Arcade Gannon

Arcade Gannon is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse and possible companion in 2281.

Background
Arcade was an only child, the son of an Enclave officer, born at a military base in Navarro. His father passed away when he was young, but the circumstances and leading to his death were never shared with him. When the New California Republic sacked Navarro, he and his mother fled with troopers from his father's old unit. The group moved south, attempting to integrate, but were still sought by the NCR and Brotherhood of Steel, requiring repetitive relocation to the fringes.

Gannon credits the Followers of the Apocalypse for his knowledge base, including having received his medical training from the group while he lived within the NCR. His drive to help people and enjoyment of learning led him to move to the New Vegas area, where communities were especially in need of assistance. From his tent in Freeside's Old Mormon Fort, Arcade is currently researching alternative treatments for common illnesses and injuries, utilizing local flora such as barrel cacti.

Intentionally deflecting questions about himself at first, he will only describe in detail finding his niche in conducting research, sharing his goals of developing new ways of producing medical supplies as pre-War medical supplies are finite in number. Shortly thereafter, he will admit that the Followers may have overextended themselves by reaching out to the individuals there, but is determined to assist where no one else would. In addition, he will comment that research into his projects are slow going, but that he is enthusiastic about the possibility of his work helping people regardless.

Relationships
He has remained close with the Enclave remnants who he sees as family. His closest bond is with Daisy Whitman, who he describes as being "the only woman in his life" after the death of his mother. He shares with the Courier that he has had many men in his life, but that "lovers make poor confidantes," instead choosing to remain close to Daisy, who never had children of her own and was always willing to listen. Arcade remembers Orion Moreno's unwavering support of the Enclave, and Cannibal Johnson's distain for it. He will also share that Judah Kreger did his best to make Arcade feel welcome in the group, doing so out of a sense of loyalty to his late father.

Arcade laments not being able to completely move past growing up without a father figure, wondering if what he had planned for him, and if those plans aligned with reality. He makes peace with what the remnant members recount about his father's good character, sharing that although he won't attempt to fill his father's shoes, he aims to do his best to follow in his footsteps in terms of making a difference in the lives of others. He feels a strong desire to repay the remnants for their support throughout his life, ultimately accepting that their path and his own were different, and that he is satisfied with having chosen the direction he did.

Personality
Arcade is strongly averse to groups he views as fascist or imperialist, such as the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion. Arcade feels strongly about Caesar's Legion and their potential desirous effects on the area, nothing Caesar's inability to learn from the past, instead recreating it.

Recruiting as companion
There are several ways for the Courier to recruit Arcade while speaking with him. He will agree to accompanying the player character if any of the following requirements are met:
 * The Courier has a high reputation with the Followers.
 * The Courier has successfully completed High Times and given Julie Farkas the needed medical supplies.
 * Note that for this approach, the Courier needs to first ask, "Do you need any help?" after which Arcade will thank the Courier for their work for the Followers and a "join me" option will appear.
 * The Courier can pass a Speech check of 75.
 * The Courier has the Confirmed Bachelor perk.
 * If the Courier has an Intelligence of 3 or lower while speaking with him, Arcade will take pity on them. Temporary Intelligence-reduction effects can be useful in this situation if the Courier who cannot pass any of the other checks.
 * As with Craig Boone, Arcade will refuse to join the Courier if they acquire a positive reputation with the Legion. To bypass this, the Courier can wear NCR faction armor and talk to Arcade again. It will temporarily bypass the faction check and allow Arcade to become a companion. Arcade is not affected by a negative reputation with the Followers of the Apocalypse when the Courier tries to recruit him.

Quests

 * For Auld Lang Syne: After the Courier shifts the balance of power between factions and explores several locations Arcade will recall memories of his days with the Enclave. This will reunite the members of his father's old squad in order to have them render assistance in the upcoming battle at Hoover Dam.
 * Beyond the Beef: The Courier can offer Arcade (or any other human companion) as a substitute main course to Mortimer for the banquet. Mortimer makes remarks about his height and his chin.
 * Bitter Springs Infirmary Blues: Arcade can give Markland the specialized medical training he needs, bypassing the part of the quest that requires the retrieval of Tiny, Tiny Babies: All You Need to Know About Pediatric Medicine and Stress and the Modern Refugee: A Primer.
 * Et Tumor, Brute?: The Courier has the option of selling Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor, completing the quest but losing Karma.
 * ED-E My Love: When asked about which faction to send ED-E to near the end of ED-E My Love, he will unsurprisingly urge you to give it to the Followers.
 * That Lucky Old Sun: In HELIOS One (and after listening to Fantastic), Arcade will urge the Courier to divert power to Freeside and outer Vegas on the belief that the NCR already has power from Hoover Dam and Mr. House has resources unlike the unfortunate citizens of Freeside.
 * The White Wash: If the player chooses to help Tom Anderson rather than turn him in, Arcade will be very vocal and pleased about it.

Other interactions

 * When recruiting Arcade with ED-E or Rex as a companion he will make a comment on either of them.
 * Wearing a Legion outfit before recruiting Gannon and trying to activate conversation with is impossible as he will refuse to talk to the player character, stating he is only willing to talk after saying "take off that ridiculous Legion uniform. It's insulting."
 * When putting Nuka-Cola in Arcade's inventory, Arcade will eventually drink the Nuka-Cola leaving only empty bottles and bottle caps.
 * Arcade will comment on many quest events as the player character finds or completes them, such as when Vulpes Inculta gives the player character the Mark of Caesar commenting that Vulpes is the Legion's "most notorious" spy, when being asked to plant a bug in the Lucky 38 by Emily Ortal, or activating ARCHIMEDES II.

Inventory

 * * Only worn if fighting at Hoover Dam.


 * ** Because Arcade's Plasma Defender uses magical companion ammo instead of energy cells, it does not have the -2 DT effect that comes from using standard energy ammunition. Otherwise, the weapon has the same statistics as the standard version.

Appearances
Arcade Gannon appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.