The Fallout series takes place over decades, with each title introducing new settings and characters. That being said, sometimes the developers carry over familiar faces from the past games into the newer ones. Arthur Maxson is an example of this, and he showcases just how much a character can change throughout the course of two games.
In Fallout 3, the Lone Wanderer can meet Arthur Maxson as a young child. Later, in Fallout 4, the Sole Survivor can encounter him as a man in his 20s. As Arthur grows up, he undergoes plenty of changes, particularly in his personality. Players who’ve experienced both games can easily pick up on this shift.
Arthur Maxson in Fallout 3
Arthur Maxson was born in the year 2267, and as early as then, the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout had high hopes for him. He was a descendant of Roger Maxson, the founder of the Brotherhood. Meanwhile, his father Jonathan Maxson was the Head Paladin. Thus, the group believed that Arthur had a “soul forged from eternal steel.” Unfortunately, Jonathan would never live to see this belief come to fruition. He died in battle when Arthur was still a young boy, so his mother Jessica sent him to the Citadel in the Capital Wasteland, where he’d be under the tutelage of Elder Owyn Lyons.
As a young scribe in the Citadel, Arthur proved to be an excellent student. He had in-depth knowledge of the Brotherhood’s Codex, the Enclave, and even the local super mutants of Fallout 3. He was also trained to use small weapons and managed to handle them with relative ease. Despite this, Elder Lyons felt that what they were doing to the young Arthur was wrong. In his personal terminal, he expresses that he worries about Arthur’s emotional state as no good could come of training a young child to be a killer.
Elder Lyons was right, at least to a certain extent. Arthur’s childhood was the furthest thing from normal, especially given that he was the only child in the Citadel. Sentinel Sarah Lyons, the Elder’s daughter, tended to him (and he even developed a crush on her), but they were still too far apart in age. Interestingly enough, Arthur’s only real friend in the Citadel was the yet unfinished Liberty Prime of Fallout. However, this friendship was cut short when Scribe Rothchild banned Arthur from the lab, telling him that there was no point in making friends with a machine.
Even worse were the threats of super mutants and Fallout’s Enclave continuously disrupting the Brotherhood’s operations. This made life in the Citadel difficult for everyone, but especially for a young child. Thus, Arthur grew up to be very timid and reserved, but things would change soon.
Becoming Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel
Though the Enclave was defeated at the end of Fallout 3, the Brotherhood still had internal problems to deal with. The Outcasts had separated from the main group under Elder Lyons, putting a dent in the Brotherhood’s ranks. Later, Elder Lyons died, passing the title on to his daughter, Sarah. Unfortunately, she died in battle shortly after assuming the role. After this was a prolonged period of ineffective leadership for the Brotherhood of Steel.
During this time, Arthur began to show his skill in battle. At 12 years old, he killed two Raiders during a training excursion, saving the squad that was tasked with escorting him. When he turned 13, he managed to kill a Deathclaw on his own — one of the most powerful enemies in Fallout. Finally, at age 15, he stopped the super mutant referred to as “Shephard” who was attempting to band together the super mutants of the Capital Wasteland. Stories of Arthur’s achievements spread across the Brotherhood of Steel, but his greatest achievement was still to come.
When Arthur was 16, he reached out to the splinter group of Outcasts in the Capital Wasteland. After some discussion, he managed to reach a compromise with them, thus reintegrating them into the Brotherhood of Steel. This was when the organization promoted him to Elder — the youngest in the Brotherhood of Steel’s history in Fallout.
Elder Maxson in Fallout 4
By the time Fallout 4 rolls around, Arthur has spread the Brotherhood’s influence all across the East Coast. He arrives in the Commonwealth with more Brotherhood of Steel members on the Prydwen of Fallout 4, intent on uncovering the Institute and destroying it. He’s since grown out of his timid nature, and is a commanding, well-spoken man. It’s clear that his subordinates look up to him. Some even take it too far, forming cults around Arthur’s likeness and worshipping him as a god. He abhors anyone who would believe him to be such.
That aside, Arthur seems to want to help the local wastelanders, while still keeping to the beliefs of the Brotherhood, of course. He ordered his group to collect all potentially dangerous forms of technology from the people of the Commonwealth, giving them food and medicine in exchange. Violent confrontation was to be the last resort. Additionally, he made use of the technology at the Brotherhood’s disposal to improve the lives of the wastelanders. For instance, he approved a scribe’s research project to create a better alternative to Rad-Away in Fallout. This sets him apart from other Elders, as he utilizes the technology they acquire and doesn’t simply hoard it.
Though his beliefs thus far have been relatively agreeable, points of contention among the characters of Fallout 4 arise when it comes to the synths. Arthur believes that synths are no more than robotic abominations — weapons that could prove as destructive as atom bombs. He’s aware that these robots are capable of free-thinking and rational thought. Though, unlike the Railroad, which seeks to liberate them, he views thinking synths as an offense to humankind. They, then, need to be destroyed along with the Institute — “swiftly and mercilessly.” This course of action, Arthur believes, will save humankind.
Fallout 4 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
