structure as scrappers, creepers have blond hair and blood on their hands, chest, mouth, and trousers. They are stronger and have almost three times as much health as scrappers, and are even slightly more durable than a super mutant master. Melee-oriented creepers attack with shovels, tire irons or axes whereas the ranged combatants prefer lever-action rifles, double-barrel shotguns, and rarely, BB guns.

Brawler
Brawlers are big, but not as big as trackers and bruisers, and wear clothes that actually fit them. They are tougher than scrappers but actually somewhat weaker than creepers, and are roughly on par with a super mutant brute in terms of durability and skill. Coming in both ranged and melee variants, they either use combat knives and baseball bats or lever-action rifles, and double-barrel shotguns.

Tracker
Trackers are very large swampfolk (standing roughly 7 feet tall) who use axes to attack strangers in close combat. Trackers will either attack you in hand-to-hand combat or use melee weapons like axes simply because trackers have extremely swollen or clubbed fingers. This means it would be nearly impossible to fit their fingers into a firearm. They run with an interesting hop to their step, and are very strong and durable. Like the bruiser, even when unequipped, they can still inflict extreme amounts of damage with only their fists. Trackers are not strongly affected by the dart gun, as even after having their legs crippled they can still run at close to their normal speed. Also, while they run they show at least a small amount of intelligence, as they put one of their swollen arms in front of their face, making it harder to score a headshot in VATS. They can survive somewhat more damage than a deathclaw or sentry bot, but fortunately are noticeably slower than deathclaws and also lack ranged attacks. Interestingly enough, if you look at their exposed stomachs, they bear stitches, suggesting that the swampfolk have at least some rudimentary medical capabilities.

Bruiser
Bruisers are stronger and have somewhat more health than trackers and, like creepers, are covered in blood. They wear a very bloody "Bill's" mechanic outfit with the "Bill's" tag still readable. Like their "smaller" cousins, the trackers, they engage only in melee combat and use axes. Like the tracker, even when unequipped, they can still inflict extreme amounts of damage with only their fists. In fact, bruisers have an even higher unarmed damage rating than deathclaws, and do even more damage when unarmed than when equipped with an axe. They also punch very fast, making blocking very difficult. Like their tracker cousins, they are slower than deathclaws or feral ghoul reavers and lack ranged attacks. Interestingly enough, if you look at their exposed stomachs, they bear stitches, suggesting that the swampfolk have at least some rudimentary medical capabilities.

Characters associated with swampfolk
There are a few characters in the Point Lookout who, while technically not regular swampfolk, have some ties to them.
 * Kenny - this boy was born to swampfolk parents, but lacked their deformities and thus became an outcast.
 * Marguerite - the moonshine-making woman who lives in the bog with the swampfolk. While she lacks severe deformities, she is still considered to be a local by others. They probably tolerate her because of her moonshine still.
 * Obadiah Blackhall - the Blackhall family shares some traditions and religion with the swampfolk, but Obadiah nevertheless keeps his distance from them.
 * Haley - while Haley is not one of the swampfolk, he is believed to be a local and does some trading with them. He may be tolerated because he's a trader and has access to some goods the swampfolk lack or couldn't find.
 * Madame Panada - while there is no actual evidence of her trading with the swampfolk, she has an inventory full of local stuff and apparently there are not many people around to trade with except the swampfolk.

Notable quotes

 * "That you, Cousin?"
 * "You done messed up now outsider!"
 * "I'm eatin' good tonight!" 
 * "I can smell you"
 * "I'm gonna take my time with you!"
 * "Look out, y'all!"

Appearances
Swampfolk appear in Point Lookout add-on for Fallout 3.

Bugs

 * One specific scrapper, creeper, or bruiser near the Ritual Site will spawn one frag grenade every 30 seconds as long as you stay in the same cell as the dead swampfolk.