Vault 13 Overseer

The overseer leads Vault 13 in 2161.

Background
Despite his strict nature and commitment to the 200-year isolation experiment for the Societal Preservation Program, the overseer of Vault 13 is genuinely fond of his community.

Many years prior to 2161, the controller chip for Vault 13's water purification system began to show signs of deterioration and had an insufficient supply of replacement water chips due to a shipping error. This component, vital for the control vault's inhabitants to survive, was unable to maintained any longer with work-arounds being impossible due to its complexity and could not be fabricated due to a lack of necessary parts.

The overseer sought members of the community to journey into the wasteland in an attempt to find a replacement or solution. Previous excursions had been unsuccessful, such as the attempts of both Talius and Ed. This led to the selection of an individual that became known as the Vault Dweller to serve as the next water chip scout on December 10, 2161.

Following the successful retrieval of a replacement water chip from Vault 12, the Vault Dweller returned and was immediately asked to file a report on what they saw and experienced in the outside world. Upon reading the Vault Dweller's submission, the overseer shared his concern with the existence of creatures known as super mutants appearing at an alarming rate. Considering these mutants a potential threat to the vault, the overseer tasked them with a second mission which involved locating and destroying the source of the super mutants.

The Vault Dweller returned once more to Vault 13 after successfully completing the second mission, finding the source of the mutants, killing their leader the Master, and destroying the vats used to create new super mutants at the Mariposa Military Base. The overseer greeted them at the door, and informed them of his decision not to allow them to return. The overseer cited worries surrounding their influence on the other inhabitants, as inspiring others to leave may render the vault inoperable.

The exile of the Vault Dweller did not prevent other inhabitants from discovering their fate and choosing to follow them into the wasteland. The remaining members of Vault 13's community put the overseer on trial for this decision, ultimately sentencing him to death and retiring the title of overseer for their community's leader.

Quests

 * Find the Water Chip: Vault 13's water purification chip is broken and has stopped working. The overseer tasks the Vault Dweller with finding another one.
 * Destroy the source of the Mutants: The mutant army poses a great threat to Vault 13. The overseer wants the Vault Dweller to neutralize them to ensure the preservation of the vault.
 * Destroy the Mutant leader: Along with destroying the army, its leader must be killed as well.

Effects of player's actions

 * If the player character decides to side with the Master and be turned into a super mutant, during the end cutscene showing the destruction of Vault 13, the overseer can be seen attempting to hold off the invaders with his minigun-equipped overseer's chair, before being overrun and brutally beaten to death by two of the mutants.
 * With the Bloody Mess trait, the Berserker or Childkiller titles, or a low reputation, right after the overseer's goodbye speech at the end of the game, the Vault Dweller will automatically put away any held weapon, draw a pistol and shoot the overseer in the back. It is also possible to kill him by initiating combat just after his speech, and putting him down with one or more shots. If the overseer is killed, a unique death animation will be played..

Other interactions

 * If the player has an Intelligence below four, the overseer will explain things in a slow and simple manner. At times getting frustrated over doing so.
 * If the player speaks to the overseer repeatedly and tells him they have not found a water chip, he will ask if the player needs more help. The player can request additional supplies to receive two stimpaks and 48 10mm JHP.
 * After the goodbye speech, the player may murder the overseer.
 * In the cut unity ending it is the vault dweller who killed the overseer, as a super mutant.

Inventory

 * In the overseer chair.

Appearances
The overseer appears only in Fallout, as a talking head.

Behind the scenes

 * The overseer is labeled "Jacoren" in concept art.
 * He was also to appear in the canceled Fallout movie, where he was to be revealed as the founder of Vault-Tec and the man who started the Great War.
 * In response to a question about the overseer's selection process for a water chip scout, Tim Cain said:


 * At the end of the quest Trouble on the Homefront in Fallout 3, Amata has the same quote as the Vault 13 overseer saying, "I'm sorry. You're a hero... and you have to leave," right after she exiles the Lone Wanderer from Vault 101. However this is only if the Lone Wanderer kills the overseer, if they convince the overseer to allow the vault to open, she will be thankful for their help but will reluctantly exile them due to the other vault residents blaming them for the problems in the vault.