The Showmen are a faction in Atlantic City in Fallout 76, introduced in the Expeditions: Atlantic City update part one, Boardwalk Paradise. They control the boardwalk[1] along with the adjacent Aquarium of the Atlantic, hosting elaborate shows and gladiatorial games to keep humanity's spirit alive.[2]
Background[]
Mother Charlotte, founder of the Showmen
Forming around 2085, with Atlantic City collapsing under the weight of Carly Day's incompetent leadership, the Showmen were created by Mother Charlotte to provide a safe haven for artists and performers after the social structures of the Old World collapsed. With the need for entertainment at an all-time low, she kept the craft alive by creating a family of performers, all unconditionally supporting and protecting each other, all to ensure that the show goes on, even past the end of the world.[3] Over the next 20 years, the Showmen became an eclectic gathering of artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and philosophers united by their common identity. It grew far beyond what Charlotte had imagined, becoming a part of the Atlantic City triad alongside the mob and the Munis.[4] They provide what could be called the "spirit" of Acee, filling the Showman's Pier, their seat of power, with things that keep the imagination working and the sparkle in the eyes of the people present. This includes games, gambling, performances, and everything else that keeps humanity's soul alive.[5]
This does not necessarily mean keeping humans alive. Thanks to Charlotte's favored son, Veracio Cruz, the Showmen have started the Most Sensational Game, a gladiatorial arena making extensive use of the Aquarium of the Atlantic, where people face death every day in order to learn the true limits of themselves. Contestants battle each other, free from what Charlotte describes as the shackles of the pre-War world that prevented those who wished to test their martial skill in a duel to the death.[6]
Organization[]
Mother Charlotte is the leader of the organization, though relations are not based on a strict hierarchy, but familial ties. Charlotte leads them as a mother does children, and many genuinely see her as a mother figure, as she helped them deal with loss: Of parents, livelihood, or the basic will to live.[7]
Charlotte teaches her children confidence, which enables opportunities and making the most of them. She does not support arrogance, which leads to hubris and makes the most shining star into the most drab and uninteresting spot of light.[8] She also balks at suggestions of insanity, believing them to be mere boxes people use for sorting and looking down on people.[9]
All Showmen have a flair for the fantastic and extraordinary, deliberately departing from the tedium of the social contract to shock others and perhaps inspire them to reach beyond the mundane and the humdrum of their daily lives.[10] Sometimes, the inspiration can go a little too far, as the same flair makes their shows incredibly bombastic and potentially deadly to the audience.[11] Regardless, they remain a popular attraction in Atlantic City, making the Atlantic City Boardwalk their seat of power, where sequins and stripes aren't out of the ordinary, but just a part of the local aesthetic (along with the unhinged aura).[12]
Beliefs[]
Perhaps the most esoteric of Acee factions, the Showmen root their practices in a set of core beliefs. The most basic one is that everyone has a potential they can unlock, if they so choose. Charlotte's teachings reject outside factors such as motivation or muses,[13] trying to predict success and engineer it with the right routines, yet never once straying outside one's box,[14] or entrusting random chance.[15]
Veracio's creation of the game embodies the way the Showmen believe one can discover their true potential: Facing death in no holds barred combat, where the greatest challenges to one's strength and willpower push participants to their limits, consciously subjecting themselves to their test to uncover their potential. The victors of the tournament have the right to bear the title of Sensation, focusing their ambition.[16]
Outside relations[]
The Showmen are respected and even feared for their devil-may-care attitude and stunts, which also render them incredibly dangerous (Sal Sticky Fingers compares them to a pack of starved, rabid hyenas, which isn't far from the truth insofar danger is concerned).[17] However, their daring is extremely risky and, as they have limited stocks of medicine, they are reliant on the Munis to keep themselves alive through supplies or medics on loan.[18]
The Showmen also purchase the Devil's Blood from the Lombardi Family, in order to use it to unlock their "true potential."[19]
Interactions with the player character[]
- Players can participate in The Most Sensational Game, Veracio Cruz's brainchild and a repeatable expedition.
- Generic Showmen appear as foes in the Tax Evasion expedition.
- Showmen play a major role in the All the World's a Stage quest in America's Playground.
Variants[]
Showman butcher[]
The Showmen's grenade launcher specialists wielding both M79 and auto grenade launchers.
Showman duker[]
The melee experts of the Showmen, who wield a vast arsenal of melee weapons.
Showman grandstander[]
The automatic rifle experts of the Showmen, wielding both assault and handmade rifles.
Showman grinder[]
The bombardiers of the Showmen armed with missile launchers.
Showman pelter[]
The grenadiers of the Showmen armed with a variety of grenades and attack at close range with their fists.
Showman ringer[]
The Showmen's snipers, armed with a variety of long-ranged and scoped rifles.
Showman scatterer[]
The shotgun specialists of the Showmen, wielding double-barrel and combat shotguns.
Showman toaster[]
The Showmen's pyros, armed with high-powered flamers.
Showman trouper[]
Showmen that specialize in using pistols, from 10mm to .44 revolvers.
Showman tyrant[]
The Showmen's heavy weapons experts armed with a variety of heavy weapons, including miniguns and .50 cal machine guns.
Known members[]
- Carmen
- Clowns
- Evelyn Russo (formerly)
- Dimples the Clown
- Mother Charlotte
- Saltwater Sam
- Showman (Tax Evasion)
- Showman snitch
- Ticket clerk
- Veracio Cruz
- Zayde
Appearances[]
The Showmen appear only in Fallout 76, introduced in the Expeditions: Atlantic City update.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Fallout 76 loading screens: "The famous Atlantic City Boardwalk remains the heart of the city's seaside entertainments. As the seat of the Showmen's power, casual visitors are advised to be wary when their more lethal games are under way."
- ↑ Fallout 76 loading screens: "The Aquarium of the Atlantic's former glory is somewhat faded, but remains impressive as an underwater home for some of the Showmen's most elaborate entertainments."
- ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "How did the Showmen come to be?"
Mother Charlotte: "Panic followed the bombs. Where social structure collapsed, so did drive and meaning. Nobody wanted to perform anymore. Even if they did, it was too dangerous, or there were more important needs at hand. To keep my craft alive, I had to create a safe place for it. A family of performers, each provided with unconditional support and protection. The show must go on, after all. Even past the end of the world."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "So you're in charge of the Showmen?"
Mother Charlotte: "We are artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, philosophers. But yes, above all, we are Showmen. A family I started, but it has grown so much bigger than I could have imagined."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What do the Showmen do, other than the Game?"
Mother Charlotte: "We keep this city alive. Games, gambles, performances, things that keep a sparkle in people's eyes. Imaginations must keep wandering. Otherwise, humanity is as good as dead."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What is the purpose of the Game?"
Mother Charlotte: "What is the purpose of any entertainment? To feel alive. To find meaning. To learn something about yourself. Most look upon bloodshed as tragedy. I see opportunity. This war gave us all a chance to rediscover who we are, why humanity exists. No longer do we live in perfect safety without ever knowing our own capabilities. We must survive. And so, we must face ourselves."
Vault 76 dweller: "Are you insane? This 'Game' is morbid and inhumane."
Mother Charlotte: "My darling child, you have been taught to believe it is morbid and inhumane. The rules of the pre-war world bound us, shackled us. If it is our true wish, should we not battle with our lives to reach the finish? Should we not learn just how far our wills can take us? If the Game had no entrants, there would be no Game to run."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Why do you call yourself 'Mother'?"
Mother Charlotte: "It takes a child to make a mother. My children trust that I still have something to teach them. That they can come to me for comfort and acceptance. So many were orphaned by the war. Whether they lost their parents, their livelihood, or their will to live. To those who need a mother's guidance, I will give all that they are willing to take."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Well obviously, I'm the best!"
Mother Charlotte: "I teach all my children confidence. It opens the doors to opportunity, paves the way for potential to shine. But arrogance? Oh, how it wipes the gleam off an enticing prize, how it makes the most beloved icon suddenly drab and grotesque! Wield your confidence tastefully, Sensation, else it become your disgrace."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Are you all insane?"
Mother Charlotte: "*chuckles* We are much more than insane, sweetheart. To box us into such a degrading word... I despise it. If you truly seek to understand us, then I invite you to come back and play again. Maybe next time you'll learn something."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Why all the over-the-top showmanship?"
Veracio Cruz: "Inspiration! A departure from the tedium of the social contract! How does one wake the thrall who sleepwalks through daily life? A jolt of the unusual, the fantastic! It is our charge as Showmen to remind people of the impossible!"
(Veracio Cruz's dialogue) - ↑ Anna Barone: "I'd love to see one of the Showmen's spectacles, but I do worry about ending up with one less eye just sitting in the audience."
(Anna Barone's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What can I find here on the Boardwalk?"
Lennox: "Showman's Pier is down the way, if you follow the water. I hear they put on some pretty impressive acts there. At the cost of sanity and self-preservation. I spotted a few Showmen. You can tell by the stripes and sequins. And the, uh... slightly unhinged aura. They must be fun to drink with."
(Lennox's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "With the right motivation, anyone can accomplish incredible things."
Mother Charlotte: "So we are all born with the same potential, and all that's needed to unlock it is a muse. Tragic for those who never find one. Too unreliable. I say we all have the power to choose something to strive for."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Peak performance requires proper conditions. Sleep, nutrition, mental health."
Mother Charlotte: "They are... factors, certainly. But what of the person with the perfect routine, who never strays outside their box? They will never unlock their potential without pushing their limits. Sometimes, in our moment of greatest need, we find a different kind of power. One that we didn't even know existed."
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "I just got lucky."
Mother Charlotte: "Ah, the whims of fate. There to trick you into believing you did not create your own destiny. You entered the Game. You conquered its obstacles. You defeated each of the Twins in fair combat. And you have the gall to tell me you just 'got lucky'?"
(Mother Charlotte's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What inspired you to create the Game?"
Veracio Cruz: "A desire to uncover the true limits of humanity, the greatest capacity of strength and willpower that can be found in the heart of an individual. How many heroes lived and died without ever knowing their worth? How many warriors succumbed to defeat because no one told them it was possible to fight? I have pushed many past their limits. But without... something to fight for, they wither and crumble. The title of Sensation grants focus to dormant ambition. In an arena with true freedom, it is possible to test just how far that ambition will reach."
(Veracio Cruz's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What can you tell me about the Showmen?"
Sal Sticky Fingers: "Don't like 'em showboys. They're weird as weird gets. Sure, they got the whole circus clown act going, putting on shows and shit. Deep down, they're vicious. Wilier than a pack of starved, rabies-infected hyenas. 'Course, they're nothing I couldn't handle. Not that I've ever tested that hypothesis."
(Sal Sticky Fingers' dialogue) - ↑ Medical 'donations'
- ↑ Not enough
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