Fallout New Vegas I Fought The Law

Katharine Graham

2 min read

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03-12-2024

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The Mojave Wasteland. A land of opportunity, yes, but also a land of harsh realities and unforgiving consequences. In Fallout: New Vegas, your choices, however seemingly small, can have profound and lasting impacts. This is particularly true when you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, a situation I found myself in far too often during my playthroughs.

The Thin Blue Line (and Brown, and Green…)

The Mojave Wasteland isn't governed by a single, unified authority. Instead, you’re navigating a complex web of factions, each with its own laws, interpretations, and, importantly, enforcers. The NCR, with its somewhat rigid military structure, has its own brand of justice. The Legion, brutal and unforgiving, dispenses its own particularly harsh brand of “law and order.” And then there are the independent factions and gangs, whose “laws” are often dictated by self-interest and immediate survival.

Navigating this legal quagmire is a delicate dance. One wrong move, one misplaced shot, one hasty comment can land you in hot water with practically anyone.

My Legal Misadventures

My experience in the Mojave Wasteland has been punctuated by numerous run-ins with the law, both expected and entirely unexpected. Early on, I discovered that the fine line between “self-defense” and “murder” is exceedingly thin when dealing with raiders.

One particular incident stands out. I'd stumbled upon a group of Fiends terrorizing a small caravan. Acting on instinct, I intervened, eliminating the threat. However, an NCR patrol arrived shortly thereafter, and despite my attempts to explain the situation, I was promptly arrested and fined. The supposed "justice" dispensed felt less like upholding the law and more like an opportunistic revenue grab.

Later, I found myself in a more morally ambiguous situation. I was forced to choose a side in a conflict between two factions, neither of which was exactly upholding any recognizable form of justice. My actions, though intended to bring about a measure of order, resulted in another run-in with the law, this time the Legion. Their form of "justice" was far less forgiving than that of the NCR.

Learning the Hard Way

My experiences in Fallout: New Vegas have taught me a valuable lesson: respect for (and perhaps a healthy fear of) the law, in whatever form it manifests in the Mojave Wasteland, is paramount. Careful planning, shrewd decision-making, and a touch of luck are essential for avoiding legal troubles. The wasteland isn't a place where you can simply ignore the consequences of your actions; the price of disobedience, whether it's a hefty fine or a bullet to the head, can be steep.

Ultimately, in the Mojave Wasteland, fighting the law is often a losing battle. It's a lesson I've learned the hard way.