Spoilers / Endings

Fallout 3 Guide

The Endings Mechanics

This is placed at the end of the file because this section holds SPOILERS.  Do not read this if you don't want to spoil the game for yourself if you haven't beaten it.  You've been warned. The game claims to have over hundred endings, perhaps even more.  This may be true, but it's perfectly possible to view all endings in just a few play-throughs.  Read on..

Prologue Sentence

1.
The lone wanderer ventured forth from Vault 101, discovering the fate of his father.

Karma Affected Sentence

1.
[GOOD KARMA]: The Capital Wasteland proved a cruel, inhospitable place, but the lone wanderer refused to surrender to the vices that had claimed 50 many others.  Selflessness, compassion, and honor guided this noble soul.
Lincoln Memorial Picture:     Side with the Slaves in the Misc. Quest: Head of State to get this picture.
Old Lady with Violin Picture: Don't finish Head of State, but complete the Misc.
Quest: Agatha's Song.
Peaceful View Picture:        Don't complete Head of State and Agatha's Song.

2.
[NEUTRAL]: The Capital Wasteland proved a cruel, inhospitable place.

3.
[EVIL]: The Capital Wasteland praved a cruel, inhospitable place and the lone wanderer ultimately surrendered to the vices that had claimed so many others.  Selfishness, greed, and cruelty guided this lost soul.  These were the values that guided a lost soul through countless trials and triumphs.
Remains of Megaton Picture: If you blew up Megaton.
Burning Tree Picture:       Don't finish the Misc. Quest: Power of the Atom,
and finish the Oasis Quest by burning Harold to death (for example with a flamer).
Third Picture:              Don't finish Power of the Atom or Oasis (burning
                            Harold, that is).

A Matter of Life or Death

1.
[Step into the Control Chamber and activate the Purifier:]
But it was not until the end of this long road that the Lone Wanderer learned the true meaning of that greatest of virtues - sacrifice. Stepping into the irradiated control chamber of Project Purity, the child followed the example of the father sacrificing life itself for the greater good of mankind.

2.
[Let the Purifier explode:]
It was not until the end of this long road that the Lone Wanderer was faced with that greatest of virtues - sacrifice, but the child refused to follow the father's selfless example.

3.
[Have Elder Lyons step into the Control Chamber and activate the Purifier:]
It was not until the end of this long road that the Lone Wanderer was faced with that greatest of virtues - sacrifice, but the child refused to follow the father's selfless example, instead, allowing a true hero to venture into irradiated control chamber of project purity and sacrifice her own life for the greater good of mankind.

Siding with the Enclave YES/NO

1.
[Don't add the FEV:]
Thankfully, when selected by the sinister president to be his instrument of annihilation, the Wanderer refused. Humanity with all its flaws was deemed worthy of preservation. The waters of life flowed at last - free and pure, for any and all. The Capital Wasteland at long last was saved.

2.
[Don't add the FEV and have Raven Rock destroyed:]
Thankfully, when selected by the sinister president to be his instrument of annihilation, the Wanderer refused. Humanity with all its flaws was deemed worthy of preservation. The waters of life flowed at last - free and pure, for any and all. The Capital Wasteland at long last was saved.

3.
[Add the FEV:]
Sadly, when selected by the sinister president to be his instrument of annihilation, the Wanderer agreed. Humanity will be preserved, but only in its purest form. The waters of life flowed at last, but the virus contained within soon eradicated all those deemed unworthy of salvation. The Capital Wasteland, despite its progress, became a graveyard.

Male or Female

Only the picture is different here:
1. Male
So ends the story of the Lone Wanderer, who stepped through the great door of Vault 101 and into the annals of legend. But the tale of humanity will never come to a close, for the struggle of survival is a war without end, and war –war never changes.

2. Female
So ends the story of the Lone Wanderer, who stepped through the great door of Vault 101 and into the annals of legend. But the tale of humanity will never come to a close, for the struggle of survival is a war without end, and war –war never changes.

Race & Gender

1. African American Male
2. African American Female
3. Asian Male
4. Asian Female
5. Caucasian Male
6. Caucasian Female
7. Hispanic Male
8. Hispanic Female

In Summary

3x3x3x2x8 endings = 432 endings.  It's a little far-fetched though, because you can easily get to see all endings by playing the game 2 to 3 times.