1 | System Pillars
| Pillar | Design Goal | Player Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Squad-Scale Companionship | Allow 3 – 5 simultaneous sidekicks (“micro-militia”). | Moment-to-moment combat tactics feel more tactical than lone-wolf play. |
| Hybrid Recruitment & Creation | Find colorful wastelanders or hand-craft custom aides in a “Sidekick Forge.” | Combines Bethesda’s signature NPC storytelling with deep player agency. |
| Tactical Command Layer | Holographic map app on the Pip-Boy: draw paths, set distraction zones, sync flanks, assign cover-fire arcs. | Minute-to-minute battlefield control without cumbersome micromanagement. |
| Settlement Garrison Loop | Any idle sidekick can be stationed at settlements, boosting defense ratings and unlocking local quests. | Creates organic links between exploration, base-building, and companion management. |
| Growth & Loyalty | Each sidekick earns XP in three tracks—Combat, Utility, Bond. Loyalty unlocks signature “Heroic Moves” and settlement “Mastery Upgrades.” | Encourages long-term relationships, role specialization, and meaningful choices about who stays in the field. |
2 | Recruitment & Creation Flow
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Discovery Contracts
Random Encounters, Faction Boards, Wasteland Radio “Help Wanted”-
Sign a short-term contract → prove compatibility during a test fight → permanent enlist option.
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Sidekick Forge (Character Creator)
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Templates: Mercenary, Settler, Scientist, Synth, Ghoul, Super-Mutant, Beastmaster, etc.
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Allocate AP (Ability Points) across 6 Aptitudes: Offense, Defense, Stealth, Tech, Survival, Charisma.
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Pick a Talent Tree (see §4) and two Quirks (personality modifiers that have pros & cons).
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Loyalty & Morale
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5-star scale; stars rise with shared victories or favored dialogue choices, drop if ignored or assigned drudge work.
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High loyalty unlocks Dual-Techs (combo actions) and Settlement Mastery perks when stationed.
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3 | Pip-Boy Tactical App (“TacMap v2.3”)
Accessed by holding the <Pip-Boy> hotkey for 2 seconds.
| Feature | Interaction | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Waypoint Chain | Draw drag-and-drop nodes. | Tell Sniper Nat to perch on a water-tower while Melee Bruiser circles behind. |
| Distraction Ping | Paint zone, set timer (5 – 60 s). | Stealth Scout lobs a flash mine, creatures investigate, player slips past. |
| Cover-Fire Arc | Select sidekick → hold trigger → sweep 90° arc. | Heavy Gunner lays suppressive fire while you hack a terminal. |
| Formation Presets | Diamond, Wedge, Line, Loose. | Quick-swap mid-fight without redrawing paths. |
| Macro Slots | Save up to 4 custom routines (e.g., “Raid Bust,” “Sniper Nest,” “Ghoul Herd”). | One-tap execution for hectic random encounters. |
4 | Talent Trees (Sidekick Classes)
| Tree | Role Focus | Signature Heroic Move |
|---|---|---|
| Gunslinger | mid-range DPS, stagger procs | “Dead-Eye Cascade” – rapid ricochet shot chain. |
| Heavy Gunner | suppression, armor shred | “Lead Curtain” – deployable tripod + infinite ammo for 8 s. |
| Battlemage (Energy Tech) | plasma & laser AoE, shield drones | “Arc Overload” – chain lightning explosion. |
| Beastmaster | animal command, bleed effects | “Pack Instinct” – allied creatures swarm a target. |
| Medic | burst heals, chem synthesis | “Stimpak Surge” – AoE revive + temporary DR. |
| Engineer | turrets, mines, hack doors | “Fortress Pop-Up” – instantly erects a portable barricade set. |
| Sniper/Spotter | long-range pick-offs, recon ping | “One Breath” – guaranteed crit headshot ignoring armor. |
| Stealth Operative | back-stab, cloak field | “Phantom Chain” – teleport-behind triple takedown. |
| Demolitionist | explosives, terrain denial | “Mirror Boom” – place 3 remote mirv charges instantly. |
| Diplomat/Rabble-Rouser | crowd control, morale buffs | “Rousing Speech” – boosts ally DMG + DR + accuracy 20 s. |
5 | Settlement Garrison Mechanics
Any sidekick not in the active squad can be posted to a settlement Workstation.
| Garrison Role | Settlement Buffs | Mastery Unlock (Req. Loyalty 3+) |
|---|---|---|
| Quartermaster | +Storage, +Vendor Caps | “Supply Cache” periodic shipments. |
| Drill Sergeant | +Defense Rating, militia weapon skill | Leads daily combat drills → +5% global guard accuracy. |
| Architect | +Build Budget, faster construction | Unlock “Reinforced Walls” blueprint. |
| Scout Trainer | +Settlement visibility radius | Adds random event warnings to Pip-Boy. |
| Morale Officer | +Happiness, −Settler desertion | Weekly festivals → +bonus XP to player & recruits. |
Sidekicks accumulate Garrison XP, unlocking passive bonuses even when off-map. This loop rewards large rosters without overwhelming active play.
6 | Long-Form Sidekick Roster (40 Examples)
Mix of discoverable NPCs (D) and Creator Templates (C)—feel free to flesh them out further.
| # | Name / Template | Tagline | Talent Tree | Quirk(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nat “Needle” Vincenza (D) | Ex-Raider sharpshooter obsessed with dramatics | Sniper/Spotter | “Showboater” (+crit chance when last to kill, −stealth) |
| 2 | Brickhouse Axel (D) | Super-Mutant bruiser who writes haikus | Heavy Gunner | “Gentle Giant” (+loyalty gain, −movement speed) |
| 3 | Echo-27 (D) | Runaway Synth medic searching for purpose | Medic | “Synthetic Soul” (immune to radiation, vulnerable to EMP) |
| 4 | Captain Clankle (D) | Pre-War Mister Gutsy with a monocle | Engineer | “Old World Pride” (+turret HP, random patriotic quips) |
| 5 | Ghoul Kid “Fizz” (D) | Teenage chem savant | Demolitionist | “Junkie” (random chem buff, chance for withdrawal) |
| 6 | Desert Ranger Template (C) | Frontier lawkeeper archetype | Gunslinger | “Steadfast” (+DR when <50% HP) |
| 7 | Vault Pariah Template (C) | Ostracized vault-dweller | Battlemage | “Lonely Heart” (+XP with same companion, −XP alone) |
| 8 | Beast Whisperer Tala (D) | Tribal hunter with a deathclaw hatchling | Beastmaster | “Packbond” (deathclaw grows over time) |
| 9 | Rust-Bucket Ron (D) | Ex-Brotherhood scribe turned scrap artist | Engineer | “Tinker Only” (+mod crafting speed, −rifle accuracy) |
| 10 | Proto-Assassin Template (C) | Gen-III synth w/ cloaking node | Stealth Operative | “Glass Blade” (+melee crit, −HP pool) |
| 11 | Grognak Re-Enactor “Lars” (D) | Cosplayer wielding replica axe (still deadly) | Demolitionist | “Theatrics” (Taunt pulse ability) |
| 12 | Solar Scion Hana (D) | Laser rifle prodigy from Children of Atom offshoot | Battlemage | “Rad-Blessed” (gains HP in radiation) |
| 13 | Postman Pete (D) | Insanely fast courier | Scout hybrid (Engineer/Stealth) | “Swift Feet” (+sprint, can’t wear Power Armor) |
| 14 | Nightkin Mirth (D) | Invisible super-mutant poet | Stealth Operative | “Schizoid Stealth” (random cloak flicker) |
| 15 | Synth-Dog “Byte” (D) | Cyber-mastiff with USB teeth | Beastmaster sub-pet | “Data Hound” (auto-hack tier-1 terminals) |
| 16 | Radstag Rancher Template (C) | Wasteland cowboy with pack animals | Gunslinger/Beastmaster | “Mounted Fire” (shoot while riding) |
| 17 | Tinker Twins Ada & Izzy (D) | Two NPCs count as 1 slot; build twin turrets | Engineer | “Sibling Sync” (turret damage doubles if adjacent) |
| 18 | Crimson Choir Vicar (D) | Charismatic preacher, buffs allies | Diplomat | “Zealot’s Fervor” (+morale, −chem use) |
| 19 | Rookie Scribe Template (C) | Young BOS initiate | Medic/Engineer mix | “Protocol-Bound” (+laser dmg, can refuse illegal orders) |
| 20 | Ghoulified Ranger Boone (D) | 200-year rifleman, still on duty | Sniper | “Undying Watch” (revives once per day) |
| 21 | Mariner Maeve (D) | Harpoon-gun specialist from Far Harbor | Heavy Gunner | “Salty Dog” (+water combat, −desert stamina) |
| 22 | Prospector Hank (D) | Explosives miner w/ ore scanner | Demolitionist | “Gold Fever” (XP burst on finding ore veins) |
| 23 | Sky-Pirate Template (C) | Jet-pack raider | Gunslinger | “Fuel Guzzler” (needs flamer fuel upkeep) |
| 24 | Vault Botany-Bot Bloom-42 (D) | Gardening Mr. Handy, fires seed grenades | Medic | “Green Thumb” (plants healing flora at settlement) |
| 25 | Railroad Code-Breaker Q (D) | Cryptographer, auto-hacks safes | Engineer | “Glass Cannon” (low HP, huge tech crits) |
| 26 | Mutant Hound “Bark-Bark” (D) | Friendly but drools acid | Beastmaster pet | “Corrosive Saliva” (armor shred on bite) |
| 27 | Raider Defector “Kite” (D) | Uses zipline grapples in combat | Stealth Operative | “Adrenaline Junkie” (+dmg on kill-streak) |
| 28 | Pre-War Doctor Template (C) | Cryo-frozen surgeon awakened | Medic | “Do No Harm” (won’t finish downed enemies) |
| 29 | Fog-Walker Shaman (D) | Wields radioactive fog grenades | Battlemage | “Mistbound” (+evasion in fog) |
| 30 | Automaton-T51 “Brutus” (D) | AI-piloted power armor frame | Heavy Gunner | “Self-Repair” (regens armor plates) |
| 31 | Slocum’s Joe Barista Bot (D) | Dispenses coffee buffs | Diplomat | “Caffeinated Hype” (+AP regen to squad) |
| 32 | Desert Nomad Template (C) | Crossbow stealth hunter | Gunslinger | “Sand Camouflage” (+stealth in dunes) |
| 33 | Kid Mechanic “Sparkplug” (D) | Builds improvised drones | Engineer | “Tinker Tot” (small stature, easier to protect) |
| 34 | Talons Bounty Hunter Template (C) | Ruthless hired gun | Sniper/Gunslinger | “Greed Drive” (bonus caps, loyalty drops if poor) |
| 35 | Crazed Clown “Honk” (D) | Psycho with noise grenades | Demolitionist | “Laugh Track” (enemies panic 5 s) |
| 36 | Vault Therapist Template (C) | Buffs squad resilience | Diplomat/Medic | “Mind Mender” (+resist fear, −offense) |
| 37 | Salvage Diver “Nori” (D) | Scavenger of flooded ruins | Engineer | “Bubble Shield” (deploys water barrier) |
| 38 | Astronaut-Ghoul “Major Parsec” (D) | Zero-G trained; jet-pack EVA | Battlemage | “Stellar Aim” (+projectile speed) |
| 39 | Rad-Roach Swarmkeeper (D) | Controls mutated roach hive | Beastmaster | “Crawlspace” (send swarm through vents) |
| 40 | Synth Bard Template (C) | Plays morale-boosting tunes | Diplomat | “Ballad of Steel” (+DT & DR for 15 s) |
(Add more or mix-and-match templates—the system is expandable.)
7 | Progression & Equipment
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Sidekick XP → auto-applied to class tree; player may re-spec at Chemistry Station for rare “Neuronade.”
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Slot-Based Gear: Weapon, Armor, Gadget, Personal Relic. Balanced so loot drops feel rewarding but not overshadow core perks.
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Heroic Move Cooldown shares a global pool (prevents stacking 5 ultimates at once). CD reduced by tactical synergy (e.g., Sniper Arc + Distraction Ping).
8 | Difficulty & Balance Safeguards
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Encounters scale with Squad Power Rating rather than player level alone.
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Heroic Moves flagged as Loud or Silent—stealth runs still viable.
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Permadeath Toggle in Survival Mode: downed sidekick bleeds out in 60 s unless revived.
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Mission type “Solo Recon” periodically forces the player to pick one companion or none, maintaining classic Fallout tension.
9 | Emergent Storytelling Hooks
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Loyalty Clashes: Incompatible quirks trigger dynamic arguments; the player mediates or risks losing a member.
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Faction Hijacks: A garrisoned sidekick can offer a unique quest if their old faction shows up to reclaim them.
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Romance & Rivalry: 3 potential romance arcs, 2 nemesis arcs, each leading to unique Heroic Move variants.
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Legend Contracts: Late-game “Mythic” sidekicks (e.g., a deathclaw-riding Beastlord) require multi-step trials.
Fallout 5’s sidekick system becomes a modular squad-builder bridging exploration, base management, and moment-to-moment firefights. Recruit or forge bespoke aides; command them through a slick Pip-Boy TacMap; rotate extras into settlement garrisons for strategic buffs; and cultivate loyalty to unlock spectacular Heroic Moves. The 40-entry roster above is just the starting lineup—perfect fodder for a wasteland ripe with emergent stories.
10 | Companion Conflicts & Cohesion Mechanics
Sidekicks don’t exist in a vacuum. They come with personalities, pasts, and preferences, which can cause dynamic tension or synergy in a 3–5 person squad.
⚔️ In-Squad Relationship Types:
| Type | Resulting Effects |
|---|---|
| Rivalry | Periodic arguments, chance to disobey orders, +XP gain if outperforms rival. |
| Mentorship | Veteran teaches novice, doubling XP gain until parity is reached. |
| Crush / Romance | Loyalty accelerates when they’re deployed together; unique Dual-Techs. |
| Trauma Link | Shared tragic past triggers occasional scripted dialogue and bonuses in high-stress encounters. |
| Factional Tension | Ex-Raider vs BoS, for example—can result in mission debuffs unless mediated. |
These dynamics trigger relationship events at rest zones or settlements:
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Heated debates
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Memory flashbacks (interactive)
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Companion ultimatums (“It’s them or me!”)
Conflict Resolution Options:
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Pip-Boy Mediation App (Charisma/Intelligence-based mini-game)
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Sparring Match (decide who's team leader via controlled combat sim)
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Rotational Deployment (separate them for X hours to reduce hostility)
11 | AI Customization & Behavior Presets
Each sidekick can be fine-tuned to suit different tactical philosophies.
🧠 Behavior Tuning Interface (Pip-Boy Menu)
| Setting | Choices Available | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement Range | Aggressive, Cautious, Sniper, Melee-first | Dictates initiation distance |
| Formation Role | Flanker, Anchor, Rear Guard, Escort | Adapts positioning priorities |
| Priority Targets | Heavies, Snipers, Melee, Machines, Mutants | Determines threat prioritization |
| Ability Frequency | Often, Smart Use, Rarely, Manual Only | Controls Heroic Move usage |
| Chem Usage | Yes, Controlled (player only), No | Impacts sustainability and risk |
Preset Styles:
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Warlord – Charges in, uses Heroic Moves frequently.
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Ghost – Focuses on stealth and flanks.
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Protector – Bodyguard behavior; intercepts threats to the player.
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Saboteur – Focuses on gadgets and environmental kills.
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Duelist – Targets strongest enemy and isolates it.
12 | Sidekick Event Chains (Personal Quests)
Each sidekick—especially named ones—has a 3- or 4-stage personal arc that:
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Grows their personality
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Evolves their skillset
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Unlocks exclusive upgrades
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Reveals lore about factions, settlements, or the Old World
🧭 Sample Sidekick Arcs
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Echo-27 (“Synthetic Soul”)
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Stage 1: Memory recovery malfunction
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Stage 2: Visit destroyed Synth safehouse
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Stage 3: Decide whether to erase painful memories or integrate them
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Result: Unlocks “Echo Override” —a deployable decoy that explodes into EMP pulses.
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Ghoul Kid Fizz (“Radioactive Prodigy”)
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Stage 1: Fizz seeks lost chem journal
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Stage 2: Raid old Vault lab filled with hallucination gas
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Stage 3: Confront an adult version of himself in a simulation
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Result: Unlocks “Mutant Mixology” —randomly fuses chems into unpredictable boosts.
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Crimson Choir Vicar (“Faith in the Ashes”)
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Stage 1: His temple burned—wants to return
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Stage 2: Reveal Brotherhood was responsible
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Stage 3: Forgive or retaliate
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Result: Unlocks “Sermon of Steel” —a rallying buff that boosts squad and settler morale.
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13 | Legendary & Faction-Locked Sidekicks
These rare companions require special conditions to unlock. Some may even start out as boss enemies or faction antagonists.
🔒 Unlock Paths:
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Complete a Faction Questline
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Redeem an Enemy (via dialogue)
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Save during a Wasteland Crisis Event
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Collect special items to awaken them
🛡️ Examples:
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Midas “The Vault Judge”
Ex-Overseer AI that inhabits a mobile exosuit.
➤ Unlocked by beating the Vault Reclamation Trials.
➤ Constantly judges your morality, threatening to deactivate if too corrupt. -
Mother Ricta, Scourge of the Wastes
Ex-slaver warlord who can be captured and reformed in prison settlement.
➤ If successfully reformed: brutal melee unit with settlement defense bonuses. -
Nova-X
A prototype AI satellite that crash-lands and bonds with the player.
➤ Can be upgraded in space-based facility quests.
➤ Offers orbital recon pings, EMP storms, and enemy base scans.
14 | Special Tactical Sidekick Combos (Dual-Techs)
When two compatible sidekicks have full loyalty and are in your party, they unlock Dual-Techs—cinematic, high-impact combo skills.
| Pair | Dual-Tech Name | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Brickhouse Axel + Ghoul Kid Fizz | Blastbeat Breakdown | Axel throws Fizz like a cannonball—explosive AoE + stun |
| Echo-27 + Engineer Ron | Synthetic Turret Sync | Ron builds drone body; Echo syncs mind—mobile turret AI |
| Beastmaster Tala + Synth-Dog Byte | Wildcode Surge | Tala’s beastpack receives AI targeting boost—massive DPS burst |
| Nat Vincenza + Lars (Grognak fan) | Bullet & Blade Requiem | Ranged + melee sweep; high stagger chance and dismemberment |
| Hana + Solar Shaman | Atomic Chorus | Dual laser barrage + blind via radiation flash |
| Crimson Choir Vicar + Therapist Template | Hymn of Healing | Restores HP over time and grants temporary invulnerability to low-HP allies |
15 | Late-Game Sidekick Systems
📈 Prestige Levels
After maxing out a sidekick, you can prestige them for a rare specialization path:
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Ascended Class Tree (e.g., Gunslinger → “Bullet Oracle” or “Ghost Hand”)
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Unique Companion Weapon tied to their story
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Settlement Monument (statue, mural, or terminal added to your base)
🗡️ Betrayal Paths
Some sidekicks may betray you if neglected, sent to rival settlements, or forced into unethical orders:
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Can ambush you later as a rogue NPC
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May join enemy factions or raiders
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Chance for redemption arcs depending on player choices
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