4. Nigel West Dickens
Nigel West Dickens is one of a kind. At face value his characteristics are all negative: Mr West Dickens lives his life by lying to the unsuspecting and innocent that he can give them body enhancing and immortalising tonics. He is greedy and willing to cheat as many people as he can in order to increase his profit., but there is something perversely likeable about Mr West Dickens. Maybe it is his humorous conversations with John, or his continued determinism to achieve his goals, or the fact that he is basically such a loveable coward. The wagon he uses to carry his merchandise from place to place comes to characterise the man, like all good fraudsters he is never in one place too long. It would be fair to say that initially John has little love for this man, John sees through his deception and repeatedly threatens to end West Dickens' activities permanently. The interaction between John and Mr West Dickens is some of the best in the entire game. John is frustrated that he has to cooperate with a fraudster to capture Bill, while West Dickens acts like they are off on an adventure. The cynical and honest gunslinger mixed with the optimistic and falsifying businessman made for one hell of a companionship. West Dickens has a way of using his charm and wits to escape what would otherwise be fatal situations. He is one of the smartest characters in the game, he may not use his brains for good measure but he knows how to outwit other characters. Mr West Dickens does, however, stay true to his word in helping John. From despising the man John goes to befriending Mr West Dickens and shows his gratitude when releasing him from custody later in the game. Usually Nigel West Dickens is the sort of character you would want to get his comeuppance, but strangely enough he turns out to be a character you want to survive.