Buckets: Theories?

[clay puppington]

SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED LISA THE PAINFUL.

What's the deal with Buckets? What's he forcing his way into your party for? Why does he have a bucket on his head? Why's he watching you?
I've heard from a few people that he's apparently some movie producer in theory, but I highly doubt that. Anyone have any other theories on who/what he is?

My theory that I literally just came up with is that he's a few steps away from being a Joy mutant. He definitely has an addiction, and one of the most annoying ones to deal with in the game. What if he wears a bucket because of that? His face could be degenerated as a result, and his body as well, which would explain the way he dresses, except for his hands. He could've tried to quit Joy a long time ago, and because of it, had taken just enough to not become fully mutated, unlike the other mutants that you encounter, but nonetheless scarred from it.
He likely forces his way into your party because of what triggers it; you repeatedly playing Russian Roulette, forcing your party to risk their lives for mags. From the LISA Wikia article on Joy, it says that Joy makes "...These mutants also take decisions and actions fully depending on their most inner desires and selves..." Since Buckets isn't 100% mutated, he has a little bit of rationale left, but he's still voliatile as a result. I think that Buckets used to be an enforcer, cop, or something similar before the Flash, with a strong sense of justice that he can no longer ignore due to the Joy. After watching someone like Brad (who he's probably heard of) recklessly gamble the lives of others, he forces himself to join his party and watch over him, to make sure that he no longer makes any more unjust decisions. After all, it would be horribly unjust to allow Brad to deny the world a second chance at repopulating.
This is also kinda shown in the end, since he's one of the party members who won't cry while fighting you, although it's not supported nor denied by the fact that he says nothing but "..." to you. Finally, his minor Joy mutations may also explain the wicked gun feats that he pulls off, his agility, and the fact that he shoots through a coin on some of his attacks (I think) with impeccable aim.
What do you guys think?

[samuel jacob jellyroll johnson]

I really like this theory. I'm not sure about being scarred by the Joy - it seems pretty all or nothing. In most cases, it seems people are either normal or completely gone (although, SPOILER ALERT, Buzzo did have 2 stages of Joy mutation). Maybe he hides his identity out of shame or self-loathing and wants to adopt an entirely new persona. I like the idea about the strong sense of justice and it makes sense that'd he want to make sure the right thing was done (maybe to redeem himself for a past 'mistake' that would explain the self-loathing?).

Anyway, good job coming up with this. Was an interesting read. :)

[clay puppington]

Originally posted by Talking Pee Hole:

I really like this theory. I'm not sure about being scarred by the Joy - it seems pretty all or nothing. In most cases, it seems people are either normal or completely gone (although, SPOILER ALERT, Buzzo did have 2 stages of Joy mutation). Maybe he hides his identity out of shame or self-loathing and wants to adopt an entirely new persona. I like the idea about the strong sense of justice and it makes sense that'd he want to make sure the right thing was done (maybe to redeem himself for a past 'mistake' that would explain the self-loathing?).

Anyway, good job coming up with this. Was an interesting read. :)

Thanks! It's possible that he only did Joy a few times, which is why he has withdrawal, but no mutations. There's not a lot that would shed light on a mistake that he made in the past, unfortunately. It could've been a gambling incident, what caused him to be a nomad, causing the death of a family member... nonetheless, not being a mutant and instead being ashamed also makes plenty of sense.

[samuel jacob jellyroll johnson]

I think there is definitely a reason that he's become a nomad. He's like a stereotypical lone-wolf from a western or something - gun toting, intentionally mysterious, the coin flip, the poncho (although many of Olathe's residents wear these). So many possibilities and we'll never know what he's about exactly - delightfully frustrating. :)

[Codester]

I thought that even if you take joy a single time you will become a mutant no matter what and that continual use simply speeds up mutation/

[clay puppington]

Originally posted by Codester:

I thought that even if you take joy a single time you will become a mutant no matter what and that continual use simply speeds up mutation/

I don't think so. There's a few different people in the game that suffer Joy withdrawal, but no mutations. Buzzo says himself that you have to take a lot at a time in order to start the mutations.

[Murderman]

I think he's just some freak with a bucket.
Although I have always thought that he forced his way into your party for the gun you get. He probably waits up there for some shmuck(Brad) who's stupid enough to gamble his whole gang for some mags. That's why he forces his way into your party. It was his ultimate gamble.