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I'm always a sucker for a pretty face. What can I do for you, my fine dear?

Doctor Alex Richards is the primary medical care provider for the New California Republic Army troops stationed at Camp Forlorn Hope in Fallout: New Vegas.[1]

He is a part of the diverse representation of LGBT people in the game.

Background[]

A once-idealistic citizen of the New California Republic, Richards had a good life as a doctor in the core lands of the republic. His idealism drove him to join the NCR Army out of a sense of patriotic duty, to try and make the wasteland a better place.[2] It worked for a while, as Richards was stationed near the dam during the First Battle of Hoover Dam.[3] He served in that battle as a medic and was present for some of the worst of the fighting and the gruesome aftermath it left behind, seeing things he would prefer to forget.[4]

Richards considers himself and anyone else who was in that battle lucky to be alive, but nonetheless stayed on and continued to serve in the Mojave. As events began shaping up for a Second Battle of Hoover Dam, Richards was stationed at Camp Forlorn Hope, the sole surgeon, doctor and medical expert of any kind at the camp's medical center. As the Legion captured the town of Nelson, immediately to the south, and put Camp Forlorn Hope under a grim state of siege, Richards quickly found himself overworked and his talents needed more and more often.[5]

He has difficulties dealing with the steady stream of casualties, many of who are beyond help. In his own words, if he was a mortician, business would be booming. As a doctor, he struggles to keep up with the demand for his expertise,[6] especially since soldiers who recover thanks to his work are quickly sent back to the front lines, in a great "circle of life".[7] Beyond the Legion, shortage of equipment and supplies is a major problem for Richards, as is the fact that someone in the camp seems to be poaching his supplies.[8]

All in all, he's weary, exhausted, and cynical, far cry from the idealistic doctor he once was. Now he just considers himself a bonesaw who patches soldiers up, so that they can continue the centuries-old tradition of fighting and dying for what they believe in, sarcastically referring to his Hippocratic Oath.[9] He would prefer to be discharged and go home, but until that happens, he'll keep saving soldiers, keeping himself sane with deadpan jokes, a substantial amount of black humor.[2] and the occasional flirty remark directed at male soldiers.[10][11][12]

Interactions with the player character[]

Interactions overview[]

Interactions
Icon quest starter
This character starts quests.
FO76 ui icon quest
This character is involved in quests.
FO76 vaultboy firstaid
This character is a doctor.

Quests[]

  • Medical Mystery: Richards requires help finding out who's stealing his supplies.
  • Restoring Hope: The Courier can help Richards with soldiers awaiting treatment, for better or worse, depending on their skill level.
  • Killing Dr. Richards will result in failing both Medical Mystery and Restoring Hope.

Other interactions[]

  • If one has the Confirmed Bachelor perk, Dr. Richards will address the player character as "little buttercup" and "[my] fine dear" while also saying, "I'm always a sucker for a pretty face" or exclaim that the room just got a little bit hotter when the Courier approaches. If the player character has the Wild Wasteland perk, his name in the credits reads, "Dr. Richards is a dude, and he likes dudes."

Inventory[]

Apparel Weapon Other items On death
Wasteland surgeon outfit 9mm pistol 8 bottle caps

Appearances[]

Dr. Alex Richards appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

References[]

  1. First name given in the G.E.C.K. editor ID: VCFHAlexRichards
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Courier: "Tell me about yourself."
    Alex Richards: "I used to be a doctor back in California, but a few years back I got suckered into doing military work because it was my "patriotic duty." Back then, I, like many idealistic men before me, thought it was a great idea and was excited about making the world a better place with the NCR. Now... I just want to get back home. I've had enough fighting and fixing up soldiers just to send them right back out to die to last a lifetime."
    (Alex Richard's dialogue)
  3. The Courier: "What do you know about Hoover Dam?"
    Alex Richards: "Quite a bit actually. I was stationed nearby during the first battle of Hoover Dam four years ago. I saw a lot of what happened firsthand."
    (Alex Richard's dialogue)
  4. The Courier: "Must have been rough."
    Alex Richards: "You have no idea. It was a fierce battle. Lots of people died. Anyone with medical training had their hands full for weeks after the battle was finally over. During that time I saw quite a few things I wouldn't mind forgetting about."
    (Alex Richard's dialogue)
  5. The Courier: "Major Polatli said you might need some help."
    Alex Richards: "With business booming like it is and considering I'm the only person with medical experience in the camp, I could perhaps use a hand. Do you have any medical experience?"
    (Alex Richard's dialogue)
  6. Alex Richards: "If I was a mortician, business would be booming. As a Doctor, business is hard. Too many injuries that I can't do anything about. The Legion has been hitting us pretty hard lately. Lots of casualties, not many people I can save. "
  7. Alex Richards: "Not too bad, at least you didn't kill anyone. They'll recover soon and be back on the front lines in no time. Ahh... the circle of life. I'll send word to Major Polatli about your work here. Thanks. "
  8. Alex Richards: "Someone with medical experience, I take it? It's not the best, but it does the job. I just wish I had the equipment and supplies to handle the number of injuries we have here. To make things worse, I think someone might be stealing my supplies. "
  9. Alex Richards: "Men have waged war on each other for countless centuries. Now is no different. People fight and die for what they believe in. I'm just here to patch them up so they can go on their merry way. Do no harm and all that. "
  10. Alex Richards: "I'm always a sucker for a pretty face. What can I do for you, my fine dear?"
  11. Alex Richards: "I think it just got a little bit hotter in here. Is there something I can do for you?"
  12. Alex Richards: "There's my little buttercup. What can I do for you?"
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