Hanged Man

The following is content from the canceled Van Buren project

	For the Honest Hearts character, see Joshua Graham.

Van Buren Character
Hanged Man
Location	Fort Abandon
Appears In	Van Buren
	8
	7
	10
	3
	6
	8
	3
Karma	Negative
Traits	Devil's Due Luck of the Devil

The Hanged Man or Hangman was intended as a companion in Van Buren.

Background

He is the first companion that the Prisoner encounters. He is hanged by the neck from a crane/telephone pole in the middle of Fort Abandon. The tribals tortured and hung him following several crimes committed against their people. He is suspended from the makeshift scaffold, hanging on to the edges of the droppable floor, coughing and wheezing to the point of unintelligible speech.

If cut down, the Hanged Man serves as a companion and can share information with the player character, but this rescue results in the wrath of tribals throughout the Great Basin. If the Prisoner leaves the map without rescuing him, he will not be there when one returns as if he was killed.

Traveling with the Hanged Man results in low Reputation with tribal characters due to his past as a slaver, murderer, or potential corrupted NCR Ranger. He will attempt to murder any Twin Mothers tribals encountered and lie to the Prisoner, intentionally mistranslating, causing conflict with other companions, and Hangdogs may attack on sight. Characters with sufficient Speech and Charisma can turn the Hanged Man away from evil and start him on a path of redemption.

Statistics

He has high physical statistics, including 10 END and excellent Small Arms, Knives, and Unarmed Skills. His Hit Points start at 32, with AP 9, Damage Resistance 10%, and a Critical Chance of 3%. He is at quarter health when the Prisoner first encounters him. He begins with no equipment.

His traits include Devil's Due, Luck of the Devil, and his perks include Dead Man Walking and Mysterious Directive. Dead Man Walking can ignore the effects of critical hits but costs fatigue points. Devil's Due results in rising from the dead three times, at the cost of one point of Charisma and Luck. In addition, Luck of the Devil results in +3% to critical chance while maintaining negative Karma.

Another perk the Hanged Man has is Trenchcoat Brigade, which results in 40% Damage Resistance while wearing a trenchcoat or leather duster, as well as Bad Apple/Defiler/Destroyer of all that is Good that provides bonus damage against Good Karma targets. He has a bonus perk Trade Tribal Speak, which allows the Hanged Man to speak several tribal dialects. He was intended to be a "jinxed" non-player character, like the pariah dog.

Notes

• Planned cutscenes included letting the Hanged Man fall to his death, cutting him down from the scaffolding, or letting him hang.
• The Hanged Man would not enter New Canaan. Upon arrival, he would initiate dialogue with the Prisoner and tell them that they had something to take care of, offering to meet at Burham Springs later on. Bishop Mordecai reveals additional details about him.
• Upon entering Burham Springs, the Hanged Man may quote 2 Chronicles: 28 and refuse to drop his weapons if commanded to by Phil, possibly even inciting Phil to open fire on the party.

Notes

The New Canaan design document refers to the Hanged Man as Joshua Graham, a character in Fallout: New Vegas.

Appearances

The Hanged Man was planned for inclusion in Van Buren.

Behind the Scenes

• The concept art used for the Hanged Man is from the DC Comics/Vertigo Unknown Soldier graphic novel and Vertigo's El Diablo graphic novel, issues #1 and #4, written by Brian Azzarello.
• Chris Avellone described the Hanged Man as "the first poisonous CNPC to join the party, like having the Jinxed Dog with you."

Gallery

• 

  Fort Abandon location design document p.17

• 

  Fort Abandon location design document p.17

• 

  Fort Abandon location design document p.12

• 

  From the Pen and Paper games

References

Design Documents

Developer Statements