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Gametitle-FO3
Revelation 21:6. I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning... and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life, freely.— James reciting "Revelation 21:6"

James is the Lone Wanderer's father and is also Vault 101's resident doctor in 2277.

Background

Early life and Project Purity

James was born in 2226.[1] Later in his life he formed or met a group of scientists. One of them was Dr. Madison Li and another was Catherine, the love of his life. The group had one goal, to provide clean, free water for the Capital Wasteland, and was soon dubbed Project Purity. James was the chief scientist and leader of the project. It intended to purify all the water in the Tidal Basin at once. However, when his wife died after giving birth to the Lone Wanderer, he left the project to its fate and traveled to Megaton with the help of Star Paladin Cross. He then asked for entry for himself and his child into Vault 101 in return for becoming the Vault's new physician, and the overseer granted his request.[2]

Life underground

Upon being accepted by the Overseer into Vault 101, James becomes the Vault's new physician due to his extensive medical knowledge and training. James never warmed up to the totalitarian state of the vault, his only wish was to return to the Wasteland to bring clean water to the people of D.C. However, because of his love for his child, he decided to stay, raising his child until they became of age. Never forgetting this mission or his deceased love, he reminds himself of her and his mission to give purified water to the Wasteland through his love's favorite biblical quote, Revelation 21:6, which he framed and hung in his living quarters and office in the Vault. He went through great lengths to ensure his child's happiness, from throwing him or her parties even to giving him or her a BB gun that his best friend found in the reactor room, which he fixed using parts from Butch's switchblade.

Return to the world above

In 2277, James planned to return to the surface, leaving his child in the Vault to be safe. His assistant and friend Jonas distracted the guards so he could escape and therefore the Overseer had Jonas killed. Despite James' plans, the Lone Wanderer escaped the Vault and followed his trail. James first went to the small town of Megaton to visit Colin Moriarty, who he had met nineteen years ago on his way to the Vault. He asked Colin what's been happening in the wasteland since then and Colin told him about Galaxy News Radio. James left in a hurry and managed to make his way through the ruins of Washington, D.C., and reached the GNR building plaza, where he talked to Three Dog. He told James what had been happening recently in the wasteland, and then James left to find Dr. Li. Arriving at Rivet City, he asked for Madison's help to restore the project but she declined. Then he headed off to the old lab at the Jefferson Memorial. James soon found out he needed a Garden of Eden Creation Kit. He marked his way to Vault 112 to find Stanislaus Braun, the creator of the G.E.C.K., and to learn more about it. James arrived at Vault 112 and entered the Tranquility Lane simulation. He talked with Braun but didn't want to play any of his games, so Braun trapped him in the body of a dog named "Doc." The Lone Wanderer arrived in Tranquility Lane and soon frees their father. After a talk, the two return to Rivet City. At Rivet City, James successfully recruits Madison Li and her team and they head to the Jefferson Memorial. After arriving at the memorial, the scientists soon get things back on track, but then the Enclave arrive.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Augustus Autumn entered the facility under guard of Enclave soldiers. The activation room has been locked and Autumn begins to threaten James, demanding he hand over the activated Project Purity. James explains that the project isn't yet functional, but then, after being brow beaten, James submitted and caused a disruption within the activation room. This caused a massive radiation leak that killed everyone in the control room with the exception of Autumn. James then collapses and dies of radiation poisoning, telling his child "Run. Run!".

Interactions with the player character

Interactions overview

Interactions
Perk nociception regulator color
This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed.
Paving the Way
This character is a permanent companion.
25 Strictly Business
This character is a temporary companion.
Icon quest starter
This character starts quests.
FO76 ui icon quest
This character is involved in quests.
FO76 vaultboy firstaid
This character is a doctor.
FO76 ui trading team
This character is a merchant. Bottle cap -
Sells: -
2d20 Jury Rigger
This character can repair items. Max Repair condition: -
12 The American Dream
This character rents beds. Bottle cap -.
Icon severed ear color
This character drops an ear upon death (Contract Killer).
Severed
This character drops a finger upon death (Lawbringer).
Mesmetron icon
This character can be enslaved with the Mesmetron.

Quests

  • Baby Steps: James puts the one-year old Lone Wanderer in a playpen in their room which contains the You're S.P.E.C.I.A.L.! book. After a brief absence, James returns and shows the child their mother's favorite Bible quotation, and takes his child to see Amata.
  • Growing Up Fast: James has a small conversation with the Lone Wanderer at the beginning of their tenth birthday party, and later in the party gives them a BB gun as a birthday gift, and tasks them with killing a radroach.
  • Future Imperfect: James has a brief conversation with his now 16 year-old son/daughter before their G.O.A.T.
  • Escape!: James' unexpected absence from Vault 101 prompts a security crisis and propels the Lone Wanderer out into the wastes.
  • Following in His Footsteps: The Lone Wanderer searches for their dad. They can either go straight to Vault 112 (where he is being held); or they can follow the quest line, by going to Megaton, which directs them to Galaxy News Radio, which directs them to Rivet City, which directs them to the Jefferson Memorial which then leads them to Vault 112.
  • Tranquility Lane: James finds himself in Vault 112, held prisoner in the form of a dog in a virtual neighborhood created and controlled by Dr. Braun.
  • The Waters of Life: Father and child make their way first to Rivet City, then to the Jefferson Memorial, the site of Project Purity. As the Enclave storms the Memorial, James refuses to cooperate with Colonel Augustus Autumn. In the end, James floods the room with radiation, attempting to kill Autumn but killing himself in the process and with no success in his objectives.

Effects of player's actions

  • When the player is doing tasks to make Project Purity work, James will say that he heard of the player's actions. His reaction will change depending on how you resolved the Power of the Atom quest. If you disarmed the bomb, he will ask you if you truly did it, and will be proud of you if you say that you did. If you caused Megaton's destruction and admit it to James he will be disappointed (you can lie to him, but he won't really believe you unless you have very high Karma).
  • If you did not resolve the Power of the Atom quest at all, or if you talk to him again after he comments on the aforementioned quest, he will instead comment on your current Karma level. If you have good Karma, he will say "You're a good person, and it shows." If you have bad Karma, he will instead comment on how you "seem troubled, like there is a cloud hanging over you." If you have neutral Karma he will simply greet you in the default manner.

Other interactions

  • Birth scene: James delights over the birth of his child, presenting the child to his wife, who expresses pride and happiness before going into cardiac arrest. James then tries, to no avail, to save her.

Inventory

* Only while in Vault 101.

** On his way back to Rivet City.

Notes

  • James will change skin tone and facial features depending on how the character's chosen appearance during the birth scene.
  • You can find a holotape "Better Days" of him making advances on the Lone Wanderer's mother underneath the Jefferson Memorial.
  • James counts as a "companion", and as such will use up ammunition on any non-companion weapon (unlike most non-player characters, who have infinite ammunition).
  • Neither James' nor Catherine's surnames are known or stated in gameplay, thus allowing players the freedom to make up their own surname.
  • It seems that James has a preference for Scotch. According to Project Purity Personal Journal #5, he mentions having downed "half a bottle of Scotch" the night he broke into the Overseer's computer. When visiting his living quarters at Project Purity, the player can find a number of empty Scotch bottles around James' living area.
  • After freeing him from the Vault 112 simulation, the player can ask their father whether he enjoyed being a dog. James humorously replies that it "had its moments" but that he missed "having opposable thumbs."
  • In Fallout: New Vegas, the Courier can find a picture of James and Catherine in Vault 21, near The Strip snow globe.
  • In Vault 101 he has the same hair color as the Lone Wanderer, but in the Wasteland, his hair is gray-white due to aging.
  • The unused skin of Doc seems to be a German Shepherd, considering Stanislaus Braun is German. Also, it seems that the dog has different eye color - similar to Dogmeat.
  • James may not follow to the Jefferson memorial if you fast travel.
  • The Lone Wanderer can show their contempt and hatred for James, by saying to him, "Fuck you, Dad." Also, when Star Paladin Cross asks about him, the player can say that he "lived as he died," as an "asshole." Yet James simply says he's "sorry you [the player] feel that way" about the former.

Notable quotes

Appearances

James appears only in Fallout 3. A photograph of him appears in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes

  • James is voiced by actor Liam Neeson, after whom the character is also physically modelled. "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game. "Liam is absolutely amazing to work with," said Todd Howard, Executive Producer of Fallout 3. "It’s been a pleasure bringing the father to life and working with the wonderfully talented people at Bethesda on Fallout 3," said Neeson. "I hope the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results."
  • At one point in development, the story of Fallout 3 was different, and James would have become a super mutant. [3]

Bugs

  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 On the way back to Rivet City from Vault 112, he will sometimes get stuck while traveling with him. If this occurs, fast travel to Rivet City and wait 24 hours in the Science Lab. He will appear and start talking to Doctor Li. [verified]
  • Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 James might disappear if you fast travel to the Jefferson Memorial from Vault 112. [verified]

Gallery

References

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