Tinker Tom

Thomas "Tom" Weatherby, also known as Tinker Tom is the quartermaster and primary repairman for the Railroad, operating in the Commonwealth in 2287.

Background
Tinker Tom is the engineer, inventor, weapons expert and the holder of the third-highest position of leadership in the Railroad. As the quartermaster of the organization, he is in charge of maintaining the equipment of field agents as well as researching new weapons and gadgets for agents to use in field operations. Tom joined the Railroad under the leadership of Desdemona in 2279 after an Institute grenade wiped out his family farm. Given his intellect, he was assigned to the HQ and became an essential member of the team.

As time passed, he became increasingly eccentric and developed severe psychological problems, suspected to be caused by the extreme stress he was under. When the DIA facility, named "Switchboard," was discovered in 2281, Tom was reassigned to it. It was there he discovered P.A.M.. During his time there, Tom also restored an old handgun for use by newly-promoted heavy agent, Tommy Whispers.

In 2283, an Institute informant "PATRIOT" began attempting to communicate with the outside world. Tom was assigned the task of decrypting the encoded holotapes that were being sent out with escaped synths. Initially unsuccessful, Tom eventually made a breakthrough in 2284 when the coded message was simply two words, "Mass Fusion." He is brilliant and energetic, but also paranoid and constantly fabricates conspiracy theories about the Institute, its synths and their machinations around the Commonwealth.

He is also the only known individual in the Commonwealth who can decode a Courser chip, a requirement for entering the Institute.

Quests

 * The Molecular Level: Tinker Tom will decipher the courser chip and optionally can help build the platform.
 * Rockets' Red Glare: Tom will accompany the Sole Survivor and Deacon as they lead an assault on the Cambridge Police Station and later pilot the Vertibird.
 * The Nuclear Option: Tom will be helping the Railroad in their push into the Institute, working on the teleports.
 * Weathervane: Tom will give the Sole Survivor one of his MILA atmospheric sensors to be placed at a random location in order to attempt to prove one of his theories.

Other interactions
By progressing the Jackpot missions, Tinker Tom will begin to sell high-end weapons such as Gauss rifles and unique armored clothing items, and will unlock the ability to add ballistic weave to drastically increasing the armors' defensive stats.

Appearances
Tinker Tom appears only in Fallout 4.

Behind the Scenes
The name "Tinker Tom" likely refers to his questionable technical skills. To "Tinker" is to attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often to no useful effect. Tinkering therefore is the process of meddling, adapting, or adjusting something in the process of making improvements or repairs. Historically, Tinkers were itinerant tinsmiths (often with little or no formal training) who would repair household items as a way to make a living.

Bugs

 * Upon completing the first DIA cache mission for P.A.M., Drummer Boy will tell the Sole Survivor to speak to Tinker Tom. Tinker Tom should mention ballistic weave and have some armored under-apparel for sale but doesn't. This bug will prevent one from applying ballistic weave modifications.
 * If the Weathervane missions aren't complete and the Sole Survivor sides with the Institute during End of the Line, the mission will still be active, but reporting back to Tinker Tom won't allow the player to turn in the mission.

Gallery
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