Who Shot You in the Head in Fallout: New Vegas?
The answer, unequivocally, is Benny. Sporting his trademark black and white checkered tuxedo, Benny is the smooth-talking, yet ultimately treacherous, secondary antagonist in Fallout: New Vegas. He’s the head of the Chairmen and owner of the Tops Casino on the Vegas Strip, but his ambitions extend far beyond running a successful entertainment establishment. He sets the entire plot of the game in motion by ambushing you, the Courier, in the desert near Goodsprings. This act of violence is the catalyst for your journey across the Mojave Wasteland, a quest fueled by a thirst for revenge and a desperate need to understand why you were left for dead.
The Ambush and Its Consequences
The attempted assassination takes place just outside of Goodsprings. Benny, along with his Great Khans allies, intercepts you while you’re carrying the highly valuable Platinum Chip. This chip, belonging to Mr. House, is crucial for his plans to control New Vegas. Benny wants it for himself (or at least that’s what he leads people to believe), and he’s willing to eliminate anyone standing in his way. He shoots you twice in the head, leaves you for dead in a shallow grave, and makes off with the chip.
This act of betrayal and violence is the reason the player begins the game with amnesia, piecing together their past and the events leading up to the shooting as they explore the Mojave. The search for Benny becomes a central driving force for many players, leading them on a complex journey through the various factions, settlements, and dangers of the Wasteland.
The Motivation Behind the Shooting
Benny’s motive wasn’t personal hatred, but rather pure opportunism. As the text clearly states “Benny’s killing of you wasn’t personal. He doesn’t care about you at all, just needed you gone and needed what you had. That’s Benny in a nutshell. Goes around making promises, breaking promises and using people as step stools”
Benny saw the Courier as an obstacle, an unfortunate pawn in his larger scheme. He needed the Platinum Chip to execute his plan to wrest control of New Vegas from Mr. House. The Courier was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, carrying something that Benny desperately wanted. This cold, calculated approach is characteristic of Benny’s personality, highlighting his ruthless ambition and willingness to sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals.
Confronting Benny: Choices and Consequences
Players will eventually get the chance to confront Benny, usually at The Tops Casino or later at Caesar’s Fort. This confrontation can play out in several ways, offering different paths for revenge or even a strange alliance, depending on player choices and character builds.
You can choose to kill him immediately in his suite at the Tops, often the most straightforward option. Alternatively, you can let him live and potentially encounter him later at the Fort, captured by Caesar’s Legion. Here, you can choose to execute him yourself, allow him to face Caesar’s wrath, or even help him escape, a decision that can have significant consequences for your relationship with the Legion.
Ultimately, the fate of Benny rests in the hands of the Courier, a testament to the player’s agency in shaping the narrative of Fallout: New Vegas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Benny and his actions in Fallout: New Vegas:
1. How many times does Benny shoot you?
The game implies that Benny shot you twice. This is mentioned during a conversation option with Benny if you have the Black Widow perk, where he alludes to “those bullets” scrambling your brain.
2. Why did Benny kill you?
Benny’s aim was to steal the Platinum Chip you were carrying. He saw you as a means to an end and didn’t hesitate to eliminate you to achieve his objective.
3. Is it worth keeping Benny alive?
There’s no real benefit to keeping Benny alive, especially if you’re playing a neutral or good character. He’s generally more trouble than he’s worth. Siding with the Legion as an evil character provides the only real “benefit” for keeping him alive, granting the ability to exact additional revenge later.
4. What happens if you let Benny live and he escapes Caesar’s Fort?
Benny disappears from the game and won’t appear again. However, it can break the Legion questline, making it impossible to progress past a certain point.
5. Can you get the Platinum Chip without killing Benny?
There’s a way to obtain two Platinum Chips by going straight to the Fort without encountering Benny. Caesar will give you one, so that the player can destroy (or not) Mr. House’s bunker.
6. What happens if you sleep with Benny?
If you have the Black Widow perk, you can seduce Benny and sleep with him in his suite at the Tops. However, he’ll be gone in the morning, having left a note. He’ll then be captured by Caesar’s Legion.
7. Where does Benny go after the shooting?
After the shooting, Benny heads to New Vegas and takes up residence at the Tops Casino, planning to use the Platinum Chip to further his ambitions.
8. Is Benny a bad guy?
Yes, Benny is definitely a bad guy. He’s a liar, a manipulator, and a murderer. He prioritizes his own ambitions above all else and is willing to betray anyone who stands in his way.
9. What happens if you don’t give Mr. House the Platinum Chip?
If you refuse to give Mr. House the Platinum Chip, the Securitrons in the Lucky 38 casino will become hostile, and you’ll lock yourself out of the “The House Always Wins” questline.
10. Should I kill Benny or untie him at the Fort?
Killing Benny at the Fort is generally the more rewarding option, as you can claim Maria, his unique 9mm pistol. Untying him leads to his escape, but it can negatively impact your standing with Caesar’s Legion.
11. What happens if I give Mr. House the Platinum Chip?
Giving Mr. House the chip allows him to upgrade the Securitrons on the Strip. He then gives the chip back to you and sends you on further missions, but you can choose to betray him at any point.
12. Is the Courier a Synth?
No, the Courier is not a Synth. They were human before the events at Big MT, which essentially turned them into a Cyborg.
13. What is Benny’s role in the NCR questline?
In the NCR questline, Benny becomes a largely superfluous character. You can progress through the NCR storyline without necessarily confronting him after entering the Strip. This can, theoretically, allow him to survive until the end of the game.
14. Which is the best ending in Fallout: New Vegas?
The Mr. House ending, where you peacefully persuade the Legion and NCR to withdraw, is often considered the most beneficial for the Mojave, although “best” is subjective and depends on your character’s morality. It’s also worth considering what one can glean from research in the academic domain from organizations such as the Games Learning Society, found online at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, who study these types of narrative decisions from a player psychology and sociological perspective.
15. Should I work with Yes Man?
Working with Yes Man is ideal if you want independence for the Mojave Wasteland or if you are playing a character who craves power and control.
In conclusion, Benny is the character who shoots you in the head in Fallout: New Vegas. Understanding his motivations and the consequences of his actions is crucial to navigating the complex and engaging narrative of the game.