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For the mentioned only character in Fallout 4, see Button Gwinnett. |
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“This is no mere scrap of paper, sir. This is the doctrine laid down by my fellow members of the Second Continental Congress. It absolves us of the tyranny of King George the Third of Great Britain. It is perhaps the greatest symbol of this free nation.”
Button Gwinnett is a Protectron who oversees the National Archives in 2277.
Background[]
Designated "BGWIN009 Button Gwinnett",[1] and named after Button Gwinnett, one of the Founding Fathers.[Non-game 1] This particular unit's original purpose was to provide tour guide services for visitors, participate in a reenactment show as a signatory of the Declaration of Independence together with seven other Protectrons, and to provide security support for the National Archives.[2]
He was already experiencing at least one system memory leak before the bombs dropped, which resulted in the unit getting his directives mixed up and scaring off visitors. This was temporarily fixed by a technician, who flushed his core CPU several times.[3] Over time and without regular maintenance, Button's condition has only gotten worse, resulting in his memory core to malfunction,[4] and the unit to believe itself to be the real Button Gwinnett.[5] As his orders are to guard the Declaration of Independence at all costs, Button fortified the National Archives to the best of his abilities.[6]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character is involved in quests. | |
Quests[]
Stealing Independence: Button Gwinnett has control over all the robots in the National Archives, who he addresses with motivational messages as the Lone Wanderer progresses through the basement levels to reach Button's quarters. When initiating dialogue with them, Button will call them a "redcoat," and claim that they are surrounded by redcoats.
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button's wig | Hand and head laser | Scrap metal | Archives security terminal |
Notes[]
- The Robotics Expert perk will unlock additional dialogue, including options to shut down or resume functions.[7] However, Button cannot be ordered back to his maintenance receptacle.
- Unlike the other Protectrons, Button's voice sounds human with a colonial accent.
- Button actually mispronounces his last name. There should be an emphasis on the second syllable, rather than the first (Gwin-NET).
- The Lone Wanderer can also find Button's wig in the corner of the room. The wig seen on Button cannot be looted.
- Telling Button that the war is over will make him salute.
- Destroying Button reduces Karma, unless he shuts himself down via dialogue or gets disabled by the player.
- Asking Button for directions to Arlington Library results in him giving directions out-of-date by many centuries, citing long-gone landmarks.[8]
- In Fallout 4, while MacCready is an active companion, he may reference Button Gwinnett upon visiting the Gwinnett Restaurant or spotting a beer bottle.[9]
- If the Lone Wanderer convinces Button to give them the Declaration, real or fake, hostilities with all robots and turrets in the National Archives will cease. However, Sydney will still attack the turrets on sight.
Notable quotes[]
- "The Declaration must remain here! It is our symbol of hope, the one thing that cries out 'We are a free nation'!"
- "Saints alive! It is both an honor and a privilege, madam. I knew the day would arrive that Jefferson would send someone to help! I hope these fortifications are up to your high standards, madam. All of my men await your command to push and retake the Capital!"
- "No! It can't be! Then the Stars and Stripes have indeed fallen. This is a sad day, a day that every man, woman and child will remember as they toil in the English salt mines as slaves. Although my brow is heavy, I am honored that you've come to tell me this in person like a true gentleman. What are your final orders?"
- "This is no mere scrap of paper, sir. This is the doctrine laid down by my fellow members of the Second Continental Congress. It absolves us of the tyranny of King George the Third of Great Britain. It is perhaps the greatest symbol of this free nation."
- "Please explain, but I warn you, I am well versed on the tactics of the underhanded Redcoat spy. You'd do well to remember that."
Appearances[]
Button Gwinnett appears only in Fallout 3.
Behind the scenes[]
- Button was written by quest designer Alan Nanes, who also worked on the quest Stealing Independence as a whole.[Non-game 2]
- When Button dies, he will say, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," a reference to the Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, who said the same thing before he was hanged by the British.
- Upon passing the Speech check and convincing Button that the Lone Wanderer is Thomas Jefferson (regardless of their actual gender), Button will make a reference to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's enslaved mistress, at the end of the dialogue.[10]
Gallery[]
Robotic Button's wig
References[]
- ↑ National Archives terminal entries, BGWIN009 Button Gwinnett, Unit Directives
- ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Please describe your original function."
Button Gwinnett: "Original function parameters are as follows. Function One: Provide tour guide services for visitors to National Archives facility. Function Two: Participate in reenactment of the signing of Declaration of Independence show as the character Button Gwinnett. Function Three: Provide security support for National Archives facility in the event of a breach or threat to any of its assets."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ National Archives terminal entries, maintenance terminal, BGWIN009 Tour Guide Protectron
- ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Resume your original functions. Command alpha-six-eight. Initiate."
Button Gwinnett: "Initiating memory wipe and function restart in 3... 2... 1. Error. Memory core damaged. Cannot retrieve base command routines. Please reselect input."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "What are you talking about? You're a robot!"
Button Gwinnett: "I am not a 'robot.' I am Button Gwinnett, second signer of the Declaration of Independence and distinguished representative from Georgia. I know your fighting prowess far exceeds my own, but I will still duel you to the death if I must. What will it be then? Rapiers? Pistols at dawn? Out with it!"
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "How did you end up in this place?"
Button Gwinnett: "I was posted here by Thomas Jefferson after the Declaration was drafted. He said it was my duty to protect the document at all costs. I spent quite a while whipping this place into shape, but with a lot of spit and polish, I think the results speak for themselves. I'm proud to fly the Stars and Stripes over these fortifications."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "What are your command options?"
Button Gwinnett: "I can currently be ordered to shut down, resume my previous programming state, or resume my original functions."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "How do I get to the Arlington Library?"
Button Gwinnett: "The journey will be rife with peril I'm afraid. You cross Farmer Smith's cornfield and make your way up Greenleaf Hill. Ford your way across Quickrun Creek and make for the horse path. When the pines thin out, you need to make your way along the edge of Arlington. Watch out for Redcoats. They have a garrison there. The building across from the fish market is the Library. Look for the old clock tower."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue) - ↑ Robert MacCready: "Gwinnett... Gwinnett... why is that name so familiar? I heard it back in the Capital Wasteland, but I can't remember why."
(Robert MacCready's dialogue) Note: This line is spoken at the entrance to the Gwinnett Brewery. - ↑ The Lone Wanderer: "Stand down, and honorably relinquish your post. You've earned a rest."
Button Gwinnett: "Coming from you, that means all the world to me. It's been an honor and a privilege to serve my country. It's time for me to take a long-needed rest. I think you'll find that the rest of my men are long-due for the same. I hereby relinquish command and control of this fortification to you. Good luck to you, Mr. Jefferson... and give Sally my regards."
(Button Gwinnett's dialogue)
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition, p. 64:
"Button Gwinnett:
The powdered wig, the blue coat, the metal mandible appendages-this must be Button Gwinnett, second governor of Georgia! Look closely, and you may spot some tiny discrepancies in this fellow: the pulsing brain module, the clanking sound Button makes, and the fact that this is actually a Protectron!" - ↑ Meet the Devs of Skyrim Q&A:
Alan Nanes: "For example, in "Stealing Independence", Emil told me that he wanted the player to retrieve the Declaration of Independence. That's pretty much it. Then, as writers, we go into our cubes and develop a plot that would make that element come out and provide appropriate gameplay. So, I decided to set it in the National Archives, developed the rival relic hunter "Sydney", the whole "Button" character, etc. Once the storyline is developed, it goes back to the lead for approval. Every quests goes through lots of iterations before it ends up in the shipped game. For our quests, we do all the dialogue, the scripting and the character development. The level design is done by one of our kick-butt level designers."
