Dad

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

Background
James was born in 2226.

He was the chief scientist and project leader of Project Purity, an ambitious private project intended to cleanse all of the radioactivity from the water of the Potomac River that fed into the entire Capital Wasteland. However, when his wife, Catherine, died after giving birth to the Lone Wanderer, he gave up on the project over the grief of losing her. He then asked for entry for himself and his child into Vault 101 in return for becoming the Vault's new physician, and the Vault Overseer granted his request.

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 Catherine's favorite Bible quotation, and takes his child to 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 in 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 his/her dad. He/she can either go straight to Vault 112 (where he is being held); or he/she can follow the quest line, by going to Megaton, which directs him/her to Galaxy News Radio, which directs him/her to Rivet City, which directs him/her to the Jefferson Memorial which then leads him 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, with no success in his objective. The last time the Lone Wanderer sees him is when James presses himself against the glass door of the activation room, and telling his child to "Run!" as he falls to the floor, sacrificing himself so his child could live.

Effects of player 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 quest Power of the Atom. 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 attempts, unsuccessfully, to save her life.

Inventory

 * † Only while in Vault 101.
 * ‡ On his way back to Rivet City.

Notable quotes

 * "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."
 * "As far as I can tell, you're a perfectly healthy 16 year old boy/girl, so yes you have to go to class to take your G.O.A.T. exam."
 * "Son/Honey, I brought you into this world, I think you know the rest..."
 * "Agghh! What in God's name is wrong with you?"
 * "Stop screwing around!"

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 modeled. "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."

Bugs

 * - 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.
 * - James might disappear if you fast travel to the Jefferson Memorial from Vault 112.