The Fallout franchise is well known for bringing back recurring characters from its previous games, and Arthur Maxson isn’t any different in that regard. Players will first get to know the man behind the Brotherhood of Steel and its presence in Fallout 4 when boarding the Prydwen, and if they’ve agreed to join the cause through the invitation of companion Paladin Danse.

While Arthur Maxson comes across as a typical, paper-thin leader without much to himself, he has a long history as proven by previous games, namely Fallout 3, in which he appears as a child. He’s had quite an eventful past, but there’s still so much that makes fans raise their eyebrows and wonder what the logic behind him is.

10 He Denies Being A Chosen One

Maxson isn’t just any regular Brotherhood member. He’s actually the descendant of the founder himself, Roger Maxson. That alone would make anyone feel like an important person with a big mission to carry as they grow up and go on to study the ideals of the Brotherhood.

Arthur, however, doesn’t show any signs of that typical pride that many would expect him to have. He even denies it to a degree, when at one point he was being worshiped by some cults and groups as a god-like creature. It’s hard to believe someone could be this down to earth and still become a leader.

9 He Can’t Be Pickpocketed

Fallout 4 has some interesting mechanics and limitations in the game that sometimes influence how you can interact with some of the NPCs. Arthur Maxson is a pretty important NPC due to how central and valuable he is for the Brotherhood of Steel.

Because of this it won’t come as a surprise for many to hear that he can’t be pickpocketed. Realistically, this doesn’t make sense, and it would be pretty hilarious to figure out what he actually carries in the pockets of his uniform. Maybe that sweet unique power armor he wears during the battle at Liberty Prime?

8 He Claims To Care About The Commonwealth

Although the Brotherhood claims to want to protect the Commonwealth, and Arthur obviously agrees with this as the leader, their actions often speak louder than words. By doing some of the radiant quests for the Brotherhood, their true nature is easily unveiled.

For instance, Maxson allows the Sole Survivor to be sent by Captain Kells to secure some food from the local farmers. This is essentially blackmail, since the locals most likely don’t want anything to do with the Brotherhood and shouldn’t be forced to support their crusade in the Commonwealth.

7 He Claims That Violence Is A Last Resort

Another belief Arthur has is that violence should always be a last resort. This is honestly a very strange thing for him to say, given that the entire basis of the Brotherhood is in military code and rankings. The Brotherhood is an army, and fights above all to gain its ground.

Moreover, the Brotherhood doesn’t even try to engage in diplomacy with the Institute or the Railroad. Instead, they prefer to reach for their weapons instead, which totally contradicts what Maxson’s beliefs are. He’s being a little bit hypocritical here.

6 He Hates Tech But Still Gathers It

Since his youth, Arthur has been well-versed in the beliefs and values of the Brotherhood of Steel. Although he’s sometimes questioned the decisions of previous Elders, he has oddly enough started to warm up to the idea of having more technology in the hands of the Brotherhood.

This is also hypocritical, since it goes against the core, foundational beliefs of the Brotherhood. Technology is associated with the Institute, which is evil in their eyes. Maxson still allows scientific research and the development of new technologies to take place within the Prydwen.

5 He’s Considered A Perfect Human

The main issue with Arthur Maxson has to be the fact that he’s painted as a character that has absolutely zero flaws. Not only is this done within the game’s story, both in Fallout 3 and in Fallout 4, but it’s also implied gameplay wise that he’s just a completely flawless leader.

It’s generally poor writing to have a character as perfect as Maxson within a story. With a tragic background, he has achieved more than most of his peers ever have, and has the privilege of leading the entire operation simply because of his bloodline. Things really are looking up for him, and it breaks the immersion in a game where most characters have flip sides.

4 He Became A Leader At 16

Maxson is a bit of a child prodigy. A lot of expectations have been placed on his shoulders since he was a young child, and normally any regular child would struggle to meet them. After all, what can a teenager do in a post-nuclear apocalypse world?

Well, apparently they can lead in the Brotherhood of Steel. He reached his first leadership position when he was only 16 years old, which means he most likely commanded men who were at least twice his age. How does that make any sense?

3 He Killed A Deathclaw When He Was 13

Forget about leading at 16. Maybe that’s possible. Maybe it’s perfectly doable. However, what isn’t doable is being 13 years old and facing off against an actual Deathclaw — and surviving it. Just think about it: how can a kid of that age beat a beast that most likely towers way above his head?

It’s hard to believe, which is what makes it so ridiculous and illogical. It sounds like a lie if anything. Although it’s said he was gravely injured by the process, the mental image of a 13-year-old fighting a Deathclaw is rather comical.

2 His Only Friend Was A Robot But He Hates Synths

Arthur Maxson had a childhood that wasn’t filled with much laughter or joy, but then again, who doesn’t in the post-apocalyptic world? At least he had the Brotherhood to support him, except that he was known as a quiet child who spent most of his time alone.

Well, not always. It’s said that Maxson actually befriended a robot, and not just any one, but the Liberty Prime itself. He was actually scolded for taking a liking to it, but he persisted regardless. Funny, how these days he’s so ready to eradicate robots and synths, when a machine once acted as his only friend.

1 He Was Always Shy, Not Charismatic

Quiet and a loner, Maxson was also a shy kid. If that’s hard to believe, it’s because it really is hard to believe looking at him now. In fact, the child and the man himself seem to have so little in common it’s a miracle they’re even the same person in the first place.

How come he suddenly became such a charismatic and iconic leader, despite having few friends in his past? In order to be a proper leader, it’s only natural for a person to have social interaction and build proper social skills. So how did turn into a charismatic beast all of a sudden? It seems such a rushed and convenient change in his character.

NEXT: Fallout 4: 10 Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed The First Time Through