 | This is a lore summary, presenting intradiegetic or in-universe information about the subject. For game characteristics and similar data, consult the table on the right. |
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Geckos are mutated lizards prized for their sleek and durable hides.[1] They are known to inhabit the Mojave Wasteland, New California, and Oregon.
Overview
The geckos are the result of an unknown species of lizard indigenous to the Oregon-California border regions, which have mutated after exposure to mutated FEV.[2] The mutation made them bigger, stronger, faster, and definitely not sterile. The initial rampant mutation took several generations to stabilize, but once it did, the geckos became highly fertile. In fact, their breeding rate is second to rats that were exposed to trace amounts of mutated FEV.[3]
Modern geckos are large, easily capable of growing to the size of a small child and beyond in certain cases. The have a hunched posture, a varied coloration of skin (closely related to their size and behavior), and tend to live in packs. While geckos are peaceful and non-threatening, they exhibit a pack mentality. If a single gecko attacks or is attack, the remaining pack will join, charging the attacker fangs and claws bared.[1] Packs are the usual family unit and can be either composed of a single gecko type or mixed.[4] Geckos, like the lizards they stem from, are oviparous, with both parents caring for the eggs. They don't seem to make permanent nests, likely as a result of their tendency for migrating in search of food.
Among hunters, geckos are prized for their hides. Regular gecko hides trade for $25 (in NCR gold circa 2241), with other varieties bringing in even more cash for trappers.[1] The thick hides are perfect for manufacturing leather implements, like leather armor.[5] Gecko meat is also appreciated as a foodstuff. If cooked right, it tastes like canned chicken.[6]
Variants
Silver gecko
- Gameplay articles: Fallout 2, Fallout: New Vegas
The regular, silver gecko is a small-to-medium sized lizard with an indigo or silver skin. Like their cousin silver geckos, they are mostly peaceful but tend to be rather aggressive in group. They are very fast and use their numbers to rush and overwhelm the opponent.
Golden gecko
The golden gecko is a medium sized gecko with a golden skin. They are a more beautiful, but also more deadly kind of gecko than regular gecko and silver gecko. They can be found around irradiated areas which they lick up toxic waste, causing their particular mutation[7] different than any other kind of geckos, and making their attacks to irradiate the opponent.
Fire gecko
The fire gecko is a medium-large sized gecko with dark violet skin. They are one of the most deadly kind of gecko with the green gecko and, as indicated by their name, can breathe fire due to the constant exposition to sulfur, held now into their digestive system.verification overdue, remove Unlike other geckos, they also have large spikes that cover their heads to their lower back. They are immune to fire and their hides are known to be extremely mangy and hard to skin.
Green gecko
The green gecko is a large gecko with shiny, light green skin. They are the deadliest variety of gecko; they can spit several slow-moving and far-reaching globs of poisonous saliva - similar to centaurs. Despite their fragile appearance, they have a high resistance to damage. The cause of their mutation is currently unknown. They are an indigenous species of the Zion Canyon.
Notes
- In Fallout 2, the quest perk Gecko Skinning allows the Chosen One to skin silver gecko and golden gecko (not fire gecko). In Fallout: New Vegas, the Courier is able to take the hide of any kind of gecko directly, and if the Courier's survival skill is high enough, they can tan the skin at a campfire.
- In Fallout: New Vegas, geckos are considered animals for purposes of the Animal Friend (with the exception of the fire gecko), Animal Control, and Hunter perks.
- Green geckos were first planned to appear in Fallout d20 before finally appearing in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Honest Hearts.
Gallery
Golden gecko in Fallout: New Vegas
Fire gecko in Fallout: New Vegas
Green gecko from Fallout d20
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.29: "Geckos are mutated lizards prized for their sleek and durable hides. Most Geckos are peaceful, unthreatening creatures. However, if one Gecko is attacked, the rest of the Geckos in the area will converge on the attacker. If you let them surround you, they can be dangerous, so make certain that you leave an escape route open, or use cover (for example, stand in a doorway) so that they can come at you only one at a time."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 1
Fallout Bible 0: "3. Are the radscorpions a product of the FEV virus? When you talk to the doctor, Razlo, in Shady Sands, he tells you that they were once American Emperor Scorpions but that he has no idea how they mutated because radiation alone couldn't have done it. For that matter, what about all of the other creatures of the wasteland? Which ones have been mutated by FEV and which ones haven't? Maybe in the bestiary each creature could have a stat that shows it's level of FEV infection."
"Answer:- The radscorpions are a result of a combination of radiation and the FEV virus, and Razlo in Shady Sands is correct - they were originally Emperor Scorpions that have grown... big.
- FEV-Infected Critters in the wasteland include almost all the ones you've seen in F1 and F2:
Mantises.
Most species of rats.
Gecko lizards.
Brahmin
Scorpions
Ants
Various varieties of plants, including the Venus Flytrap.
Rumor has it some dogs were affected, but no one's seen any, so for now that's just rumor. Of course, the centaurs are a mash of human, dog, and various other parts... but hey, who knows how that mutation came about. Grey was probably messing around in one of his labs. - Creatures not mutated by FEV probably did not survive the aftermath of the Great War, with the possible exception of cockroaches... and perhaps normal ants, though there are FEV-infected versions of these species.
- No one knows where those bird noises in Vault City came from.
- I'll try to include a chart of FEV-infected creatures in future additions as well as other critters that you may not have seen in F1 and F2. Most likely a great majority of insects were affected (they tend to breed much faster, and their mutations tend to become evident pretty quickly as the generations advance), possibly beetles, some spiders, cockroaches, and other creatures."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 5 Questions
"22. Ah yes there is ONE more thing actually...those darn geckos. Where did they come from? They were non-existent in Fallout 1 while in fallout 2 they seemed to be all over the place and as Harold would put it: "You couldn't fart without hitting one."
They stemmed from an unknown species of lizard indigenous to the Oregon-California boundary that sucked up enough FEV to grow bigger, stronger, and faster - and they're definitely not sterile. While it took them a few generations to get all their new genetics straightened out, they started breeding slightly less than FEV-influenced rats. No one knows what lizard stock they originated from, or how the fire geckoes sprang into being. - ↑ Fallout 2 encounters
- ↑ Honest Hearts crafting
- ↑ Klamath citizen: "{178}{}{Geckos taste just like canned chicken, if you cook them right.}"
(Kcitizen.msg) - ↑ Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.29: "Golden Gecko
The same toxic conditions that turn a Golden Gecko's hide into that rich, golden color cause their attacks to irradiate you. Due to their relative rarity and the danger of acquiring them, Golden Gecko hides are worth $125 apiece."