Does Piper Get Mad If You Join the Institute? A Fallout 4 Companion Guide
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Yes, Piper will get mad if you join the Institute in Fallout 4. She is one of the companions who strongly disapproves of the Institute’s actions and ideology. Siding with them will lead to a significant decrease in her affinity towards you, and she’ll likely express her disappointment and anger. However, you can still maintain her as a companion even with the lower affinity.
Piper Wright: The Investigative Journalist with a Moral Compass
Piper Wright, the intrepid journalist from Diamond City, is one of the most morally grounded companions you can recruit in Fallout 4. Her strong sense of justice, compassion for the innocent, and dislike of authoritarianism shape her reactions to your decisions throughout the game. Understanding her values is crucial when making choices that affect the Commonwealth, especially when it comes to the morally ambiguous factions.
Piper’s Stance on the Institute
The Institute, with its shadowy operations, synth replacements, and general disregard for the surface world, represents everything Piper despises. Their actions contradict her core beliefs in transparency, honesty, and the well-being of the Commonwealth’s citizens.
The Consequences of Siding with the Institute
If you choose to align yourself with the Institute, expect a negative reaction from Piper. Here’s what you can anticipate:
- Affinity Loss: Your affinity with Piper will plummet significantly. This can potentially impact any romance you may have been pursuing or established with her.
- Dialogue Reactions: Piper will express her disapproval through dialogue, questioning your choices and highlighting the Institute’s problematic nature.
- Potential Companion Break-Up: While she will not completely abandon you, her dialogue makes it clear she’s not happy.
Maintaining Piper as a Companion Despite Joining the Institute
Even with her disapproval, you can still keep Piper as a companion. While she will likely make comments indicating her disappointment, she won’t automatically leave your side. However, her willingness to stay with you doesn’t mean her opinion of your character has changed.
Actions That Will Improve Your Standing with Piper
Despite the Institute choice, you can still take actions to slowly rebuild your affinity with Piper. Focus on:
- Lockpicking: Picking unowned locks is one of Piper’s favorite activities.
- Generosity: Being generous and helping those in need will please her.
- Honest and Sarcastic Dialogue: She appreciates a mix of honesty and well-timed sarcasm.
- Standing Up to Authority: Acting against oppressive authority figures will earn her respect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Piper and the Institute
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Piper and the Institute, providing more in-depth insights into her character and how she interacts with the game’s choices:
1. Which companions hate the Institute?
Several companions have strong negative feelings towards the Institute. These include Cait, Danse, Deacon, Hancock, MacCready, Piper, and Nick Valentine.
2. Can you romance Piper if you join the Brotherhood of Steel?
Your faction choice generally doesn’t prevent you from romancing a companion, except in specific cases like Danse and the Brotherhood of Steel. Therefore, joining the Brotherhood will not affect your ability to romance Piper.
3. Who is the best companion to take to the Institute?
While not affected by affinity, robotic companions like Codsworth, Curie (in her synth body), and Ada from the Automatron DLC are ideal choices since they are least likely to be negatively impacted by the Institute’s ideology.
4. What actions does Piper dislike the most?
Piper strongly dislikes actions such as stealing, lying, intimidation, greed, and supporting the Institute.
5. Does Piper like the Minutemen?
Piper’s feelings towards the Minutemen are generally neutral. She is also neutral to positive toward the Brotherhood, seeing that they do have redeeming qualities.
6. At what age is Piper?
Piper is estimated to be in her mid-20s.
7. What benefits does romancing Piper provide?
Romancing Piper unlocks the Gift of Gab perk, granting you double XP for speech challenges and discovering new locations.
8. What exactly did the Institute do to make them the “bad guys”?
The Institute is seen as the “bogeyman” of the Commonwealth. They are responsible for the Massacre of the CPG and are known for kidnapping and replacing people with synths.
9. Can you betray the Institute and side with the Minutemen?
Yes, you can betray the Institute with the Minutemen. The Minutemen are generally a neutral faction and will help you destroy the Institute if you choose that path.
10. What actions does Piper love?
Piper loves generous and anti-authoritative behavior and picking unowned locks.
11. How do you quickly gain affinity with Piper?
Take Piper with you on adventures where you can pick locks, especially unowned ones, and help people in need. Choose generous dialogue options.
12. Is Nick Valentine a synth?
Yes, Nick Valentine is a synth; specifically, a prototype synth with pre-War memories.
13. What happens if you stay loyal to the Institute?
If you pledge final loyalty to the Institute, you will become enemies with the Brotherhood of Steel and the Railroad, and you will be required to eliminate them.
14. Are the Institute truly evil?
The morality of the Institute is debatable. Their actions, such as kidnapping and replacing people with synths and wiping out settlements, are considered evil by many. However, they claim to be working towards the preservation of humanity. The Games Learning Society would likely have fascinating discussions analyzing the ethical complexities presented by the Institute. You can find more about game-based learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.
15. Does Piper like it if you steal?
Piper does not like stealing. She only likes it when you pick locks that are unowned. Stealing owned items will negatively affect your affinity with her.
Conclusion: Navigating Relationships in a Morally Gray World
While Piper will disapprove of your decision to side with the Institute, it’s important to remember that Fallout 4 allows for complex relationships. You can still maintain her as a companion and slowly rebuild your affinity by aligning your actions with her values. This adds depth and realism to the game, showcasing that relationships can endure even when faced with conflicting ideologies. Embrace the complexities of the Commonwealth, make informed choices based on your character’s goals, and see how your relationships evolve.