This is not a topic to discuss how Mr. House is ''supposed to be a neutral faction''.

So yeah, you just walk into that sacrificial chamber of his, open it up, and tell him you're going to let him live. The guy screams at you that he'd rather die, yet you lose karma if you put him out of his misery. Apparentlyhttp://images2.memegenerator.net/ImageMacro/4828583/Open-Mr-House-%5Bcensored%5D-leave-him-there.jpg?imageSize=Medium&generatorName=Fallout-3 is what a good guy would do? lol.

...

Are the devs sadists?

You should lose karma for doing anything to him.

Even if you didn't torture him, you are still responsible for his death.

The reason is probably that in the original plan for the NCR gambit (the closest thing the a "good karma" playthrough available), an alternative was presented that allowed you to let House live. Under the new terms, the NCR would annex New Vegas, but it would remain a commercial property nominally owned by Mr. House, who would receive NCR citizenship. This parallels the ability to resolve things with the Khans nonviolently, and forge alliances with the Brotherhood and the Boomers. Unfortunately, this was taken out, leaving only bad karma solutions.

source?

That NCR gambit would be the best ending possible. I think nearly everybody would do it. Its probably better to be able to debate what the best ending is, and debating whether to choose house or NCR

Either one it think gives a good ending with many positive side effects.

Similarly they booted the House allying with BoS to stop that play being too good. Obsidian did a pretty good job of making none of the factions perfectly righteous.

You still kill the guy, how is it not bad to do so?
Don't you lose more karma for disconnecting him though? *shudder*

well, it's not bad to kill him, because you're putting him out of his misery

If I told the lass who leads the Vegas Followers of the Apocalypes I was about to crucify her, and she screamed she'd rather be killed, and I did it, the fact of the matter is you's still killing a good guy, this applies to Mr. House, he isn't a white knight yes, his Karma is set to neutral in the GECK, but he's one of the good guys, and he's done alot of good, he saved Las Vegas from annhilation, he rebuilt alot of The Strip, he has the plan to rebuild what the people of his generation foolishly ruined. I won't paint him as Lyon's white knights, but he has done alot of good for humanity, and even with House killing the BoS, if you do it right, it's possible to get one of the 'Very Good' endings, no one evil being killed off, crushing the fiends, et cetera.

And his misery is caused by you.

Killing anyone should decrease your karma.

I'm "Good Natured" so they call me Mr Good-Karma.

Yeah, but you already lose karma for causing the misery.

His agent saved your life.
You kill him.
Bad Karma.


Slightly OT: Am I the only one who thinks Karma is screwy in this game? I can loot a man I just killed for good Karma but not the ammo box that belonged to him? Am I dense or is this just weird?
I hope F4 just sticks to reputation and drops Karma altogether.

The karma system in NV is so secondary, it's no great surprise that it's bugged. You also lose karma for looting Legion footlockers, even though you've just slaughtered the Cottonwood camp with no karma loss whatsoever.

As for Mr. House's annexation offer, it's on the Fallout wiki. Not sayingf that makes it canon, but I thought it looked pretty reliable. It's under "Offer to permix annexation". Here is what it says:

Upon further reflection, I have determined that it is my best interests, and the best interests of the New California Republic, to transfer sovereignty of the Vegas Strip to the NCR.
If all terms are agreed upon, annexation would occur one year from today.
a) I am to be granted full status as a citizen of the NCR and immunity from prosecution for any activities prior to annexation.
B) I will be recognized as the sole proprietor of the Vegas Strip, a commercial property.
c) I will be subject to all laws of the NCR, including personal and property taxes.
d) NCR functionaries will police the Strip; I will retire my Securitron police force and limit their movement to the grounds and interior of the Lucky 38.
Please confirm that these terms are agreeable. I do not foresee any objections on your part.
Robert Edwin House President, CEO, and Sole Proprietor The New Vegas Strip

What if someone attacks you?