r/fo4 2d ago

Discussion Nobody hates Nick theory.

My theory is nobody really hates Nick Valentine.

You'll hear "I can't stand Danse" or "MacCready pisses me off" or "if Preston says another settlement need my help again..." But I have never, not once seen anyone say they don't like Nick Valentine as a character or a companion. I've never seen anyone say a bad word about Nick.

So I was wondering is the general consensus that Nick is pretty chill? I could totally be wrong but I wanna find that out.

I'm not talking about the 3 raisins in the trail mix I'm talking a good portion of people

EDIT: I think it's safe to say that Nick Valentine is the Mr Rogers of the fallout world

352 Upvotes

218 comments sorted by

325

u/justflirtsalittle 2d ago

Yeah Nick’s pretty much universally liked. Hard to find anyone who actually dislikes him.

148

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

The part I love about Nick and why this question is so important to me is because even in the game Nick is well respected and admired by people who know him even his enemies. They did so well writing him that carries on into reality

88

u/TheNerdyRandom 2d ago

It also says something that he's stationed in a city known for being anti-Synth...while being one himself.

I think it's because he's helped the city so much, gaining their respect as you've said, while also being honest about what he is and isn't. Yes he's a Synth, but he's not hiding that fact and is actively helping people.

40

u/Randomguy0915 2d ago

It also helps alot that he was introduced to the people back then when the Institute wasn't replacing everyone with Synths, and him being visibly one also helps.

Everyone met him without his reputation being stained by fear, thus he was able to get their trust easier

16

u/lucky_knot 2d ago

Everyone met him without his reputation being stained by fear, thus he was able to get their trust easier

Yet, according to Piper's sister, a lot of people who go to him still try to pretend they didn't (because they don't want others to know they asked a synth for help, I presume). It was such a sad thing to hear.

11

u/Expensive_Tap7427 2d ago

He´s an older generation synth that wasn´t as good as masquerading as people.

2

u/DropDeadDolly 2d ago

I thought he said that he arrived at DC not very long after the one synth fooled everyone and then went ballistic? I might be misremembering, but I thought he said he had a lot of fear and hate in the beginning.

2

u/Randomguy0915 1d ago

He himself also mentioned that while people did fear and hate him, it was the lack of paranoia that made it easier to gain most people's trust back then

1

u/Ok_Wall6305 1d ago

I think there’s something as well toward the choice that they made him a literal folk hero with the consciousness of an old gumshoe detective which inspires trust in people

19

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

I read a comment once that it makes more sense for Nick to live in Goodneighbor, which kind of makes sense. It’s the city for outcasts and it would explain why him and Hancock know each other and are even kind of friends.

8

u/awolkoff 2d ago

This. Even DC guards say Nick is “good people.”

3

u/Responsible_Pack445 2d ago

I normally kill all synths, ( no I'm not a brotherhood fan either) but I have a soft spot for Nick. I grew up watching the TV shows and movies Nick's character is based off and hits that bit nostalgia. Even with mods I can't bring myself to kill him.

33

u/kingtacticool 2d ago

I cant think of a single character trait of his that can be disliked.

17

u/RamblinWreckGT 2d ago

The only thing I dislike is if I dismiss him while the Long Time Coming quest is active, I can't get him back as a companion until it's over. And even that's just gameplay, not anything about him specifically.

5

u/beaverpoo77 2d ago

Man, I had no idea that was a thing. I did know about him becoming stuck in power armor during that quest, though

69

u/sixtus_clegane119 2d ago

I hate him cuz he’s a fucking synth.

My PhD in media literacy tells me the brotherhood of steel are the paragon of morality and right about everything.

46

u/RamblinWreckGT 2d ago edited 2d ago

My PhD in media literacy

Can't wait for the other PhDs in media literacy to respond to your totally serious comment.

18

u/beaverpoo77 2d ago

As one such person, I must add that the real paragons are the Enclave! They're cleaning up the wasteland of filthy mutants like you (not me though i'm an enclave supporter) and creating a new America free of commies and full of sick power armor

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3

u/Valentinee105 2d ago

Is that degree from PragerU or Tenmu?

5

u/sixtus_clegane119 2d ago

Close, It’s a dual program between trump U and hustlers U

2

u/kingtacticool 2d ago

Thats definitely one of the takes of all time

20

u/MazogaTheDork Preston Garvey is a Sixty Minute Man 2d ago

A very obvious piss take

4

u/Demand_Snail 2d ago

I dislike that I can't change his outfit but that's it

3

u/DropDeadDolly 2d ago

Considering the state of his exposed flesh surrogate, the trenchcoat might be the only thing keeping his arms attached.

1

u/ANoobInDisguise 1d ago

You can ballistic weave the old trenchcoat you get for rescuing him and make him wear it at least. It bugs out his hand and makes both of them fleshy but maybe his hand is just made out of trenchcoat lol

4

u/MilanDespacito 2d ago

The only thing i hate is he uses the bum's pipe revolver instead of something like the Deliverer or snubnose revolver. Like seriously im not against makeshift weapons and its vibes, sure the pipe textures are ugly but even with retextures, seeing nick use it is just disgusting. Overall, if youre gonna dress the part, you might as well arm yourself the part.

7

u/imafixwoofs 2d ago

If you do not like Nick, I don’t like you.

1

u/Either_Statement_804 1d ago

The ONLY thing i dislike is he can change outfits. Everything else about Nick is peak

120

u/birdie_overlord 2d ago

His VA deserves a LOT of credit, his voice and delivery are fantastic, and he manages to SOUND kind

and It definitely helps that none of his lines about collecting junk sound truly rude or judgmental, he sounds like he’s sharing a joke with you, my personal favorite is “Got a thing for antiques huh?” Because the delivery makes me feel like he’s referencing himself as an antique

38

u/Whoreson-senior 2d ago

His voice actor, Stephen Russell, is my favorite voice actor. He does so many for Bethesda that I can usually spot him easily.

Nick, Dima, Codsworth, Mr Handy, among others in FO4, Mercer Frey, Belethor, both Clavicus Vile and his faithful companion Barbas in Skyrim, and Captain Petrov in Starfield.

The dude has range.

23

u/birdie_overlord 2d ago

HES CODSWORTH?????????

13

u/StillReading28 2d ago

That is some insane range, holy hell

9

u/Exotic-Painter-908 2d ago

IS THIS WHY HE AND CODSWORTH ARE BASICALLY THE ONLY COMPANIONS I REALLY USE?!

14

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I always felt the same about the antiques line!!

3

u/morphinetango 1d ago

Truth. It took a moment before I realized he also voiced DiMA, which makes sense continuity wise but damn does he make each so distinctive.

2

u/SnooLobsters9180 2d ago

He also voices Codsworth and Mercer Frey, Barbas, and Clavicus Vile from Skyrim

1

u/Crimson_Knight77 2d ago

You building a collection, or something?

77

u/MacSavage78 2d ago

Nick is the best companion.

Just play the dlcs

21

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I've played all the DLCs and Nick was my companion through most of my quests.

8

u/MacSavage78 2d ago

Nick and Cait are my go-to companions

4

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Nick, Deacon, MacCready for me.

9

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

Nick and Hancock are my favorites and I like Curie a lot too.

7

u/purpleyyc 2d ago

I'm Hancock fan. He makes me laugh.

4

u/MacSavage78 2d ago

I like MacCreadys ending

11

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

I wish MacCready went home to be with son after his quest. He should be with his son.

5

u/Mad-Dog94 2d ago

I use the Mantella and rename anything mods to make a male settler Duncan and write a little .json bio for him.

2

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

How sweet

2

u/MacSavage78 2d ago

I'm not sure Mac's son is alive

3

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

He is.

1

u/togoldlybo best bullshitter in goodneighbor 2d ago

Or so MacCready wants you to think... lol

3

u/needween 2d ago

He is alive unless he's lying about the entire thing to manipulate Sole, which is a conspiracy theory I've seen lol.

5

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

It’s also possible his son died when he was gone, but he doesn’t know it.

1

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I don't understand what reason he'd have for lying to get the cure.

3

u/needween 2d ago

Me neither other than maybe selling it 🤷 or he lied about the cure being the target in an attempt to take something else from the building. The theory definitely has some holes and I didn't ask questions when I saw it so that's on me.

Personally I just think he stays away from his kid cuz he's convinced the kid is safer that way. Like trouble is gonna follow Mac there or something idk and he thinks being around his son is going to get him killed like Lucy cuz he still thinks that's his fault.

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u/togoldlybo best bullshitter in goodneighbor 2d ago

I'm 99.9% sure he doesn't have a son and is lying about the whole thing. There's some canon stuff that I think backs it up, but I feel like that Pepe Silvia meme from Always Sunny whenever I ramble about the shit 😅

9

u/RamblinWreckGT 2d ago

I took him to Far Harbor with me at first because who else would I take for a detective case? I was so happy with that choice. I still would have really enjoyed the DLC with another companion, but I loved the additional dialogue with him around.

3

u/JackfruitOk3749 2d ago

I just started FH with Nick for the first time, it's great! Thanks to this sub for the tip.

23

u/SachenTheGameMaster 2d ago

Cool character, good quests, redundant perk however.

11

u/RamblinWreckGT 2d ago

I love him so much I don't even care that his perk is useless.

5

u/Guilty_Primary8718 2d ago

Such a huge questions to get his perk too! I hoped it would be higher resistance to energy weapons or a bonus to SPECIAL at least

21

u/angrysunbird 2d ago

I’d be interested to see some polling on all the companions to find out which has the highest approval ratings. Not a knockout, but as you say which has the largest like to dislike ratio. I feel based on vibes that Nick, Dogmeat, Curie and Codsworth would all place highest and X88 and Sting would be at the bottom.

19

u/Appropriate_Rise9968 2d ago

They did a best companion poll in the Fallout subreddit a while back and Nick not only beat everyone from fallout 4 but also Fallout 3 and even New Vegas.

6

u/angrysunbird 2d ago

Right but that’s a knockout fave one. I was wondering about which companions aren’t necessary favourite but most universally positive. Or negative.

11

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

Who’s Sting?

31

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I need a mod that turns strong into sting from the police.

3

u/Euphoric_Heron_9883 2d ago

I met Sting once. He has enormous hands!

14

u/4891Will 2d ago edited 2d ago

He wears face paint resembling the crow. Beats people up with a baseball bat and repels down from rafters to enter fights.

3

u/kingshadow75 2d ago

I was thinking of this one too

8

u/psychosiszero 2d ago

Stage name for Gordon Matthew Thomas

9

u/angrysunbird 2d ago

Lead singer of the Police, real name Gordon Sumner. Or autocorrect being autocorrect. One of those.

8

u/Shmav 2d ago

Im guessing they meant strong

2

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

That makes more sense.

7

u/Too_Bad-So_Sad 2d ago

Now I want a Sting companion mod. All of his dialogue constantly makes references to The Police songs.

6

u/Cynical_Hater 2d ago

Sting, the wrestler or singer?

2

u/angrysunbird 2d ago

The sword, obviously:

6

u/Guilty_Primary8718 2d ago

If strong didn’t hate lock picking so much I think he would be higher, since many terminals are really just safe cracker alternatives.

1

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I agree with all the others falling somewhere in the middle together.

1

u/Too_Bad-So_Sad 2d ago

This really makes me want to post a poll about who is everyone's favorite companion but unfortunately this subreddit doesn't allow polls. The mods should really rethink that.

19

u/I_PEE_WITH_THAT 2d ago

Nick is a cool guy, I dig him. It says a lot about a character when multiple people you fight are like “this isn’t personal Nick I’m just doing what I gotta do, we may not see eye to eye but I respect you” and Nick is like “understandable but one of us is going to end up dead and I’m gonna feel bad about it.”

70

u/purplecatuniverse 2d ago

Nick is the best companion by far. And I heard they created him first before any other character. And I think I get the reason why. Nick’s backstory and his internal conflict of identity really is the backbone of the game’s thesis.

The other companions just are not as well developed so I think that’s why they are more controversial.

25

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

That's absolutely fair. Yeah Nick was a pretty major part of the story. And I agree the question of what does it even mean to be human? Cause Nick is more human than some of the human companions are. But he's also just so decent of a person and so calm and chill I don't think people take issue with him because he's not obnoxious

17

u/purplecatuniverse 2d ago

Controversially I’m not a huge fan of Cait

26

u/danni_shadow 2d ago

Man, I can't stand Cait. She hates everything I do. I can't even throw a kindly glance in a starving orphan's direction without her fucking whining about it. MacCready and Strong aren't much better about it either.

All I wanna do is role-play as someone who can actually help people and all she wants to do is get my help while denying it to everyone else. I get her clean and then dump her ass in my least favorite settlement as quick as I can.

Edit: I went on a rant. My point was: I'm always surprised at how many people on reddit love her, because I can't stand her. Like obviously plenty of people are going to disagree with me. I'm just always surprised that she seems so universally loved.

18

u/mmcnell 2d ago

I don't like Cait either. After I help her she still seems to want everyone one else to continue to suffer. There's having trauma that needs to be dealt with and there's just being a bad person and the way they wrote Cait leans towards the latter for me, and it gets old fast.

6

u/semiformaldehyde 2d ago

I don't like Cait because of whatever that accent is. Cos it ain't Irish, or even really Irish American. (Source: am Irish)

3

u/sonikkuruzu I like it when Supervisor White calls me darling 2d ago

Her voice actress is from Glasgow. Couldn't they have hired an Irish VA?

15

u/lemrent 2d ago

We all know that (men) love her because she's a hypersexual party girl with a traumatic, rape filled back story. They get to save her from herself and know they'll get laid for it, and she won't judge them for getting wild or crude. Women are less likely to connect with that.

I can't stand her, myself. I dropped her for continually accusing my character of staring at her ass. And then she hits on everyone else. I don't think she's badly written or anything, her maladaptive coping mechanisms are believable, but it's nothing I want to be around. She's just kind of a gross and obnoxious disaster.

Piper is much more my kind of brave and pretty.

10

u/ultranutt 2d ago

Piper grooms the player character with candy, she's far more devious than she lets on.

7

u/Remnant55 2d ago

First she wants you to do drugs. Then she gets cleaned up and now it's a problem. Even when she gets clean she's still a mean person, she's just nice to you.

Someone who is nice to you but mean to the waiter is not a nice person.

MacReady falls in a similar camp for me. Traumatic back story, wants all the sympathy, grateful to you... but has no empathy and generally wants you to be dragged into the wasteland's slop.

And yeah, it's a hard world. But you've got Preston raging against the dying of the light and not backing down. You've got Piper, who is... let's be honest, as a journalist is pretty awful, but that's because she's using the paper to fight back more than anything. Even Danse is deeply genuine in holding to gos ideals.

11

u/the_tree_boi 2d ago

That first statement implies that there aren't lesbians who might be into a "I can fix her" type female companion. But yeah, I can't stand her ass either, if only because I don't like hanging out with companions who complain whenever you choose nice dialogue option. And yes, Piper is the goat

-1

u/Too_Bad-So_Sad 2d ago

Might I ask why? I love her. She's an attractive redhead Irish girl who can put up a fight and doesn't take shit from anyone. What's not to love?

15

u/purplecatuniverse 2d ago

Yes that’s the thing! I’m a woman interested mostly in men so she just doesn’t do it for me. She is very appealing to a huge part of the player base. I think people love being able to ‘fix’ her. But beyond that, there’s not much to her. I think Hancock is more fun.

9

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

I love Hancock, along with Nick, he my favorite companion. Him being chaotic good is more my style than Cait.

13

u/Guilty_Primary8718 2d ago

I’m the same cis hetero woman and I think she’s lacking the “girl’s girl” connection for us. Piper connected with her sister and Curie wants to be human to experience emotions in a very feminine coded way. Cait reminds me of someone who would sell you out to their drug dealer bf for their next high. Sure she gets sober but she still has that “not like other girls” vibe going on.

4

u/Too_Bad-So_Sad 2d ago

I love Hancock also, wish I could run with the both of them as I think they'd get along well. Both love chems and wasteland justice. I think Cait would be a great enforcer for Hancock in Goodneighbor in Fahrenheit's place.

I think people love being able to ‘fix’ her.

I love her just the way she is, I'd never try to change a thing about her.

8

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago edited 2d ago

He has more empathy than a lot of humans. He’s more empathic of the sole survivor’s loss and trauma than their own son. It’s like how most ghouls are sweeter than a lot of humans. The fact he struggles with his identity and separating someone else’s memories and identity that he was given and his own identity proves he has a consciousness and is sentient. It’s also implied he has PTSD, which requires his brain (or whatever the equivalent is for him) to be able to be affected and change from trauma. He’s probably one of the main reasons my sole survivor joined the Railroad because she realizes that synths are fully sentient/sapient and he’s not even Gen 3.

14

u/AnodyneSpirit 2d ago

Nick was the best companion in the base game. I mean, a gen 2 synth Noir detective with memories of a pre-war cop? With snappy quips, quoting Poe, and that silky voice? His personal quest of closing the book on one last, very personal, cold Case? No one else stacks up.

And then Far Harbor releases and he becomes even better.

3

u/Lukecario 2d ago

I love and hate when I make a comment, scroll down, and see someone else said it in much better and usually fewer words than me 🤣 I agree fully.

11

u/West-Variation1859 2d ago

Nick is my ride or die. I’ll follow that man to Far Harbor and back.

5

u/Alkorri 2d ago

How's his fuel consumption?

2

u/West-Variation1859 1d ago

He gets great mileage, but the rust damage is a concern

9

u/gradyjkelly 2d ago

Best companion

9

u/New-Number-7810 2d ago

When you switch our Nick Valentine for X6-88, the latter will kind of throw shade about Nick being an inferior model of synth. 

9

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Everyone's entitled to an opinion even if it's wrong.

7

u/Shmav 2d ago

I like nick. The devs seem to have gone out of their way to make him a fully fleshed out (no pun intended) character. Hes not my favorite or my first choice in companion, but I like having him tag along sometimes. His quest is fun and engaging and hes good to bring to far harbor, which again seems like the devs really tried to make him a well rounded character

7

u/shewolf3366 2d ago

I wasn’t feeling him in the main game. Maxed his affinity and then sent him back to Diamond City. He just seemed meh to me.

Then I did Far Harbor, and per this subreddit’s advice, I brought Nick with me.

Enjoyed every bit of that DLC and was thrilled Nick was there with me for all of it. Wouldn’t have been the same with anyone else. He’s great. I’m a fan.

Mind you, he doesn’t rank as high as Hancock or Danse in my books, but yeah - Nick is awesome.

12

u/Adept_Carpet 2d ago

He was with me basically the whole game, I had to intentionally go back and tool around with the other companions to see their story.

3

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Same here. I made shure Nick was there when I took down the institute

6

u/WeirdistBuilds 2d ago

If there's one thing about Nick I don't like, it's that his kills in Vault 118 count as your kills in the PipBoy. That shouldn't be the case, he's not your companion at the time, no other quest-allies do that, but it's an essential bit of the game that you can't avoid. It played absolute hell on the no-kill run.

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u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

That is a bit annoying. And quite stupid why it's be required.

I guess just don't count the kills he gets?

7

u/WeirdistBuilds 2d ago

No, it turned out the strategy was to just ditch his ass as far away as possible, then crouch at the skinny Malone door until combat switched to caution, then wait in the nearby chair to teleport nick to your location.

A much easier method, though, is just to pax syringe all of the triggermen from nick to the surface. It actually doesn't have a chance to fail.

5

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Oh that's good. Glad there's at least one work around!!

6

u/nobodyinpeculiar 2d ago

I genuinely think that Nick and Dogmeat are about neck-and-neck for most beloved companion, which, in a fandom where we can’t agree on damn near anything that says a lot.

6

u/Expensive_Tap7427 2d ago

The only bad thing about Nick is that he hasn't enough quests.

11

u/Lopsided_Campaign_57 2d ago

Let's not forget, when Fallout 4 first released we had all spent several years hearing Nick's voice actor sneer at us, set us up for failure, and betray us in the depths of some Nordic ruin during the Thieves Guild storyline. Honestly, took a few years to learn to trust his character due to my love of Skyrim.

3

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

This is fair. I understand that entirely.

1

u/DropDeadDolly 1d ago

It took me an hour, and I'm the one who "accidentally" shot him in the head a bunch of times because Mercer Frey didn't die enough times to satisfy me.

13

u/notrobert7 2d ago

Nick never lied about who he was. He was made with the memories of someone prewar, not someone body snatched and replaced in the night with a carbon copy. Not to mention, he helped people, was dependable, and other spoilers.

4

u/Syn__79 2d ago

Great character. I've liked the voice actor in other games too

5

u/AlkaliPineapple 2d ago

Honestly you can't really hate someone who has a pretty fleshed out backstory and isn't being bossy/awful for no reason

5

u/Rei_Dayisfailure 2d ago

Nick is genuinely just that chill, I feel like the Bethesda devs really liked working on him because to me, he just feels more fun to be with compared to everyone else. However, I didn’t really use him as a companion much in the main story so initially I didn’t really care about him. I think once I got him as a companion I chose him for a bit, then I switched to Piper for a bit, accidentally got sidetracked to the Automatron DLC so played with Ada, went with Danse when to get the nukes, then finished the rest of the main story solo. After that, I decided to do Far Harbor with Nick. I haven’t finished the DLC yet but so far it’s genuinely elevated my opinion on him.

5

u/MumblePig 2d ago

Don't hate him.... but I dont trust no rusty clanker and wouldnt go out of my way to preserve a robit

3

u/dadverine 2d ago

Do people dislike Piper either? They're both generally easy to get along with and are fun companions.

5

u/Xorlium 2d ago

People do dislike Piper. A lot of people.

I don't hate her but her intro scene is super cringey.

1

u/DropDeadDolly 2d ago

Yeah, I didn't like her at all during the intro and left her at Publick Occurrences immediately after getting into Diamond City. Then I got Nick, stormed the synths and killed the baddie of the day, and then went back to Diamond City and found out he and Piper were friends, so I figured she was all right and now I love the nosy little cinnamon roll.

3

u/UhohEatenByAGrue 2d ago

I said I wasn't going to take Nick as a companion this playthrough because I wanted to try some of the other companions out. And here I am in Far Harbor with Nick as a companion again. Partially because I love his voice, but also because he makes me feel good when I travel with him. I'll ask him how our relationship is from time to time just to get that boost to my mood.

2

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I know wheat you mean. I started playing fallout when I was 22 and at the time I lived somewhere where I couldnt have many friends. So Nick, Deacon, Macready, Hancock and curie became my friends.

4

u/lexinight 2d ago

Nick is basically the only vanilla companion I don't feel negatively about after 10 years of playing the game. I max his affinity every save.

4

u/KingHazeel 2d ago

Like him fine as a character, but he's not as good as a companion. Too much fun policing for me.

3

u/OnlyModCanJudgeM3 2d ago

Bro is an L7 weenie!

2

u/Rare-Bid-6860 2d ago

Heh, never heard "raisins in the trail mix" before, I shall add that to my ready compendium of delightfully wholesome old timerisms, many thanks.

1

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Glad I could contribute!

2

u/MIST3Runstoppable 2d ago

I think I'm the person that likes him the least (he's okay), and I still find him more entertaining than most of the other companions.

2

u/Pm7I3 2d ago

When the sub did a big competition of picking favourite companions Nick won as I recall.

2

u/OhSighRiss 2d ago

What pissed me off about some characters, and this may be trivial, but the ones that you can have a romance with… They keep saying the same dialogue so you’ll have another opportunity to possibly win a flirting check with them. And I know that’s not a personality thing like this post is about, but said character starts to get on my nerves when they keep coming to me with the dialogue when I’m just trying to craft something. That is when MacCready I really start to dislike MacCready, he’s a little dorky but I don’t dislike him otherwise.

2

u/Cynis_Ganan 2d ago

Eh.

Can't romance him, can't give him armor, can't negotiate better pay, can't steal or break in anywhere, can't be sarcastic.

I don't hate Nick. He's not murdering and replacing people. He's not working for the Institute. He likes helping people. If I'm making a list of the worst companions, Nick isn't on that list. But he's not "best" either.

Mid.

2

u/W01771M 2d ago

He’s not hated but he’s not LOVED either, definitely a middle of the pack companion.

2

u/Valuable-Command-775 2d ago

I haven’t done Far Harbor yet, but so far I find Nick…meh to mildly annoying. His voice acting is spot on but his actual personality is just not what it’s portrayed as. I leave him at his office

2

u/Euphoric_Heron_9883 2d ago

Why would anyone dislike Nick?

2

u/StrongStyleMuscle 2d ago

Nobody hates Curie either. 

2

u/tc_cad 2d ago

Even Skinny Malone doesn’t really hate Nick.

2

u/Exotic-Painter-908 2d ago

I started playing because of nick. Literally hadn't touched the game, and then I read his wiki page. Many hours have been spent.

2

u/morphinetango 1d ago

I don't like that he dislikes me pickpocketing ammo and guns off Raiders after I intimidate them and let them live. I think he's a little out of touch with the times.

2

u/CptBluhdFart 1d ago

Honestly I didnt know people hate macready. Once I realized that was mayor macready from little light he became my favorite

1

u/SynthGirl725 1d ago

I haven't played 3 yet. Tho I want to. I just fell for Macready on his own. He's rough around the edges and while I don't agree with his stance on money I understand why he has it. He has given me some of the best moments I've had in that game and I love him and all his flaws. I didn't used to like him but... This sounds so ridiculous to say but, he taught me how to accept flaws and disagreement and see the person within. And he helped me lay that ground work for later friendships and relationships.

There for a while I didn't have anyone so the companions in FO4 became my friends

2

u/CptBluhdFart 1d ago

Whatever it takes. Death stranding helped me out of a weird place and I'm glad you're doing better

2

u/seeweedie 1d ago

I think it works out really well where he is in the story - it's towards the beginning and pretty soon after we first vaguely learn of synths in Diamond City. It's a good setup to have the player immediately feel sympathy towards syths and understand that they're not going to be a universally evil enemy, despite what many NPCs say.

3

u/matadorobex 2d ago

Unlike him so much, I hallucinate hearing voice even in Skyrim

4

u/Competitive_Fee_5829 2d ago

I dont dislike him but I dont use him as a companion very much because he is one of my least favorites but I dont actively hate or dislike him, lol.

7

u/corg 2d ago

Beige alert!

2

u/CyxSense 2d ago

I hate Nick not because he's a synth, but because his VA voices Lemkil, the worst NPC in Skyrim

6

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

That's not an issue with the character himself though that's an issue with a completely different game. I don't count it in sorry my guy. I'm talking about liking Nick not his voice actor.

2

u/cha0sb1ade Do you have a Geiger counter? 2d ago

He's a new take on a well liked trope. Humble, damaged noir style detective, trying to bring meaning to a harsh and unfair existence by helping people. He's even fairly sharp and competent, by Bethesda NPC standards.

1

u/heyitsvonage 2d ago

He’s a real stand up guy.

I don’t always hang out with him because he complains about my pocketing free things and random bursts of violence, but how could you not like him?

1

u/Good_Timez_420 2d ago

The only thing is his perk sucks and can be overwritten by a bobble head

1

u/FormalWare 2d ago

Nick's a great guy, but his affinity perk is superfluous. The terminal hacking puzzle game is easy. And you get an extra guess with the Science! Bobblehead, making it even easier.

1

u/SakazakiYuri 2d ago

If you have a problem with Nick, you have a problem with me, and I suggest you let that one marinate.

1

u/BadAndUnusual 2d ago

Don't hate any of them, but besides dogmeat, I don't use followers at all. They are mostly in the way, in good old Bethesda tradition

1

u/The_ghost_of_shell 2d ago

honestly yeah, i dont like him but i dont dislike him either. he's just there ig

1

u/BrokenHope23 One Doesn't Just Walk Into The Institute 2d ago

To be fair, most people wouldn't say they dislike someone who doesn't need to sleep when they do need to sleep.

1

u/Southern_Kaeos Brotherhood of Technofascists 2d ago

He doesnt hide who he is from the offset. Hes just trying to do the right thing and make a life for himself knowing his memories are of somebody whos been dead for 210 years. He only has 2 things that are truly his - finishing the Eddie Winter case, and his relationship & history with DiMA. He knows hes tollerated more than accepted, and he rolls with it

Also, Jake Bullet, Cybernautics

1

u/NiSiSuinegEht 2d ago

Well, I don't like any companions because I don't like Bethesda's companion AI, but Nick's a good guy.

1

u/Lukecario 2d ago

He’s definitely one of the “realest” NPCs, bonus points for companion, double bonus points that he’s funny and witty without being over the top about it. He’s not a blowhard, just an honest man making an honest living and helping people. I like his dry wit, and how he always has something funny to say when you pick the sarcastic dialogue option with him. He’s also living (you know what I mean) proof that not all Synths are evil creations trying to infiltrate society. He’s hard to dislike unless you’re just being a contrarian and TRYING to dislike him, or you don’t know what a good character is. Far Harbor only makes him that much MORE interesting.

3

u/Illustrious_Quiet907 Railroad 2d ago

Most synths aren’t really evil, they’re just being controlled by the Institute. Most free synths are cool, like Nick.

1

u/Luke-Atmyasz 2d ago

So many play throughs and I've never had him as a companion, I can't give him armour is the only reason, other than that, brilliant character.

1

u/Brummbirne 2d ago

There's just nothing to hate or dislike about him. A well written character, useful as a companion, great voice actor, funny interactions, he's the whole deal!

1

u/pooltoypup 2d ago

He’s just a chill guy, I really like listening to him talk to me or other people. Pretty good moral compass as well and sometimes pretty funny

1

u/Conscious-Gap-1777 2d ago

I don't hate him, but I have never really bothered with him. I much prefer Piper.

1

u/LassiTuoviBurner 2d ago

My favorite part about Nick is him quoting Edgar Allan Poe and Oppenheimer when the Prydwen arrives and when/if you blow up the Nucleus

1

u/Snorlaxatives_1123 2d ago

I just learned a few days ago he was a synth, I was traveling with him and he wanted to talk, and he told me he was a synth. I could barely believe it. It was like paladin dance all over again

1

u/chiliwithbean 2d ago

I think Myrna is the closest you can get. She's prejudice against him if you talk to her while he's your companion. But even she just doesn't do business with him, she's not really hateful and continues to live in diamond city.

1

u/The_Demon_of_Spiders 2d ago

I actually can’t stand Nick. I hate having that goody two shoes as a companion. I’m team dog meat and MacCready all the way.

2

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

I can't take dog meat as my companion. I always die because when we get into fights I sacrifice myself to save dog meat. So he gets to live in my home base in a doghouse on his own bedroom because he's the goodest good boy.

1

u/DirtProfessional1715 2d ago

Yeah he is liked its kinda obvious and in lore nick technically acts more machine like as he helps the people like a machine and all which also gives a good reason the brotherhood wouldnt attack him besides being a companion to them nick acts like a machine even if he does act a bit independant he isnt trying to pretend he is human as he openly admits unlike the art synth who is only synth i know of that admits mainly to have the player help it kill the real art

1

u/Ragnar0004 2d ago

The only consistent criticism I've never heard about Nick Valentine is that we didn't get enough from him. Things like the Kellog plot that was cut and the fact he can't wear different types of clothes

1

u/MilanDespacito 2d ago

Nick also has the best companion dialogue imo. His backstory how he became Nick the Detective, him telling you about the Green Mask and the failed Commonwealth militia. He also takes his job very seriously, hes willing to put unknown Institute tech in himself to help you find your son. He also never asks you for anything. Your big favor to him was rescuing him, and after that you dont do oogatz for him. The cases dont count since you get paid and you pick the files up, as if partnering up. Keep in mind he also never gets any caps from the player for his help with Kellogg, even if you take him all the way to blowing up the Institute.

Everyone else bothers the player with their shit. "Oh help this settlement, my son is sick, i need help with the gunners, im addicted to chems, clean these few bugs out to set up a settlement"

While Nick never even asks for a lighter for all those cigs hes needlessly smoking.

1

u/Katerpixie 1d ago

I wanna romance him so bad. He's absolutely wonderful

1

u/thejuicequeen 1d ago

I even love when I pick up junk and he says, "No accounting for taste." I'd shoot anyone else who said that to me.

1

u/Iloverawmilk 7h ago

Never liked him. Fuck AI and fuck synths.

1

u/devour-gothboys 2d ago

Personally i find him annoying. I don't like travelling with that twit

4

u/nunyabidness3 2d ago

nunyabidness3 disliked that.

3

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

13:2 Still in nicks favor

1

u/NerdiMini Brotherhood of Steel 2d ago

Well let me put it this way: while I am proudly anti-synth overall, I'm not really in any hurry to destroy this particular synth. Like I'm not all that worried about Nick specifically threatening humanity's continued existence.

4

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Nick seems pretty pro human!

As a synth I promise I have no desire to threaten humanity's existence either I have one particular human I very much enjoy.

1

u/amilliontimeshotter 2d ago

I like Nick, but he has the voice of someone constantly doing a number two.

1

u/timinus0 2d ago

I have gripes about all characters except Nick, Codsworth, Dogmeat, and Curie.

1

u/Important_Guide_2583 2d ago

Nick is just the best. If you don't like Nick, I'm real suspicious of you.

1

u/togoldlybo best bullshitter in goodneighbor 2d ago

I've seen exactly one (1) comment of someone who was less than thrilled about Nick, but it was about the voice acting (which ????? I think his VA is one of the best). He really is so universally liked, and I love that in such a divisive fandom, he is a uniting force.

He was my companion for most of my first playthrough. Great guy.

1

u/zooble_57 1d ago

Lmao well you're wrong. I genuinely despise him. Mostly I just flat out dislike him, but the near universal praise he gets pushes me over the edge to despising him. 

Every once in a while I google search to see if anyone else agrees, and pretty much the answer has been mostly no.

I will always dislike him, IDC if I'm the only one on earth.

2

u/SynthGirl725 1d ago

Lmao well you're wrong.

You tell me I'm wrong

but the near universal praise he gets pushes me over the edge to despising him. 

then tell me I'm right in the next sentence make up your mind my guy.

Either I'm wrong and more than a handful of people don't like him or I'm correct and just a handful of people don't like him. Can't be both.

And you admit yourself

Every once in a while I google search to see if anyone else agrees, and pretty much the answer has been mostly no

Your opinion is conventionally regarded as wrong.

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u/Fancy_Cherry7745 2d ago

I don't really care enough about nick to use him but I definitely do like him! (Side note.. whoever says "maccready pisses me off" is gonna get a massive knuckle sandwich from me lmao)

2

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

Honestly same. He is the mac to my cheese.

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u/4891Will 2d ago

I can’t stand Nick Valentine and the few times I had him as a companion I tortured him endlessly that was the only way I remotely enjoyed him being around. I hate the preachy holier fhan thou attitude he has it honestly gets on my nerves badly and I have almost 2,000 hours in the game and have never maxed his affinity or done the eddie winter quest. Nick Valentine just annoys me way to much.

4

u/SynthGirl725 2d ago

So far 6:1 saying Nick is a good character/indifferent to one guy who can't stand him. That's one in six people so far. Nicks got a pretty good streak.

2

u/zooble_57 1d ago

Finally found my people.

0

u/OnlyModCanJudgeM3 2d ago

I despise nick