Apologies if this has been asked, I did a search and came up dry. I just ran through the game after having not played for over a year and I'm kind of confused. Some sources seem to indicate the vault was sealed sometime in 2256-57 when the previous overseer vanished and Alphonse Almodovar took over. Later on during Trouble on the homefront Amata says the vault was open and they sealed it off when you were babies. So which is correct and if the former is correct how did James get in, just walk up and knock on the door "hi I just met you and this is crazy but need a doctor?" and open sesame? I'd be more inclined to believe Amata since as isolationist as the overseer is I can't imagine him opening the door for some random guy with a baby that just shows up on the doorstep. Just of of pure curiosity too how would he contact those inside? The panel by the door has a speaker on it but there never seems to be anyone near the panel on the other side which I assume is the other end. And the seeming lack of a surveillance camera of any sort begs the question how would they know he wasn't a raider or someone bad BS'ing them?
How did James get in to Vault 101?
- Thread starter Alesia
- Start date
Wild guess: By magic.
FO3 isn't exactly known for narrative consistency. If something doesn't make sense, it is probably an indication of sloppy storyline.
They also thought it was just as well to let the skeletons outside the door remain exactly in place, when they went to let him in.
FO3 isn't exactly known for narrative consistency. If something doesn't make sense, it is probably an indication of sloppy storyline.
They also thought it was just as well to let the skeletons outside the door remain exactly in place, when they went to let him in.
I did some thinking during breakfast just now and my impression is it possibly went down something like this:
In 2258 when James arrived the vault was still open to outside contact. Vault 101 had no doctor and on explaining his qualifications and maybe testing him they agreed to let him stay. According to Wiki the Overseers wife died in 2260 of an unknown disease. It's entirely plausible in his grief he went mad and that's when he began to see the outside and everyone in it as contaminated and instituted the lockdown. To prevent anyone from rising up and getting idealistic notions of going outside they fabricated the 'you were born here, you die here" lie.
In 2258 when James arrived the vault was still open to outside contact. Vault 101 had no doctor and on explaining his qualifications and maybe testing him they agreed to let him stay. According to Wiki the Overseers wife died in 2260 of an unknown disease. It's entirely plausible in his grief he went mad and that's when he began to see the outside and everyone in it as contaminated and instituted the lockdown. To prevent anyone from rising up and getting idealistic notions of going outside they fabricated the 'you were born here, you die here" lie.
Alesia said:
Given that employees of a gaming-making company wrote this story, and left obvious holes in it, I think you can consider yourself safe to patch up these holes as you like
I don't think anything official will contradict your suggestion, so, it's probablty as valid as any other idea
Fallout Wiki:
"Growing up in Vault 101 during a time when the vault dwellers ventured freely into the outside world, Alphonse's parents believed the vault should have no contact with the dangers out there. As he got older, Alphonse knew he had to correct the gross lapses in security. He got his chance when the Overseer - a strong proponent of outside contact - disappeared one day while out in the wasteland. Many suspected foul play, but the young, charismatic, strong-willed Alphonse Almodovar offered the vault dwellers new leadership, and they had little choice but to accept".
If you ask me this Alphonse Almodovar aka Overseer used this gross lapse in the vault security, with the help of Colin Moriarty in Megaton, to be the only one reguralry keeping contact with the outside world. Using management by fear tactics and "No one ever enters. No one ever leaves.", and also "Everyone was born here and everyone will die here." rethoric to get the job done. In this respect you cant have people like James running aorund, doesnt matter if he was set on completing the "Project Purity" or not.
Fallout Wiki:
"Almodovar is a widower with one child named Amata. He is very heartless to almost all of the vault residents, including the Lone Wanderer and James".
I bet the oversser gave that Moira Brown girl the idea for that survival guide...
"Growing up in Vault 101 during a time when the vault dwellers ventured freely into the outside world, Alphonse's parents believed the vault should have no contact with the dangers out there. As he got older, Alphonse knew he had to correct the gross lapses in security. He got his chance when the Overseer - a strong proponent of outside contact - disappeared one day while out in the wasteland. Many suspected foul play, but the young, charismatic, strong-willed Alphonse Almodovar offered the vault dwellers new leadership, and they had little choice but to accept".
If you ask me this Alphonse Almodovar aka Overseer used this gross lapse in the vault security, with the help of Colin Moriarty in Megaton, to be the only one reguralry keeping contact with the outside world. Using management by fear tactics and "No one ever enters. No one ever leaves.", and also "Everyone was born here and everyone will die here." rethoric to get the job done. In this respect you cant have people like James running aorund, doesnt matter if he was set on completing the "Project Purity" or not.
Fallout Wiki:
"Almodovar is a widower with one child named Amata. He is very heartless to almost all of the vault residents, including the Lone Wanderer and James".
I bet the oversser gave that Moira Brown girl the idea for that survival guide...
It begs the question (since he was James' assistant) why didn't they just train Jonas as the Dr. if they were so desperate for one? Now since you mention Moriarty are you suggesting perhaps he had some sort of working ham radio or intercom hidden somewhere in the saloon he could use to communicate with the overseer? On that point could explain how he learned of James.
Fallout Wiki
"Doc Church is a doctor who works in Megaton in the year 2277. Doc Church was born in 2223. Before Doc came to the town a few years ago, Megaton was without a doctor for a very long time. Before he settled, Doc stayed alive by trading his services to raiders and slavers. Now 54, he refuses to talk about his youth".
Not sure if they needed a doc that badly. Megaton has a "doc". I dont think the overseer trusted Jonas much tbh.
I bet Moriarty has a radio, yes. I alyaws thought of the Moriarty conversations as a bit odd. "My slice of heaven" and the "I despise those hypocritical vault people" attitude. Always had a feeling he knew way to much about something no one should know anything about. Apparently he likes to keep tabs on everyone aswell.
Fallout Wiki
"In 2277, Sheriff Simms foiled an ill-conceived raid on Megaton by a band of raiders headquartered at Springvale Elementary School. During the conflict, Simms shot and killed the raiders' leader, Boppo".
What doesnt add up is the Sheriff Lucas Simms. Its kind of obvious that hes left out of the loop getting the short straw in whatever happens.
Why raid?
Fallout Wiki
"The raider leader laments later, after attempts at digging a tunnel into Vault 101 had met unexpected resistance from giant ants, that if they didn't succeed, he would suffer the same fate as Boppo. Only this time, the bullets would be coming not from the sheriff, but from his own men".
Cant get into the vault 101, he figures he take over the Megaton instead? Or maybe teach Moriarty a lesson.
Fallout Wiki
"Colin inherited this wealth when his father was killed during a raider attack when Colin was 14. Colin's first move was to build a fence around the town. Since then, the people have looked to Colin as a benefactor despite his running drinks, chems, girls, and games out of his saloon. Lucas Simms turns a blind eye to Moriarty's activities, because he is acutely aware that the town needs Colin's support and resources".
I bet the doc was part of that raider gang and figured he could start a new life in Megaton. Probably why he doesnt speak of the past.
My $0.02.
"Doc Church is a doctor who works in Megaton in the year 2277. Doc Church was born in 2223. Before Doc came to the town a few years ago, Megaton was without a doctor for a very long time. Before he settled, Doc stayed alive by trading his services to raiders and slavers. Now 54, he refuses to talk about his youth".
Not sure if they needed a doc that badly. Megaton has a "doc". I dont think the overseer trusted Jonas much tbh.
I bet Moriarty has a radio, yes. I alyaws thought of the Moriarty conversations as a bit odd. "My slice of heaven" and the "I despise those hypocritical vault people" attitude. Always had a feeling he knew way to much about something no one should know anything about. Apparently he likes to keep tabs on everyone aswell.
Fallout Wiki
"In 2277, Sheriff Simms foiled an ill-conceived raid on Megaton by a band of raiders headquartered at Springvale Elementary School. During the conflict, Simms shot and killed the raiders' leader, Boppo".
What doesnt add up is the Sheriff Lucas Simms. Its kind of obvious that hes left out of the loop getting the short straw in whatever happens.
Why raid?
Fallout Wiki
"The raider leader laments later, after attempts at digging a tunnel into Vault 101 had met unexpected resistance from giant ants, that if they didn't succeed, he would suffer the same fate as Boppo. Only this time, the bullets would be coming not from the sheriff, but from his own men".
Cant get into the vault 101, he figures he take over the Megaton instead? Or maybe teach Moriarty a lesson.
Fallout Wiki
"Colin inherited this wealth when his father was killed during a raider attack when Colin was 14. Colin's first move was to build a fence around the town. Since then, the people have looked to Colin as a benefactor despite his running drinks, chems, girls, and games out of his saloon. Lucas Simms turns a blind eye to Moriarty's activities, because he is acutely aware that the town needs Colin's support and resources".
I bet the doc was part of that raider gang and figured he could start a new life in Megaton. Probably why he doesnt speak of the past.
My $0.02.
The Sixth Ranger
It Wandered In From the Wastes
Seconded, he says he'll keep that 'nugget of information' for later use. Anyway, even if James showed up just after the Overseer went missing in the Wasteland, shouldn't Almadovar be in charge, and have kicked James back into the wastes with his baby? Speaking of which, why didn't James go to Rivet City? It's safer, larger, and he has friends there? Why did he go to an isolationist vault?Alesia said:
Because being a "vault dweller" is cooler....
Alphonse's wife died of a sickness, what kind and how long she was sick we don't know. It's entirely plausible he let James in because they had no doctor and he was desperate to save his wife.
How is Rivet City safer than an underground bunker sealed off by a couple feet thick steel door? IIRC, in 2258 Rivet City was still having alot of problems with mutant attacks and stuff like that. Possibly too, he skipped it because Dr. Li went there and in the transition voices it sounds like they were having an argument about him being selfish when he left.
Alphonse's wife died of a sickness, what kind and how long she was sick we don't know. It's entirely plausible he let James in because they had no doctor and he was desperate to save his wife.
How is Rivet City safer than an underground bunker sealed off by a couple feet thick steel door? IIRC, in 2258 Rivet City was still having alot of problems with mutant attacks and stuff like that. Possibly too, he skipped it because Dr. Li went there and in the transition voices it sounds like they were having an argument about him being selfish when he left.
I've rewritten the article for The Vault recently, removing needless speculation and providing references. Here's the article.
There is no mention of how James was let into Vault 101, only that he was admitted to fill the post of a doctor.
There is no mention of how James was let into Vault 101, only that he was admitted to fill the post of a doctor.
The Sixth Ranger
It Wandered In From the Wastes
You can find a picture of James in Vault 21 in New Vegas, probably meant as a reference. However, in Fallout 3, he doesn't say anything about his heritage or his education, so it's anyone's guess.woo1108 said:
I thought about that a bit ago. I assumed he could have been with the Followers but I don't think they were in Freeside between 2250-2258 (the time period he could have left for D.C.). And it wouldn't explain why he would leave them and go so far east. Or why Catherine is in the picture with him since it was my understanding he met her on PP.
The picture in Vault 21 was an erroneous placement of props by a level designer.
zegh8578 said:Alesia said:
Given that employees of a gaming-making company wrote this story, and left obvious holes in it, I think you can consider yourself safe to patch up these holes as you like
I don't think anything official will contradict your suggestion, so, it's probablty as valid as any other idea
The problem is that explanations as much sense as they might do are just that, explanations by "fans".
Fallout 3 has so many big plot holes that you can get a fatman explosion trough it. I can explain them with my "ideas", but that still doesnt mean they disapear.
