A defining feature of Fallout: New Vegas that really elevates its standing among RPGs is the depth of choice and consequence intertwined within its gameplay. The wasteland offers the Courier countless ways to leave their mark, with one of the most significant being the choice of faction allegiance. This decision has the power to reshape the power dynamics within the Mojave.
Picture this: somewhere on the path to New Vegas, a courier is left for dead with a gunshot wound to the head. As grave as this is, it begs one to wonder how violently chaotic the Mojave could spiral without the Courier’s talents navigating its treacherous world.
Now, think about New Vegas without the vigilant presence of the Courier. The stalemate among the major factions is palpable, each hampered by limited resources or a lack of vision that prevents them from claiming ultimate victory. Yet, one faction might just have the edge it needs, should the balance shift in their favor.
In particular, Mr. House faces a strategic nightmare without the empowerment of the Platinum Chip. This critical component not only upgrades his Securitron army, enhancing his defenses and influence, but without it, he’s cornered into using only his wits and cunning without the leverage of military might.
For Mr. House, New Vegas represents a vision of independence, intended to break free from the clutches of Caesar’s Legion and the taxing influence of the New California Republic (NCR). However, should his true capabilities be unmasked, it could set off a disastrous chain of events, the city’s safety only as strong as the naivety of its threats. For inhabitants of the Strip such as the Three Families, any perceived weakness might tempt them to rebel, dragging the city back into chaos.
Meanwhile, the NCR fights its own battles plagued by internal division. Without intervention from the Courier, Chief Hanlon’s misinformation goes unchecked, and hidden NCR enemies thrive. Losing the Camp McCarran Monorail to sabotage would cut off crucial access to New Vegas and dismantle whatever tenuous hold they maintain there.
Looking at Caesar’s Legion, we see a formidable force on the rise. They’ve made strides west, with Caesar’s strong leadership maintaining a semblance of unity within its ranks. But, beneath the surface, Caesar is in a precarious condition. With his life waning, the future stability of the Legion seems uncertain, threatening tumult and potential power struggles among its ranks.
If the Legion manages to seize Hoover Dam, while battling its internal disparities, it risks crumbling without Caesar’s strategic prowess to bind it. Entering this vacuum is Legate Lanius, whose unforgiving nature lacks Caesar’s visionary leadership, potentially igniting tensions that could unravel the Legion.
Amidst these towering factions, smaller groups face existential threats. Without alliances or a guiding Courier, the Brotherhood of Steel remains vulnerable, the Khans risk assimilation by the Legion, and the Boomers find their isolation increasingly dangerous. The wasteland’s balance is precarious, with Benny—a lone power player—unable to capitalize on his ambitions without games of his own going awry.
Envisioning an uncharmed second battle for Hoover Dam, Benny’s sly maneuvering ends as Caesar’s Legion advances, the vacuum of power leaving a destructive wake. Caesar, bedecked with the mysterious pendant of the Platinum Chip, steamrolls through New Vegas, dictating terms to a weary Mr. House and demolishing rebellious remnants of NCR troops.
Ultimately, as Caesar’s health falters, it heralds a potential fracturing within the Legion. Power struggles ensue as Legate Lanius tries to stabilize his rule while tenuous alliances unravel. With internal violence burgeoning in the wake of Hoover Dam’s capture, Vulpes Inculta seizes upon chaos, crafting a plan to redefine the future with the Platinum Chip’s elusive power.
With the Mojave at such a crossroads, the absence of the Courier’s pivotal choices irrevocably steers the fate of New Vegas toward unpredictability. As factions scramble for dominance in a dangerous new order, the destiny they carve out is one of escalating turmoil and shifting allegiances.
