Deathclaw (Fallout Tactics)

Hairy deathclaws are mutated creatures in Fallout Tactics.

Background
An entirely separate deathclaw species, the hairy deathclaw is a unique creature. The Matriarch of one deathclaw pack was captured by a psychic tribe known as the Beastlords. While the tribals were able to use their psychic powers to control other animals, the deathclaws were strong enough to resist them. However, they cooperated with the Beastlords in order to protect their Mother. After the matriarch was freed by the Brotherhood of Steel, she led her pack to join the Brotherhood, and the elders surprisingly agreed. She herself volunteered her services, aptly named Mother.

Biology
Unlike deathclaws derived from Jackson's chameleons, these deathclaws are mammals, not reptiles. Distinguishing features include a mammal-like appearance and physique, including higher primate body-shape, more developed arms with long and sharp claws, the horns of several herbivore mammal types, and a predatory maw. Their skin is comparable in resilience to their reptile brethren.

The hairy deathclaws are more matriarchal than their reptilian counterparts, with large packs led by a single matriarch. If a territory lacks enough sustenance for such a pack, they split into autonomous smaller families of infants led and protected by the pair of adults. Although mature deathclaws are quite intelligent, sapient, and self-aware, infant deathclaws are less hairy and seem to be absolutely unintelligent, behaving like regular animals. One quirk of their biology is that, despite being mammals, young are not carried to term, but hatch from eggs.

Gameplay attributes
In Fallout Tactics patched to 1.27, deathclaws are deadly. They are highly resistant to regular ammunition. The non-player characters in each bunker often say "I have some AP ammo for those deathclaws," but they will not trade it. Even an anti-vehicle mine does only medium damage.

In Quincy, the player character is confronted with seven deathclaws and around five baby deathclaws. However, they can be seen in a random encounter before that mission. After rescuing the Matriarch from the control of the Beastlords during the Mardin mission, several deathclaws appear in the recruitment pool.

Deathclaws were derived from mixed animal stock and then refined using genetic engineering to produce fast killing machines. Because of their extreme power, they get a large amount of Hit Points and a boost to Radiation Resistance. However, they are vulnerable to fire and cannot use any projectile weapons or armor, though they can equip power fists and other unarmed weapons, as well as carry and use grenades and mines. Their statistics make them excellent for Stealth skills, so they can easily sneak up on enemies to get to melee range.

Deathclaw
Hairy deathclaws are indeed vicious and dangerous creatures. They are highly resistant to regular ammunition and can dish out massive amounts of damage.

Baby deathclaw
Baby deathclaws are much smaller, and can't take as much damage, or inflict it.

Appearances
Hairy deathclaws appear only in Fallout Tactics.

Behind the scenes
According to Chris Taylor, the hairy deathclaw was inspired by the original concept the developers had in mind for deathclaws, but which they could not implement into the first games due to technical limitations at the time.