Very early in the game, I met an NPC who had a side mission for me. Less than that, it was just a job. It took less than 15 minutes, paid a handful of caps, and he thanked me. Friendly guy. I went on my way, glad I had helped another survivor making his way in the world.

Today, weeks later in both game and real time, I happened back by that way. To my surprise, a turret started shooting at me! Had to be a mistake. This was a friendly area!

Then I saw that there were new buildings that I didn't recognize... and people shooting at me from doorways. Raiders! Which led me to the realization... my acquaintance's place and all his stuff was still there... so he was now dead. Killed, by the raiders who had moved in and taken over his place.

It has never occurred to me to wonder what happened after I had done my single good deed and moved on... and now I saw.

This is the brilliance of Fallout. I realized for the first time how much I was in a real live world, and that I was not the center of it. Events were taking place whether I was there or not. This was a first for me.

I'm officially hooked. I have to see what happens next.

Was it

I suppose you're going to tell me this is a scripted event... ?

Yes, yes it is.

See if you can clear that place out, and find the terminal he had in his room before the raiders came in. >.>

wasn't he part of the raiders?

and let you to clear the place out, so his friends could move in, without telling you?

that's how I understood the whole thing

Spot on mate, spot on.

What the heck?

Why do I not know about this side mission? Anyone can fill me in with spoiler tab? What's the mission name?

The guy you helped is the "boss" down in the quarry. So the leader of the raiders. So you killed the guy you helped to establish a Raider base

I executed the quarry guy bc his reward wasn't good enough

He's a jerk I always juice him for max caps.

He is the Raider boss and you helped him build a Raider base ;P (you can even find out about it on his terminal, before even helping him)

Well I returned yesterday, my time, weeks later, and there are all raiders and a drained quarry, I was picking them off with a rifle, as we do, until I saw that one of them was 'named'.... so must be a quest assignment.... so I packed up and left.

Did you not notice the computer terminal in his trailer before you helped him? It outlined his plan and contained a manifesto of the goods they would need after the project was complete. I went and helped him out with the intention of putting all the fish in one barrel. Then, I came back a few weeks later and "finished the job" with a laser musket.

Don't let it throw you, though. There are a number of quests like this that have small but meaningful consequences. Some of them are unfortunate turns of event. One of the most moving things in RPGs, in my opinion, is trying to do good and winding up making things worse. When handled correctly, it creates awesome character evolution.

I hope to see more of this type of thing from Bethesda in future titles!