In response to one of my posts blathering about how much I love junk, someone posted a link to a Fred Sanford Youtube. He was a quintessential 1970s "non-PC" comedian: basically a misanthropic, probably alcoholic, curmudgeon, bigot, elder African American junk dealer, who with his son Lamont (the straight man in all the "jokes") managed to get into every conceivable predicament you can imagine a Los Angelos Junk Man getting into. In hindsight a lot of the humor is truly tasteless by today's standards, but not out of bounds I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whkw5Ay79Bc

My current toon is going strong at level 56, lots more stuff to do with her. But I was thinking, if I were to do a player character based on Fred Sanford . . .

1. What would his starting SPECIAL be?

2. What Perks would he tend to go for for the first 20 levels or so?

3. What factions would he be drawn to?

4. What companions?

Well, the most important thing will of course be to name your favorite weapon 'Lisbeth.

No idea who it is, but based on that video it's clear your companion has to be preston because he's black.

high Perception. he can spot "junk" a mile away!

Which of course would be the "Junk Jet!"

Junk Jet . . . I did find one though now I cannot remember where. Is that thing really moddable?

Scrapper, and the other "junk processing" related perks would seem to be obvious early go-for perks.

As for http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_4_SPECIAL

S 1 + 3 (melee would seem to be something Fred wouldn't shirk from)

P 1 + 1 (not the most "perceptive" fellow)

E 1 + 5 (I'd say Fred is a tough old bugger!)

C 1 + 1(Charisma is definitely not his "strong point," still he could be very manipulative and wiley, so I think a 2 maybe even a 3 is passable)

I 1 + 5(He seems dumb a lot, but I think it is just an act, sort of like Dubya)

A 1 +1(Not very agile at all)

L 1 +5 (Luck is probably his strongest suit, eh?)

Beans and disease to you too!

Yeah, I think he typically be bigoted against most "other" types. Especially ghouls, probably most Asians, most whites (not all though). I think he'd HATE Desdemona and Deacon.

Still, I think he'd get very sick of Preston very quickly. Not even sure he'd be willing to setup additional settlements, at least not at first. They way the character generally played out: he was superficially bigoted, misanthropic, insulting, but when push came to shove he'd do the right thing. He was NOT a true"dike," he wasn't out to screw people over or leave people out in the cold, so to speak. But he generally had to be cajoled into doing the right thing. He might run with Preston for a while, then park him at Sanctuary or someplace and generally avoid him and Settlment Quests.

Course Red Rocket would seem to be a pretty ideal "Fortress of Solitude" for the man! I don't think there is an old scrapyard that can become a Settlement is there?

Cait, cute surly, criminally-inclined, flirtatious redheaded Irish chick!? I think Fred would be ALL OVER that!

Piper not so much. He'd find her tiresome. I'm leaning toward a heavy power armor user type too. Through that he might be inclined to build up his INT and STR to better take advantage of the perks. I think Stealth would be the least of his worries. Explosives, Melee and Junk Jet. Maybe a shotgun?

Any of you other old timers who actually watched the show have any thoughts?

Shut up you old fish eyed fool

Maybe - but I'd think he'd need someone who he can pick on, and who wouldn't talk back. I'd say Preston, or even Danse (the biggest of the big dummies). Alternatively, Nick might make an equally gruff but more even-tempered "old friend," sort of like Grady but smarter.

The Junk Jet is down in the basemant of Arcjet Systems. It can be modded, but I can't remember off-hand which perks would apply. Heck, I'm not even sure what weapon category it would fall under...

And thanks. You've put the "Sanford and Son" theme in my ear, probably for the rest of the day. Thanks a lot.

His strength and endurance would be pretty low since he can barely walk and is always on the verge of a heart attack. His intelligence would also be low. He would have high charisma, perception and luck.

I laughed out loud when I read the thread title. Well done. *claps*

Nice breakdown.

Strongest SPECIALs... I would go a little higher on these...

I: I agree, I think he was dumb like a fox. Plus, the actor's name is Redd Foxx.

L: Perhaps his strongest

Weak SPECIALs, probably 1's

P: You said it.

A: Barely gets around

I think I would be willing to go higher on:

C: Even though he rubs most people the wrong way, he is still a wheeler and a dealer. He is lovable in a petulant way. Like Archie Bunker. Bigot, yes. But sometimes you just love him anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qzRSU2NWmE

OP, I think you are really dating yourself here, and me by extension.

I think he should probably be a melee build...

Of course, his death animation and sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stdi-1tIUhM&list=RDstdi-1tIUhM#t=0

Will have to think about the starting SPECIAL a bit more. Good ideas though!

I was actually considering: Lamont basically _IS_ Preston! So it would actually make a lot of sense, except that you cannot exactly tease Preston . . . I guess you could just constantly bombard him with Sarcastic and "No" responses and see how that goes. Could be fun!

An Archie Bunker build, Rockford (from the Rockford Files), Starski from Starski and Hutch, Jill (or whichever one poor old Farrah Fawcett played) from Charlies Angels, hell the possibilities are limitless . . . not sure why I keep thinking of 1970's TV shows, but somehow a lot of the over-the-top characters from the sitcoms of that era seem like they would fit somehow in this particular Fallout imagining.

Damn! Now I'm getting distracted from my generic "La Femme Nikita" style "Elsa Randolph" character that is up to level 57!

Companions?!?

Codsworth, of course!

A junked out old robot that you can utterly dominate/verbally abuse at will. Perfect.

Failing that Dogmeat in full Junkyard Dog regalia.

Needs a Fatman named "The Big One!"

I would say that Feed Sanford would have all the merchant/scrounging perks. Finding extra caps, ammo, junk. Those should come naturally to a junk yard man. As to specials attributes, you could justify anything that will give you those said perks. He does lean towards Fist weapons over any other type of weapon.

Would he have Ester as a companion? LOL.

I can hear the dialog,

Fred, "Estah, I'm confused. You look like a Super Mutant 'cept you smell like an ol' Feral Ghoul! Now get in there and scare that lock open with yo' face!"

Ester, "Why Fred G Sanford you old Raidah heathen!"

Lamont (The protagonist), "Now pop, can't we have a peaceful resolution to you and Ahnt' Esters constant fighting!"

Julio (arms dealer in Diamond City, "Heeeeey, meester Sanford, are you here to buy some ordeenance today or are you jo'st browzeeng?"

MacReady would be the dumb white cop.

OMG this could be fun!

I smell a DLC in the works!

Except in FO4, it would go more like:

"Why Fred G Sanford you old Raidah heathen!"

1. No

2. Maybe

3. Angry

4. Sarcastic

Favors fist weapons . . .

But yeah, DEFINITELY the merchant/scrounger/scrapper perks!

OP.

It was me that posted the link to Sanford and Son.

I am thinking of build on Fred as well.

I would say Fred's Charisma is quite high. It gets him in and out of trouble. I would only place points into perks that enhance trading and crafting perks. No perks into combat skills. Only perks in Luck are for finding more caps since he is always scheming on finding ways to make money. Maybe the perk that increases the chance for Ammo. I believe he would try to avoid fighting except for in dialog. I think he would rather see other people fighting and then just scavenge what is left after the battle. I think the Charisma Perks would suit that well.

As for companion I Dogmeat will be one since he is useful for finding junk. I would not even bother with saving the minutemen in concord since I do not think that is something that Fred would do. I do not think I would even do any settlement building except for his own use. I see him maybe opening up the Drive In but not have any settlers and tries to use it as a get rich scheme but winds up failing that is why no settlers. Maybe has Codsworth going around the commonwealth with advertisemant going like that Eyebot or maybe rollplay that he reprogrammed that bot to do advertisemant.

I believe one of the shows Fred wanted to start up a religion and a church so he would not have to pay taxes.

I do not think that Fred would support any faction except his own.