Sergeant RL-3

Sergeant RL-3 is a Mister Gutsy that was created before the Great War and a possible companion in Fallout 3.

Background
Scavenged from parts by a wandering trader named Tinker Joe, Sergeant RL-3 is a RobCo Industries Mister Gutsy model, created for mobile attacks prior to the Great War. Utilizing both plasma and flame as its main weapons system, “Sarge” is always ready with a ready quip (“Pain is just weakness leaving the body! Hooah!”), but has an experimental “personality,” making it difficult for Tinker Joe to offload him.

Interactions overview
Sergeant RL-3 has an experimental soldier personality making him "unstable," meaning that the Lone Wanderer can only buy Sergeant RL-3 if their karma is neutral. Otherwise Tinker Joe will just say Sergeant RL-3 "...doesn't like the look of you." Sergeant RL-3 won't leave if the Lone Wanderer's karma later moves away from neutral, but if separated from the Lone Wanderer either through firing or through story events, he cannot be re-hired until karma is again neutral. In these circumstances, Sergeant RL-3 will wait in Canterbury Commons after a few days, where he can be re-hired for free.

Recruiting
This companion must be purchased from Tinker Joe between the RobCo Facility and Tenpenny Tower for 1000 caps. If the Lone Wanderer's barter skill is high enough, the Lone Wanderer may purchase him for only 500 caps.

Effects of player actions

 * If Tinker Joe is dead and you did not get the robot already there is no way of getting this character.
 * RL-3 will return to Canterbury Commons if the Lone Wanderer leaves for The Pitt, Point Lookout, or Mothership Zeta.
 * RL-3 will remain essential before you hire him until you hire him or damage him yourself.

Stats
* Robots are considered creatures rather than non-player characters and thus has an additional list of stats present for creatures.

Appearances
Sergeant RL-3 appears only in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
Fallout 3 cultural references
 * Reading the 3 as an 'E', the robot's name would be 'Sergeant R L-E' - most likely a reference to actor and former Marine R. Lee Ermey, best known as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from the movie Full Metal Jacket. R. Lee Ermey also was the voice of General Simon Barnaky in Fallout: Tactics.
 * The line, "You're making me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry!" is a line from the 1970s TV show The Incredible Hulk.
 * The line, "Old war-bots never die; they just rust away." is a reference to a stanza from the soldiers' folklore song Old soldiers never die. Which was made famous by General Douglas MacArthur's farewell speech. The exact quote is "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away...".
 * The line, "There's nothing I love more than making some other poor bastard die for his country," is based on the quote from American General Patton, "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
 * The line "Kill them all, let God sort 'em out!" may be based on what Papal Legate Arnaud Amalric said at the siege of Béziers in 1209 when asked by a Crusader how to distinguish the Cathars from the Catholics, Arnaul Amalric supposedly answered: "Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius" ("Kill them all. For the Lord knoweth them that are His".)

Bugs
He appears in the second tunnel part from the quest The Waters of Life if he is told to wait somewhere outside the memorial.
 * With Broken Steel installed, RL-3 possesses a staggering amount of health at higher levels. At level 20 he has fully several thousand HP, more so than even a super mutant behemoth. This is due to a badly adjusted setting concerning RL-3's leveling, which grants him 350 HP per level gained. Dogmeat and Fawkes are similarly affected. This only occurs if Broken Steel is installed prior to meeting RL-3, otherwise RL-3's level does not scale and his health is fixed at 350.
 * If in sneak mode, having the Robotics Expert perk produces the usual dialogue box with RL-3. However, selecting "Talk" does nothing. Verified
 * RL-3's plasma projector uses the laser rifle's firing sound, not the usual Mister Gutsy sound effect. Verified
 * When traversing over mountains, RL-3 may get stuck on, or in, a rock. Verified
 * The triggering of some unknown event (most likely the death of any member of Tinker Joe's party, whether caused by the player or wandering Wasteland fauna) causes RL-3 to become hostile towards the player, causing him to immediately attack the player if he is ever dismissed from the party. If his Combat Inhibitor is crippled it will not restore after combat and is confirmed to be one of the causes of this. Verified
 * RL-3 may remain frenzied even if his combat inhibitor appears repaired. To check, open the console, click on RL-3 (or enter ), and issue the command. If it returns 3.00, RL-3 is frenzied, which can be repaired with . Verified
 * RL-3 can be waiting in the commons even if you did not purchase him and he can be hired for free. This can be used to the players advantage. Verified
 * Once Sergeant RL-3 has disappeared, he usually returns at Canterbury Commons. However, sometimes he simply floats past you and back into the wasteland for no explained reason. On occasion, once this has happened, Sergeant RL-3 will not return back to Canterbury Commons and will appear in random places throughout the wasteland.
 * RL-3 will sometimes attack friendly or neutral non-player character's. He has a knack for attacking everyone inside of the Republic of Dave Capital Building, and Scribe Yearling and the Brotherhood of Steel knights inside of the Arlington Library. What is odd is that you must walk to a certain spot in these areas before he will become hostile towards them. To fix this, simply have RL-3 wait in an area away from these spots, but don't dismiss him. Conduct your business, and when it is concluded, reacquire him. (If you want RL-3 in the Arlington Library to help you out with the raiders further in, just go another way that won't trigger this bug). Verified
 * When traveling with rl-3 and losing internet connection while RL-3 is far away there is a chance that there can be 2 RL-3' the duplicate cannot carry stuff for you but will follow you. Verified