Lucas Simms

Lucas Simms is the sheriff and mayor of Megaton in 2277.

Background
Simms was born in 2236. He grew up in Megaton and understands better than anyone what it takes to survive and thrive in the wasteland. Big and imposing yet warm and friendly, Lucas won his position by a unanimous vote of the people of Megaton (most of whom genuinely love the guy). He serves as mayor, sheriff, judge, and just about any other position that's needed. It's also no secret around Megaton that Lucas Simms is fulfilling some weird childhood cowboy fantasy. He named his son Harden after the Old West outlaw John Wesley Harden. Simms is also a member of a secret society known only as "the Regulators."

He often contests the title of Mayor with Colin Moriarty. While Moriarty claims Megaton to be 'his city,' every resident comments on how Simms is the real Mayor. Simms warns the player of talking to Moriarty, saying the same to his son. Likewise, Moriarty despises Simms.

In 2277, Sheriff Simms foiled an ill-conceived raid on Megaton by a band of raiders headquartered at Springvale Elementary School. During the conflict, Simms shot and killed the raiders' leader, Boppo.

Sometime after the Lone Wanderer's escape from Vault 101, the Lone Wanderer alerted Lucas to Burke and his plan to detonate Megaton's atomic bomb. After Lucas confronted Burke, he turned around and began to lead Burke out of Moriarty's Saloon. However, Burke shot Lucas in the back, killing him.

By 2297, his son Harden became the sheriff of Megaton.

Quests

 * The Power of the Atom: The player character can choose to disarm the bomb, in which case Simms rewards him or her, or they can choose to blow up the town for Mister Burke and Allistair Tenpenny. The Lone Wanderer can also choose to report Burke's intentions to Simms, which leads to a showdown between the two men in Moriarty's Saloon, in which the Lone Wanderer must kill Mister Burke or Burke will kill Simms.

Effects of player's actions

 * If Lucas is killed, there are unique dialogue choices with Manya, Leo Stahl and Harden.
 * If the Lone Wanderer chooses to tell Lucas about Burke's plot, it is possible for them to save Simms by killing Burke before he gets to shoot Simms. This also spawns a dialogue choice of Lucas commenting on how he "must be getting slow", and he will thank the player character for saving his life.
 * If the Lone Wanderer chooses to tell him about their plan of detonating the bomb, he will turn hostile along with every other Megaton settler.
 * If the player character chooses not to save him and then kills Burke, the player character receives positive Karma and has the option of looting both of their bodies with no additional negative Karma. They can then receive the reward for disarming the bomb from Lucas's son, Harden.

Appearances
Lucas Simms appears only in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes

 * Simms' welcoming speech mirrors Marcus' first speech to the Chosen One in Fallout 2 when the player is wearing a vault suit.
 * Simms: I'll be damned, you're from that vault, Vault 101. *chuckles* I ain't seen one of those jumpsuits in a long time.
 * Marcus: Well, what the hell. I haven’t seen one of those outfits for a long, long time. Takes me back.
 * You can insult him by saying "nice hat, Calamity Jane," a reference to the cowgirl Calamity Jane.

Bugs

 * Like all Fallout 3 NPCs, Simms may disappear or die. Check Recovering missing NPC in Fallout 3 for help.
 * When Mister Burke kills Lucas, a floating blood splatter can sometimes be found walking the same path that he once did. It can cause the game to freeze and you will need to restart the console.
 * Rarely, even though you kill Burke before he kills Lucas, the latter may still die. He will simply walk out of the saloon and collapse.
 * On rare occasions, Lucas Simms may follow you out of Megaton and stay behind you regardless of where you travel to. However, he is not hostile, although his health bar does show and he is wielding his gun.