Cannibal Johnson

Cannibal Johnson is a former Enclave soldier and accomplished hunter, living in his cave in the Mojave Wasteland in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
Johnson was a soldier in the Enclave. He served as the squad marksman in Captain Judah Kreger's squad at Navarro with Orion Moreno, Doctor Henry, Daisy Whitman, and Mark Gannon; he was known to often be in conflict with fellow squad-mate Orion over "philosophical" differences. Johnson hated the Enclave and everything they did; he often tried to subvert orders and "serve without serving."

Some time after the destruction of Control station Enclave, the NCR sacked Navarro and he, the squad, Arcade Gannon's mother, and a young Arcade Gannon fled south into the NCR. They continued to flee east as Enclave personnel trying to integrate into the NCR were being found. He and the squad eventually settled in the Mojave Wasteland and went their separate ways. Johnson eventually settled down with a tribal girl he had met, but never had any children before she passed away. Now he sits alone in his cave, waiting for death to take him for the sins he'd committed while with the Enclave. He also reminisces about his former commander, Arch Dornan, and says "he was the meanest bastard I ever knew."

When asked about his nickname, he explains to the Courier that one day when he was surrounded by raiders and, out of options, he did the first thing that occurred to him: bite into the heart of one the raiders he had already taken down. This shock tactic caused some of the others to flee, and bought him the time he needed to kill the rest - and ever since the name has stuck, his improvisation growing into mystique.

Quests

 * For Auld Lang Syne: Cannibal Johnson is one of five Enclave remnants the player must recruit.

Effects of player action

 * In addition to For Auld Lang Syne, Johnson will usually follow the player to the Legate's Camp if you are fighting for an independent Vegas or NCR. This is extremely useful to killing Lanius as Johnson has very high health and a minigun. For some reason if you attack the brahmin in the camp he will turn hostile. If you're working for Mr. House and have the Securitrons kill General Oliver and his NCR Rangers, Cannibal Johnson will attack you alongside the Rangers and Oliver.

Other interactions

 * Low-intelligence characters (3 or below) upon first meeting Johnson can ask about how much money they owe "this Reaper guy." Johnson will then tell the player that he was talking about Death and how the player wasn't smart enough to understand.

Inventory
* Battle for Hoover Dam only

Notable quotes

 * NVCannibalJohnsonWeAllGottaGoSometime.ogg

Appearances
"Cannibal" Johnson appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes

 * If you continue to talk to him about the Enclave, he will have a dialogue option about a drill sergeant who once caught a soldier without his uniform. This is a reference to Fallout 2 when the Chosen One went to Navarro and talked to the drill sergeant there. When the Chosen One goes and talks with the drill sergeant, the drill sergeant will yell at him for being out of his uniform.
 * Cannibal Johnson seems to be based on the character of Jeremiah Johnson. This can be supported by several similarities:
 * The name "Cannibal Johnson" is similar to Jeremiah's nickname "Liver Eating Johnson".
 * The stories behind the nicknames are even similar. Cannibal Johnson earned his after biting the heart of a fallen raider; Jeremiah earned his after supposedly eating the livers of Crow Indians he killed.
 * Both men married "tribal" wives; Cannibal Johnson mentions his had pretty eyes.