Fallout 3/Heartwarming
- This might be a YMMV, but when the light from the radiation began to fade, the first thing you see is some man-shaped figure. I thought it was the Lone Wanderer's father. It was completely self inflicting, but I thought the Wanderer mistaking Jefferson as James was a CMOH.
- Anyone can finish Moira's survival guide by half-assing and bull-shitting their way to its completion, but doing it right? It goes on to to become one of the most helpful resources in the entire wasteland and even helps the Courier during their travels in the Mojave 4 years later.
- You can encounter the body of a murdered wastelander, who has a letter addressed to his brother. He apologizes for stealing his brother's most valuable goods, and gives directions to find his treasure. In the hiding place, all the treasure is is a couple of old comic books. Virtually worthless, but not to them.
- Three Dog frequently updates his listeners on the actions of the player character, with a particular spin placed on his/her exploits depending on whether you have good, neutral or bad karma. If you reach Level 20 with good or very good karma, this is what Three Dog will say about you—and it will warm your heart to know your actions have been appreciated:
All right, children. It's time for Three Dog to be honest with ya. Here it is, plain as day - I used to think we were all well and truly fucked. The good ole U.S. of A... ahhh, she's a mess. I had pretty much written us all off. But that was before a certain kid from Vault 101... I've always given it to you straight, have I not? For good or ill, Galaxy News Radio has been the voice of truth on these airwaves. So believe me when I tell you that I was wrong. Dead wrong. That kid from Vault 101 is the Last, Best Hope of Humanity. We'll get through this, children. You just gotta believe. For now, listen close, as I share yet another of our friend's adventures.
- In an earlier example, right after meeting James' child, he ends his radio message with a plea to James to let his son/daughter know how they are doing, because their child misses them.
- Finishing the violin quest for Fallout 3 and listening to it on the radio, while looking over the wasteland.
- Agatha is a sweet old lady who's managed to use her musical talent and find joy in a Crapsack World. There's nothing about her that isn't heartwarming, and it's a colder bastard than this troper who can give the last violin in the world to anyone but her.
- And it was from a Vault that turned the dwellers into mindless killing machines, you were giving hope back to the wasteland, another chance to listen to that sweet music again.
- After completing the Reilly's Rangers quest and turning in some map locations, at some point you'll run across Donovan in a fight with some supermutants. He tells you that he tracked you on the Geomapper so he could give you some items. If you ask why, he just smiles and says "Rangers take care of their own."
- After hours of hard work and determination the feeling you get from having a good lone wanderer climb atop a cliff or building to survey the capital wasteland. Yeah, raiders still harass travelers, but as settlements grow and flourish they'll slowly be thinned out. Okay, some people are still barely scrapping by just to make it through the day, but you've helped as much as you could, saved countless lives, and made several much better. Yes, the world is still irradiated, full of hostile wildlife, and mostly withered, but thanks to you, Harold, and your dad it has a legitimate chance of recovery. Things might still be pretty bad and it'll never be the same as it was before, but in a couple of centuries or maybe even decades natural life will return to the wasteland. Green trees, clean water, people who can live in safety and comfort... War. War never changes... and neither does humanity.
- That was beautiful.
There is one beautiful moment at the end of the main story. Your father was slain, his last attempt to bring life to the wastes was in the iron fist of the Enclave. You fought every last one of them to the man and got justice by your father by slaying his murderer, Colonel Autumn. Now his Project, his one dream, the result of everything he has worked and bled for is filled to the brim with radiation and ready to explode at any second. Selflessly, you dose up on Rad-X and step inside the chamber to stop this horrible nightmare. But wait! He never told you how to do it! He never gave you the code to activate the system! If you don't activate it, everything you worked for will be for naught! Then your father's voice rings in your head. His loving voice speaking to your heart: "'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.', Revelations 2:16. It was your mother's favorite passage..." '2-1-6', you type into the keypad and pray that it will work. You press the enter key. As the machine whirs to life and slowly fills the chamber with radiation, you fall on your weakened legs. The room slowly goes dark. "Thank you... Dad."
Two weeks later, you wake up and realize wake up and look around, seeing Elder Lyons has been keeping tabs on your status, as well as any followers you may or may not have had. You just found that you hadn't died and can't find peace in the afterlife as you thought you were going to. You ask Elder Lyons what happened and he explains everything that's been happening. You realize that you didn't die because it wasn't your time to die just yet. Some unearthly, all-knowing entity decided you needed to live because the Wasteland still needs you. So you get up and decide to continue to fight the Enclave until every last one of those bastards is dead.
- A minor example: Have good karma and have Fawkes, a Super Mutant, follow you. He'll remark that people are very trusting to let you take him with you. He's right. Because of your good karma, they know you will not hurt them and trust that you'll protect them if Fawkes suddenly snaps.
- One that's also pretty funny as well as heartwarming: immediately after the Ant-Agonizor/Mechanist Quest in Caterbury Commons (if you convince one or both of them to give up peacefully), put on their costume before leaving town. A kid, apparently a fan of the Ant-Agonizor or Mechanist, will pop out of nowhere and ask for your autograph. The kid's sheer excitement is hilarious, and it's really sweet that even in the Wasteland, at least one of its young residents can still have an idol, and just be a kid. You can even give the kid the costume!
- What's even more special? You really are a hero like the kid thinks you are; you just fight different battles.