Three Families

Cleanup (Issue: Article is missing Benny's dialogue on the topic)

This content or section requires cleanup. Please help us improve the article!

	For the group in Fallout 3, see The Family.

All • Characters • Factions • Locations • Quests • Endings

“The families that now run the Strip of New Vegas were little more than squabbling tribes a few decades ago.”— Fallout: New Vegas loading screen

The Three Families are a group of former tribes that run the New Vegas Strip on behalf of Mr. House in Fallout: New Vegas. The families are the Chairmen, Omertas and the White Glove Society.

Background

Before the Great War started, Mr. House prepared defenses to ensure that no missiles would strike the city of Las Vegas. Successful strikes occurred in the outskirts, but the city was spared. Years later, Mr. House detected scouts from the New California Republic in the area and set about preparing for an eventual force arriving with interests in the Hoover Dam.^[1] In response, House sent out Securitron scouts to negotiate with local tribes, specifically the Slither Kin, Mojave Boot-Riders, and an unnamed tribe to exchange his resources for their help in resettling the city.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Those that agreed became the Omertas, Chairmen, and White Glove Society, pushing out other tribes such as the Great Khans and the future Kings that did not have the support and resources of Mr. House.^[5]^[6]^[7] The three groups began running the Gomorrah, Tops, and Ultra-Luxe casinos as Mr. House's employees.^[8]^{[Pub 1]} Upon the arrival of the NCR Army, the combined strength of the Securitrons and the Three Families were sufficient to bring the NCR to the bargaining table, resulting in the Treaty of New Vegas.^[9]^{[Pub 1]}

The Families control the casinos, hotels, and other attractions on the strip that the Courier can patronize, although Securitrons enter the casinos only when invited by the Three Families.^[10] In addition, many quest-givers on the strip are members of the Three Families, led by Benny, Nero, and Marjorie.^[11]

Members

Chairmen, led by Benny at the Tops
Omertas, led by Nero at Gomorrah
White Glove Society, led by Marjorie at the Ultra-Luxe

Appearances

The Three Families appear only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Gallery

The Tops Casino
The Gomorrah Casino
The Ultra-Luxe Casino

References

↑ Courier: "How do you intend to enforce your claim on the city?"
Mr. House: "To enforce, one must have force - a position of strength. Years ago, when I detected NCR scouts roaming the Mojave, I could tell from their uniforms that these were no mere tribesmen. I knew it was only a matter of time before an army appeared, to take control of the dam. And I knew my Securitrons wouldn't be enough to oppose them. And so I recruited the Three Families. Vegas belongs to me because I mustered enough strength to bring the NCR to the bargaining table."
(Mr. House's dialogue)
↑ Ulysses: "Families of Vegas were once tribes. Got drunk on the Vegas lights, the spirit bled out of them. Old World history, under a different flag."
(Ulysses/Dialogue)
↑ Fallout: New Vegas loading screen: "The families that now run the Strip of New Vegas were little more than squabbling tribes a few decades ago."
↑ Courier: "You recruited the Omertas as one of the Three Families?"
Mr. House: "Yes, though at the time they called themselves the "Slither Kin." A vicious clan, not that that's changed, exactly. They were nomads, capable fighters, but their specialty was betrayal. They'd invite travelers into their yurts, drug them, murder or enslave them. They took pride in their craft. I don't think Omertas saw other people as people at all. Everyone else was just... prey. They reminded me of a certain criminal element Vegas used to attract. I told them some stories, gave them some clothes - and they ran with it."
(Mr. House's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "How have the Khans been kicked around?"
Yes Man: "They were one of the tribes the Three Families pushed out of Vegas! A whole bunch got killed! So they settled at Bitter Springs, but they kept being so obnoxious, the NCR had to kill a whole bunch more of them! So then they settle at Red Rock Canyon! There's just no getting rid of them!"
(Yes Man's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "How did the Three Families defeat you?"
Papa Khan: "They allied with Mr. House, the self-proclaimed master of New Vegas. He supported them with the resources of New Vegas: weapons, technology, caps. They were better equipped, and we could not stand against them."
(Papa Khan's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "What can you tell me about Freeside?"
The King: "To understand Freeside, you have to look back a few years. Originally, we were all just tribes making a living in this area. That all changed when Mr. House came around. He made an offer to the three biggest tribes that were willing to listen to him. Today, everyone calls those tribes the Three Families, and they live in luxury and run their own casinos in the Strip. The rest of us were left to fight over the crumbs, living in the shadow of those more fortunate. Things got pretty nasty for a while. But we wanted more. A place of our own. A place where no one could tell us what to do. And we didn't want to go elsewhere to find it. So we took control of this place, and made it our own. And that's really all Freeside is, the best of a bad situation."
(The King's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "Who exactly are you, Mr. House?"
Mr. House: "I am Robert Edwin House, President, CEO, and sole proprietor of the New Vegas Strip. I oversaw the city's renovations starting from 2274 onward. The Three Families are my employees. Before the Great War of 2077, I was the founder, President and CEO of RobCo Industries, a vast computer and robotics corporation."
(Mr. House's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "Wasn't the NCR's army big enough to defeat your Securitrons and the Three Families?"
Mr. House: "Indeed it was - and still is. But not without taking significant casualties. Would Kimball and Oliver have traded the lives of hundreds of soldiers for absolute control of Hoover Dam? Oh yes. They weren't afraid of me, they were afraid of Caesar - that attacking me would leave them vulnerable to a Legion offensive. And so they negotiated. Not out of the kindness of their hearts, as they try to make it seem. Because the calculus of power left no other choice."
(Mr. House's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "Why can't you be the one to tell Swank?"
Mr. House: "By contract, Securitrons are to enter the casinos only when invited by the Three Families or if other extraordinary circumstances arise. The moment I send one into the Tops, Benny will know I'm on to him."
(Mr. House's dialogue)
↑ Courier: "What use would you have for a protege?"
Mr. House: "To achieve my aims, I require a capable human agent to perform certain... tasks. I knew Benny was ambitious, even ruthless. But I believed he would do the job, so long as he was incentivized appropriately. Obviously, I miscalculated his drive for supremacy. But in any case, you've come along - a more-than-suitable replacement."
(Mr. House's dialogue

Publications

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 41: "The Strip: Before the Great War started, Mr. House used his considerable genius and wealth to ensure that no missiles would strike the city of Las Vegas. Though a few warheads did get through in the outskirts, most of the city was spared. Despite this, the Strip itself was not re-settled, and after close to two hundred years, Mr. House immediately began searching for a mysterious Platinum chip and rebuilding the glory of Las Vegas. Sending out Securitron scouts, Mr. House started negotiating with local tribes to exchange his considerable resource stockpiles for their help. Some of the tribes resisted, but three tribes eventually gained Mr. House's favor. They became the Omertas, Chairmen, and White Glove Society, running the Gomorrah, Tops, and Ultra-Luxe casinos, respectively. Though the tribes that became The Strip's families were once hatefully opposed to each other, the demands of Mr. House have forced the families to play nice. They continue to hold long-standing grudges, but do not act openly against each other for fear of angering Mr. House."
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Faction profiles)

Factions in Fallout: New Vegas

Major factions		Caesar's Legion • New California Republic • Free Economic Zone of New Vegas (Mr. House • Yes Man)

Secondary factions		Boomers • Enclave Remnants • Followers of the Apocalypse • Great Khans • Mojave Brotherhood of Steel • Three Families (Chairmen • Omertas • White Glove Society)

Tertiary factions		Aliens • Alpha Squad • Bravo Company • Bright Brotherhood • Cassidy Caravans • Crimson Caravan • Davison's nightkin • Fiends • First Recon • Greasers • Gun Runners • Jackals • Kings • Maud's Muggers • Mojave Express • New California Republic Army • New California Republic Rangers • NCR Military Police • Office of Science and Industry • Powder Gangers • Rad Pack Revue • Scorpions • State of Utobitha • The Misfits • Van Graffs • Vipers • Westside Cooperative • Westside Militia •

Add-on factions		Dead Horses • Happy Trails Caravan Company • New Canaanites • Sorrows • White Legs • Think Tank

[prepare-1] Courier: "How do you intend to enforce your claim on the city?"
Mr. House: "To enforce, one must have force - a position of strength. Years ago, when I detected NCR scouts roaming the Mojave, I could tell from their uniforms that these were no mere tribesmen. I knew it was only a matter of time before an army appeared, to take control of the dam. And I knew my Securitrons wouldn't be enough to oppose them. And so I recruited the Three Families. Vegas belongs to me because I mustered enough strength to bring the NCR to the bargaining table."
(Mr. House's dialogue)

[2] Ulysses: "Families of Vegas were once tribes. Got drunk on the Vegas lights, the spirit bled out of them. Old World history, under a different flag."
(Ulysses/Dialogue)

[3] Fallout: New Vegas loading screen: "The families that now run the Strip of New Vegas were little more than squabbling tribes a few decades ago."

[4] Courier: "You recruited the Omertas as one of the Three Families?"
Mr. House: "Yes, though at the time they called themselves the "Slither Kin." A vicious clan, not that that's changed, exactly. They were nomads, capable fighters, but their specialty was betrayal. They'd invite travelers into their yurts, drug them, murder or enslave them. They took pride in their craft. I don't think Omertas saw other people as people at all. Everyone else was just... prey. They reminded me of a certain criminal element Vegas used to attract. I told them some stories, gave them some clothes - and they ran with it."
(Mr. House's dialogue)

[5] Courier: "How have the Khans been kicked around?"
Yes Man: "They were one of the tribes the Three Families pushed out of Vegas! A whole bunch got killed! So they settled at Bitter Springs, but they kept being so obnoxious, the NCR had to kill a whole bunch more of them! So then they settle at Red Rock Canyon! There's just no getting rid of them!"
(Yes Man's dialogue)

[6] Courier: "How did the Three Families defeat you?"
Papa Khan: "They allied with Mr. House, the self-proclaimed master of New Vegas. He supported them with the resources of New Vegas: weapons, technology, caps. They were better equipped, and we could not stand against them."
(Papa Khan's dialogue)

[7] Courier: "What can you tell me about Freeside?"
The King: "To understand Freeside, you have to look back a few years. Originally, we were all just tribes making a living in this area. That all changed when Mr. House came around. He made an offer to the three biggest tribes that were willing to listen to him. Today, everyone calls those tribes the Three Families, and they live in luxury and run their own casinos in the Strip. The rest of us were left to fight over the crumbs, living in the shadow of those more fortunate. Things got pretty nasty for a while. But we wanted more. A place of our own. A place where no one could tell us what to do. And we didn't want to go elsewhere to find it. So we took control of this place, and made it our own. And that's really all Freeside is, the best of a bad situation."
(The King's dialogue)

[houseintro-8] Courier: "Who exactly are you, Mr. House?"
Mr. House: "I am Robert Edwin House, President, CEO, and sole proprietor of the New Vegas Strip. I oversaw the city's renovations starting from 2274 onward. The Three Families are my employees. Before the Great War of 2077, I was the founder, President and CEO of RobCo Industries, a vast computer and robotics corporation."
(Mr. House's dialogue)

[10] Courier: "Wasn't the NCR's army big enough to defeat your Securitrons and the Three Families?"
Mr. House: "Indeed it was - and still is. But not without taking significant casualties. Would Kimball and Oliver have traded the lives of hundreds of soldiers for absolute control of Hoover Dam? Oh yes. They weren't afraid of me, they were afraid of Caesar - that attacking me would leave them vulnerable to a Legion offensive. And so they negotiated. Not out of the kindness of their hearts, as they try to make it seem. Because the calculus of power left no other choice."
(Mr. House's dialogue)

[11] Courier: "Why can't you be the one to tell Swank?"
Mr. House: "By contract, Securitrons are to enter the casinos only when invited by the Three Families or if other extraordinary circumstances arise. The moment I send one into the Tops, Benny will know I'm on to him."
(Mr. House's dialogue)

[12] Courier: "What use would you have for a protege?"
Mr. House: "To achieve my aims, I require a capable human agent to perform certain... tasks. I knew Benny was ambitious, even ruthless. But I believed he would do the job, so long as he was incentivized appropriately. Obviously, I miscalculated his drive for supremacy. But in any case, you've come along - a more-than-suitable replacement."
(Mr. House's dialogue

[Guide-9] 1.0 ^1.1 Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 41: "The Strip: Before the Great War started, Mr. House used his considerable genius and wealth to ensure that no missiles would strike the city of Las Vegas. Though a few warheads did get through in the outskirts, most of the city was spared. Despite this, the Strip itself was not re-settled, and after close to two hundred years, Mr. House immediately began searching for a mysterious Platinum chip and rebuilding the glory of Las Vegas. Sending out Securitron scouts, Mr. House started negotiating with local tribes to exchange his considerable resource stockpiles for their help. Some of the tribes resisted, but three tribes eventually gained Mr. House's favor. They became the Omertas, Chairmen, and White Glove Society, running the Gomorrah, Tops, and Ultra-Luxe casinos, respectively. Though the tribes that became The Strip's families were once hatefully opposed to each other, the demands of Mr. House have forced the families to play nice. They continue to hold long-standing grudges, but do not act openly against each other for fear of angering Mr. House."
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Faction profiles)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[Pub 1]

[9]

[10]

[11]