Tinker Joe is a merchant patrolling near the RobCo Facility in 2277.
Background
Tinker Joe is an old junk and scrap merchant who has come across a selection of fully working, non-hostile robots.
Daily schedule
Tinker Joe moves between the following locations:
- Northwest of the RobCo Facility Building.
- The parking area south of the RobCo Facility Building (around 8 in the morning).
- The cross road east of Tenpenny Tower, south of the RobCo Facility.
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
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This character is a permanent companion. | |
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This character is a temporary companion. | |
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This character starts quests. |
- |
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This character is a doctor. |
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This character is a merchant. |  10-90Sells: miscellaneous |
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This character can repair items. | Max Repair condition: - |
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This character rents beds. | -.
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This character drops an ear upon death (Contract Killer). | |
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This character drops a finger upon death (Lawbringer). | |
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This character can be enslaved with the Mesmetron. | |
Other interactions
- Joe sells Sergeant RL-3, a robot companion, for the price of 1000 bottle caps (500 with a passed barter check) if the player has a neutral karma. If he is dead you will not be able to acquire Sergeant RL-3.
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roving trader outfit | Laser pistol | Scrap metal Other random tools |
- |
Notes
- The southwest corner of the RobCo Facility is a random encounter location.
- Tinker Joe sells the highest number of scrap metal after Karl in the Meresti Metro Station.
- Sometimes after the player has bought Sergeant RL-3 and choosing him as a follower, Tinker Joe and his protectron will randomly spawn with you after fast travel or entering a location then run away, most of the time resulting in his death.
- After reverse pickpocketing items onto Tinker Joe it may take up to three days before he'll equip the new items; entering and exiting nearby locations such as the RobCo Facility or Tenpenny Tower will not speed the process.
- He will sometimes equip gear that you sell him, such as raider armor.
- Tinker Joe refuses to sell Sergeant RL-3 to you unless you have neutral Karma saying that he "doesn't like the look of you".
- If you wish to purchase the RL-3 bot, you must do it as soon as possible..... occasionally Tinker Joe will run into yao guai and 90% of the time will fail to defeat it and perish. At times, he does defeat the yao guai, only to lose his protectron and Mister Handy he was apparently delivering to a client, even though he patrols around the RobCo Facility. These yao guai often spawn in the path of Tinker Joe in a trailer just south of Tenpenny Tower.
Appearances
Tinker Joe appears only in Fallout 3.
Gallery
Tinker Joe with his robots.