Is Albert Cole the Canon Vault Dweller? Unpacking Fallout’s Protagonist
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No, Albert Cole is not canonically the Vault Dweller, although the matter is quite complex. While Albert Cole is one of the pre-made characters available at the start of the original Fallout game, the canonical Vault Dweller is generally understood to be a male character of the player’s creation, rather than one of the pre-set options. The game allows players to choose between Albert Cole, Max Stone, Natalia Dubrovhsky or a custom creation. While all three pre-set characters have their own backstories, series canon strongly indicates a generic, customizable male Vault Dweller as the protagonist. The confusion arises from various sources within the Fallout universe, particularly the depiction of the Vault Dweller in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel and other instances where references to a pre-defined identity are made. However, ultimately, the core Fallout lore and the established canon consistently point to a male, player-defined Vault Dweller as the ‘true’ hero of the first game.
Fallout’s Vault Dweller: A Complex Canon
The notion of a ‘canon’ protagonist in Fallout is not as simple as it might appear in other role-playing games. Unlike narratives with tightly defined main characters, Fallout often allows for player agency and variability. This creates a challenge for establishing a concrete, single protagonist throughout the series’ history. Although the first game allows players to choose from the three premade characters, the canon is based around the fact that the player is supposed to build their own version of the vault dweller.
The Vault Dweller’s Depiction in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
A key point of confusion comes from Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, which features an aging man strongly resembling Albert Cole. This character also possesses the iconic Vault 13 flask, further hinting that he is meant to represent the original player character. Furthermore, his dialogue all but confirms this connection. However, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel is often considered a non-canon entry in the Fallout universe, often dismissed in fan circles for various reasons. Therefore, this depiction, while suggestive, does not solidify Albert Cole as the canonical choice.
The Vault Dweller’s Memoirs
Fallout 2’s manual contains the Vault Dweller’s Memoirs, which further solidify the canon regarding the original player character. These memoirs describe the Vault Dweller as a male who, after completing their quest, marries a woman named Pat. These details exclude Natalia and contradict some character details associated with Max Stone and Albert Cole. Ultimately the Vault Dwellers Memoirs are based off a general version of the player character after finishing the first Fallout game. It helps give closure on the character, while not making any particular one of the pre-set characters be the canon protagonist.
The Fallout Bible
The Fallout Bible, an in-depth document of lore and world-building information, clearly states that the Vault Dweller was male. This serves as a significant piece of evidence against Natalia Dubrovhsky being the canon Vault Dweller. Furthermore, the Fallout Bible indicates that the Chosen One, the main character from Fallout 2, was also male. This adds more evidence that the creators did envision male protagonists for the first two games.
The Vault Dweller Statue
The existence of a Vault Dweller statue in Fallout 2 depicting a male character adds further credence to the idea of a male, customisable Vault Dweller. This statue appears as the central focal point in the opening location of the game and is meant to show the importance of the Vault Dweller. This statue does not explicitly show any unique features of Albert Cole but does reinforce the fact that the Vault Dweller is a male.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Vault Dweller
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the matter of the Vault Dweller’s identity and related lore:
1. What is the canon gender of the Vault Dweller?
The canon gender of the Vault Dweller is male. This is supported by numerous pieces of evidence within the series lore, including the Fallout Bible and the Vault Dweller’s Memoirs.
2. Is the Chosen One canonically male?
Yes, the Chosen One from Fallout 2 is also considered canonically male by Interplay canon and the aforementioned Fallout Bible.
3. What happened to the original Vault Dweller?
The original Vault Dweller vanishes on January 16, 2208, leaving only a folded vault suit behind. This vault suit is later placed in the Temple of Trials and serves as a key piece of series lore.
4. Who does the Vault Dweller marry?
According to the Vault Dweller’s Memoirs, the Vault Dweller marries a woman named Pat. This detail provides some closure to the Vault Dweller’s life after the events of Fallout 1.
5. Why isn’t Natalia Dubrovhsky the canon Vault Dweller?
The Vault Dweller statue in Fallout 2, along with lore that specifies the Vault Dweller was male, effectively rules out Natalia as the canonical Vault Dweller.
6. Is the Vault Dweller in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel meant to be Albert Cole?
The character in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel resembles Albert Cole and possesses the Vault 13 flask, but Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel is not considered a canon entry in the main series. Therefore, this depiction is not considered to be the canon representation of the Vault Dweller.
7. Who is more powerful, the Vault Dweller or the Sole Survivor?
When ranked by capabilities, the Vault Dweller is ranked higher than the Sole Survivor, but lower than the Chosen One. The Courier Six from Fallout: New Vegas is generally considered the most powerful protagonist in the series.
8. What is the creepiest Vault in Fallout?
Vaults such as Vault 11 (Democratic Sacrifice), Vault 42 (Dying of the Light), Vault 92 (Artists Gone Mad) and Vault 106 (Psychoactive Drugs) are among the creepiest in the series, due to their disturbing and often horrific experiments.
9. Are most people in the wasteland descended from Vault Dwellers?
No, most of the wasteland population are not descendants of Vault Dwellers. Many people survived the war in various ways, and their descendants populate the various settlements and groups seen in the game.
10. Was Vault-Tec evil?
Vault-Tec was not necessarily evil, but they were morally twisted. They conducted social experiments on vault dwellers without their knowledge, and many vaults were designed for horrific outcomes. Vault Tec’s goal was to test various experiments in the vaults, not to protect people from the nuclear fallout.
11. What is the canon ending of Fallout 1?
The canon ending as per the Vault Dweller’s Memoirs includes: The male Vault Dweller killed the Master, then the Lieutenant. They also rescued Tandi and killed all but one of the Khans.
12. Why is Vault Boy so iconic in Fallout?
Vault Boy was created by Interplay Entertainment to represent Vault-Tec and their marketing materials. He has become an iconic symbol for the entire Fallout franchise.
13. Are Pip-Boys standard equipment for Vault Dwellers?
Yes, Pip-Boys were standard equipment issued to all Vault-Tec Vaults for use by all dwellers.
14. Is the Lone Wanderer always a male?
No, the Lone Wanderer in Fallout 3 can be either male or female and fully customizable by the player. The gender choice does not affect the overall story or gameplay.
15. Is Courier Six a Vault Dweller?
No, Courier Six from Fallout: New Vegas was not born in a Vault. This makes them unique amongst the Fallout protagonists as most of them grew up in a vault.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the appearance of a character resembling Albert Cole in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel and other ambiguous details may suggest otherwise, the canonical Vault Dweller from Fallout 1 is established to be a male character created by the player, whose fate and actions are vaguely outlined in the Vault Dweller’s Memoirs. The Vault Dweller statue, the Fallout Bible and lore consistently support this, solidifying the idea that Albert, Max and Natalia are ultimately not canon. The first game should be played as your own, unique character. The various interpretations highlight the complexity of canon and the lasting impact of the Fallout series on gaming culture.