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Gametitle-FNV LR
Gametitle-FNV LR
They'll start emerging throughout the Mojave in time, might be years. Probably less. They breed fast, hunt in groups, more than enough to bring down the strongest in the Mojave. Once they draw blood... Seen them tear apart deathclaws... Deathclaw might get some, but the rest will swarm it, tear it apart, like Denver hounds.Ulysses, Lonesome Road

Tunnelers are creatures found in the Divide in 2281.

Background

Tunnelers were the pre-War inhabitants of Hopeville who took refuge underground during the Great War.[1] After the war, radiation heavily mutated them into the vicious tunnel-dwelling bio-luminescent abominations encountered in the Divide. As underground predators, they make their nests far beneath the earth and have lived undisturbed by surface-dwellers for centuries. Tunnelers had no direct contact with the surface world until atomic warheads beneath Hopeville detonated when the Courier unintentionally brought a package from Navarro containing a copy of ED-E. This atomic firestorm caused great earthquakes and savage storms which split open the earth, thus revealing the surface to them. Even so, Tunnelers are very aversive to loud noises and bright lights. They try to keep beyond the reach of the sun by staying in tunnels and other low-light areas.

By 2281, the tunnelers are believed to pose a threat to the Mojave Wasteland in the near future, as they can spread quickly via underground tunnels, forming nests as they go. Tunnelers reproduce quickly and hunt in packs large enough to become a significant hazard. When they are in packs, they can easily tear apart a deathclaw.

Characteristics

Biology

Tunnelers appear to be reptilian-humanoids with dark, scaly skin, large bio-luminescent eyes, a mouth filled with sharp reptilian teeth and chitinous spikes protruding from their shoulders and heads. Tunnelers are found underground, as their name implies, and are noted for their fear of bright lights and loud noises. Every now and then they will flee from combat and head back underground. This can be seen easily by throwing a flash bang or firing a flare gun at a tunneler. Their enlarged eyes appear to be an adaptation to the conditions of their preferred habitat and are sensitive to light; a condition which would explain their extreme aversion to weapons like flash bangs and flare guns, and to the sun itself.

Gameplay attributes

Tunnelers will flee from a multitude of things such as:

  • Flash bangs- These will startle them and cause them to run away or become frenzied. However, they must detonate at a close proximity to have any effect.
  • Flare gun- Tunnelers will only be frightened by the flare gun if they are hit. When hit they will flee as long as they are on fire, but if you miss and the shot lands at their feet they are less likely to do so.
  • Flamer- Although not directly damaging them with any effects other than fire damage, firing a flamer at them will usually cause them to burrow and resurface in another location.

Variants

Tunneler

Tunneler

These are the most common type of tunneler and will deal medium damage individually. Tunnelers typically attack in groups, swarming anything in their way. This makes them lethal opponents to even higher-level players.

Name (Form ID)StatisticsBehaviorAbilitiesItems
Tunneler
xx00AD03
Level
20
Experience Points
?
Perception
3
Hit Points
75
Damage Threshold
0
Damage Resistance
0%
Gamebryo AI attributes#Aggression
Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon optional
Gamebryo AI attributes#Confidence
Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon requiredIcon required
Gamebryo AI attributes#Assistance
Helps allies: Will help allies.Icon requiredIcon optional
Attack
Melee (25 Damage)

Hulking tunneler

Tunneler

Hulking tunnelers are the second largest of the tunnelers, second only to the tunneler queen. They are quite rare and are not as fast as regular tunnelers but if they strike the player, there is a good chance he or she will be staggered or knocked down.

Name (Form ID)StatisticsBehaviorAbilitiesItems
Hulking tunneler
xx0086CC
Level
20
Experience Points
?
Perception
3
Hit Points
125
Damage Threshold
0
Damage Resistance
0%
Gamebryo AI attributes#Aggression
Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon optional
Gamebryo AI attributes#Confidence
Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon requiredIcon required
Gamebryo AI attributes#Assistance
Helps allies: Will help allies.Icon requiredIcon optional
Attack
Melee (35 Damage)

Venomous tunneler

Tunneler

The smallest of the tunnelers, they are also quite rare. Venomous tunnelers are faster than others and their attacks do less damage initially. As their name implies, they possess a deadly venom which can quickly overpower an inexperienced player. As they swarm with regular and hulking tunnelers, even a higher-level player can be killed in a matter of seconds.

Name (Form ID)StatisticsBehaviorAbilitiesItems
Venomous tunneler
xx0086D4
Level
20
Experience Points
?
Perception
3
Hit Points
50
Damage Threshold
0
Damage Resistance
0%
Gamebryo AI attributes#Aggression
Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon optional
Gamebryo AI attributes#Confidence
Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon requiredIcon required
Gamebryo AI attributes#Assistance
Helps allies: Will help allies.Icon requiredIcon optional
Attack
Melee (15 Damage)

Tunneler queen

Tunneler

The largest of the tunnelers, the queen combines deadly speed and hard-hitting attacks to kill even a deathclaw. Whilst there is only one (located in the Cave of the Abaddon) it has only 25 HP less than a deathclaw making it a formidable opponent.

Name (Form ID)StatisticsBehaviorAbilitiesItems
Tunneler queen
xx0086DC
Level
45
Experience Points
?
Perception
3
Hit Points
475
Damage Threshold
0
Damage Resistance
0%
Gamebryo AI attributes#Aggression
Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon optional
Gamebryo AI attributes#Confidence
Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone.Icon requiredIcon requiredIcon requiredIcon required
Gamebryo AI attributes#Assistance
Helps allies: Will help allies.Icon requiredIcon optional
Attack
Melee (175 Damage)

Notes

  • Tunnelers appear to have some form of bioluminescence.
  • Tunnelers are counted as "abominations" and as such, will flee from flares or flashbangs. They will also count toward abomination-related challenges.

Appearances

Tunnelers appear in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on, Lonesome Road.

Gallery

References

  1. Dialogue with Ulysses.
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