Outlaw Guide

Preamble (feel free to skip!)
This document is by no means comprehensive as the title suggests, and I would strongly encourage players to come up with their own unique gimmicks and strategies on how to play your role and your character, there is no right or wrong way to roleplay the character that you have personally constructed. That being said, roles such as Outlaw have a very specific purpose and the limited number of slots for the role should reflect this. Your goal should be to make the round enjoyable for others while not making it unenjoyable for yourself. Outlaw is an unforgiving role, and for some it may not be worth playing. The weight of the world is on your shoulders and you have the power to make the game fun for everyone, it is a fine line to walk and you may find yourself treading carefully across a minefield of eggshells. You shouldn't let this discourage you, for a fulfilling story sometimes the bad guy needs to die. Take solace in the fact that this will make victory all the more sweeter.

The overall intention of this document is to serve as a loose set of guidelines for Outlaws, I wouldn't encourage you to follow it to the letter and I would much rather you go off the intent rather than the word. Creativity is something important for the Outlaw role and as such; you should work off of this rather than treat it like holy writ.

Behavior
As an Outlaw, as the name very much implies you operate outside of the law, you might not be a Raider... You could be but it's not mandatory. You could be a vigilante bounty hunter looking to make evildoers feel the cold hand of justice at the long arm of the law or you could be a coked up psychopath looking to slave and murder provided you follow escalation rules. You are given the authority to be more flexible when it comes to how you approach conflict, but the name of the game is conflict when you're an Outlaw. Something made you turn to a life of crime, something made you an outcast condemned by the righteous men and women of society and your behavior should reflect this. You might not be an evil psychotic freak but you're also not a good person per se... You're a criminal through and through, with the title of 'outlaw' you've absolutely broken a few laws or two. Act fidgety or bitter towards people of authority like Deputies or Sheriffs, the NCR is not a friend as they don't like acting as law enforcement, as such the penalty for most Raiders or Outlaws they capture is often death... Even says so on a New Vegas loading screen!

With that being said, it's absolutely acceptable to form positive relationships with people in those factions, an Outlaw can pine from afar for a fair NCR maiden as a form of forbidden love, and an Outlaw can do mercenary work for the NCR or Legion and make friends in doing so, but you shouldn't be on a first name basis with everyone in those factions, at best you should keep it to the before mentioned lover(s) and friends you make while doing all sorts of devious mercenary work for them. As stated before though, this guide isn't a set of rules, if you makes logical sense and you have a solid argument and good IC reasoning to form an alliance or even speak good about the factions that would usually crucify or execute Outlaws/Raiders then you are free to do so. Just make absoutely sure it makes sense.

The liberty you have when it comes to your behavior is limited only by your imagination and realism. If you want to play a "good" outlaw, it should be played as a vigilante, a bounty hunter, a deranged freak who thinks he is "THE LAW", or other such gimmicks that would make sense. Of course people like those mentioned above would operate outside of the law, of course they would be outcasts that would be seen as "bad" people to certain groups. It makes sense!

If you wanted to play as a bad Outlaw, the options are far less limiting. You could play a swindling weaselly little scam artist, a cannibal cook, a drug trader, gun runner, slaver, rapist, murderer, you name it! These are all sensible occupations that would make someone an Outlaw! That's the name of your role here and dontcha forget it! You're an outlaw, good or bad you're still a fiend! Your motives should reflect this...

Wastelanders
Depending on what type of Outlaw you're playing, Wastelanders could be friends or foe. You're able to treat them in any manner you so choose but remember; they're goodie-two-shoes, you shouldn't induct them into your gang until they're ready to commit to a life of crime/vigilante justice;(i.e apply for a whitelist) by all means allow them to hang around, think of it as a ridealong or probationary period for gang membership, or even just as friends being friends. They shouldn't affiliate with criminal activity until they are ready to commit to it, shoo them away from helping you rob banks, kill people who you should be killing, or other such miscreancy. Depending on the situation, a Wastelander helping an Outlaw could be against the rules, so when in doubt ahelp. If you're worried though, and you don't want to bother with ahelps every time they want to help you, an easy out would be to schedule a drink or dinner after your "work" is done and share stories about the awesome shoot out or tense drug trade you just got into, fascinate them with a tale over a beer with a friend. Friends are important, even to the most evilest of evil Outlaws, it's always nice to have someone watching your back.

Of course; not everybody can be your friend, some people might rub you the wrong way or they might have something you want in on... Luckily for you, extortion is illegal! Hinder those you hate with underhanded or unscrupulous behavior! Someone starting a business? Protection money, maybe run a chem business out of their back room. What are they gonna do, say no? You don't take shit from anybody. You're an outlaw. These people aren't your friends, they're a means to an end and that end might be caps, it might be whores and slaves, it can be whatever you want so long as it's in the rules. Just remember; you don't have to be nice to everybody, and not everyone can be your friend. Interactions don't need to end in a shootout to be tense and enjoyable... That's what you're here to do, make things enjoyable; not just for yourself but for others too. Intimidate, bribe, force or murder; just don't give people no options. There should always be a choice, if people force your hand that's on them.

Raiding
Maybe you're more than just a cold bounty hunter, maybe you want a little more action. Maybe you're part of a notorious gang or you're just some freak with a deathwish wanting to take the world head-on alone. Maybe you find a rich little place you'd like to call home only to find it's occupied by some punk fucks who think that you take 'no' for an answer. Exhaust all other options, if they refuse to compromise then -- so long as you follow the rules of escalation and get permission for a raid -- you'd be well within your god damn rights to take what you want, be it the loot from the place or the place itself. Make it your home, run an operation out of it, don't let everything they built for you go to waste.

You might be asking though--after hearing the first part of that "proper escalation? What would be proper escalation?"

To that I would respond with two things, first would be read and re-read the rules to get a firm handle on escalation and the second would be... It might be more than two things, honestly.

An attack against you or your group, you track them down to their camp or house and  you ask for permission to raid it in response to the attack.

Continued and Excessive disrespect and insults to you or your group, you shouldn't wage all-out war or raid a faction over a joke made in bad faith or a single insult, however if things are taken too far, if things are brought further than they should be, you're good to make them put their money where their mouth is.

Theft or some other slight against you or your group, it might not be enough for an all-out raid and razing of all they've built, but it's enough to bust in and take it back and shoot anyone who tries to stop you for taking back what is rightfully yours... Again, just be sure to ahelp for permission first.

Situations vary, and even if they did one of those three down to a tee, something might come up and you might not be within your rights to raid the building, be sure to ask first, explain your reasoning for wanting to raid in-depth and try to cover as many details as possible for the best chance of approval.

Gimmicks
This is the third most important part of being an Outlaw, the second most important being behavior... We'll get to the most important part a bit later on, saving the best for last.

As an Outlaw as I've stated numerous times in this document your goal is to make the game interesting for everybody, yourself included. As such you should find a fun and interesting gimmick to engage in, something that allows people to interact if they so choose without forcing them to interact or engage in something they might not want to do, similar to how sexual slavery is against the rules if they don't consent OOCly. You wouldn't want to make somebody uncomfortable OOCly and so it's best to play it safe and not force anybody to engage in your gimmick.

The gimmick should also not impact your desired motivation to be in the round; for example if you want to revamp the Chicken Ranch as an outlaw and run it as an operation, taking slaves to work for dancers, go for it! But that's not a gimmick so much as it is being an outlaw, a good gimmick would be...

...Making your slaves/captives produce drugs...

...Making your slaves/captives smuggle contraband into (X) location...

...Running drugs/guns out of your business, whatever it may be...

...Hiring a band of mercenaries to keep you safe while you do your business...

...Setting up a bootlegging operation with a bottling machine...

...Being a mad scientist or doctor who either experiments or exposes his victims to his experiments...

...Demanding shoes from people and after acquiring them, throwing glass in front of them...

...Constantly looking for and using drugs and alcohol, shaking people down for more...

...Reminding your victims that your character has a huge bounty on them from one of the factions...

...Approaching people and suggesting that your character would like to eat them, and if not them then they need to find your hungry Outlaw 'food'...

...Finding literally any opportunity to cause inconvenience and discomfort for anyone you come across...

...Taking bounties or doing quests...

...Setting up a "toll booth" on a popular road...

...And so much more, the sky (the sky being the rules in this analogy) is the limit! You're free to go wild so long as you don't leave an OOCly negative impact! Keep it IC, you're not John Hardpunch, you're not your character, you are you, a real living and breathing human being playing a video game. Your character is a separate individual free from any ties to your OOC self, try not to forget this!

Interaction
Arguably, this is the most important part of being an Outlaw. You're here to make the round engaging, something to work against... That being said, you're not the antagonist. You might not even be an antagonist... Just as there are no protagonists there are likewise no supervillians, no main characters, nothing. You're just a human being trying to survive and make life good for yourself, be it through pleasures of the flesh or something entirely different.

You're here to interact with other people as an Outlaw, cause conflict where you so desire and give others something to work off of, without you the round may soon devolve into a boring mess with no plot or storyline, it'll turn less and less into a game of Fallout and more and more into one of those Meet'N'Fuck games from Newgrounds and nobody (very few) people want that. They want to be engaged, and that is where you come in. You're the life of the party! Don't confuse this with you being The Big Dick or the Protag/Antagonist, you are an antagonist, not the antagonist.

Find ways to interact with players that is engaging for them all. As mentioned above you don't need to kill people, you don't even need to shoot them. Just interact with them you get bonus points if, through that interaction, you demonstrate just what exactly made you an outlaw through actions. Cause conflict and mischief whenever you are able, claim bounties, place bounties, yell and scream, start fights or just be an asshole that gets kicked out of establishments. Anything that would make you a proper outlaw. It's not just a fancy title that can be used as an excuse to low-escalate people, it is a part of your backstory and character. Something made you what you are today, and what you are today is not just a wastelander with a new name. You're an Outlaw, treat others like you're an outlaw. Troublemaker is your middle name! Show 'em why that is, just don't take it too far. Keep in mind when you do "Show them why" you should do it in spectacular fashion. You're a spectacle and a wonderful sight to behold and those who watch you work should be left mesmerized.

Lore
There are several resources to look into when considering the lore behind your character, and while your character does not necessarily have to be from the Fiends of the Vipers, it is of some interest to look into the previous games for inspiration for what your characters past could be about and what you can do presently in Desert Rose. Below there are links to pages which can help you understand the nature of Raiders and Outlaws in the greater Fallout setting and you are encouraged to tie your characters lore to what is found in these pages if it is appropriate.

General Wiki Pages on Raiders and Outlaws from the Fallout Games
These pages provide very basic over-arching information on Raiders in the Fallout Setting. They present a good starting point to understand the lore that Fallout has on these types of individuals and they go in-depth into describing the specific raider factions as well as slavery and any miscellaneous information from the games that could otherwise be overlooked. Remember you are allowed to take inspiration from any of the Fallout games, even and especially the older ones, and do something creative and unique with it: the limitations are bound by your imagination.

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Raiders

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Raiders_(Fallout_3)

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Slavery

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Raiders

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Raider_(Fallout_3)

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Raider

Specific Wiki Pages on Raider and Outlaw Gangs
These pages will detail the specifics of known Raider gangs in the Fallout setting, and you are encouraged to draw directly from them in order to make your outlaw character. Keep in mind that not every outlaw has to be from one of these gangs, an outlaw can be a raider but that does not mean all outlaws are raiders. Really look into these games and imagine the daily life of a person from these games, and you will find value in bringing them to life on our server!

Raider Gangs
https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fiends

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Fiends

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Vipers

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Vipers

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Jackals

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Jackals

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Scorpions_(gang)

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Khans

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Khans

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Great_Khans

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Great_Khans

New Vegas Gangs
https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Three_Families

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Chairmen

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Chairmen

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/White_Glove_Society

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/White_Glove_Society

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Omertas

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Omertas

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Kings

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Kings

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Van_Graffs

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Van_Graffs

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Maud%27s_Muggers

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Greasers

New Reno Gangs
https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Bishops

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Bishops

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Wrights

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Wrights

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Mordinos

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Mordinos

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Salvatores

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Salvatores

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Van_Graffs

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Van_Graffs

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Yakuza

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Yakuza

Miscellaneous Gangs
https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Powder_Gangers

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Powder_Gangers

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/80s

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/80s

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/White_Legs

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/White_Legs

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Reaver_Movement

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Reaver_Movement

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Slaver%27s_Guild

https://fallout.gamepedia.com/Slavers_Guild

YouTube Videos on Raiders and Outlaws from the Fallout Games
The Full Story of Vault 3 and the Hideous Evil of the Fiends from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/OyUI0vSNr2A

Cook-Cook: The Rapist of the Mojave from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/DLbRAAJh-YY

Raiders & Slavers: Guide to The Apocalypse from Lore Guy: https://youtu.be/M_aMpJwbaDg

A Stomach-Churning Discovery at Evergreen Mills from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/o7qcqtQXtEM

The Soul-Crushing Discovery at Springvale Elementary School from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/0ftrYd_qb48

The Great Khans 1: The Source of Their Chems from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/btmejXpbUfI

Great Khans Part 2: The Chem Trade - Plus, Jerry the Punk from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/t7Lc4xkXmtk

The Fate of the Great Khans - Oh My Papa from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/eN0Ra8Ddsgo

The Demons of Chance the Great Khan from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/25v2cwLRoZo

The Storyteller: FALLOUT S1 E9 - Great Khans from Shoddycast: https://youtu.be/cMvB6yWXRxk

The UNKILLABLE Tribe - The Great Khans from Fudge Muppet: https://youtu.be/f8GE5NampMM

The Full Story of the Great Khans from Fudge Muppet: https://youtu.be/xG7oGrpRv7Q

The Storyteller: FALLOUT S2 E10 - Chems from Shoddycast: https://youtu.be/gpZyk6Op78U

The Storyteller: FALLOUT S2 E6 - Cannibalism from Shoddycast: https://youtu.be/m8rKsiebs-U

The Storyteller: FALLOUT S3 E10 - My Chrysalus Highwayman from Shoddycast: https://youtu.be/AzXwZiFuTmU

Van Graffs & the Silver Rush Casino: the Family, the Crimes, & the Body Count from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/Nl1t1FZsv5k

The Full Story of the Kings: The Coolest Guys in Freeside from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/YS0A0_gngPY

The Kings' Gambit - A Dozen Ways to Kill a King from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/mXy6ETWDd7A

The NCR Misfits from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/hdmPDLY4PCQ

Ultra-Luxe Part 1: The Heinous Plot of the White Glove Society from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/5LuNQZA5HFA

Ultra-Luxe Part 2: Don't Drink the Wine - The White Glove Society's Feast from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/BrlO7Kxw2Sk

Ultra-Luxe Part 3: The Man in the Dumpster - Beyond the Beef & Pheeble Will from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/KUU_RJEfpUI

Powder Gangers 1: Goodsprings Gun Fight from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/6CNaER2fMOg

Powder Gangers 2: Primm & The Bison Steve Hotel - Saving Deputy Beagle from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/l-j0rqAwbnA

Powder Gangers 3: Primm & The Vikki & Vance Casino - Plus, the Wins Outlaws from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/SR7pPjI27fE

Powder Gangers 4: Trouble Looms at the NCR Correctional Facility from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/uNQv-cNLyC0

Powder Gangers 5: Paranoia at Vault 19 from Oxhorn: https://youtu.be/AC3OyHnWh_I