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I'm really very boring. You'd get better stories out of a Freeside junkie.

Arcade Israel Gannon is a doctor and scientist with the Followers of the Apocalypse in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281. He is a possible companion of the Courier in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background[]

Early life[]

The only son of an Enclave officer, Arcade was born at the Navarro military base around 2246, a few years after the Chosen One blew up the oil rig. He lost his father at an early age, forming close ties with his mother, but in his own words, he never got over his passing.[Non-game 1][4] The fact that his father was a member of a fascist paramilitary group responsible for crimes against humanity contributed to it,[5] as was the fact that he died while on a mission, with the precise of circumstances of his death never revealed to Arcade by any of the remnants.[6][7][8]

Shortly before the New California Republic sacked Navarro, Arcade, his mother, and several of the troopers from his father's old unit abandoned the base, narrowly evading an attack that wiped Navarro out. Dodging Brotherhood of Steel hunters,[9] the group moved south and attempted to integrate into the NCR. At some point, Arcade came into contact with and eventually joined the Followers of the Apocalypse, combining his desire to help people with a knack for learning.[10]

His time in the Followers helped Arcade find his calling in medicine. He learned everything he knows from the group at their excellent medical facilities in the NCR,[2] becoming a competent doctor capable of running his own practice.[3] He also formed an interest in history, especially failed pre-War socioeconomic policies,[4] and even learned to speak Latin, drawing on the Followers' extensive library and the odd Gladiator holotape.[1] While he is not a fully qualified botanist,[11][10] he can perform research into plants and their medicinal properties.[12]

Move to the Mojave[]

The NCR's left-leaning leadership eventually realized that remnants of the defeated Enclave had adopted new identities and lived in secret within its territories,[13] driving them to adopt a policy of hunting these people down to stand trial for war crimes, typically followed by life imprisonment.[14] With the NCR Rangers, Brotherhood of Steel members, and bounty hunters actively seeking out any that might prove to be Enclave remnants,[15] the group was forced to keep moving to the fringes of NCR territories, to stay ahead of their pursuers.[6][9] Wanting to follow them and make sure they were safe, Arcade passed it off to his superiors as choosing an assignment on the frontier, to focus on Follower operations where he could do the most good.[10]

Following the remnants as far as the Mojave Wasteland, Arcade settled in the New Vegas area where he integrated with Julie Farkas' chapter of the Followers at the Old Mormon Fort. He chose to focus on botanical research at Julie's request, trying to come up with alternative treatments for common illnesses and injuries, and ways to produce medical supplies from local flora (eg. stimpaks from barrel cacti). While he considers the research noble, Arcade recognizes it as a waste of time due to the low probability of him actually making a breakthrough. At best, he hopes to rediscover old, forgotten ways of using these plants, which would help the Followers produce supplies once the supply of unlooted pre-War hospitals runs out.[16] While he finds research boring, he appreciates being kept out of sight and out of mind by Julie, claiming he's not a "people person."[12]

However, Arcade remains enthusiastic about helping people in general and the downtrodden and hopeless of Freeside specifically.[17] This drive to help others means that while he realizes the Followers may have overextended themselves in Freeside, he is also determined to help its people as best he can. Simply put, if not the Followers, then who?[2]

Personality[]

While Arcade claims he's boring[4] and somewhat asocial,[17] extended interaction with him proves he is actually erudite, witty, and easily holds up his end in conversation with a love for banter.[18][12] His considerable knowledge of sociology and history enables him to discuss philosophical matters with ease, and an affinity for intellectual sparring. Anyone of comparable intellect, such as Caesar, is liable to develop a strong liking for Arcade and his wit.[19] Conversely, anyone who dislikes banter or acerbic wit, like Lanius, is likely to tire of him.[20]

This same intellect also made him a man of firm convictions. He believes strongly in individual freedom, independence, and self-determination, to the point that if he is forced into servitude, he is willing to commit suicide by any means to escape bondage.[19]

On a global level, he is a firm supporter of the independence of the Mojave from foreign powers or domestic autocrats. He believes that pushing the NCR and the Legion out of the Mojave and toppling Mr. House's autocratic rule would break the chains of the Mojave's denizens, allowing them to forge their own path. In such a case, he is ready to use his Enclave knowledge and technology to maintain order[21] and help local communities govern themselves, despite independence tempering his idealistic hopes.[22] While he believes that the NCR's annexation of the Mojave to be an imperialist project, completely at odds with Follower beliefs,[23] he does not reject the NCR entirely: He considers it a bulwark against the horrors of Caesar's Legion, and annexation is still an outcome preferable to conquest by the Legion. Such a victory would be enough for him to retire.[24]

The only problematic outcomes as far as Arcade's concerned are the autocrats. First, it's Mr. House and his power play, which brings with it disillusionment and breaking of ties with the Followers.[3] Secondly, it's the Legion. Arcade rejects the Legion entirely, considering it to be an anachronistic myth dreamed up by a delusional tyrant, and discussing Caesar is one of the only times when he uses expletives.[25] Arcade finds Caesar abhorrent in particular for his megalomaniacal tendencies and a refusal to learn from the mistakes of the past, instead trying to recreate and repeat them.[26] The mere thought of the Legion claiming victory is enough to make him resolve to fight them to the death.[27]

Relationships[]

Due to his Enclave background, Arcade intentionally deflects personal questions, sometimes audaciously claiming it's specifically to obfuscate past associations with fascists.[18][12] This difficult past also made him wary of confiding in others. Arcade is homosexual, and while he met several good men in his life, they made for poor confidants and he eventually broke off the relationships.[8] If anyone asks, it's because he's boring.[4]

His only long-lasting relationships are with the Enclave remnants who he sees as family.[28] His closest bond is with Daisy Whitman, "the only woman in his life" after the death of his mother. He was always close with her, and since Daisy never had any children of her own, she was always willing to listen.[8] Judah Kreger, the remnants' commanding officer, was polite, kind, and did his best to make Arcade feel welcome, out of a sense of loyalty to Arcade's group. Arcade doesn't remember him as particularly warm, but as an inspiring leader, capable of keeping Johnson and Moreno working together despite being opposites, and a man loyal not to a flag, but to the people trusting him with their lives.[29] The two troopers also left their mark on him. Arcade remembers Orion Moreno's fervent devotion to the Enclave, distilled in the moment they left Navarro: The young Arcade looked up at Moreno, witnessing the moment all love in him burned out, all because of abandoning the Enclave.[30] Cannibal Johnson, on the other hand, impressed him with his ability to defy and subvert the Enclave without being court-martialed, and unknowingly nurtured Arcade's internal conflict about his father's legacy: He always had good things to say about Arcade's father, and observed that the son was like the father in many ways.[31]

Arcade wishes he knew if he truly is like his father,[31] and laments the fact he was unable to grow up with him. He feels like something is missing in his life, and struggles to come to terms with his father's legacy: What he had in store for him, whether the path Arcade chose would gain his approval, and if it truly matters at all.[4][7] Through his interactions with the Courier, he can come to terms, realizing that he doesn't have to fill his father's shoes, but he can still make a positive impact in other people's lives in his own way.[7][32]

His decision to join the Followers was part of finding his own way, choosing a goal and direction of his own, working for something greater than just him.[33] The Second Battle of Hoover Dam is the pivotal moment for Arcade and his relationship with the remnants: As he was never really part of the Enclave proper, he has to decide whether he wants to fight alongside the remnants as a soldier or help the people of Freeside as a doctor, embracing his father's legacy or forging his own path.[34]

Interactions with the player character[]

Interactions overview[]

Interactions
Perk nociception regulator color
This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. Hardcore mode
Paving the Way
This character is a permanent companion. They grant the Better Healing perk.
25 Strictly Business
This character is a temporary companion.
Icon quest starter
This character starts quests.
FO76 ui icon quest
This character is involved in quests.

Recruiting as companion[]

There are several ways for the Courier to recruit Arcade while speaking with him. He will agree to accompanying the player character if any of the following requirements are met:

  • Having a Liked or better reputation with the Followers.
  • Completing High Times for Julie Farkas and providing enough surplus supplies for the Followers.
    • For this approach, the Courier needs to first ask, "Do you need any help?" after which Arcade will thank the Courier for their work for the Followers and a "join me" option will appear.
  • Passing a Speech check of 75.
  • Having the Confirmed Bachelor perk.
  • An Intelligence attribute of 3 or lower will get Arcade to follow out of a sense of pity. Temporary Intelligence-reduction effects can be used in this situation if the Courier cannot pass any of the other checks.
  • As with Craig Boone, Arcade will refuse to join the Courier if they acquire a positive reputation with the Legion. To bypass this, the Courier can wear NCR faction armor and talk to Arcade again. It will temporarily bypass the faction check and allow Arcade to become a companion. Though, this will be cut short and Arcade will leave the Courier, this can be bypassed by unequipping the armor and heading to the Legion's fort, starting his dialogue to begin the quest For Auld Lang Syne.
  • Arcade is not affected by a negative reputation with the Followers of the Apocalypse when the Courier tries to recruit him.

Quests[]

Other interactions[]

  • When recruiting Arcade with ED-E or Rex as a companion he will make a comment on either of them.
  • Wearing a Legion outfit before recruiting Gannon and trying to activate conversation with is impossible as he will refuse to talk to the player character, stating he is only willing to talk after saying "If you want to talk, take off that ridiculous Legion uniform. It's insulting."
  • When putting Nuka-Cola in Arcade's inventory, Arcade will eventually drink the Nuka-Cola leaving only empty bottles and bottle caps.
  • Arcade will comment on many quest events as the player character finds or completes them, such as when Vulpes Inculta gives the player character the Mark of Caesar commenting that Vulpes is the Legion's "most notorious" spy, when being asked to plant a bug in the Lucky 38 by Emily Ortal, or activating ARCHIMEDES II.
  • After meeting Caesar, Arcade begins a conversation to talk about Caesar. With an [Intelligence 8], the Courier can respond that they can never fully understand the perspective of Caesar and his Legion.[25]

Comments[]

Arcade Gannon's comments
Location Comment
Silver Rush
That's a lot of energy weapons. Brings back some interesting memories.
Westside, before the completion of The White Wash.
Westside, huh? I passed through here with another Follower a while back, Anderson. The locals were having a lot of trouble getting water through.
Westside, after the completion of The White Wash.
Westside, huh? I heard about what happened with Anderson. Can't say I'm surprised. He was always a fringe operator in the Followers.
Crashed vertibird
A vertibird. Interesting. It's been a long time since I've seen one of these.
The Tops, after getting the Mark of Caesar
So Mr. House doesn't care that one of Caesar's most notorious Legion spies is walking around on the Strip. Either that or his Securitrons' AI is too primitive to recognize the threat. Neither answer is particularly comforting.
Lucky 38, upon accepting The Moon Comes Over the Tower
Oh, hello Emily. Yes, it is I, Arcade Gannon, fellow member of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Would I like to help infiltrate the Lucky 38? I'm so glad you asked...
The Strip
The Strip's not a bad place if you love terrible things and people. I'll never understand the allure of giving away your money to the rich.
REPCONN headquarters, front entrance
I've read about REPCONN. I think they did some work with the... the government before the war. Rockets and some energy weapon prototypes, I think.
Camp McCarran, after talking to Thomas Hildern and leaving the OSI's section of the camp
Hildern is a good example of "big picture" obsession gone too far. At some point he became so fixated on large scale results that he lost the concept of "the common good" along the way. It's an inhumane kind of public service when people and the basic resources they need become numbers in a ledger.
The Fort, entrance
Wait, wait, wait a second. What's going on? Am I playing Vergil to your Dante? I'd like to assume that we're tiptoeing into the mouth of hell out of academic curiosity, but I'm not so open-minded that I've lost my brains.
Vault 22, entrance
I'm no botanist, but I think this may not be entirely natural.
Bitter Springs, entrance path
It's a shame what happened up here. I understand arguments about the "fog of war", but that can't be much consolation to the survivors. Or to the NCR soldiers who have to live with what they did here.
Hoover Dam, near Hoover Dam visitor center
Well, I'll be. Hoover Dam. One of the last remaining functioning wonders of the Pre-War world. I'm amazed it's still running at all. Too bad everyone's killing each other over it.
Old nuclear test site
Nuclear waste disposal. Pre-War, people figured there was so much desert in Nevada, you might as well turn it into a big dumping ground. People didn't like it, but they weren't about to give up easy access to power, not with all of the petroleum drying up.
Accepting quest Three-Card Bounty
I'm not exactly a mercenary, but taking out scumbags of this magnitude wouldn't cause me to lose any sleep.
Asking him to join while having ED-E as a companion without having finished ED-E My Love
There's something about that robot that doesn't seem... all right to me. I'm not saying we shouldn't take it with us. I'm just saying that if it were to fall into Lake Mead and be irreparably damaged... and if you threw an EMP grenade in after it... Well, there are worse things happening in the world, right?
Non-player character comments
  • As a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse, Arcade is recognized all over the wasteland. When traveling with Arcade:
    • The citizens of Freeside will often say "Howdy, Arcade." and will sometimes state that they are surprised to see that he is outside the fort, as they thought that "those scientist types liked to stay indoors."
    • Members of Caesar's Legion will express their disbelief that a Follower had the courage to step out of Freeside.
    • Powder Gangers and escaped convicts will speak of him in a derogatory manner, calling Arcade "four eyes."
    • NCR citizens will berate the Courier for keeping company with "anarchist cultists" instead of "civilized persons."
    • Great Khans will say "I haven't seen a Follower around here in years."
    • The Kings gang members will comment "I see you've hired a Follower doctor. Smart move, with Freeside being what it is."

Making Arcade quit[]

Arcade will get fed up with the Courier if they do or say things that he dislikes. He has an internal counter of "dislike" points that are increased by doing or saying stupid or mean things or doing things that hurt the Followers. Once he has accumulated 3 "dislike" points, he will warn the Courier that they are "acting crazy." Most of these possible "dislike" points may be obtained during The White Wash quest. At 6 points, he will leave permanently. He also tracks "like" points, but those are only used to decide if he will start the For Auld Lang Syne quest early or not.

The "dislike" points are triggered by the following statements or actions:

  • Relating to The White Wash quest:
    • 1 point for saying "Right. The Followers don't endorse his actions, and all that." when Arcade comments on Anderson, when visiting Westside after already having completed The White Wash without Arcade.
    • 1 point for saying "They profit from crime, now I profit, too." when Arcade chastises the Courier if they finished the quest by extorting money from the Westside Co-op.
    • 2 points for saying "Anderson killed White. He deserved to pay for what he did." when Arcade challenges the Courier if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
    • 1 point for saying "What's done is done." when Arcade challenges the Courier if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
    • 1 point for saying "You're assuming a motive without evidence. Please be rational." (which requires Intelligence 7), followed by "It was either this or spend the rest of his life in an NCR chain gang." when Arcade challenges the Courier, if they finished the quest by killing Anderson.
  • During the first visit to The Fort with Arcade along:
    • 2 points for saying "With how messed up New Vegas is, do you really think Caesar has nothing to offer?" followed by "Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting." when Arcade asks why they are there.
    • 1 point for saying "He seemed smart to me." after meeting Caesar for the first time when Arcade is a companion.
  • After speaking to Thomas Hildern (any conversation that ends with "Yes...Goodbye" or "Wrong turn?...") with Arcade (one time) he will talk about Hildern's motives.
    • 1 point for saying "But in the end, doesn't it all just come down to numbers anyway?"
  • 1 point for murdering non-hostile innocents. (Dislike is not raised until Arcade comments negatively.)

Arcade will leave immediately and permanently if any of the following happens:

  • The Courier responds to one of his challenges with some variation of "If you don't like it, leave."
  • They enter the Legate's camp in preparation to help Caesar attack Hoover Dam.
  • Convincing the Remnants to support Caesar's Legion during the For Auld Lang Syne quest.
  • Activating ARCHIMEDES during That Lucky Old Sun. He will also turn hostile if the player character responds that it's "Time for the NCR to roast." (Diverting power to ARCHIMEDES II is not a problem.)
  • Reporting back to Caesar after assassinating Aaron Kimball. He will leave regardless of the Courier's preparation to move on to the final mission. He will stay as long as the quest is unfinished.

Endings[]

Endings
# Slide Voice-over narration In-game condition
1
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Though Arcade's intentions were pure and his goals were noble, he ultimately succumbed to the harsh brutality of the Mojave like so many before him. Arcade dies.
2a
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 2
Tricked by the Courier and imprisoned by the Legion, Arcade remained Caesar's personal physician for several years. Caesar grew fond of speaking with such an educated man on philosophical matters. Arcade became his unwilling intellectual sparring partner. After years of such servitude, during an unguarded moment, Arcade used a surgical scalpel and his bare hands to disembowel himself. Lacking any other skilled medical personnel, the Legion was unable to prevent his death. Caesar mourned his loss for months. Sell Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor during Et Tumor, Brute?, complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion.
2b
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Though the Legion was victorious at Hoover Dam, the Legate did not have the same medical needs as Caesar. Lanius quickly tired of Arcade's acerbic wit and had the doctor crucified. Kill Caesar during Et Tumor, Brute? then sell Arcade to Lucius. Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion.
3
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
During the retreat of Caesar's Legion from the Mojave Wasteland, Arcade was a sad casualty, one of many. His body was heaped with those of many others in a nameless ravine on the Legion's long march home. Sell Arcade into slavery as Caesar's personal doctor during Et Tumor, Brute?, complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas.
4
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Though Arcade had not hoped for an NCR victory, he was proud of his role in the defense of Hoover Dam against the forces of Caesar's Legion. Unfortunately, when word spread that Arcade was once a member of the Enclave, he was forced out of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Pursued by bounty hunters, NCR rangers, and the Brotherhood of Steel, Arcade pushed deep into the eastern plains and was never heard from again. Complete Eureka! for the NCR; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants.
5
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Arcade had hoped that Freeside would be able to remain independent of NCR rule, but he was glad that Caesar's Legion had been stopped at Hoover Dam. He tended to the sick in Freeside for a while longer, then returned to NCR territory to become a teacher with the Followers there. Complete Eureka! for the NCR; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside.
6
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Though Arcade was crushed by the Legion's victory at Hoover Dam, he was not among NCR's casualties. During the NCR's retreat from the Mojave Wasteland, he helped defend NCR citizens and refugees on their way to Mojave Outpost. Unfortunately, a NCR ranger identified his father's armor as Enclave property. He was arrested, tried as a war criminal, and imprisoned indefinitely. Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for the Legion; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise both Arcade and the Remnants to aid the NCR.
7
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
When news reached Freeside that Legion forces were approaching New Vegas, Arcade did his best to help people escape with adequate supplies. A Legion explorer saw Arcade helping locals escape and pointed him out to a centurion. Arcade's group was run down somewhere near Westside. There were no survivors. Complete Veni, Vidi, Vici for the Legion; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside.
8
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Arcade was outraged by Mr. House's power play following the defeat of Caesar's Legion at Hoover Dam. Though he remained in Freeside for a short time after the Securitrons established widespread control, he eventually traveled back into NCR territory. Disillusioned with the Followers of the Apocalypse, he settled down in the outskirts of the Boneyard, where he worked happily as a family doctor. Complete All or Nothing for Mr. House; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside.
9
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Though Arcade was proud to have been one of the defenders who turned back the Legion at Hoover Dam, he was crushed by Mr. House's ascent to power. Saddened by the loss of life and liberty in the area, Arcade left the Mojave Wasteland for parts unknown. He was never heard from again. Complete All or Nothing for Mr. House; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants.
10
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Arcade was proud to have been one of the defenders who helped repel the Legion from Hoover Dam. He was prouder still to see the area freed from the shackles of the NCR and Mr. House. Though independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it could be, Arcade used his Enclave knowledge and technology to keep order wherever he could. Complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to aid the Remnants.
11
FNV Arcade Ending Slide 1
Arcade was tending to the locals of Freeside when he learned that Caesar's Legion had been defeated and NCR was being pushed out of New Vegas. Though he found that independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it would be, Arcade did his best to help the locals govern themselves. Complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas; complete For Auld Lang Syne and advise Arcade to return to the Follower's camp in Freeside.

Inventory[]

* Only worn if fighting at Hoover Dam.
** Because Arcade's Plasma Defender uses magical companion ammo instead of energy cells, it does not have the -2 DT effect that comes from using standard energy ammunition. Otherwise, the weapon has the same statistics as the standard version.

Notes[]

Notable quotes[]

Appearances[]

Arcade Gannon appears in Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout: Wasteland Warfare.

Behind the scenes[]

  • Although never stated in-game, Joshua Sawyer has said Arcade's middle name is Israel. This is not indicative of his ethnicity but as a reflection of his struggle to remain moral in an immoral world. Joshua Sawyer's preferred interpretation of Israel is "one who struggled with god."[Non-game 2]
  • He was originally set to appear in Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios (see Arcade Gannon).
  • Arcade Gannon was one of several player characters J.E. Sawyer used while playing a Fallout tabletop RPG developed by Chris Avellone.[Non-game 3]
    • Sawyer possesses a notebook of his original design for Arcade's character, created during the course of this tabletop game. During an October 2020 livestream, Sawyer revealed some content from this notebook, including the reference image used for Arcade (see gallery). In Arcade's profile, he is stated to be 34 years old and around 145 pounds. His middle name was originally "Daniel" and his father's name is Mark.[Non-game 4][Non-game 5][Non-game 6]
  • When brought to The Fort, Arcade will get upset with the Courier and ask "What's going on? Am I playing Virgil to your Dante?", a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy.
  • Arcade's worst ending directly mimics the suicide of Cato when Julius Caesar became ruler of Ancient Rome; Cato slipped over while attempting to stab himself and was forced to disembowel himself to succeed in what he sought; Caesar was unhappy at his death.
  • If questioned about the Legion's use of Latin, Arcade will respond that "Caesar can cite Cato to suit his purposes." This is a paraphrase of the line "The devil can cite scripture for his purpose," from The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.

Developer quotes[]

Arcade's conflict is about his identity. He is torn between a sense of loyalty and tradition to his father and adoptive family and a desire to be independent, self-made. He feels caught between generations and cultures and isn't sure who he should be or how, if at all, to use the "legacy" (material and otherwise) left to him by his father.

Arcade's endings are intended to reflect that no one is damaged more by reality than the idealist. He does his best to be practical and rational, but there is a strong idealist streak in him/the Followers in general. In some of Arcade's "best" endings (meaning, the circumstances he thought he wanted), he is still somewhat disappointed by how things turned out. In his "worst" endings, he can wind up bitterly disillusioned, brutally murdered, crucified, casually executed and discarded in a ditch, or even defiantly suicidal.

Arguably the worst ending is the one in which Arcade is given to Caesar as an enslaved doctor. The existence is so unbearable to him that he does what the historical Cato the Younger did at Utica: rather than give Caesar satisfaction, he disembowels himself. Like Cato, Arcade cannot live in a world where everything he tried to resist has come to pass.
Joshua Sawyer Formspring
Question: Hey, sorry if this has been asked before, but I had a question about Arcade Gannon, specifically the ending where he’s sold to Caesar. Why doesn’t he kill him during the surgery, or even refuse to do the operation so Caesar might die of his tumor? Sure, he’d probably be crucified for either of these things, but given that he’s willing to disembowel himself later on I would have assumed he would have been willing to die in order to strike a blow against the legion, especially since slavery is the only thing to look forward to if he lives.

Arcade is an idealist, so I did not think that he would do harm in his capacity as a doctor, nor would he refuse to provide medical aid even to a mortal enemy. Yes, Arcade will follow you around and blast everything in the Mojave Wasteland with his plasma defender, but the circumstances of gameplay are different from when he’s put in the position of providing (or not) medical aid.

Arcade is not a pragmatic person, so in the circumstances where he becomes a long-term instrument of Caesar (post-endgame), he disembowels himself rather than living as a tool of evil (in his mind). His suicide is intended to mirror the death of one of the most notable idealists of the Roman Republic, Cato the Younger.

His name is also intended to reflect his idealism. At a certain point in time, the region of Arcadia became associated with an idyllic state of being, later utilized in the memento mori Et in Arcadia ego.
Joshua Sawyer on Tumblr
There are two sources Caesar (IIRC) refers to: Gibbons’ The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and Julius Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War).

It is certainly possible that he read other primary sources. Based on Arcade’s education, it’s likely that the Followers of the Apocalypse had access to other Roman and Greek literature, including writings by Sallust and Lucan.

As Arcade and Caesar both know Latin, it is likely that the textbooks they used also contained snippets of Roman literature and quotes as sententiae antiquae (very common in Wheelock’s and many other books). Because the primary purpose of contemporary (i.e., 20th/21st century) Latin education is typically not conversation or writing, but comprehension of classic literature, the use of these quotes/references is common, though often without context.

E.g., a student may learn that “festina lente” means “hasten slowly,” but may not know that it came from Suetonious who was quoting Augustus who, in turn, had borrowed the adage from Greek in the first place. And even if they did learn all that, the Followers might not have access to Suetonious’ text, De vita Caesarium.
J.E. Sawyer

Bugs[]

  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 If the player has Lily and ED-E as active companions, it is possible to recruit Arcade as a third companion. This is also true for Veronica Santangelo. It is also possible to have Rex, Raul, and Arcade at the same time.[verified]
  • PCPC Xbox 360Xbox 360 After dismissing Arcade as a companion to the Old Mormon Fort, he sometimes becomes un-recruitable again through dialogue. Dismiss your non-humanoid companion (ED-E or Rex) to the Lucky 38/their Home and try Arcade's dialogue again. His follower dialogue will reappear.[verified]
  • PCPC Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Xbox 360Xbox 360 After completing For Auld Lang Syne and convincing Arcade to stay in Freeside, instead of returning to Freeside he may just wander around the Lucky 38 suite unrecruitable and just becomes an information hub until all of his speech options are exhausted. This happens when Arcade is sent to the Lucky 38, then completing For Auld Lang Syne. If you don't want Arcade in the Lucky 38, send him back to the Old Mormon Fort when firing him. This may happen even if he is not fired before completing the quest.[verified]
  • PCPC Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Xbox 360Xbox 360 Sometimes he will still be recruitable after completion of For Auld Lang Syne. He will not display a companion screen and will die in casual mode instead of being knocked unconscious, but will still follow the player.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 After completing his quest For Auld Lang Syne, when you talk to him you cannot exit the conversation. In order to exit, you must reload a save.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 There is a way to get Arcade Gannon to still be your follower after For Auld Lang Syne. Be sure to save before you go outside as he can disappear after he gives you the Gannon family Tesla armor, you can follow him out when he is getting his father's armor and then ask him to be your follower again, as many times until it works, you have to pick the option to go back to Freeside as this is the only way he will not be locked in the remnants bunker's command center.[verified]
  • PCPC Xbox 360Xbox 360 Sometimes when you don't have any followers, you may ask him to be a follower and he will claim that there are too many people in your party already. Recruiting Rex or ED-E before asking Arcade to join will alter his response tree and get him to accept your offer to join.[verified]
  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Arcade will occasionally die upon fast travel.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 While in combat, explosions may occur around Arcade, and permanently cripple his legs. Trying to use stimpaks and/or doctor's bags will not work, nor does dismissing Arcade as your companion and waiting a considerable amount of time. (After dismissing him you can watch him hobble around at the Old Mormon Fort at Freeside). A possible fix is to change his apparel and get him to attack, this should bring him out of his crippled state. He will also be unable to fast travel with the Courier. Waiting for him to catch up is a possible solution if you cannot remember where you lost him.[verified]
  • PCPC Sometimes when you enter the Old Mormon Fort, Arcade may become duplicated.[verified]
  • PCPC Xbox 360Xbox 360 Sometimes when either non-humanoid companions are in the party when conversing with Arcade the travel together option will not display, dismissing the other companion will allow him to be recruited.[verified]
  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 When speaking to Arcade while he is recruited the option to tell him to follow you may not appear. This can be fixed by telling him to wait, then telling him to follow you in the companion wheel.[verified]
  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Xbox 360Xbox 360 Enemies turned to 'goo piles' by Arcade's plasma pistol will sometimes remain for the entire game. This can be especially annoying as it will take up more memory and possibly lead to lags in FPS.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 When Arcade returns any items the courier has given to him (due to leaving should the player activate the Archimedes, or at the end of For Auld Lang Syne), it is possible that he will not re-equip his default Followers outfit, leaving him "naked" for the remainder of the game.[verified]
  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Give Arcade a pre-War bonnet to put on & the game rendering messes up. Might happen on other gaming platforms & maybe on different companions but not tested yet.[verified]
  • PCPC Xbox 360Xbox 360 Boone will take his Plasma Defender if both are waiting in the Lucky 38. He will use it instead of his hunting rifle, leaving Arcade unarmed. The weapons don't appear in his inventory. A way to fix this bug is by doing the companion glitch with Veronica.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 Sometimes after entering a casino and handing over your weapons, Arcade will not get his default weapon back (or any you issued him) and will attack with fists (during this glitch I could not issue him another weapon, due to the fact he would equip it and the first time he engaged in combat he would instantly deplete the condition of the weapon to 0% and drop it saying "This weapon is done for") Not sure if this problem is isolated to the Xbox360.[verified]
  • PCPC Arcade will not use any GRA ranged weapons.[verified]
  • PCPC When Arcade's dialogue activates entering the Fort, it may sometimes override the disarmament dialogue, making it possible for the Courier to run around the Fort with their whole arsenal without fighting the Legion.[verification needed]
  • PCPC Sometimes if Arcade equips a weapon that is placed into his inventory, it will vanish from his inventory after fast-traveling and he will switch back to his Plasma Defender.[verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 Sometimes, weapons issued to Arcade such as the Gauss rifle may appear as though they have a full condition, but after a short battle with one or more enemies the weapon will become completely depleted with no warning except an occasional remark from Arcade about needing a new weapon. To further complicate matters, he will likely discard the depleted weapon, making it difficult or impossible to locate and repair. It is recommended that the player save the game frequently and check his inventory often when giving Arcade any rare or named weapons.[verification needed]
  • PCPC Arcade might stop following the "stay back" command. This persists on any new or old save file. There is no known fix.[verified]

Gallery[]

Fallout: New Vegas[]

Modiphius tabletop depictions[]

J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game[]

Magic: The Gathering[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Courier: "Where did you learn that?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Not from the Legion, if that's what you're getting at. Books. Sheet music. Gladiator movie holotapes. Bits and pieces here and there. The Followers have extensive libraries, but we all draw water from the same old well. Even Caesar."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Courier: "Where did you get your medical training?"
    Arcade Gannon: "The Followers taught me everything I know about medicine. Despite our humble abode here in New Vegas, we have great facilities back in the NCR. We may have over extended ourselves by setting up camp in Freeside, but the people here need help from someone. If not us, who?"
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Arcade was outraged by Mr. House's power play following the defeat of Caesar's Legion at Hoover Dam. Though he remained in Freeside for a short time after the Securitrons established widespread control, he eventually traveled back into NCR territory. Disillusioned with the Followers of the Apocalypse, he settled down in the outskirts of the Boneyard, where he worked happily as a family doctor."
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Courier: "Arcade, I'm asking you because I'm interested. Don't put yourself down."
    Arcade Gannon: "Oh, all right. I'm thirty-ish. Well, late thirties. I was born... west of here. I was an only child and spent most of my time with my mother. My father died when I was young and I never got over it. Oh... and I like medicine and reading books about failed Pre-War socioeconomic policies. Right now, I'm sure you're asking yourself, 'Why hasn't some lucky man scooped this bachelor off his feet?' Like I said, I'm boring."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  5. The Courier: "What are you talking about?"
    Arcade Gannon: "I wasn't always with the Followers, or with the NCR. My late father was an officer in a group called the Enclave, a remnant of America's Pre-War government. Memories being short around here, not a whole lot of people remember them. But they did bad things. Terrorized communities, kidnapped people. Eventually, someone stopped them. I was born a few years later at a military base on the coast, a place called Navarro."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Courier: "Where did the Enclave go?"
    Arcade Gannon: "A lot of different places. I only know what I was told. Some of them were cut down by the NCR and the Brotherhood. Some of them went east. My mother never told me what happened to my father, but she and I went south with some others and integrated into the NCR. When the NCR learned that Enclave personnel had integrated, we kept moving to the fringes. It's one of the reasons why I wound up out here."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Courier: "I'm sure your father would be proud of you."
    Arcade Gannon: "I wonder if he would. It's pointless, I know, but sometimes I wonder what he wanted me to be. Maybe being a doctor in the middle of Nevada wasn't exactly what he had in mind for his little boy."
    The Courier: "Why worry about it? You don't have to be your father."
    Arcade Gannon: "I grew up without him. I'll always feel like something is missing from my life. But you're right. It's not like I'm the only kid in the wasteland who's grown up without a dad. Johnson always said my father was a good man. If that's the only thing about me that's like him, that's enough for me."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Arcade Gannon: "Since my mother died, Daisy's been the only woman in my life. She was the only other woman close to my father, too. She flew him out on over a dozen missions, including his last. I've always been close to Daisy. There have been some good men along the way, but lovers make poor confidants. Daisy never had children of her own, so she was always there to listen. Being in the Enclave didn't mean much to her. She just loved to fly. It broke her heart to be grounded."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  9. 9.0 9.1 The Courier: "What happened to Navarro?"
    Arcade Gannon: "After the Enclave's command structure fell apart, it was only a matter of time before Navarro was overrun by NCR forces. My mother and I left with some of the troopers from my father's old unit, the same people I've kept in contact with over the years. Anyone who didn't get out was killed by the NCR. Even some of the ones who escaped were eventually hunted down by the Brotherhood of Steel."
    Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Courier: "How did you join the Followers?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Honestly, it isn't too difficult if you have half a brain and aren't a complete jerk. I wanted to help people and I enjoyed learning, so I signed up. New Vegas is in trouble, so I came out here. If someone doesn't step up and try to help the people here, it's going to end very badly."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  11. Arcade Gannon: "I'm no botanist, but I think this may not be entirely natural."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue) Note: This line is spoken at the entrance to Vault 22.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Arcade Gannon: "Hi. If you're looking for medical help, try the other doctors. I'm just a researcher. Not even a particularly good one."
    The Courier: "What kind of research?"
    Arcade: "Oh, you know. Finding alternative treatments for common illnesses and injuries. Stimpaks out of barrel cacti and other fantastic improbabilities. As far as fruitless wastes of time go, it's quite noble in its aims."
    The Courier: "Why do you do research instead of providing medical assistance?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Not all Followers are 'people persons.' Besides, someone needs to do research. I have no problem with Julie sticking me back here. Out of sight, out of mind. There are worse things one can be, though I do admit, it is a bit boring. Though it has a noble goal, I don't think this research will yield much fruit. No pun intended."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  13. Fallout 2 endings: "Shaken by the assassination of Vice-President Carlson, right-wing elements seize control of the Congress and set the New California Republic on a path to military rule. Eventually the survivors of the Enclave found a new home in the ranks of the NCR."
    Note: This non-canon ending explains the circumstances in which Enclave members would be permitted to integrate without problem, noting explicitly that right-wing politics are a precondition.
  14. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Though Arcade was crushed by the Legion's victory at Hoover Dam, he was not among NCR's casualties. During the NCR's retreat from the Mojave Wasteland, he helped defend NCR citizens and refugees on their way to Mojave Outpost. Unfortunately, a NCR ranger identified his father's armor as Enclave property. He was arrested, tried as a war criminal, and imprisoned indefinitely."
    Note: This ending explains the NCR's policy towards Enclave members.
  15. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Though Arcade had not hoped for an NCR victory, he was proud of his role in the defense of Hoover Dam against the forces of Caesar's Legion. Unfortunately, when word spread that Arcade was once a member of the Enclave, he was forced out of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Pursued by bounty hunters, NCR rangers, and the Brotherhood of Steel, Arcade pushed deep into the eastern plains and was never heard from again."
    Note: Explains the NCR's policy towards Enclave members.
  16. The Courier: "What's the goal?"
    Arcade Gannon: "For the past hundred years or so, the Followers have managed to get by using salvaged medical supplies from the Old World. But the side effect of medical success is that more people live longer. Funny how that works. Eventually, we'll run out of hospitals to loot. We need new ways to produce those supplies. Or maybe old ways, if this research goes anywhere."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  17. 17.0 17.1 The Courier: "Why do you do research instead of providing medical assistance?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Like I said before, not all Followers are good with people. I'm fine doing research back here, even if it is a bit boring... and pointless... and a complete waste of time. Don't mind me. I'm just voicing my thoughts so they don't burrow out of my skull in a fit of abject despondency."
    The Courier: "You don't sound too enthusiastic about it."
    Arcade Gannon: "I'm enthusiastic about helping people, but nihil novi sub sole."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  18. 18.0 18.1 The Courier: "Do you always deflect personal questions?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Only to obfuscate my past association with a fascist paramilitary organization. I'm joking, of course. I will deflect personal questions at any opportunity."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  19. 19.0 19.1 Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Tricked by the Courier and imprisoned by the Legion, Arcade remained Caesar's personal physician for several years. Caesar grew fond of speaking with such an educated man on philosophical matters. Arcade became his unwilling intellectual sparring partner. After years of such servitude, during an unguarded moment, Arcade used a surgical scalpel and his bare hands to disembowel himself. Lacking any other skilled medical personnel, the Legion was unable to prevent his death. Caesar mourned his loss for months."
  20. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Though the Legion was victorious at Hoover Dam, the Legate did not have the same medical needs as Caesar. Lanius quickly tired of Arcade's acerbic wit and had the doctor crucified."
  21. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Arcade was proud to have been one of the defenders who helped repel the Legion from Hoover Dam. He was prouder still to see the area freed from the shackles of the NCR and Mr. House. Though independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it could be, Arcade used his Enclave knowledge and technology to keep order wherever he could."
  22. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Arcade was tending to the locals of Freeside when he learned that Caesar's Legion had been defeated and NCR was being pushed out of New Vegas. Though he found that independence for New Vegas was not all he hoped it would be, Arcade did his best to help the locals govern themselves."
  23. The Courier: "The NCR needs help against the Legion before Caesar moves on the dam. We could use your skills."
    Arcade Gannon: "The NCR had a chance to use the Followers' skills before, but being imperialists mattered more to them. No thanks."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  24. Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Arcade had hoped that Freeside would be able to remain independent of NCR rule, but he was glad that Caesar's Legion had been stopped at Hoover Dam. He tended to the sick in Freeside for a while longer, then returned to NCR territory to become a teacher with the Followers there."
  25. 25.0 25.1 Arcade Gannon: "What a load of Brahmin shit! Can you believe that guy?"
    The Courier: "I don't think either of us can fully understand what he and the tribes have gone through."
    Arcade Gannon: "A fair point, but from the perspective of someone on the east side of Arizona, the man is clearly out of his mind. Maybe he didn't intend for things to wind up this way, but that doesn't mean he needs to perpetuate this bizarre anachronistic myth. And it doesn't mean that we should sit by and nod our heads at every absurd faux-Roman casus belli he can dream up. He's a tyrant. The bad kind. And there's no way we're letting him take Hoover Dam."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  26. The Courier: "He's a madman. What did you expect?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Well, yeah! Right. What did I expect? The man's a megalomaniac. He acts like this is some pre-ordained cycle we're returning to. Of all the people who could learn from our past mistakes, he goes and throws all of our knowledge off of a cliff. Instead of trying to learn from the past, he re-creates it, runs back over the same old barren ground."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  27. The Courier: "Who, Caesar?"
    Arcade Gannon: "Of course, Caesar! You can hardly even hold his men responsible, given how they're practically raised to worship him as a living deity. What's the point of surviving the war? Why did the founders of the Followers crawl their way out of vaults to bring knowledge back to the wasteland? So we could act like the last two thousand years didn't happen? Play dress up so we can fight ancient wars all over again? No way is he getting away with this. I'm not letting it happen. You're not letting it happen."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  28. The Courier: "Well you... you're different."
    Arcade Gannon: "I am, but they're still my family. I think you were right the first time. If there's something I can do to help hold the dam, I'll do it. Look, there's something I have to do, but I promise I'll be back in a while. Trust me. And thanks again for your help. It means a lot to me."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  29. Arcade Gannon: "Judah Kreger is the glue that's kept us all together over the years, and with good reason. Anyone who can command Moreno and Johnson in the same unit without somebody getting fragged is one hell of a leader. Kreger was polite and kind, but never warm. He always did his best to make me feel welcome in the group. I think he did it out of a sense of loyalty to my father. Loyalty means a lot to Judah. Not loyalty to the Enclave, or even the ideals they fought for, but to the people who served with him."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  30. Arcade Gannon: "Moreno took the fall of the Enclave hard. He never questioned his orders, never questioned the legitimacy of what the Enclave was doing. To him, it was all one unbroken chain, from Washington to Richardson. When we left Navarro, I remember looking up at Moreno. He said, 'Kiss America goodbye, boys.' When we left the Enclave behind, the love in him burned itself out. Now there's just a bitter old man left."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  31. 31.0 31.1 Arcade Gannon: "If I had to pick anyone who didn't belong in the Enclave, it would definitely be Johnson. He hated what the Enclave was doing. Day to day, week to week, he would question orders, subvert mission objectives, do anything he could to serve without serving. It's amazing he was never court-martialed. He always had good things to say about my father. Said I was like him in a lot of ways. I wish I knew."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  32. The Courier: "You aren't like the others, Arcade. You're still young. It's up to you to decide who you want to be."
    Arcade Gannon: "True enough. Maybe I can't fill my father's shoes. I wouldn't even know how. But if following in his footsteps for a while means I can do some good out here, I will do my best. I need to go do something. I won't be gone long, but I'll catch up with you later. Thanks for your help with the others. It means a lot to me."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  33. The Courier: "It seems pointless to do all of that without a goal."
    Arcade Gannon: "I'm sure Henry has goals. He was just more concerned with the 'how' than the 'why' of things. Being in the Enclave didn't really mean much to him. I guess I'm lucky that I'm part of the Followers. Helping people as a doctor is important, but with the Followers, it feels different. It feels like we're working toward something more important. That's more than the sum of good deeds that we do."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
  34. The Courier: "You've certainly done your part."
    Arcade Gannon: "I've been wondering about Daisy and the others for so long, I still haven't figured out what I should do. I mean, I'm not like them. I was born at Navarro and my father served with them, but I wasn't really part of the Enclave. It seems presumptuous of me to think that I could join the fight, even if this is a cause worth fighting for. Because I know when fighting breaks out at the dam, all hell is going to break loose in Freeside. They're going to need every doctor they can get."
    (Arcade Gannon's dialogue)

Non-game

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 PlayStation Blog Meet the Companions
  2. Kerr1994: "I'm wondering, is Arcade Gannon is meant to be ethnically Jewish? It's something which seems to be implied by his middle name being 'Israel' but I've never heard it confirmed either way."
    Joshua Sawyer: "His middle name isn’t intended to suggest ethnicity (just as my first and last names aren’t indicative of mine!). I had thought of Arcade as having a difficult time being moral in a world with so much immorality, so his middle name is Israel, meaning (in some interpretations) 'one who struggled with god'."
    Joshua Sawyer's tumblr Frog Helm Fan Club
  3. J.E. Sawyer on Formspring
  4. Arcade portrait (clipped from larger livestream; October 24, 2020)
  5. User: "Had Arcade Jr. been thought up by then, or was this for Arcade Sr.?"
    J. Sawyer: "His father (as a tabletop character) was named Mark Gannon. In F:NV, Arcade's father is never named."
    (Fallout: New Vegas: Old Thread, Something Awful forums)
  6. J. Sawyer: "Last week I was going through some packed boxes of books and I found my old binder for Arcade during our BIS Fallout tabletop game."
    User: "...does the quote on the binder read, "It's an old lie, Arcade. Canis caninam non est (Dog does not eat dog)?""
    Sawyer: "Yep, that's the quote."
    (Fallout: New Vegas: Old Thread, Something Awful forums)
Enclave Symbol (FO3)
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