This is somewhat related to the video. I remember before the honest hearts dlc was released, I had spoken to chief Hanlon and Caesar and heard the stories about Joshua graham. So knowing about his toughness and ability to destroy any man, I set across the damn and the river that flowed to cottonwood cove in search for this man to start a battle to see truly how tough this man was and if he was even alive. Spoiler alert I wasted 2/3 hours of my life finding nothing but lakelurks and well... a LOT of deathclaws, Don't think I need to tell ya how that went!
I always thought the last line wasn’t referring to God, but to you yourself. He knows what it means to be a changed man, unfazed by war, conflict and murder in cold blood, going down the same path he knows all too well might be the worst thing he can wish on someone. A person that was meant to die, but lived against all odds should learn from that opportunity, as Joshua Graham has done himself, and hopes you will do as well.
@@Neockoen Thats what he means when he says god. We feel guilty when we do bad things because of Gods established morality. God rewards those who do good, and punishes those who do bad. Some call it our conscience, others call it Gods blessing or curse. It basically means the same thing, depending on your religious beliefs.
@@reredrumuoySorry to break it to you friend but god doesn’t exist. We have no “established morality”, everyone has their own subjective moral outlook. In many countries things are considered widely acceptable whilst being considered immoral in others. It’s based on our subjective moral outlooks shaped by society.
It's because this life is finite and all that ultimately matters in it is that you are saved and will live eternally in heaven. That is why being good (saved) is what is most important to Joshua.
@@rogerloger1935 That's sort of the disconnect between gameplay and story. Realistically, your courier is indeed a powerful being, powerful enough to survive getting shot in the face twice. You are the main character after all, so there is something there that makes you stand above the rest. Graham is on par if not above that, considering he was burned alive and tossed into the Grand Canyon and before that was a skilled warrior and right hand man to Caesar. You both have exceptional achievements under your belts, especially if you're doing the DLC in order (having survived the Sierra Madre). Gameplay wise, yeah you tear through hundreds of hostile wildlife, bandits, legion soldiers, etc. You're a god among men that can alter time and space by saving and loading the game and blow most of your enemies into bloody chunks with your magic bag full of guns and explosives. Yet, the story dictates that The Burned man could reasonably stand a chance at laying you out. Maybe not guaranteed, but at least go toe to toe with you. By gameplay standards, you will eventually beat him, using any of those story defying powers rendering his threat empty.
@@mrmolo70 I don't know, the things you can do in the base game put any wasteland legend to shame. Especially considering that one time I killed everyone at cottonwood cove with Figaro. If the lore doesn't make the player character out to be at least a demigod then the lore doesn't fit the gameplay in any meaningful sence.
@@Gr3nadgr3gory Like I said, it's the disconnect between gameplay and story. It's a hard balance to strike, because pretty much any game that's not a straight up survival horror that either takes the tools to fight away from you or makes them exceedingly rare and you the player character artificially vulnerable, you will be or become a demigod. In less serious games where the story sort of takes a back seat, it's easier to brush aside, ie. Dead Rising deflecting the fact that Frank West is just a photographer in the middle of a zombie outbreak, but knows what he's doing because "I've covered wars you know." New Vegas with all its in universe, mostly grounded dialogue isn't afforded that luxury (at least not all the time, see Old World Blues) and just has to hope the player will ignore the disconnect.
@@mrmolo70 I prefer how they did it in skyrim by making the lore explain how your voice could really tear up continents if you really yelled. Given that couriers in such a world seem to have to deal with shit like Benny, deathclaws and countless raiders I'd assume they're at least as legendary as an NCR ranger.
Totally. In the last mission I only ever killed anyone when he wasn't near by. Otherwise I would aim and just see all their heads pop. He has a special version of the gun you can get later (but his version has a lower spread and higher base damage). He's also the only follower you can't give orders too, in fact he orders you around lol.
@@greywalker505 Not just your take. There’s a line of dialogue where you can offer to cure his burns with high enough medical, and he flat out states the burns are his penance, and the agony he goes through every morning rewrapping them with fresh dressings is a sort of purification ritual.
It's because while Lanius can talk all dramatically and make brutal threats. Joshua talks plainly, informs you that Daniel can defend himself, and even should you survive, the man that was set on fire and thrown several hundred feet down would come for you. That's like saying the Grim Reaper is coming for you.
I really like how he doesn't just threaten you back, he simply takes the time to explain to you, how such an action would only lead to further conflict and strife and hoped you understand. He's not angry nor scolding you, he's simply educating you.
And the devs are shoving their morals down our throats instead of letting us do as we please in a game built and marketed around being able to do as we please. Avellone is a hack, screw his writing.
I understand its his general programed routine but him continually doing weapon checks while calmly warning you is very bad ass. He was one of my favorite characters in all of Fallout.
@@nickcollins1052 There's only so much creators can do at times, there's only so much they can give before we have to meet them half way by imagining he's holding different guns. Like reading a book, you have to imagine it yourself or just simply rely on the established look of the same gun over and over. Regardless, I agree with you wholeheartedly haha.
@@hamhotpocket3788 Oh totally understand that. It's a complaint firmly in my "nice to have" list of changes. It's so amazing how much they got done for the game with the time frames given
@@delivererofdarknessshoguno1133 There is that. Also possible is that he, as a man who has regrets, cares about the state of the soul of a fellow traveller, and is trying in his own way to pass on some much-needed wisdom.
Karma isn't the right word. It's God's judgement he is referring to. Karma is from Hinduism and some Buddhism. There's no one exact divine influence appointed to the concept of karma. Karma isn't just getting what is coming to you but refers to being raised or lowered in the caste system in your next life based on your actions according to Hinduism. There's no second life in what Graham is talking about. Sure, the evil will be resurrected on Judgement day, but in the lake of fire they go after the devil is tossed in first.
The cold and clinical way he delivers these lines is a testament to a world-class voice actor. It ironically fills this character with so much life: He truly gives you the feeling that he alone is the one man in the West who can kill you without even blinking. Because what do the Courier and the Burning Man have in common? The fact that they both shouldn't live, and yet do. And it cannot be coincidence they crossed paths.
Delivering every line completely flat and emotionless is world class acting? He does the exact same performance on all his Skyrim characters and it’s very dull.
@@MarionRelics you know directing also plays an important part in how a character is voice acted and obsidian knows what it's doing in that field and bethesda doesn't
Joshua is basically the reason I don't do evil routes in games. Because 1). He is right about being evil to good people is bad for the soul and 2). I'm scared he'll just show up in whatever game I'm playing and murder me.
New Vegas update: A courier with -1000 karma will be immediately teleported to Zion, stripped of their inventory, and surrounded by eight Joshua Grahams, all of whom have been armed with the Alien Blaster.
I remember when I first played the DLC in my first playthrough, I wanted to know how tough the was and took a shot at him. I never got so easily trashed until this moment in the game.
To be fair, in a game where you can be a part of numerous different factions and with different endings, it's all a matter of perspective. Typically Caesar will be an antagonist, but you could easily align yourself with the Legion and now the NCR are your enemies.
and the game play supports it too: killing any of the crucial friendly cahracters will immediately end the DLC with the " chaos in Zion valley" condition(you get none of the exclusive rewards associated with it and your karma tanks)
@@Teixas666 i was drunk as shit and accidentally shot the dead horse buddy who leads you to joshua, and it just told me to get the map and leave so when I did I got the baaaad ending Reloded a save and did it proper
First time I heard him say this line I was like 'ooo scarrryyy' at the first two lines but his line about waging war on good people being bad for the soul cut me deep. I actually felt ashamed. I just basically went "Ok...ok yeah, I'll help. Sorry."
See that’s the thing with me, I always have Dark Hero Karma by the end of a campaign cause I REALLY don’t like the NCR or the Legion but damn, Joshua radiates black Air Force energy
Gotta love how he is also doing it in virtually the most dangerous way possible. He could just pull back the top to empty the chamber but he checks the barrel by putting it up to hit eye. Yikes.
@@secretlyaslug2325 He's not, though. He pulls the slide back to lock it back (chamber open and clear) then, having confirmed it's not loaded, he checks the bore for an obstruction.
@@kuolettavaVids Plus he knows he can take a shot and then retaliate. Besides that he believes that even if he falls, the judgement of the afterlife awaits.
I like how he doesn't raise his voice but keeps his voice in a low yet cold tone. He doesn't need to shout; his words carry all the force they needed. "Make no mistake. God willing, you will not leave this valley." True shivers down my spine.
Joshua graham is easily the best character in the entirety of new Vegas, and 99% of the time he’s just clearing a giant pile of 1911s, not even making eye contact, while dropping the coldest one-liners you've ever heard.
Him being the best character in New Vegas is incredible considering that most of the characters in New Vegas could be argued to be the best character, New Vegas is a phenomenal game
@@hsalfesrever3554the Courier, Ulysses and Joshua Graham teaming up and traveling together after the events of the game would be so interesting. Their lives are connected in multiple ways, all have their own takes on what makes a person truly good or accomplished and all will go to any length to see their vision come to fruition. Also, gods save the souls of the random fiends or raiders who decide to pick a fight with these three visually weary and life-burdened travelers.
Joshua even assumes you're Ulysses at first. He mentions a courier, then mentions the one that would come on Caesar's behalf would come alone. And ever since Dry Wells, Ulysses has been alone. What I would like to see is the White Legs realizing their idol in which they imitate braided hair from is aiding their sworn enemy.
Graham would not only talk circles around Ulysses he would educate the ever living heck out of him. I’d love to see the guy running around helping the tribe, the Survivalist, converse with Graham. They both came from a background of war, lost themselves in it, only to end up taking up the exact same role with the very same tribe. Pretty poetic, and I’m sure the conversation between Graham and the Survivalist would be incredible.
Most likely they have. Ulysses was Frumentarius while Joshua Graham was Legatus. It is plausible that Legatus acted directly with Frumentarii. Then it was most likely just matter of business at hand. If they would meet again it would most likely be civil encounter as Ulysses was there seeing what was done to Joshua Graham and he walked away from it. Literally. He knows nothing short of actual nuclear blast will not kill Joshua Graham or at least doesn't kill him fast enough to stop him from aereating his skull with .45ACP delivered ballistically. Joshua Graham most likely knows how insanely dangerous tasks Ulysses pulled through and he survives in The Divide. Ulysses most likely disapproves Joshua Graham's clinging to his past, but Joshua Graham as counter knows his past. Similarly Ulysses' stubborn desire to start from cleanest slate is reckless to him as without knowing from past same mistakes will be repeated.
That last reason was the most bone-chilling part. He has seen, ordered, and personally carried out atrocities unimaginable to sane people. He has burned alive, descended to oblivion, and crawled back out through sheer iron will. He has been on a path of severe punishment and self-reflection, a lifetime of biblical sorrow and learning. When he tells you that you should fear becoming the type of person who wages war on good people, he's telling you as a man who simply knows how it ends, and knows you won't like it.
I love how everything is delivered through a lens that has, simply put, seen firsthand the worst of what humanity is capable of, and even enabled it to a limited extent. He knows exactly what he's talking about, and can articulate those ideas expertly. Imagine having been tortured by this guy in the past for, say, divulging military secrets. He probably got pretty creative.
There’s a reason even Caesar is scared of him. Remember that even though Caesar gave the orders, it was Graham that was delivering the orders to the men and leading them in battle and whatever atrocities they committed while Caesar sat back in his tent.
What is even more amazing is that he is still a *good* man. He is still redeemable and only becomes the bloodthirsty maniac if you let him execute Salt Upon Wounds. Even if you ask him about Caesar, his first words are to quote the Bible, saying "Love the sinner, hate the sin." Then he admits to you that he has trouble seeing Caesar for the man he is beyond the atrocities he committed, but he still believes he should. That's a man still driven to be better than he was right there. In spite of everything he went through, abandoning his faith, signing up with Caesar, committing terrifying atrocities, being set on fire and tossed into the basin, he is carrying all of that on his shoulders and is *STILL* fighting to be the righteous, the noble, the *GOOD* man.
@@Aceshot-uu7yxFunnily enough, Jesus’s Jewish name is actually “Yeshua” which is a variation of the name “Joshua.” So by technicality, the warrior prophet Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament both share the same name. And in a way, both traits from both figures coincide within Joshua Graham himself.
What's scary and also truly impressive is that he makes the second one less important than the third. It's really cool and shows what he believes in, what he is capable of, and who he is. There's a lot to dissect from just a few lines, it's amazing.
It's not even "find out." He very matter of factly tells you he'll take your life if you harm anyone close to him. It's not a threat, it's just the truth.
He’s not even threatening you he’s just delivering everything to you as a matter of fact. Through it all he legit cares for you and your soul but he’s just “Yeah if I have to I will kill you and you can’t stop me.” Joshua Graham, man.
@Richard Kistner Granted, the devs tried to make him this unstoppable badass with that ridiculous DT of his, but, it's still nothing a halfway decent build can't work around... honestly, I'm rather surprised they didn't just pull the usual 'essential' character BS with him.
@@PeteTheGrouch The essential characters thing is something Bethesda does, Obsidian does not. If they don’t want you to kill someone, they’ll just make sure you can’t find them but once they’re in front of you, that person is fair game lol
@@frgtnchl1349 As it well it should be... heck, off the top of my head, the only truly 'essential' character in New Vegas is Yesman; & that's largely only so you don't softlock yourself out of getting at least _one_ of the four endings. Hell, in Yesman's case, he at least has a valid reason for being 'immortal', since he can technically just upload his memories to a new body; when all these other nobodies get a free pass, just cos they're too 'important', frankly, it just grinds my piss..! Put it this way - if they hadn't made that insufferable b*tch Delphine an essential character, 90% of players would probably never even finish the main questline on Skyrim!
@@PeteTheGrouch but honestly, he basicly works as an essential character one way or the other, the game dosen't want you to kill him, it tries to make the fight unfair and you fail basicly every quest in the DLC by doing so.
I'm starting to understand how Legate Lanius was able to be convinced by the Courier to withdraw. Joshua here can threat us in a manner that gives chills down our spine thru *words* alone and he is just forgotten history. No wonder Caesar forbade anyone to talk about him, the man knows a terrifying presence when even the player can feel it.
Lanius is a tower of a man. But it's his actions in war and how he conducts his facade is what makes him such a fear across the Mojave. But we have to be told by NPC's he's a threat and his way of speaking feels like act to keep character. Joshua has a presence Lanius can't match even with the armor and helmet. Everyone can use their larger size to harm someone physically, but to break them with words is an art form only few mastered. Speech truly is the most powerful thing in New Vegas.
It might also help that he’s constantly checking guns for bullets in a dark cave with fire lighting his face. Dialogue/character + Environment = terrifying presence
He's really not that chilling or intimidating at all. I killed him for talking to me this way without any difficulty and then went and finished off that little runt Daniel. They had no clue who they were talking to lmao
As someone who has never played Fallout New Vegas this video taught me two things 1: Joshua Graham is always more badass then you think 2: How many 1911’s does this man have
Threatening someone who has armor that can withstand 45 ACP, possibly a FatMan on his back if he is unhinged is not exactly wise either. All my respect for Joshua but you gotta know when to not make threats face to face with someone who is properly equipped.
Clearly you two underestimate the power of a man who burned alive and survived a fall that would kill anyone else. Those .45 rounds are amongst God's calibers. Their power is hidden. We merely see a fraction of the power of .45.
@@amannamedsquid313 oh shit he was harbinger? I haven't played me2 in almost a decade but I still have "assuming direct control" stuck in my head. Dammit now I gotta play it again.
Closest runners up I can think are… Father Elijah (first man to escape the big empty, master energy weapons engineer and only scribe we know to make elder) Desmond lockhart(guy was pre-war and became a ghoul to win a globe trotting fight against other wannabe immortals) Ulysses(he’s the original courier 6) And frank horrigan (10 all stats, rips deathclaws in half with his hands, hardest boss fight in fallout, greatest achievement of the enclave and the only “human” final boss in fallout you can’t talk yourself out of fighting) Still says something that three of fallout’s greatest badasses are from new Vegas
There is ALOT of good voice acting in New Vegas but Joshua could freeze running tapwater in the desert with that voice. Every line is spoken with purpose every dialogue choice feels like it's coming from an immensely focused and dangerous person. FO4 just never had the same punch...
For real. Comparing Joshua Graham to, say, Kellogg... Bethesda might have been able to pull off a great anti-hero arc with him, but for all the backstory they gave the character, they didn't give Kellogg the chance for redemption. To be fair, Kellogg might not have wanted it, but it's not even an option to try, and that kinda sucks. So much Lanius-level speech checks.
@@birdjericho To be fair, Kellogg was supposed to be irredeemable, a crazy asshole who only gets the last laugh because his last wish is for the Institute to go down with him and it potentially happens.
@@darklord884 He was supposed to be... but then why give him such a backstory? Heartache and memories that you (as a player) will never know in time to do anything about? If they wanted a crazy asshole, they could have gone the Vaas-from-Far-Cry route, replaying memories of nothing but brutality, days of raider-ful-ness, and death, making us glad we murdered him. For some reason, the writers wanted us to know Kellogg was a person with a long-dead heart, but then didn't give us the chance to care. I dunno, the whole first third of FO4 all felt rushed. Not so rushed that the Institute itself didn't blow me away with its aesthetic contrast when I saw it the first time, but rushed enough that I didn't feel like I had a chance to really hate a villain. FO4 is full of nasty people, sure. But maybe a Pagan Min-type Father behind a Vaas-type Kellogg to focus on would have carried the delivery better. Instead of white-on-gray morality, we just got... all gray. I never found myself attached to any of the factions because of this.
My favorite is reason 1, sticking up for your friend like is admirable. How stern he states that his friend is no pushover, and it all leads to him threating you and stating you should be a good person. What a character
I wish with all my heart that there was more of this man in the game. He’s cut from the exact same cloth as the Courier and, to a lesser extent, Ulysses. They’re all improbable survivors with the individual power to shake up the world around them however they see fit.
Ulysses is such a pretentious little shit, though. They tried too hard to make him sound deep and intelligent but he just came off as a nihilistic hipster.
If you want some taste of the spirit of Joshua Graham, I recommend looking up Porter Rockwell. I would be very surprised if he didn't inspire Joshua's character. He was the bada** destroying angel Latter-day Saint gunslinger, who has quite a bit of legend surrounding him. "I never killed anyone who didn't need killing."
Yeah I was disappointed with how little he is in the game. He has what 25 lines of dialogue and that’s it throughout the whole DLC he’s nowhere else in the game besides the myth the legionaries fear of him
The last part shows that despite his past, Joshua still holds his beliefs at heart. In no short words he basically says “If you hurt these people, you will start down the path to hell, but I will hasten your journey”
"Waging war against good people is bad for the soul. This may not seem important now, but it's the most important thing I've said." Reason 3 hits so damn hard. Seriously one of the best bits of advice to take with you for a lifetime.
Great lines, definitely. Personally I still think Lanius nails it better when he says the line about you being nailed to the dam. That line is stone cold awesome. "We shall see how brave you are when nailed to the walls of Hoover Dam, your body facing west so you may watch your world die.". Very cool stuff I reckon.
All the more reason to watch him burn. I remember Vulpes Inculta saying something of the sort to me on the ruins of Nipton. A couple minutes later he was girgling his own blood from his second mouth. I may find forgiveness for people who are sorry for their wrongdoings. For those who rely on brute strength alone but fail at common decency, I have a lesson. There's always the bigger stick.
@@bigboncho Ulysses is terrible. He is a massive idiot who hides it by using big boy words and allegories. If you see behind all that you will notice he is just a crybaby throwing a tantrum with an obsession.
As a Latter-day Saint, I also thank who made his character. He and Daniel are the rare positive portrayal of our church in pop culture, and not just positive, really cool. I normally take the stance in fiction of "pretend we don't exist and that's what I prefer" - but if you can make a character as nuanced as Joshua Graham, I'm all for it. I'm not sure I'd want a game where you can actually go to new Canaan or anything, as I'm sure they'd trip up somewhere in a way that'd make me uneasy, but seeing this character or other new canaanites again would be pretty cool.
For me, this threat is so much more intimidating and impactful than any threat made by any of the characters in Fallout, regardless of the actual difficulty trying to combat them in game. The false bravado of the NCR Ranger who claims they're "the grim fucking reaper" sounds more like they're trying to convince themselves more than anything. With Graham, he just lays out the honest truth. He will try to do everything within his power to end you. He admits it would be up to God. He doesn't guarantee he will kill you, but he does guarantee one of you two will die. You can feel the conviction in that statement and that's what makes him truly terrifying: he knows it could go either way, but he doesn't care.
"There are many reasons why that would be a bad idea, I will illuminate three" - damn, this is such a nice, in-character line. He's so soft-spoken, but there's a layer of ultra-violence sleeping inside him
The actor who played Joshua Graham also played Harbinger in Mass Effect 2, the Didact in Halo 4 and also the cop in the dark knight where Joker asks “do you wanna know why I use a knife?” Damn good actor.
Wait, the guy who says "You'll probably enjoy this..." as he goes in to beat up Joker and gets captured? That's the same guy? Harbinger makes sense, the voice fits and as someone playing through ME2 on the Legendary Edition right now, that gave me chills, but wow the second one is a surprise.
That character was actually supposed to be Harvey Bullock, no less. Unfortunately, the higher-ups were like "noo there can't be more than one Harvey that's confusing"
I love how after promising to kill you if you hurt Daniel, he just lectures you that you're better than hurting innocent people. I don't know why, but the fact he believes you're capable of more just hurts worse than the threat.
If you talk to members of the Legion about Joshua Graham, or as they call him “The Burned Man” because they were told to never utter his name again, it makes lines like this even more threatening. They all speak of him with an equal measure of fear, loathing, and respect. To new members of the Legion, he’s a ghost story. Some of them don’t even believe he exists, that it’s just a tale they were told to keep them afraid of Caesar’s wrath. But to members that knew him, they speak of him like some mythical figure. They said that he was the toughest and most frightening legionnaire in the entire Legion. Even Lanius speaks of him with some degree of respect. Caesar flat out ends the conversation once you mention his name, refusing to talk about him. Ulysses has some unique dialogue talking about Joshua, saying that his biggest mistake was surviving the fall. And he says that he, like all the other frumentarii, were ordered to hunt Joshua down. He says that he could’ve, but just didn’t, as no good would’ve come of it, and the personal hell that Joshua experiences everyday is far more effective than any Legion blade could be. Ulysses also tells you that if you hear anything of Joshua’s whereabouts or come into contact with him to leave him be and keep his location a secret, as he is likely on a new path.
The way he does it while disassembling amd re assembling and checking thisw guns makes it even better when he takes that one second to stop and finish his threat while looking you in the eyes
Joshua Graham is one of the best characters in gaming, period. He was a good man who did bad things because he thought he was doing right by his faith and people, it took becoming burnt on over 80% of his body to realize his mistake and is now one of the most capable of truly righteous violence. Yet he still tries to dissuade no matter what and is willing to look passed verbal transgression because actions speak louder than an orated slight.
I once had a customer of mine tell me that if I was rude to his son "again" (I wasn't) I "might not leave his house." I decided that I never would leave his house again, because I'd never go there in the first place. His life got pretty inconvenient after that, I was his trash collector...
Honestly, the last reason being genuinely wholesome is genius and implies so much about this character. And the turnaround from serious threat to sincere life advice. Not many characters like this, you get why he's beloved.
Karma exists as a game mechanic which means there's an omnipresent being somewhere in the Fallout universe watching you commit atrocities. It doesn't matter how tough you think you are. You're still mortal, and eventually you'll have to answer for your crimes.
Whoever chose this voice actor for Joshua Graham did an excellent choice, not to mention the actual voice actor. If it was anyone else, it could make him look comical in the bandages, but the voice actor elevated him to be one of the best characters in the Fallout series.
I never really realized but you both share a kind of bond you bost survived impossible injuries and made it out and now are hell bent of taking revenge and killing evil people
An extra level of subtle threat on Warning #2 is that one of his dialogue options can reveal beforehand that the tribal scouts report to him on recon news of their own volition, having basically declared him their warchief. Here, he says he will find you. Personally. Those scouts won't even be necessary for him to hunt you down.
you raise good points, joshua. counterpoint *pulls out mysterious magnum* im on the wildcard playthrough. and by the time im done here this valley will be a graveyard.
This is somewhat related to the video. I remember before the honest hearts dlc was released, I had spoken to chief Hanlon and Caesar and heard the stories about Joshua graham. So knowing about his toughness and ability to destroy any man, I set across the damn and the river that flowed to cottonwood cove in search for this man to start a battle to see truly how tough this man was and if he was even alive. Spoiler alert I wasted 2/3 hours of my life finding nothing but lakelurks and well... a LOT of deathclaws, Don't think I need to tell ya how that went!
Send a postcard from the Deathclaw Sanctuary!
Ripped to shreds
To think Joshua also faced that while recently being burned alive
The Colorado river aint the Grand Canyon...He was thrown into the Grand Canyon.
@@ZHBraden13 my mistake
His reasons can be boiled down to:
1) You'll have Daniel to deal with
2) You'll have me to deal with
3) You'll have God to deal with
EXACTLY. I can't believe I hadn't seen this response yet. That is precisely how I took it.
I always thought the last line wasn’t referring to God, but to you yourself. He knows what it means to be a changed man, unfazed by war, conflict and murder in cold blood, going down the same path he knows all too well might be the worst thing he can wish on someone. A person that was meant to die, but lived against all odds should learn from that opportunity, as Joshua Graham has done himself, and hopes you will do as well.
4) you have yourself to deal with
@@Neockoen Thats what he means when he says god. We feel guilty when we do bad things because of Gods established morality. God rewards those who do good, and punishes those who do bad. Some call it our conscience, others call it Gods blessing or curse. It basically means the same thing, depending on your religious beliefs.
@@reredrumuoySorry to break it to you friend but god doesn’t exist. We have no “established morality”, everyone has their own subjective moral outlook. In many countries things are considered widely acceptable whilst being considered immoral in others. It’s based on our subjective moral outlooks shaped by society.
Pretty cool how he basically threatens to kill you and still feels that the most important thing he has said is that you need to be a good person
I think he meant because you're about to meet god
I mean if a bad person like that was going around your home..you’d either do the same or be another one of their victims
It's because this life is finite and all that ultimately matters in it is that you are saved and will live eternally in heaven. That is why being good (saved) is what is most important to Joshua.
It's not what he will do to you it's what God will do to you
It's because God's judgement will be far worse than anything he can do to you.
If you aim your gun at Joshua he says "Make the first shot count, you won't get a second."
*Courier Six with anti-material rifle:* _"Thanks for the tip."_
@@PeteTheGrouch nah, better use the Tesla cannon I've been saving for a special occasion. Better not to take any chances
@@firestorm165 Smart man.
@@PeteTheGrouch that still won't kill him in 1 shot. The man is a tank
@@Daniel_deez_nutz Hence why it makes sense to use an anti-tank weapon then, huh?
"Waging war with good people is bad for the soul." I think he is speaking from experience when he was the Legate.
yes. He's had time to reflect on his time in the Legion and knows he did a LOT of bad. Part of his whole religiousness
It definitely is
Sounds like he is self-aware of the karma system.
Did he work with the legate, or just caeser?
@@lego856 he was a Legate AND co-founder of the Legion
"Make no mistake. God willing, you will not leave this valley."
_I see you're a man of Terrifying Presence as well._
Actually is mild consedering that have kill more (Human,monster) that Graham will have done.
@@rogerloger1935 That's sort of the disconnect between gameplay and story. Realistically, your courier is indeed a powerful being, powerful enough to survive getting shot in the face twice. You are the main character after all, so there is something there that makes you stand above the rest.
Graham is on par if not above that, considering he was burned alive and tossed into the Grand Canyon and before that was a skilled warrior and right hand man to Caesar. You both have exceptional achievements under your belts, especially if you're doing the DLC in order (having survived the Sierra Madre). Gameplay wise, yeah you tear through hundreds of hostile wildlife, bandits, legion soldiers, etc.
You're a god among men that can alter time and space by saving and loading the game and blow most of your enemies into bloody chunks with your magic bag full of guns and explosives. Yet, the story dictates that The Burned man could reasonably stand a chance at laying you out. Maybe not guaranteed, but at least go toe to toe with you. By gameplay standards, you will eventually beat him, using any of those story defying powers rendering his threat empty.
@@mrmolo70 I don't know, the things you can do in the base game put any wasteland legend to shame. Especially considering that one time I killed everyone at cottonwood cove with Figaro. If the lore doesn't make the player character out to be at least a demigod then the lore doesn't fit the gameplay in any meaningful sence.
@@Gr3nadgr3gory Like I said, it's the disconnect between gameplay and story. It's a hard balance to strike, because pretty much any game that's not a straight up survival horror that either takes the tools to fight away from you or makes them exceedingly rare and you the player character artificially vulnerable, you will be or become a demigod.
In less serious games where the story sort of takes a back seat, it's easier to brush aside, ie. Dead Rising deflecting the fact that Frank West is just a photographer in the middle of a zombie outbreak, but knows what he's doing because "I've covered wars you know."
New Vegas with all its in universe, mostly grounded dialogue isn't afforded that luxury (at least not all the time, see Old World Blues) and just has to hope the player will ignore the disconnect.
@@mrmolo70 I prefer how they did it in skyrim by making the lore explain how your voice could really tear up continents if you really yelled. Given that couriers in such a world seem to have to deal with shit like Benny, deathclaws and countless raiders I'd assume they're at least as legendary as an NCR ranger.
Joshua was one of the only characters in new vegas that actually made YOU feel like the NPC
Totally. In the last mission I only ever killed anyone when he wasn't near by. Otherwise I would aim and just see all their heads pop. He has a special version of the gun you can get later (but his version has a lower spread and higher base damage). He's also the only follower you can't give orders too, in fact he orders you around lol.
You put it perfectly!
@@novice0012 You’re the protag of your own game. And you walked into his
@@Alex-ye9pg😂
@@Tweedle-Stupidayeeeeee that's a fire concept my guy
" I don't enjoy killing but when done righteously, it's just a chore... Like any other." - Joshua Graham.
"Skilled hands make for swift work, and lord knows there is much to be done here."
**equips anti-material rifle**
Courier Six: _"Consider this taking out the trash, then."_
Of course, if you let him take his revenge, he enjoys that a bit too much.
everything before the word 'but' is bullshit, josh loves killing, if he didnt he wouldnt re load fifty thousand 9mm's
lot of spergs in this comment section beloev8ng they could be Joshua graham
I love how is biggest threat seems to be
"Don't end up like me" with that final line
It also implies that he sees the burns as a righteous punishment for his actions in the Legion. Just my take.
@@greywalker505
Not just your take. There’s a line of dialogue where you can offer to cure his burns with high enough medical, and he flat out states the burns are his penance, and the agony he goes through every morning rewrapping them with fresh dressings is a sort of purification ritual.
@@kyriss12
Fair enough.
@@kyriss12I can't even how painful and tedious that routine. He could spent at least 2 hours everyday for that.
@@kyriss12doesn’t he refuse chems to dull the pain for the same reason as well
I love how the personal threat is only the second reason it would be a bad idea.
"he'd probably kill you. I'd definitely kill you. And most importantly, you will find it harder to live with yourself"
“He will kill you” - Ok, cool, no worries buddy.
“I will kill you” - I hear everything you say loud and clear.
He's chill
To him the afterlife is more important.
@@CrizzyEyesI mean it ought to be for anyone who believes it, life on earth would seem but minutes long in eternity Id guess
Joshua is more scary than Legate Lanius
Lanius is a pure max strength build. Joshua is max perception, intelligence and luck with a pretty high Speech too.
Didn’t Lanius beat a load of adult men to death aged 12?
Also a million times more interesting than Lanius. Which is especially funny considering all the build up Lanius gets when compared to Joshua
It's because while Lanius can talk all dramatically and make brutal threats. Joshua talks plainly, informs you that Daniel can defend himself, and even should you survive, the man that was set on fire and thrown several hundred feet down would come for you.
That's like saying the Grim Reaper is coming for you.
Lanius is a threat. The Burned Man is a promise.
I really like how he doesn't just threaten you back, he simply takes the time to explain to you, how such an action would only lead to further conflict and strife and hoped you understand.
He's not angry nor scolding you, he's simply educating you.
Yep, it's less a threat and more just him informing you what he'd do if forced to.
The voice actor is so good, he makes the dialogue 10 times better just with his tone and voice
@@ToxicBastard I am not threatening the king, I am educating my nephew.
And the devs are shoving their morals down our throats instead of letting us do as we please in a game built and marketed around being able to do as we please. Avellone is a hack, screw his writing.
That's what makes it scarier.
I understand its his general programed routine but him continually doing weapon checks while calmly warning you is very bad ass. He was one of my favorite characters in all of Fallout.
I just wish they'd have made it so he wasn't just spawning the same guy over and over from the pile.
@@nickcollins1052 There's only so much creators can do at times, there's only so much they can give before we have to meet them half way by imagining he's holding different guns. Like reading a book, you have to imagine it yourself or just simply rely on the established look of the same gun over and over. Regardless, I agree with you wholeheartedly haha.
@@hamhotpocket3788 Oh totally understand that. It's a complaint firmly in my "nice to have" list of changes.
It's so amazing how much they got done for the game with the time frames given
Same energy as Penguinz0 showing off his firearm collection whilst calmly educating Sneako that magazines and not the same as clips
Yep. That's the part that had me stunned the most
I love how the 3rd reason isn't even a threat against your life but a warning about your karma
You could say that paired with the second reason it becomes a threat.
@@delivererofdarknessshoguno1133 There is that. Also possible is that he, as a man who has regrets, cares about the state of the soul of a fellow traveller, and is trying in his own way to pass on some much-needed wisdom.
Karma isn't the right word. It's God's judgement he is referring to. Karma is from Hinduism and some Buddhism. There's no one exact divine influence appointed to the concept of karma. Karma isn't just getting what is coming to you but refers to being raised or lowered in the caste system in your next life based on your actions according to Hinduism. There's no second life in what Graham is talking about. Sure, the evil will be resurrected on Judgement day, but in the lake of fire they go after the devil is tossed in first.
It is a threat against your soul. He is warning you that if your last act is one against God's followers, then your soul will pay the price in hell.
@@sonniepronounceds-au-ni9287 He’s talking about the gameplay karma mechanic, if I understand correctly.
The cold and clinical way he delivers these lines is a testament to a world-class voice actor. It ironically fills this character with so much life: He truly gives you the feeling that he alone is the one man in the West who can kill you without even blinking.
Because what do the Courier and the Burning Man have in common? The fact that they both shouldn't live, and yet do. And it cannot be coincidence they crossed paths.
Delivering every line completely flat and emotionless is world class acting? He does the exact same performance on all his Skyrim characters and it’s very dull.
@@MarionRelics Yes.
@@MarionRelics Nice joke
@@MarionRelics you know directing also plays an important part in how a character is voice acted and obsidian knows what it's doing in that field and bethesda doesn't
@@MarionRelics there’s always some contrarian in the comments lol you must crave attention and live a sad life
“You will not leave this valley”
He didn’t even say alive, he meant not even your corpse would leave
At least he'll be nice enough to leave Courier in a shallow grave. Hopefully.
Well that's just assumed. Why would the corpse leave?
@@kieranwilcox7739 someone takes it to be buried in the couriers home town I guess
@@draconicusmathiusanytherio7630 unlikely
@@kieranwilcox7739 Hey, organ traders have to make a living, too.
Joshua is basically the reason I don't do evil routes in games. Because 1). He is right about being evil to good people is bad for the soul and 2). I'm scared he'll just show up in whatever game I'm playing and murder me.
Work on your build you wuss.
New Vegas update: A courier with -1000 karma will be immediately teleported to Zion, stripped of their inventory, and surrounded by eight Joshua Grahams, all of whom have been armed with the Alien Blaster.
@@god-exoofman6086 **opens console commands**
_Enable 'God' mode_
S**k it, bandage bonce.
@@PeteTheGrouch still dies
@@BuffGuitarist ok bible thumper
Joshua Graham uses terrifying presence perk.
Joshua Graham IS the terrifying presence perk.
Relief follows unbearable suffering indeed
Well, it failed. Shame he had to pick that.
Yeah, from an NPC’s perspective, this must be what it feels like. Joshua got a successful check.
@@zxylo786 Not every Terrifying Presence check is guaranteed to be successful, so in your case it’s a higher chance I guess
One of the most intimidating characters in gaming history! And he's not even a antagonist! Just a phenomenal well written (intimidating) ally.
I remember when I first played the DLC in my first playthrough, I wanted to know how tough the was and took a shot at him. I never got so easily trashed until this moment in the game.
To be fair, in a game where you can be a part of numerous different factions and with different endings, it's all a matter of perspective. Typically Caesar will be an antagonist, but you could easily align yourself with the Legion and now the NCR are your enemies.
If you're on a Legion run then yes, he's actually an antagonist. And the last one you'll ever fight.
Logically, emotionally and spiritually, he convinces you that harming Daniel or anyone else under his protection is an *extremely* bad idea.
and the game play supports it too: killing any of the crucial friendly cahracters will immediately end the DLC with the " chaos in Zion valley" condition(you get none of the exclusive rewards associated with it and your karma tanks)
@@Teixas666 i was drunk as shit and accidentally shot the dead horse buddy who leads you to joshua, and it just told me to get the map and leave so when I did I got the baaaad ending
Reloded a save and did it proper
First time I heard him say this line I was like 'ooo scarrryyy' at the first two lines but his line about waging war on good people being bad for the soul cut me deep. I actually felt ashamed. I just basically went "Ok...ok yeah, I'll help. Sorry."
See that’s the thing with me, I always have Dark Hero Karma by the end of a campaign cause I REALLY don’t like the NCR or the Legion but damn, Joshua radiates black Air Force energy
It's the equivalent to "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed"
You gotta love how he's so confident he doesn't even bother to point a gun at you despite having a literal pile of them.
Gotta love how he is also doing it in virtually the most dangerous way possible. He could just pull back the top to empty the chamber but he checks the barrel by putting it up to hit eye. Yikes.
@@secretlyaslug2325 He's not, though. He pulls the slide back to lock it back (chamber open and clear) then, having confirmed it's not loaded, he checks the bore for an obstruction.
Probably wouldn't, pointing a gun at someone as a threat might illicit an automatic response to fire back, especially in a post apocalyptic world.
@@kuolettavaVids Plus he knows he can take a shot and then retaliate. Besides that he believes that even if he falls, the judgement of the afterlife awaits.
@@secretlyaslug2325 Yeah that's not exactly the most responsible thing. Guess he thinks god will protect him.
When Joshua threatens Salt-Upon Wounds in final mission (crush the White Legs) is also very intimidating and scary.
Kale watcha nei conserva oh! You understand me, don't you? Don't you?!
@@cyak my guess he threatened something vary not pg in Latin
@@captain-commander8138 It's the tribal language he spoke
@@serlistogiette4168 still I wounder what he sayed
Josh Sawyer won't reveal what it means. Probably means nothing, but the language of the tribes was constructed out of various real life languages
I like how he doesn't raise his voice but keeps his voice in a low yet cold tone. He doesn't need to shout; his words carry all the force they needed. "Make no mistake. God willing, you will not leave this valley." True shivers down my spine.
He do got that military dad energy. If I was Joshua's son, my first words would be "sir" and "yes, sir."
Joshua graham is easily the best character in the entirety of new Vegas, and 99% of the time he’s just clearing a giant pile of 1911s, not even making eye contact, while dropping the coldest one-liners you've ever heard.
Osama bin laden vibes.
The Punisher of the Fallout series
Him being the best character in New Vegas is incredible considering that most of the characters in New Vegas could be argued to be the best character, New Vegas is a phenomenal game
@@hsalfesrever3554the Courier, Ulysses and Joshua Graham teaming up and traveling together after the events of the game would be so interesting. Their lives are connected in multiple ways, all have their own takes on what makes a person truly good or accomplished and all will go to any length to see their vision come to fruition.
Also, gods save the souls of the random fiends or raiders who decide to pick a fight with these three visually weary and life-burdened travelers.
@@spirito9827 *Solomon Kane of the Fallout series.
I wish Joshua Graham and Ulysses could meet each other. Would be interesting to see what they'd have to say to each other.
Joshua even assumes you're Ulysses at first. He mentions a courier, then mentions the one that would come on Caesar's behalf would come alone. And ever since Dry Wells, Ulysses has been alone.
What I would like to see is the White Legs realizing their idol in which they imitate braided hair from is aiding their sworn enemy.
@@Skiritai even better the white legs realising the tribe they so desperately want to be absorbed into was cofounded by their sworn enemy.
Ulisses: "The bear, the bull. The bull, the bear. The bull. The bear. The bear. The bear. The bull."
Graham would not only talk circles around Ulysses he would educate the ever living heck out of him.
I’d love to see the guy running around helping the tribe, the Survivalist, converse with Graham.
They both came from a background of war, lost themselves in it, only to end up taking up the exact same role with the very same tribe.
Pretty poetic, and I’m sure the conversation between Graham and the Survivalist would be incredible.
Most likely they have. Ulysses was Frumentarius while Joshua Graham was Legatus. It is plausible that Legatus acted directly with Frumentarii. Then it was most likely just matter of business at hand. If they would meet again it would most likely be civil encounter as Ulysses was there seeing what was done to Joshua Graham and he walked away from it. Literally. He knows nothing short of actual nuclear blast will not kill Joshua Graham or at least doesn't kill him fast enough to stop him from aereating his skull with .45ACP delivered ballistically. Joshua Graham most likely knows how insanely dangerous tasks Ulysses pulled through and he survives in The Divide. Ulysses most likely disapproves Joshua Graham's clinging to his past, but Joshua Graham as counter knows his past. Similarly Ulysses' stubborn desire to start from cleanest slate is reckless to him as without knowing from past same mistakes will be repeated.
Nah his coldest line is when you aim at him and he says
“Make your first shot count, you won’t get a second” in a monotone voice
Also: "You won't be the first one that tries. "
That last reason was the most bone-chilling part. He has seen, ordered, and personally carried out atrocities unimaginable to sane people. He has burned alive, descended to oblivion, and crawled back out through sheer iron will. He has been on a path of severe punishment and self-reflection, a lifetime of biblical sorrow and learning. When he tells you that you should fear becoming the type of person who wages war on good people, he's telling you as a man who simply knows how it ends, and knows you won't like it.
I love how everything is delivered through a lens that has, simply put, seen firsthand the worst of what humanity is capable of, and even enabled it to a limited extent. He knows exactly what he's talking about, and can articulate those ideas expertly.
Imagine having been tortured by this guy in the past for, say, divulging military secrets. He probably got pretty creative.
There’s a reason even Caesar is scared of him. Remember that even though Caesar gave the orders, it was Graham that was delivering the orders to the men and leading them in battle and whatever atrocities they committed while Caesar sat back in his tent.
What is even more amazing is that he is still a *good* man. He is still redeemable and only becomes the bloodthirsty maniac if you let him execute Salt Upon Wounds. Even if you ask him about Caesar, his first words are to quote the Bible, saying "Love the sinner, hate the sin." Then he admits to you that he has trouble seeing Caesar for the man he is beyond the atrocities he committed, but he still believes he should. That's a man still driven to be better than he was right there. In spite of everything he went through, abandoning his faith, signing up with Caesar, committing terrifying atrocities, being set on fire and tossed into the basin, he is carrying all of that on his shoulders and is *STILL* fighting to be the righteous, the noble, the *GOOD* man.
He says “God willing”, indicating that he knows there’s a chance he won’t be able to kill you.
The only way to make him despair would be to destroy Jesus.
Not the people's faith, either. To destroy the Lord Himself.
@KopperNeoman which ain't going to happen so Joshua is just going to keep being Joshua.
@@Aceshot-uu7yxFunnily enough, Jesus’s Jewish name is actually “Yeshua” which is a variation of the name “Joshua.” So by technicality, the warrior prophet Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament both share the same name. And in a way, both traits from both figures coincide within Joshua Graham himself.
He left out "and the creeks don't rise" because he strategically relocated to a place where that won't happen.
What's scary and also truly impressive is that he makes the second one less important than the third. It's really cool and shows what he believes in, what he is capable of, and who he is. There's a lot to dissect from just a few lines, it's amazing.
Joshua is the living embodiment of "Fuck around and find out." So fucking badass.
It's not even "find out." He very matter of factly tells you he'll take your life if you harm anyone close to him. It's not a threat, it's just the truth.
He’s not even threatening you he’s just delivering everything to you as a matter of fact.
Through it all he legit cares for you and your soul but he’s just “Yeah if I have to I will kill you and you can’t stop me.”
Joshua Graham, man.
@Richard Kistner Granted, the devs tried to make him this unstoppable badass with that ridiculous DT of his, but, it's still nothing a halfway decent build can't work around... honestly, I'm rather surprised they didn't just pull the usual 'essential' character BS with him.
@@PeteTheGrouch The essential characters thing is something Bethesda does, Obsidian does not. If they don’t want you to kill someone, they’ll just make sure you can’t find them but once they’re in front of you, that person is fair game lol
@@frgtnchl1349 As it well it should be... heck, off the top of my head, the only truly 'essential' character in New Vegas is Yesman; & that's largely only so you don't softlock yourself out of getting at least _one_ of the four endings.
Hell, in Yesman's case, he at least has a valid reason for being 'immortal', since he can technically just upload his memories to a new body; when all these other nobodies get a free pass, just cos they're too 'important', frankly, it just grinds my piss..!
Put it this way - if they hadn't made that insufferable b*tch Delphine an essential character, 90% of players would probably never even finish the main questline on Skyrim!
@@PeteTheGrouch Not even Yes man is truly essential. If you gooify or vaporize/disintegrate him he won't come back.
@@PeteTheGrouch but honestly, he basicly works as an essential character one way or the other, the game dosen't want you to kill him, it tries to make the fight unfair and you fail basicly every quest in the DLC by doing so.
I'm starting to understand how Legate Lanius was able to be convinced by the Courier to withdraw.
Joshua here can threat us in a manner that gives chills down our spine thru *words* alone and he is just forgotten history.
No wonder Caesar forbade anyone to talk about him, the man knows a terrifying presence when even the player can feel it.
Lanius is a tower of a man. But it's his actions in war and how he conducts his facade is what makes him such a fear across the Mojave. But we have to be told by NPC's he's a threat and his way of speaking feels like act to keep character.
Joshua has a presence Lanius can't match even with the armor and helmet. Everyone can use their larger size to harm someone physically, but to break them with words is an art form only few mastered.
Speech truly is the most powerful thing in New Vegas.
It might also help that he’s constantly checking guns for bullets in a dark cave with fire lighting his face.
Dialogue/character + Environment = terrifying presence
I forget. What happens if you talk to Joshua first and then to Caesar?
Does Caesar have any lines to say?
He's really not that chilling or intimidating at all. I killed him for talking to me this way without any difficulty and then went and finished off that little runt Daniel. They had no clue who they were talking to lmao
@@tacklefatkids1195 Yes, we can all type "TGM", what's your point? That he's a video game NPC? Good observation, I guess.
As someone who has never played Fallout New Vegas this video taught me two things
1: Joshua Graham is always more badass then you think
2: How many 1911’s does this man have
The answer is yes.
All he needs to do god’s work
enough.
He has 1911 of them
Play the game, it's a junky bug ridden mess on the outside, but a damn well told story with real decisions to be made
He gives you the mental threat, the physical threat, and the spiritual threat.
"Waging war against good people is bad for the soul" hit me hard.
Extra fourth reason: Are you really going to start something to a man who's currently loading and unloading multiple handguns?
A man with the will, patience and physical capability to unload, inspect then reload hundreds of handguns in a single sitting.
The stupid one is him. Are you threatening a man in power armor with a 40mm grenade machine gun?
Threatening someone who has armor that can withstand 45 ACP, possibly a FatMan on his back if he is unhinged is not exactly wise either. All my respect for Joshua but you gotta know when to not make threats face to face with someone who is properly equipped.
Clearly you two underestimate the power of a man who burned alive and survived a fall that would kill anyone else.
Those .45 rounds are amongst God's calibers. Their power is hidden. We merely see a fraction of the power of .45.
@@dj11o9er Surviving being burned isn't worth much when you are decapitated by a Katana and then eaten.
Just looked the VA up and he’s also The Didact from Halo 4 and Slate from Bioshock Infinite.
Respect. 🙌🤜🤛
He's also half the dark elves in Elder Scrolls. Ironically, their classic racial ability is that they have high resistance to fire.
@@RorikH Honestly, don't mind that. It's a good voice and doesn't really get tiring listening to.
He's also Harbinger from Mass Effect 2 and Dr. Terrance Kyne and General Serrano from Dead space 1 and 3 respectively.
@@amannamedsquid313 oh shit he was harbinger? I haven't played me2 in almost a decade but I still have "assuming direct control" stuck in my head. Dammit now I gotta play it again.
omg respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
The last one actually hits harder than the threat itself xD
So true
Ukraine will resist and bite!
Bethesda can only dream of writing a character this amazing
My favorite character in all of fallout, never have I seen a character as badass as Joshua
Closest runners up I can think are…
Father Elijah (first man to escape the big empty, master energy weapons engineer and only scribe we know to make elder)
Desmond lockhart(guy was pre-war and became a ghoul to win a globe trotting fight against other wannabe immortals)
Ulysses(he’s the original courier 6)
And frank horrigan (10 all stats, rips deathclaws in half with his hands, hardest boss fight in fallout, greatest achievement of the enclave and the only “human” final boss in fallout you can’t talk yourself out of fighting)
Still says something that three of fallout’s greatest badasses are from new Vegas
There is ALOT of good voice acting in New Vegas but Joshua could freeze running tapwater in the desert with that voice.
Every line is spoken with purpose every dialogue choice feels like it's coming from an immensely focused and dangerous person.
FO4 just never had the same punch...
For real. Comparing Joshua Graham to, say, Kellogg... Bethesda might have been able to pull off a great anti-hero arc with him, but for all the backstory they gave the character, they didn't give Kellogg the chance for redemption. To be fair, Kellogg might not have wanted it, but it's not even an option to try, and that kinda sucks. So much Lanius-level speech checks.
Its the voice actor. Listen to erandur in skyrim, same bad ass level.
@@birdjericho To be fair, Kellogg was supposed to be irredeemable, a crazy asshole who only gets the last laugh because his last wish is for the Institute to go down with him and it potentially happens.
@@darklord884 He was supposed to be... but then why give him such a backstory? Heartache and memories that you (as a player) will never know in time to do anything about? If they wanted a crazy asshole, they could have gone the Vaas-from-Far-Cry route, replaying memories of nothing but brutality, days of raider-ful-ness, and death, making us glad we murdered him. For some reason, the writers wanted us to know Kellogg was a person with a long-dead heart, but then didn't give us the chance to care.
I dunno, the whole first third of FO4 all felt rushed. Not so rushed that the Institute itself didn't blow me away with its aesthetic contrast when I saw it the first time, but rushed enough that I didn't feel like I had a chance to really hate a villain. FO4 is full of nasty people, sure. But maybe a Pagan Min-type Father behind a Vaas-type Kellogg to focus on would have carried the delivery better.
Instead of white-on-gray morality, we just got... all gray. I never found myself attached to any of the factions because of this.
People need to stop hating on FO4
My favorite is reason 1, sticking up for your friend like is admirable. How stern he states that his friend is no pushover, and it all leads to him threating you and stating you should be a good person. What a character
“We can’t expect god to do all the work” -Joshua Graham
I wish with all my heart that there was more of this man in the game. He’s cut from the exact same cloth as the Courier and, to a lesser extent, Ulysses. They’re all improbable survivors with the individual power to shake up the world around them however they see fit.
Ulysses is such a pretentious little shit, though. They tried too hard to make him sound deep and intelligent but he just came off as a nihilistic hipster.
If you want some taste of the spirit of Joshua Graham, I recommend looking up Porter Rockwell. I would be very surprised if he didn't inspire Joshua's character.
He was the bada** destroying angel Latter-day Saint gunslinger, who has quite a bit of legend surrounding him.
"I never killed anyone who didn't need killing."
Yeah I was disappointed with how little he is in the game. He has what 25 lines of dialogue and that’s it throughout the whole DLC he’s nowhere else in the game besides the myth the legionaries fear of him
The last part shows that despite his past, Joshua still holds his beliefs at heart. In no short words he basically says “If you hurt these people, you will start down the path to hell, but I will hasten your journey”
"Waging war against good people is bad for the soul. This may not seem important now, but it's the most important thing I've said."
Reason 3 hits so damn hard. Seriously one of the best bits of advice to take with you for a lifetime.
Great lines, definitely. Personally I still think Lanius nails it better when he says the line about you being nailed to the dam. That line is stone cold awesome.
"We shall see how brave you are when nailed to the walls of Hoover Dam, your body facing west so you may watch your world die.".
Very cool stuff I reckon.
All the more reason to watch him burn.
I remember Vulpes Inculta saying something of the sort to me on the ruins of Nipton.
A couple minutes later he was girgling his own blood from his second mouth. I may find forgiveness for people who are sorry for their wrongdoings. For those who rely on brute strength alone but fail at common decency, I have a lesson.
There's always the bigger stick.
Yeah
My favourite line of his is still "Save your speeches. We will march forward until our feet crush the setting sun beneath them." Just... Damn.
@@cynicat74 If you east the west how can you west the east?
as soon as I saw the title I was like "of course it's gotta be a Joshua Graham clip" lol
1. Daniel is not someone to play around with.
2. I am not someone to play around with.
3. War is something to not be played around with.
This guy is so much more effective at being a match or counterpart to the courier than ulysses is
That’s a valid opinion. It’s wrong though.
Lmao ulysses fan. They DO exist.
@@bigboncho Ulysses is terrible. He is a massive idiot who hides it by using big boy words and allegories. If you see behind all that you will notice he is just a crybaby throwing a tantrum with an obsession.
@@nobodyimportant4778 I’m not even sure we do at this point
I honestly thought Ulysses was a lame edgelord.
I smile at this, because despite what he had done and what you just said, he still truly cares for the Courier.
Joshua is an absolute menace but he doesn't wanna kill you. He's saving your soul and puts more importance on that.
In summary:
1. He will defend himself
2. Touch him and I'll kill you
3. Hey man, that's not cool
3 is basically " when you get to Hell, i will be waiting."
_God,_ but he was the perfect voice for Joshua. Such a well-written character voiced by _the_ perfect VA for him.
There is absolutely NOTHING unChristian about Joshua Graham. What an amazing character. Zero compromise and will not be made a fool in any way.
Too many people get stuck on superficial aspects of him. The third reason he lays out here is his core. Jesus wasn't a centurion.
He tells you that this would be a lapse in self preservation, of both body and spirit
Joshua: There are many reasons why that would be a bad idea. I will Illuminate three.
1. Don't.
2. don't.
and 3. Do not.
"I will illuminate three."
Graham assembles one, two, three guns on the table.
"Get the hint? "
I love that whole backstory with that lone survivor guy watching after the sorrows.
Ooh please elaborate or provide a link?
@@DS-ej7zt czcams.com/video/NyZaaBJSIpk/video.html
@@DS-ej7zt look up synonymous’s the survivalist video on youtube
@@DS-ej7zt czcams.com/video/Pr26N_WE-7Y/video.html
@@DS-ej7zt he's talking about Randall Clark it's such a good lore thread there's a really good video on it I gotta find it first
As a half native-American, thank you Joshua. I got you homie.
Rezgang
As a Latter-day Saint, I also thank who made his character. He and Daniel are the rare positive portrayal of our church in pop culture, and not just positive, really cool.
I normally take the stance in fiction of "pretend we don't exist and that's what I prefer" - but if you can make a character as nuanced as Joshua Graham, I'm all for it.
I'm not sure I'd want a game where you can actually go to new Canaan or anything, as I'm sure they'd trip up somewhere in a way that'd make me uneasy, but seeing this character or other new canaanites again would be pretty cool.
This is pretty much why NV feels like reading a book while FO3 and 4 feel like you're reading a comic book.
Honest Hearts especially reminds me of Cormac McCarthy’s writing.
Especially considering how comics are nowadays 🤮
Depends on the comic book, I'd argue that some of the greats such as Watchmen are just as good if not bettrr than New Vegas's writing.
FO3 and 4 are like comic books but if they were written by mentally handicapped people
bethesda bad obsidian good updoots here
⬇️
I really like how his final argument isn't "Karma will catch up to you", it's "The weight of your crimes will rot you from inside"
the threat was chilling but that "but its the most important thing i've said" as a line tells you so much about Joshua's inner demons
For me, this threat is so much more intimidating and impactful than any threat made by any of the characters in Fallout, regardless of the actual difficulty trying to combat them in game. The false bravado of the NCR Ranger who claims they're "the grim fucking reaper" sounds more like they're trying to convince themselves more than anything. With Graham, he just lays out the honest truth. He will try to do everything within his power to end you. He admits it would be up to God. He doesn't guarantee he will kill you, but he does guarantee one of you two will die. You can feel the conviction in that statement and that's what makes him truly terrifying: he knows it could go either way, but he doesn't care.
What makes it more chilling is that ambience that plays and the church bells going off
"There are many reasons why that would be a bad idea, I will illuminate three" - damn, this is such a nice, in-character line. He's so soft-spoken, but there's a layer of ultra-violence sleeping inside him
The actor who played Joshua Graham also played Harbinger in Mass Effect 2, the Didact in Halo 4 and also the cop in the dark knight where Joker asks “do you wanna know why I use a knife?” Damn good actor.
Wait, the guy who says "You'll probably enjoy this..." as he goes in to beat up Joker and gets captured? That's the same guy? Harbinger makes sense, the voice fits and as someone playing through ME2 on the Legendary Edition right now, that gave me chills, but wow the second one is a surprise.
@@darklord884
Yeah, that’s the same guy. It blew my mind when I found that out.
That character was actually supposed to be Harvey Bullock, no less.
Unfortunately, the higher-ups were like "noo there can't be more than one Harvey that's confusing"
I love how after promising to kill you if you hurt Daniel, he just lectures you that you're better than hurting innocent people. I don't know why, but the fact he believes you're capable of more just hurts worse than the threat.
I hope to Christ Joshua Graham comes back at some point.
Such an amazing character.
That would be f*ckin amazing.
it would be cool if he came back in the upcoming fallout tv show
And he would go on to be the voice of Harbinger next.
His calm delivery of his threat while casually maintaining guns on the table makes the sincerity of his threat all the more powerful.
There are so many times a character is over hyped & when they finally show them, they under deliver.
But Joshua Graham absolutely delivers.
If you talk to members of the Legion about Joshua Graham, or as they call him “The Burned Man” because they were told to never utter his name again, it makes lines like this even more threatening. They all speak of him with an equal measure of fear, loathing, and respect. To new members of the Legion, he’s a ghost story. Some of them don’t even believe he exists, that it’s just a tale they were told to keep them afraid of Caesar’s wrath. But to members that knew him, they speak of him like some mythical figure. They said that he was the toughest and most frightening legionnaire in the entire Legion. Even Lanius speaks of him with some degree of respect. Caesar flat out ends the conversation once you mention his name, refusing to talk about him. Ulysses has some unique dialogue talking about Joshua, saying that his biggest mistake was surviving the fall. And he says that he, like all the other frumentarii, were ordered to hunt Joshua down. He says that he could’ve, but just didn’t, as no good would’ve come of it, and the personal hell that Joshua experiences everyday is far more effective than any Legion blade could be. Ulysses also tells you that if you hear anything of Joshua’s whereabouts or come into contact with him to leave him be and keep his location a secret, as he is likely on a new path.
He always been my favorite character out of everything in fnv. The way he delivered lines, really make you feel.
The way he does it while disassembling amd re assembling and checking thisw guns makes it even better when he takes that one second to stop and finish his threat while looking you in the eyes
Joshua Graham is one of the best characters in gaming, period. He was a good man who did bad things because he thought he was doing right by his faith and people, it took becoming burnt on over 80% of his body to realize his mistake and is now one of the most capable of truly righteous violence. Yet he still tries to dissuade no matter what and is willing to look passed verbal transgression because actions speak louder than an orated slight.
His struggle isn't over. He has demons and they demand blood sacrifices.
I was so scared I didn’t even notice he spawns guns in his hands rather than picking up the gun on the desk
I just realised, that's all the male Dunmer in Skyrim, a handful of ghouls in 4, and John Caleb-Bradburton in Nuka-World. Good ol' Keith
Can't let God do all the work.
I love how while he derides Daniel's pacifism, he also includes him in the people you are not to harm.
Graham is the definition of "I came not to bring peace, but a sword." Repentance and contrition is not a trivial journey.
the fact that he doesn't even threated you with that last line, he just gives you advice and warned you about hell
and it still sounds terryfying
Joshua Graham is the first npc to successfully speech check me
I started this dlc early on my bad karma run and said this. Needless to say it became a good karma run.
I once had a customer of mine tell me that if I was rude to his son "again" (I wasn't) I "might not leave his house." I decided that I never would leave his house again, because I'd never go there in the first place. His life got pretty inconvenient after that, I was his trash collector...
$40 bet that he was a soy boy or a old decrepit boomer
Honestly, the last reason being genuinely wholesome is genius and implies so much about this character. And the turnaround from serious threat to sincere life advice. Not many characters like this, you get why he's beloved.
Joshua checking those 1911's make it more scarier
Karma exists as a game mechanic which means there's an omnipresent being somewhere in the Fallout universe watching you commit atrocities.
It doesn't matter how tough you think you are. You're still mortal, and eventually you'll have to answer for your crimes.
Sad that karma doesn't play much of a role in New Vegas.
Whoever chose this voice actor for Joshua Graham did an excellent choice, not to mention the actual voice actor. If it was anyone else, it could make him look comical in the bandages, but the voice actor elevated him to be one of the best characters in the Fallout series.
I never really realized but you both share a kind of bond you bost survived impossible injuries and made it out and now are hell bent of taking revenge and killing evil people
An extra level of subtle threat on Warning #2 is that one of his dialogue options can reveal beforehand that the tribal scouts report to him on recon news of their own volition, having basically declared him their warchief. Here, he says he will find you. Personally. Those scouts won't even be necessary for him to hunt you down.
I would NOT miss sunday classes if Joshua Graham was the pastor.
The anti material rifle in my backpocket: *Laughing his ass off*
the way he barely looks at you while making a threat on your life
"wageing war against good people is bad for the soul" that line sticks with me.
you raise good points, joshua.
counterpoint
*pulls out mysterious magnum* im on the wildcard playthrough. and by the time im done here this valley will be a graveyard.
This man is so well writen and the voice acter just nailed him i love it
Its ao sad we cant find a cure foe hia burning wounds. That guy is a legend