History Characters / Fallout4ProtagonistAndFamily

* CanonCharacterAllAlong: Zigzagged; Writer Emil Pagliarulo stated on Twitter that [[https://i.imgur.com/xkxQTkj.jpeg Nate was actually in Fallout 1]] as one of the soldiers in the intro cutscene during the Annexation of Canada (specifically the one who cackled as his comrade executed a civilian), only to backpedal when people pointed out the implications of him being a war criminal.

* AuthorityGrantsAsskicking: You're nominally the leader of the Minutemen if you accept Garvey's offer, the second in command of the Brotherhood of Steel as a Sentinel if you side with them, and the single most dangerous person in the Commonwealth. [[spoiler:You can also become the leader of the Institute if you side with them.]] Also doubles as AsskickingLeadsToLeadership because Garvey selects you, in large part, because ''you'' wiped out a large group of raiders (and a Deathclaw) by yourself and Maxson promoted you in light of your impressive service. You can actually be General and Sentinel at the same time.

* WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism: [[https://twitter.com/Dezinuh/status/1779178683841790068 According to Emil Paglarulo]] (a producer and writer at Bethesda) the opening scene of ''Fallout 1'', where two soldiers are caught on camera handling a Canadian prisoner of war, Nate is the soldier on the left hand side. Emil emphasizes that Nate was not the soldier who executed the prisoner of war, but he did stand by and let it happen, nor did he object to it. The executioner waves his hand at the camera, whereas Nate nods his head in approval, and even looks like he might be laughing. Assuming this is canon, this paints Nate's actions during the Sino-American War/World War 3 in a different light.

* WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism: According to Emil Paglarulo (a producer and writer at Bethesda) the opening scene of Fallout 1, where two soldiers are caught on camera handling a Canadian prisoner of war, Nate is the soldier on the left hand side. Emil emphasizes that Nate was not the soldier who executed the prisoner of war, but he did stand by and let it happen, nor did he object to it. The executioner waves his hand at the camera, whereas Nate nods his head in approval, and even looks like he might be laughing. Assuming this is canon, this paints Nate's actions during the Sino-American War/World War 3 in a different light. [[https://twitter.com/Dezinuh/status/1779178683841790068]]

* WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism: According to Emil Paglarulo (a producer and writer at Bethesda) the opening scene of Fallout 1, where two soldiers are caught on camera handling a Canadian prisoner of war, Nate is the soldier on the right. Emil emphasizes that Nate was not the soldier who executed the prisoner of war, but he did stand by and let it happen, nor did he object to it. The executioner waves his hand at the camera, whereas Nate nods his head in approval, and even looks like he might be laughing. Assuming this is canon, this paints Nate's actions during the Sino-American War/WW3 in a different light. [[https://twitter.com/Dezinuh/status/1779178683841790068]]

** PAM, the Railroad's future-predicting robot, even outright calls you a "Rogue Variable." The larger the group and the longer the timeframe, the more inaccurate her predictions become, and as an individual you're capable of doing pretty much whatever you want.

* TomatoInTheMirror: Discussed. In ''Far Harbor'', [[spoiler:[=DiMA=]]] suggests the Survivor might be a synth, due to the fact that your earliest memory is the day the bombs fell (i.e. [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall the beginning of the game]]). [[MultipleChoicePast It is up to the player to deny it or not]], but [[spoiler:[=DiMA=]]] admits that this could just as easily be associated with trauma. This is [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse never explored or brought up again]].
** Of course, that conversation ignores all the times the Survivor can bring up details from their past that don't have to do with the day the bombs fell in conversation with other {{NPC}}s. Still, this is a universe where memories can be transferred, such as with Nick and [[spoiler:Curie]]. The Institute doesn't seem to treat you like one, though, and it is in a good position to know one way or the other.
** That being said, there are perks that ''can'' give you synth traits like extra energy resistance (Refractor), rad resistance (Rad Resistant), and even eliminate needing to breathe (Aqua Boy/Girl) [[note]] though that really just lets you [[SuperNotDrowningSkills breath underwater[[/note]]]], so it is entirely possible to roleplay as one if you want. All in all, the game leaves the answer ''just'' ambiguous enough that it can be left up to the players to decide for themselves.

* BerserkButton: His tone of voice noticeably gets more angry when he talks about the Railroad, compared to the Minutemen and Institute.

** The institute took him because he was a pre-war cryogenically frozen infant, meaning he had some of the most untouched DNA in the world, free of damage from radiation and everyday mutagens. Not even the institute scientists had such pure DNA because their ancestors were still exposed to some fallout when the bombs fell. By the time of the game, he has terminal cancer, which is frequently caused by radiation damage.
** In addition, he can be killed by Kellogg's pistol, the bullet arriving 60 years late. Or more banally, an Institute weapon.