If Ironsides get's his way the USS Constitution will be at the bottom of the ocean. Because it's ancient, full of holes and none of them can sail it.

Best not to let the robots have their way.

Better it to go down like a vessel of the US Navy on its last voyage, than scrapped for parts and what remains left to rot by people who only want to make money off of it.

At least Ironsides knows what the vessel is. Worst case, the robots are giving it a proper burial at sea.

That's how I view it anyway.

I really liked this quest. I sided with Ironsides because I had already met some scavengers when I was overweight, in the commonwealth.

Scavengers are the same as raiders to me. They just don't shoot at first site of you, they wait until you turn your back on them and then open fire if you're not moving fast enough.

I can see where you're coming from here. Honoring the old world in Fallout would be akin to honoring our own ancestors or customs in the real world. And I agree that it does deserve some level of respect. But how many buildings have 99% of players torn through and looted entirely? How many dead soldiers' rifles, or babies' rattles have been broken down for scraps to build jukeboxes and wall panels? In the world of Fallout, these scavengers wouldn't be viewed as the bad guys by most folks we meet, and the main reason that they are viewed as such by many players this quest is because Ironsides is written to be fun and quirky, and the scavengers have somewhat rough attitudes. Minus the betrayal (which is irrelevant since it happens post-decision) they are not really any different from Sydney from Fallout 3, and she is one of the more liked characters from that game.

And at the end of the day, even if you do take the mindset that they are vandals, robbing the old world, is it really fair to take their lives for such a crime? Especially when everyone else in the world is committing it too? The quest wants you to kill these people just to help a robot, a nonsentient group of wires designed to mimic a funny and likable personality, on a quest that is completely fruitless and to no one's benefit.

I am respectful enough of the old world and the American Navy to acknowledge that wanting the ship to receive a proper burial at sea is a good cause. But I don't think I'd kill someone for it. Especially when everyone alive to truly care is long-since passed away, save for the Sole Survivor himself.

Well to be fair, its not like you have to side with Ironsides.

And Piper (one of the most "goody-goody" companions in the game) dislikes it when you side against the scavengers. So its not entirely biased towards the robots.

I just don't view the scavengers as anything more than vandals. They don't NEED the Constitution, and could back off at any time and go scavenge something else. Instead they want to fight Ironsides and his crew for the potential profit. I mean clearly, they seem to be able to afford to send men and women into the meat-grinder on a pretty consistent basis. Its not like its Ironsides fault they won't give up on their goal of wrecking The Constitution. By scavenger rights, he was there first. Finders keepers losers weepers and all that.

But on the other hand I understand the sentiment of not wanting to side with whimsical robots just for the sake of some old ship. Honestly though, I'd keep Captain Ironsides around just because of his quotes.

Its intended to be a silly quest anyway. I liken it to "Fly Me To The Moon" from New Vegas. Its there mostly for comedic effect, and not meant to be taken too seriously.

True enough on it being a silly quest. And it definitely is a fun one.

And I don't blame Ironsides and the crew for doing exactly what they're programmed to do. The scavengers who die attacking the ship assumed the risk, and while it svcks for them, that's life. If they want the loot there so badly, they have to earn it, just like they would at any other dangerous location. For some reason, they think this one will yield more loot than others, so I can't blame them either for what they're trying to do. It's how these people survive, and they seem to think this might be their big break. Again, a lot like Sydney from Fallout 3.

I don't hate or fault either side in this conflict. But from the standpoint of one who values human lives over robot agendas, I can't side with the Captain in good conscious when doing so requires murdering people who haven't really wronged me or anyone else to my knowledge.

Fair enough.

I personally just don't automatically value a human life over a robot. Especially when said humans are largely the instigators in the whole affair.

Kind of like those idiots who jump in wild animal pens for laughs, and then unsurprisingly get themselves killed or maimed. I'd think it unfair to shoot the animal because human stupidity put it in a position to kill one.

Similarly, Ironsides is just minding his own business playing Master and Commander with his robo-pals. Humans being greedy don't deserve his ship more than he does just because they're human and he's not IMO.

I can see that.
If the scavengers die "jumping into the animal pen" then that's on them, and definitely not the animals. Though at least, in this instance jumping into those pens is a way of life, and how they support themselves. So it probably could be better compared to hunting dangerous wild game than blatantly instigating critters for a laugh. If Ironsides and his crew blow up the lot of them because they weren't good enough at their job, it wouldn't bother me. If they managed to somehow defeat the crew and loot the ship, I'd be fine with that as well. The only thing I'm morally opposed to in the conflict is the idea of this Survivor from a vault popping in and killing them because the robots told him to.

Though perhaps I'm taking this a bit too seriously. Like you said, it's a fun, silly quest. And I am missing out on the best rewards and a fun cutscene by not siding with Ironsides. I honestly wish I had more RP justification to do so, because it is the all-round more entertaining option.

I failed the quest where I had to defend the ship. I killed all the robots so I felt better about it.

True, but even in that situation, I have to say, I can't blame the animal for fighting back.

I mean, I'm a hunter myself. Been hunting most of my life actually. If a buck charged and gored me with its antlers while trying to hunt it (lets assume this is a really, really pissed off deer). As my soul is floating out of my dead corpse, I'd probably look back and say "Alright, guess that's fair."

i snuck in there and stole it without the scavengers finding me/attacking me.

I sided with Ironsides because the scavvers weren't trying to scavenge the ship, they were trying to scavenge Ironsides! A robot like that deserves my protection.

Oh I absolutely agree. It's why I don't blame Ironsides either. Nor would I blame the buck.

As an aside, I'm a hunter as well, and am very upset that this will be my first winter in years that I haven't gotten to go out. A damned surgery has kept me stuck in the house. Not related, just venting.

I tried, and there was a fella who stood there all day, just staring at the cabinet, and they all turn hostile the second you take it, whether they see you do it or not. I tried to steal it and escape unnoticed, but with zero sneak-related perks, it was quite impossible for me. I reckon it's doable on a character more geared toward that playstyle.

Kinda ironic that Danse who dislikes machines and technology, often talking about it being mankind's hubris and making them lazy, would like for you to side with the robots

In this case, I'm guessing it's because he also dislikes the idea of irresponsible scavengers getting their hands on military-grade robotic technology.

I definitely thought "James Earl Jones" the first time I heard him.

The "rule of cool" dictated that I side with the robots on this one.

Nah, he approves of helping the robots rebuilding the ship in itself, not just siding against the scavengers. He's clearly siding with the robots.

This quest is an example where Bethesda did include that old classic Fallout "moral ambiguity" and "choice with consequence thing" but like most of the examples of this in the game, it just doesn't have quite the same 'edgy' feeling as a lot of the decision scenes in past games (FO2 in particular). There is a strangely "light-hearted" feeling to this whole game I now realize and I cannot even put my finger on what it is exactly that is accomplishing that atmosphere.

Some of the critters are scary when you are first surprised by them, but other than that the game is very light-hearted.

Yep, it is - but without giving too much away, it's worth scouting out an escape route before you pull the heist. Stealth Boys ain't cheap...

I'll admit, when I heard the scavvers' side of the story, I hummed and hawed and shut down the game for the night - not out of any emotional or ethical reaction, but because I found it to be a genuinely perplexing choice. The dilemma for me wasn't about robots vs. humans; rather, it was a choice between having a chance, albeit a small one, to preserve an old-world, one-of-a-kind relic vs. bowing to the new reality of the wasteland. I ended up choosing the former, mainly because my character was also an old-world, one-of-a-kind relic... In all, a silly quest, but it ended up defining my character's place in the new world.

I am going to have to give this quest a try. I have no telling how many hours in this game and have completed all 4 endings but have yet to step foot on that ship.

Yes, I thought the ship was still in commission, just like the German Sailing Vessel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorch_Fock_%281958%29. I've seen her anchored in the Hamburg Harbor and it was a sight to behold. Thanks for the above info, it's always interesting to learn something new. I just love old sailing ships!

Aye, aye Cap'n! Raise the anchor and set the main sail! We'll make the last voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution one to be remembered!

I sided with Cap'n Ironside and his crew, because they stood for something. The stood for the Old World, the one that still celebrated honor and integrity, the things my character's husband had fought for (or at least she would like to think he did). The new world, the wasteland, is ruled by fear and greed and frankly, coming across the crew of the U.S.S. Constitution was a refreshing change for Catherine Bellamy. She even wasted a stealthboy, in order to avoid blood shed. Yet, the scavangers couldn't leave well enough alone and had to attack.

They all died a rather meaningless death and shall be forgotten, while the memory of the U.S.S. Constitution will linger on.

My character didn't steal anything while on board. The irony is that most of the items on board was common place junk that can be found in every derelict house... Greed... the downfall of all civility.

Loved it too.

Sided with the robots every time so far, dirty scavs should die lol

Yeh had to side with the robots too they were just to great. This quest is definitely one of the highlights of this game.

The USS Constitution has a big hole in it hull below the waterline. The significance of this fact seems to have entirely escaped both Captain Ironsides and the crew. Once the ship does make it to the Atlantic, it will be a very short voyage.

sided with the robots each time I played this quest. Watched it take off and crash the first time. Then discovered the second time I did the quest that if your fast enough you can make it back on board the ship.

Just don't stay on deck, you die. But go below deck and you will be fine. Saves hiking across Boston and climbing back up again.

My only disappointment is there is no way to help them launch again until they hit water.