The Chip Stops Here: What Happens When You Deny Mr. House in Fallout: New Vegas
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So, you’ve got the Platinum Chip, the key to New Vegas’ future, clutched in your Courier’s grubby hands. Mr. House, the enigmatic and incredibly rich ruler of the Strip, wants it. But something doesn’t sit right. Maybe it’s the cold, calculated way he talks about people, or perhaps it’s the lingering suspicion that he’s playing a game with you as a pawn. Whatever the reason, you’re considering a bold move: denying Mr. House the Chip. What happens then?
Well, simply put, refusing to give the Platinum Chip to Mr. House triggers immediate consequences. All the Securitrons in the Lucky 38 casino (and likely any others in the vicinity under House’s direct control) will turn hostile and immediately attack you. More importantly, refusing the Chip seals off the “The House Always Wins” questline, preventing you from siding with House in the final battle for New Vegas. You essentially cut off that entire branch of the game’s main story. The implications are significant, and the ripple effects will be felt throughout your playthrough. The game won’t end, but one major power player is no longer an option.
The Fallout of Saying “No” to House
Denying the Chip doesn’t just trigger a firefight and lock you out of a questline; it opens up other possibilities. You’re essentially declaring your independence, and the game acknowledges that. Suddenly, the options of siding with the NCR, Caesar’s Legion, or Yes Man become much more prominent. The game is pushing you to explore these other factions, and make a different choice.
Here’s a breakdown of the immediate and long-term effects:
- Immediate Hostility: Be prepared for a tough fight, especially at lower levels. Securitrons pack a punch and are surprisingly resilient.
- Questline Locked: The “The House Always Wins” questline is permanently closed. You can’t change your mind later.
- Shifting Alliances: The game will nudge you towards the other major factions. Expect new quests and opportunities to arise with the NCR, Legion, or Yes Man.
- Moral Implications: Consider the moral weight of your decision. Mr. House may be controlling, but he has a vision for New Vegas’ future. Are you sure you want to deny him the Chip?
- Game World Adjustments: While the game world doesn’t drastically change overnight, expect certain NPCs and locations to react differently to you based on your rejection of House.
- Gameplay Opportunities: Denying House and working towards your goal offers a range of unique challenges and rewards, and also allows you to experience different gameplay styles.
Navigating the Post-House World
Once you’ve made the decision to deny Mr. House the Chip, the focus shifts to the remaining power players in the Mojave Wasteland. The NCR, with their sprawling bureaucracy and ambitions of expansion, will likely see you as a potential ally (or at least a useful tool). Caesar’s Legion, with their brutal efficiency and emphasis on order through fear, might offer you a place in their ranks (though their ideology clashes with many player’s morals). And then there’s Yes Man, the ever-helpful Securitron who represents the possibility of an independent New Vegas, free from the influence of both the NCR and the Legion. He is your ally, your robotic guide, and is dedicated to helping you achieve your own plans for the Mojave Wasteland.
Which path you choose is entirely up to you. The freedom to make that choice is one of the defining characteristics of Fallout: New Vegas, and denying Mr. House the Chip is a pivotal moment that sets you on a new course.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Denying Mr. House the Chip
Here are some frequently asked questions that go into detail about denying Mr. House the chip.
1. Can I still access the Lucky 38 after denying House the Chip?
Yes, but be prepared for a fight. The Securitrons will remain hostile, so you’ll need to either sneak past them or eliminate them each time you want to enter the casino. This can make accessing your player suite difficult.
2. Does denying House the Chip affect my reputation with other factions?
Not immediately, but it will influence how certain factions perceive you as you progress through the game. For example, siding with the NCR after denying House might be viewed more favorably by the NCR than siding with them after working extensively with House. It will change your standing in the game.
3. Is it possible to give the Chip to House and then betray him later?
Yes! This is actually a common strategy. You can work with House initially, complete some of his quests, and then disable or kill him later when you’re ready to pursue a different ending. This allows you to gain experience and rewards before turning on him. You could betray him for Yes Man or the NCR.
4. What happens if I give the Chip to Caesar after denying House?
Giving the Chip to Caesar essentially locks you into the Legion’s questline. He’ll use the Chip to strengthen his control over the Hoover Dam and New Vegas. You’ll need to follow the Legion’s objectives to continue the game. This also makes the NCR angry.
5. Can I sell snowglobes after betraying Mr. House?
Unfortunately, you cannot sell snowglobes to Jane after killing Mr. House. Jane becomes hostile, making her inaccessible as a vendor. Any snowglobes you haven’t sold will remain in your inventory.
6. Does killing Mr. House give me bad karma?
Yes, disabling or killing Mr. House results in a -50 karma penalty. This may affect your interactions with certain NPCs and factions, particularly those who view House favorably.
7. Can I complete the game without ever giving the Chip to anyone?
Yes, you can. However, you’ll need to work closely with Yes Man to achieve this ending. He’ll guide you through the steps necessary to take control of the Hoover Dam and New Vegas without relying on the Chip’s original purpose.
8. Why does Mr. House need the Chip after all these years?
While Mr. House initially designed the Chip to upgrade his Securitron army and defense systems, his needs evolved over time. The Chip allows him to reactivate his robot factory and potentially establish a self-sufficient economy and military force, securing his control over New Vegas.
9. What are the moral implications of siding with or against Mr. House?
Siding with Mr. House represents a more autocratic and potentially technologically advanced future for New Vegas, but at the cost of individual freedoms. Denying him the Chip opens the door to other possibilities, each with its own moral compromises. The NCR represents order and democracy, but is also bureaucratic and expansionist. The Legion represents order through brutal oppression. Yes Man represents complete freedom, but also uncertainty and potential chaos.
10. How does denying Mr. House impact the final battle at Hoover Dam?
If you deny Mr. House the Chip, he won’t be a factor in the final battle. The outcome will depend on which of the remaining factions (NCR, Legion, or Yes Man) you’ve aligned yourself with. You won’t receive support from the Securitrons he controls, and the battle will play out differently.
11. Is there any way to reconcile with Mr. House after denying him the Chip?
No. Once you deny Mr. House the Chip and the Securitrons turn hostile, there’s no going back. You’ve permanently severed your relationship with him.
12. Does denying Mr. House change any major plot points or character arcs besides his own?
Yes, it can. Your choice can influence the fates of various characters and factions throughout the Mojave Wasteland. For example, it might affect the outcome of the conflict between the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel, or the power struggles within the Gomorrah casino.
13. Can you still turn in snowglobes after killing Mr House?
No, since JANE the securitron puts them on the stand and you can only sell them to her, you cannot turn them in after you kill Mr. House because she becomes hostile towards you.
14. Is Mr House a good or bad guy?
Robert Edwin House, simply better known as Mr. House, is the self-styled President, CEO, and Sole Proprietor of the New Vegas Strip in the Mojave Wasteland in the year 2281 and one of the two main antagonists (alongside Caesar) of Fallout: New Vegas unless the player chooses to side with him.
15. Is Mr House pre war?
Robert Edwin House was a pre-war industrialist and sole owner of the New Vegas corporation as of 2281.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to give Mr. House the Chip is a personal one. There’s no right or wrong answer. It depends on your character’s motivations, your playstyle, and your vision for the future of New Vegas. Choose wisely, Courier, because your choice will shape the fate of the entire Mojave Wasteland.
Interested in learning more about game design and the impact of player choices? Check out the GamesLearningSociety.org website! You can visit the site directly using this link: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.