“I grew up too isolated here. Can you imagine spending your whole life inside one small place, then having to go out into the world?”
General John Maxson[3][4] is the grandson of Roger Maxson, and the high elder of the Brotherhood of Steel in the year 2161.
Background[]
John Maxson was born into the Brotherhood in 2097 and is a part of the Maxson bloodline. He showed much skill as an initiate, knight and then master knight, traveling the wastes far and wide and forming lasting relations with various people in the wasteland, including Butch Harris.[5][6][7] By the time he was inducted into the paladin caste in 2135, at 38, he was a skilled man. His reputation and skills were further shown when he rose to the rank of head paladin, the best commander within the Brotherhood of Steel.[Non-game 1]
His last promotion came at the cost of tragedy, as in 2155 his father was killed in a skirmish with the Vipers. Four years later in 2159, the Council of Elders convinced him to accept the position of high elder,[8] becoming the third Maxson to hold the rank. However, he was not aware of the volume of politics while in office. By the time the Vault Dweller meets him in 2161, he is 64. He ages, but he remains knowledged, wanting to fight the enemies of the Brotherhood, rather than remain underground.[Non-game 1]
Maxson is not too popular among the elders, as he is considered a bit crazy. He claims there is an army massing in the north, but these claims are met with incredulity and all motions to send an expedition there are voted down as risky. Sending tens of troops into the irradiated wastes can be dangerous and risk the Brotherhood's very existence.
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character has a talking head. | |
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This character starts quests. | |
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This character is allied with the following faction(s). |
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Quests[]
- Scout the northern wastes: From scout reports, it is rumored that there is a super mutant nest somewhere to the north. Maxson wants the Vault Dweller to confirm these rumors.
Tell me about[]
| John Maxson's Tell-Me-Abouts | |
|---|---|
| Query | Response |
| Adytum | "That's a settlement down in the Boneyard. I went there...oh...a long time ago. I was on a scouting mission for the Elders." |
| Angel's, Angels, Boneyard | "Well I don't know a lot. There's a bunch of gangs around there, as well as Adytum and the Children of the Cathedral. Not much else. It's pretty damn desolate." |
| Army | "Well I believe there's an army massing to the north and in the mountains to the east, but I don't have any way to prove it. The Elders, they won't even listen." |
| Brotherhood | "That's where you are. You want the long version, go talk to Vree." |
| Butch, Caravans, Harris | "Butch is the head of the Far Go Traders. He's a little slimy, but he's not a total waste. Unlike those Water Merchants. Bunch of damn vultures, all of 'em." |
| Cabbot | "Oh, he's a good kid, even if he does want to be a Scribe." |
| Cathedral | "A bunch of religious whackos, if you ask me. I think their main church is in the Boneyard." |
| Chip | "Hell if I know." |
| Claw | "Oh. Just another stupid rumor. Some people say it's a huge fanged monster and others say it's a vampire." |
| Disks | "Holo discs? Hmm? I haven't seen those in a while." |
| Elder | "Hehehe. A fine, handsome, upstanding man. The High Elder position is to mediate the meetings between the Elders. You see, two years ago I got talked into it. If I'd of known then..." 
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| Elders | "Well you see there's four of them and that's about all they can ever agree on. They can't even agree if they want to piss, much less pick a pot to piss in." |
| Exodus, War | "Well that was when my granddad, Roger Maxson, led his soldiers here and started the Brotherhood. He never mentioned where they came from, but it doesn't really matter, 'cause...well, this is our home now." |
| Gangs | "Well, there's not much to tell. I never ran into any of them. I've heard they're a problem for the people of Adytum, though." |
| The Hub | "The Hub's down to the southeast. They trade us food and things for the weapons we make here. Now if you're ever down there, you talk to Butch Harris." |
| Initiates | "Well that's what you are. Initiates train and learn to become knights or scribes." |
| Knights | "The Knights make the weapons. And when he's good enough, a Knight can advance to become a Paladin and then an Elder and so forth. Right now Rhombus is the head of the Knights." |
| Library | "We keep weapon specs and history there." |
| Master | "What was that? No. I don't believe I've ever heard of it." |
| Mathia | "Mathia's my assistant." |
| Maxson, Roger | "Roger Maxson huh? Well he led our people here in the great Exodus, started the Brotherhood from scratch. Quite a leader." |
| Merchants | "You want to hear about the Water Merchants. Hehehe, well you can't trust them. A few years ago, they offered us Water for a huge stockpile of weapons. We told them no, and you know what they did? Sent in thieves to steal the weapons! We caught 'em, but the Elders voted down going to the Hub to teach the merchants a lesson." |
| Paladins | "Paladins are in charge of all security and outside activities. I remember tradin' with the Hub, goin' on scouting missions for the Elders. Ah man, those ware a good times." |
| Player | "Vree has it someplace in the Library." |
| Rhombus | "Rhombo's been here a long time. A bit stiff, but a helluva soldier." |
| Scribes | "Well, Scribes copy down the weapon specs. We've got information all the way back to my granddad. Sometimes a scribe comes up with a new idea for a weapon. Hehehe. Doesn't happen too often. They all answer to Vree." |
| Traders | "They're the main ones we trade with. Not totally trustworthy, but not as bad as the others." |
| Vree | "Vree's the head Scribe. She's usually in the Library, she always likes to talk." |
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Elder robes (non-lootable) | Laser pistol | Small energy cell x80 Stimpak x4 |
Appearances[]
Maxson appears only in Fallout as a talking head. In the game, he is referred to only as General Maxson. Maxson is also mentioned in the Citadel terminal entries in Fallout 3.
Gallery[]
Good
Neutral
Angry
"Contrary to opinion, we don't want soldiers with no brains whatsoever."
"Roger Maxson huh? Well he led our people here in the great Exodus, started the Brotherhood from scratch. Quite a leader."
"Paladins are in charge of all security and outside activities. I remember tradin' with the Hub, goin' on scouting missons for the Eldeirs. Ah man, those ware a good times."
"Well you see there's four of them and that's about all they can ever agree on. They can't even agree if they want to piss, much less pick a pot to piss in."
A test render of the talking head from Erik Jamison's demo reel
References[]
- ↑ Sampled from the talking head
- ↑ Citadel terminal entries; Maxson archive terminal, John Maxson
- ↑ Examine: "You see General Maxson."
(MAXSON.MSG) - ↑ SCRIPTS.LST (Fallout): "Maxson.int ; General John Maxson, High Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel # local_vars=21"
- ↑ The Vault Dweller: "Elder"
Cabbot: "General Maxson used to be Master Knight. I don't think he likes being High Elder much."
(Cabbot's dialogue) - ↑ The Vault Dweller: "Hub"
John Maxson: "The Hub's down to the southeast. They trade us food and things for the weapons we make here. Now if you're ever down there, you talk to Butch Harris."
(John Maxson's dialogue) - ↑ The Vault Dweller: "Butch"
John Maxson: "Butch is the head of the Far Go Traders. He's a little slimy, but he's not a total waste. Unlike those Water Merchants. Bunch of damn vultures, all of 'em."
(John Maxson's dialogue) - ↑ The Vault Dweller: "Elder"
John Maxson: "Hehehe. A fine, handsome, upstanding man. The High Elder position is to mediate the meetings between the Elders. You see, two years ago I got talked into it. If I'd of known then..."
(John Maxson's dialogue)
Non-game
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fallout Official Survival Guide p.101-102: "General Maxson: High Elder of the Brotherhood
Maxson is the leader of the Brotherhood tough, old, and confident. He was born about twenty years after the apocalypse, and knows a little about the war from stories told by his father and grandfather. He can give the player a book describing the history of the order. Last in a long line of generals, he would rather be outside fighting enemies than tied down by the politics of his office. He is busy, direct, and honest. He can tell the player much about the order and the people within it.
Hints
Maxson responds well to directness, and has no patience for characters who beat around the bush or waste his time. By warning him of the mutant threat, the player can get the Brotherhood's help against the mutants."
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