Butch (Fallout 3)

Butch DeLoria is a bully in Vault 101 who harasses the Lone Wanderer in his or her youth.

Youth
His first appearance in the game is during Lone Wanderer's 10th birthday. He bullies the Lone Wanderer in attempt to get a Sweetroll. The second time you encounter Butch is on your way to the G.O.A.T. test. He and his Tunnel Snakes are harassing Amata. At this point you can make a choice to fight Butch and his gang, tell off Amata about her weight, talk down the gang, or choose to do nothing.

Mr. Brotch informs Butch that his G.O.A.T. exam answers determined him to be a hairdresser, something that amuses the long-suffering teacher and outrages Butch, who proclaims angrily, "I'm a barber, not a hairdresser!"

Main Story
After James's escape, the Vault becomes infested by Radroaches, and Butch's mother, Ellen DeLoria, is attacked by the insects. Butch asks the Lone Wanderer to help save her. If the player helps him or if the player instills confidence for him to rid of the bugs on his own, Butch admits he has always liked the Dweller despite the teasing, offering his Tunnel Snake Jacket. If his mother gets killed in the process, by either the roaches or the player, Butch tells the player how much he hates him/her and yells for the guards, giving away your location.

Much later, during Vault 101's factional crisis, Butch sides with Amata's rebels. In an about-face to his earlier behavior, he will be somewhat belligerent to your return due to all the problems you and your father's escape caused. Butch wishes to leave the Vault so he can make his own choices in life, and somewhat naively wants to start a new gang in the Wastelands. If asked about the events after your escape, he will mention Stanley's fears about the damage the Vault's systems sustained, and hints that permanent damage to the air filtration systems may force the Vault to be evacuated.

Butch can give you a haircut after you return to the vault. If you choose to recruit him, he can also give you a haircut anytime during your travels.

Companion
Butch is one of the two neutral followers in Fallout 3. Following the resolution of the crisis, Butch can be found in the Muddy Rudder in Rivet City.

If the player's karma is in the neutral range, Butch will offer to join up with you. Once you have recruited Butch, he will not leave if your karma goes above or below the neutral range, but if you are separated or if you fire Butch your karma must return to neutral in order to recruit him again.

There are about ten different solutions to Trouble on the Homefront, it is not known which of the solutions will lead to or preclude his appearance in Muddy Rudder. It has been reported that he would appear if:


 * The vault is evacuated.
 * Overseer is persuaded to step down.
 * Amata and the rebels are convinced to stay.
 * (BUG?) The rebels were killed (including him).

Combat
Butch's default weapons are a 10mm Pistol (with unlimited ammo) and a Switchblade. He has somewhat less health than the game's other NPC companions, although he is still tougher than a normal combatant. On important thing to note about Butch is that he only has 1 "tagged" skill, Small Guns, whereas all other companions have 3. As a result, while Butch's skill with small guns rises with level, all his other abilities (including Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Melee Weapons and Explosives) will all remain terrible.

Overall, he seems to be the weakest of the game's NPC companions, with a weak default weapon, limited skill set, and lower than normal health. Still, he's a better fighter than a normal enemy human combatant, and can do well in most combats if you give him decent weapons and armor.

Statistics

 * Health: 190 &rarr; 285
 * SPECIAL
 * Strength: 5
 * Perception: 5
 * Endurance: 4
 * Charisma: 5
 * Agility: 5
 * Intelligence: 5
 * Luck: 5


 * Skills
 * Barter: 15
 * Big Guns: 13
 * Energy Weapons: 15
 * Explosives: 15
 * Lockpick: 15
 * Medicine: 15
 * Melee Weapons: 15
 * Repair: 15
 * Science: 30
 * Small Guns: 30 &rarr; 100
 * Sneak: 15
 * Speech: 15
 * Unarmed: 28

Bugs
Even if the player has killed Butch in Vault 101 following Trouble on the Homefront he will still end up at the Muddy Rudder in Rivet City.

Sometimes Butch will just 'blank' you in Rivet City. I have been playing with a positive karma though, and if I try to talk to Butch a black line where text would be appears, but no dialogue.

Related quests

 * Growing Up Fast
 * Future Imperfect
 * Escape!
 * Trouble on the Homefront

Appearances
Butch appears in Fallout 3.