Who was the Courier who passed on making the delivery to the next name after seeing Courier 6 on the list? Do we know?

Why did they do it?

Benny said it was rigged from the start. Theories?

It's not elaborated on. But there's some wreckage off to the East of Primm that many people think shows the individual was obsessed with Courier 6.

Really?? I did find that wreckage and thought it really spooky and weird. It's another piece of puzzle then. Obsessed...hmmm...something to consider.

Building on your OP, what is the courier's back story? I kind of felt like my character was just a gun with eyes.

Are there any clues as to where the courier is from? It doesn't seem like he is a NV local or from the NCR. The lack of a setup (beyond what is really your current 'task' i.e. the chip and getting revenge) really bothered me b/c the courier wasn't humanized - he had no past, no family, no place of origin.

Or did I miss clues here and there?

I agree with you, Its not as fun when you nothing about your players past. I loved start of fallout 3.

You make up your own past. You shouldn't need someone to make it up for you.

Eh? Ok so why bother reading a book? Just make it up. The game has a story without a begining. Dont get me wrong I really like the game ive spent hours on it but I think it still lacks a begining.

This. I think they intentionally left it vague so that you could fill in all the blanks on your own.

Incorrect. It's not a book, it's an RPG. You create the character. You might as well argue the game should set your skills, level your character, name him, and make your choices for you. Otherwise it's a story without a middle or end!

No, it's just open.

You can't "make" your past in that regard - like who is the courier's family - what culture is the courier from - a tribal, a vault dweller, etc?

It detracts from the courier's humanity to not have a past at all, and seemed like a bit of lazy story telling.

I can't just make him something he's not - its not like the game will change if I decide he's a tribal. It lacks an emotional connection, unlike say, your mother's death in F03 - which did effect your character's psyche.

I was just curios if there was info on who he was that I may have missed somewhere.

You can make all of that. It's very easy. People have been doing it nonstop since RPG as a genre came into existence.

You can't make him something he's not, you're right. Because there is nothing that he's not. He's almost whatever you want him to be. If you decide he's a tribal, maybe he'll be more sentimental to the needs of the tribes, like the Khans, and less a character interested in what the NCR, House, and Caesar offer. Unless you decide maybe it's a tribe valuing strength, then Caesar offers something. Otherwise, maybe he's a tribal fighting for the independence of his people.

Maybe he's an NCR citizen from California. Maybe he's a wandering local. Nothing says he can't be the survivor of Vault 11. He can't be a Boomer, unless you want to argue that the gunshot really screwed some stuff up.


The father connection from 3 basically railroaded you into siding with the Brotherhood.

This and Fallout 3 are the only RPG I have played, Im not a big gamer so Forgive me if im saying something wrong but the way I see it, the game should tell the story not me make one up in my head.

As the OP stated thou I would like to know more about that other Courier that should have been delivery boy that day. Something sounds abit fishy about the what happened.

The lack of creativity in making up YOUR OWN backstory in this thread saddens me.

The game tells it's story. What you're asking for is the game to tell your character's identity. That's the part you make up the entire way, when you make his decisions for him and attributes. And when you decide on his past.

Yeah I see what you're saying.

To the blockage on the east it tells the Courier to go home.

This. Currently, I'm playing as an NCR soldier, so my made up backstory is that I was an NCR soldier, who decided to go into the Mojave Express after my deployment. As such, I'm uber-friendly to NCR folks, and extremely hostile towards the Legion and the other groups fighting the NCR.

In my next playthroughs, perhaps I'll be a former Great Khan? Or just a random guy fighting for an independent New Vegas?

@Tale

While I agree that a known identity might influence who you choose to ally with, it doesn't have to. You could still make your own decisions - it wouldn't prevent you from siding with whoever you want - a failure of FO3 I might add. . .

I'm just pretty surprised that they decided to give the courier zero back-story. You can't really develop or have an emotional connection with your character if you have to (yourself) make up his story. The game won't reflect your 'made up' identity through unique dialogue choices, character interactions, plot line, etc. The openness makes you a bit too personally and emotionally detached from the in-game world (in my humble opinion).

@ Colonel Martyr

I normally think up fan fiction after playing a game. I'm not used to having to invent the story behind the game from the start - then there really isn't a story, its just a series of pre-determined events played out by soulless robots. Just makes the game seem hollow to me, but don't get me wrong, I really liked NV. I just thought the courier's past was a glaring weak point in an otherwise incredible, immersive game.

End of rant.

@ valkebus

Interesting, east blockage? I never saw that. . .gotta check that out. DLC fill-in maybe?

I would have thought it would make for a even stronger connection, since you can decide on what you like, and not be forced to take one predestined.

I'm gonna have to side with Tale on this debate, I can understand the other side of this argument in wanting a concrete "foundation" for your character, but having no "foundation" at all allows you so much more room for creativity and whatnot. I'm playing through FO:NV this time as a Book of Eli sort of character, my last playthrough was as an opportunistic mercenary sniper... obviously I can't mimick Eli exactly (don't want to ruin the movie for those who haven't seen it yet), but I'm rolling around with a machete, a pistol, and a shotgun just like he did. I also keep a Pre-War Book in my pack to simulate Eli's book, lol... it's good fun surprisingly. :fallout:

As for the point of this thread, I've already read a thread about this before and it is a very curious detail in the storyline that apparently isn't answered as of yet... much like the Burned Man.

Your character was shot in the head. I just RP'd it as I don't remember who I am or what went before. The info on your current status is all pretty much supplied to you as you go so that is your motivation. And not having a clear past allows you to go with a future that doesn't conflict.

Lol when i got my game i had JUST finished watching that movie and my brother said to make an Eli Character, I decided against it.. I may do it soon though.

No, the burned man was explained. He was the one who lead the legion to defeat during the first battle over hoover dam, and Caesar had him burned.

Its just laziness on Obsidians part IMO. You can make up yer own backstory, wheee!! With no effect in game... Whoop de do. I was King Kong from outer space before I became a courier. Really. I was elected Caesar (the position) before abdicating due to losing my left arm in a tragic Nuka-Cola accident. Luckily my articulated grasping feet allowed me to become a 3x6-gun duelist. Seriously. Why doesnt the game allow me to play that? :rolleyes:

Obsidian should have either provided a backstory, or implemented the ability to choose from the start. They could have done like Fallout 3 did with letting you relive your backstory, or making the choices as you talk to Doc Mitchell. They could have done this, easily, and had it affect the game. Where are you from? a) Tribal B) vault escapee c) NCR peasant etc, and tweak a few NPC responses based on that. Maybe a few NPCs know you, are surprised to see you, etc.

Laziness.

That's what I did. All she can remember is that she was in Cali and that her name is Harlow and she doesn't know if that's her first name or last name.

Someday she'll remember that it's a nickname given to her by an admirer because he thought she looked like pictures of a movie star he once saw while scavenging in some Boneyard ruins.


All: And thanks for the Courier 6 info. I wondered if I'd missed something and now I know. Loving the role-playing discussion.

:fallout: