The chalky red pills manufactured by Med-Tek were a popular recreational (party) drug before the Great War, favored by consumers for their effect on creativity.[1] The active ingredient is a powerful nootropic that increases memory related functions, and speeds other mental processes.[2] Of course, the effect is temporary, leaving the user tired and sluggish once it wears off. Excessive consumption could also result in health complications, including migraines and even debilitating neurological disorders.[3][4] Coupled with a high addiction rate, Mentats were a double edged sword.[2]
Despite that, chem packages (available both as cardboard packs and tins)[5] sold well, to the point where the company started developing flavored varieties with slightly different properties.[6][7] Their popularity survived the Great War and made them a popular drug across the wasteland. Some chemists even figured out how to iterate on the design and create special blends of Mentats.[8]
Characteristics[]
Berry Mentats give a boost to the consumers Intelligence, but notably do not have the Perception bonus that normal Mentats bring - despite being just a flavoured variant.
There are signs they were meant to return in Fallout: New Vegas at some point, all three flavored variants appear on the list of items banned by Caesar's Legion.
Originally in Fallout, Mentats were supposed to be taken intravenously with a syringe: the .frm file for this item still exists in the Fallout Demo files.
Their name is a reference to Frank Herbert's Dune, where, in the wake of humanity rejecting artificially intelligent computers and robots, Mentats are humans trained for computer-like mathematical and logical computations. Additionally, the pills are colored red — red-stained lips are a distinguishing characteristic of a Dune Mentat.
References[]
↑Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.74: "This party drug was once favored for the boost it gave to creativity—tune in, turn on, drop out. Mentats are just the ticket when you need to figure out something particularly perplexing or impress someone with your wits and charm. Mentats also sharpen your Perception, which greatly enhances long-range sniping attacks."