Hanged Man

From The Vault

Contents 1 History 2 Character's features 3 Game plot 4 Game mechanics 5 Sources

[edit] History

According to New Canaan design document:

• In year 2238 the mormon missionary Joshua Graham encountered two Followers of the Apocalypse at the Grand Canyon and started to lead them around the outer north and east edge. One of encountered Followers went on to become Caesar (notice: groups of New Canaanite merchant-missionaries could travel to Hoover Dam, Fort Abandon or Mesa Verde).
• Joshua Graham was involved in the rise of Caesar and eventually became Caesar's right hand man, shaming the Mormons.
• After a failed attack on Hoover Dam, Caesar had Joshua burned and thrown into the Grand Canyon by the tribals (notice: tribals feared and hated him). Graham probably was responsible for this defeat (notice: Grand Canyon was the place of first Graham's encounter with Caesar and execution; throwing into the Grand Canyon should be lethal, (confirmed by Crimson Caravan thug threat also).

[edit] Character's features

According to Chris Avellone the Hanged Man was the poisonous CNPC encountered as first person possible to join the party (like having the Jinxed Dog with the PC).

Leaks:

• The Hanged Man was one of the most evil characters around. Rape, murder, robbery - he commited them all. He was well known for doing all sorts of evil acts. Some tribals feared and hated him already when he was Caesar's Legion member. Even the civilized areas were somewhat fearful of him because he was the man with a seemingly infinite amount of lives.
• The Hanged Man was intended to be the best combat CNPC in the game. Fists, knives, guns - he was master of them all.
• He was burned all over and all wrapped in bandages. He survived throwing into the Grand Canyon. The fact that he was still quite mobile and dangerous was a testament to his badassness (notice: or result of good stats and combat skills).

As former travelling missionary Graham should have quite good outdorsman and speech skills also. Because of Mormon origin Graham could be acquainted with some healing practises and first aid procedures also.

[edit] Game plot

• The Prisoner finds somebody hanged by the neck from a pole at Fort Abandon. Hanged person is obviously still alive and pissed. Hanged Man will tag along with the Prisoner, if is cut down. He is wrapped from head to toe in bandages, because he was pretty much burned all over. He will reveal that he has got a connection to Caesar's Legion, and is particularly ticked off at them, but he didn't go to far into the details (notice: it seems Graham was hanged by Caesar's Legion members).
• Rescuing the Hanged Criminal will cause all the tribals in the region to be angry with the Prisoner and blame him for future evil made by the Hanged Man (the Hanged Man may piss off any tribals in an area that he encounters). He may try to butcher any Twin Mothers tribals he can find. Having him in the party will make dealing with tribals extremely difficult. It will make hard to deal with some of the towns also.
• The Hanged Man will not enter New Canaan. When the party arrives here, he will initiate dialogue with the Prisoner and tell him/her that he has something to take care of. He gives the option of meeting up with him at Burham Springs later on (notice: compare New Canaan folks negative reaction, when Alexandra enters the town). Details about Hanged Man can be revealed thereby bishop Mordecai.
• Upon entering Burham Springs, the Hanged Man might quote 2 Chronicles 28, "... and he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his sons as an offering..." (notice: Graham was burned and thrown into the Grand Canyon). The Hanged Man will laughingly refuse to drop his weapons if commanded to by Phil, and it may be very difficult for the Prisoner to defuse the situation. The Hanged Man might incite Phil to open fire on the party.

[edit] Game mechanics

• The PC was supposed to be able to find all the CNPCs early on, but designers didn't want the Hanged Man to be too good right away. They were working on how to limit him.
• If Hanged Man was thought as first CNPC to join, there are few ways to arrange this: the Prisoner can’t join anybody in Tibbets and could escape only to Fort Abandon (no free wandering on the world map, walking along tracks) or the only other location known to him during escape is Fort Abandon.

[edit] Sources

Hanged Man was probably detailed in the lost/unpublished Fort Abandon design document.

For information about doubts concerning characters presence in game see: discussion.

Positive sources are:

• Canceled New Canaan design document by J.E.Sawyer
• Burham Springs design document by J.E. Sawyer
• Blackfoot design document by Sean K. Reynolds
• Chris Avellone interview for NMA
• Leaks on NMA forum