Karma (Fallout)

Karma is the reflection of what people think of the character based on their actions. In addition, the Vault Dweller can be given various location-specific reputation titles.

Positive

 * +1 for talking to the cook in Shady Sands, complimenting her by passing a Luck check.
 * +10 when leaving the exploding Cathedral.
 * +5 when starting the destruction countdown of the Mariposa Military Base and +5 leaving the exploding base.
 * +2 when returning to Irwin in the Hub after clearing his house of raiders.
 * +5 for finding out what happened to the missing caravans and explaining how mutants were the cause.

Negative

 * Each time one is sent to jail in Junktown for any reason, the fine is 100 caps and -1 to reputation. Not having the funds to pay the fine gives -3 instead.

Effects

 * Improve Garret's check reaction for rewards in the quest Destroy the Super Mutants at the Watershed.
 * With 16 reputation or higher, one can choose a reward for completion of the quest Rescue Initiate from the Hub.
 * With -2 or less during the confrontation with the Vault 13 Overseer at the end of the game, the Vault Dweller automatically draws a pistol and shoots him (with a violence setting above "normal").
 * With -21 or less in the random encounter with Trent Barrister, one can tell him to hand over his things, which grants a knife, a Desert Eagle, 20 rounds of .44 Magnum FMJ & JHP each.
 * With IN < 4, a reputation between -30 and 29 and not being a Childkiller, during the random encounter with the weary fisherman, he will give a Rad-X.
 * With +20 or above, and if already having discovered Lost Hills, during a random encounter with Brotherhood of Steel paladins, they can be asked for an escort to Lost Hills.

Titles

 * Berserker: This title is obtained by killing at least 25 people, and at least twice as many Good people as Bad people. Bad characters have a better reaction toward the player in dialogue, while good characters have the opposite. This reputation status is non-functional.
 * Champion: This title is gained by killing many characters with bad Karma while having good or very good Karma and not already having the Childkiller title. Good characters have a better reaction toward you in dialogue.
 * Childkiller: The Childkiller reputation is conferred upon the player after killing children. Although the reputation will display in the character sheet immediately, it will remain inactive until the player kills at least three children in Fallout or two children in Fallout 2. Causes 30 points to initial reaction of both good and evil NPCs. The reputations will cause bounty hunters to appear on the world map.

Behind the scenes

 * Because of the possibility to kill children, Fallout was denied release in Europe initially, but after removing all children from the game, it was allowed release. Fallout 2 also has no children in European versions, and lampshades this fact through fourth-wall-breaking dialogue in Vault City while talking to Phyllis.


 * A new Vault Boy image for the Childkiller title was initially created for Fallout 2 but was never used.