John Hancock is a character in Fallout 4, Fallout Shelter Online, Fallout: The Board Game and Fallout: Wasteland Warfare.
Background[edit]
John Hancock is the son of Martha and Patrick McDonough.[1] He is the younger brother of Mayor McDonough and they grew up together in Diamond City, living in a "little shack on the waterfront".[2] Hancock claims that during their childhood, Mayor McDonough was "entitled", "punchy" and was "the standard big brother". He also liked to shove rotten Tatoes down the back of John's shirt and slap them.[3]According to Hancock, he and his brother had a "pretty happy childhood"[4]
Hancock's brother ran for mayor of Diamond City with a "No Ghouls Allowed" campaign[5] and was elected after gaining the support of people living in the Upper Stands.[6] John confronted him in his office after his inauguration speech and begged his brother to "call it off". The mayor refused, telling Hancock that he was "carrying out the will of the people" and that he "couldn't betray the voters".[7] No longer feeling able to stay, Hancock left Diamond City.[8]
Goodneighbor[edit]
John became a Drifter in the town of Goodneighbor, at the time run by a mob boss named Vic.[9] He managed to find a couple of the displaced Ghouls from Diamond City and tried to save as many as he could by relocating them to Goodneighbor. According to Hancock, the refugees were unable to adjust to the "Goodneighbor Lifestyle", and eventually disappeared.[8]
Not long after arriving in Goodneighbor, John began to go on "wild tears", taking any chem he could find.[10]At some point he found an experimental, radioactive drug. Feeling guilty over his inability to protect the Ghouls in Diamond City and his fellow Drifters from Vic, John took the drug in order to transform himself into a ghoul.[11] He claims that both the high and the subsequent transformation were "so worth it".[10]
According to Hancock, life in Goodneighbor was difficult for drifters as they had no homes to hide in. He describes Vic as "scum" and claims he used drifters "like his own personal piggy bank". Vic's "goon squad" were used to keep the people of Goodneighbor in line and were sometimes allowed to "blow off some steam" on civilians. One night John witnessed the murder of a fellow drifter at the hands of Vic's henchmen.[9] He considers his lack of intervention cowardly[12], and in the aftermath felt "like less than nothing." After the murder, John got high and eventually blacked out.[13]
Mayorship[edit]
When he regained consciousness, John found himself lying on the floor of the Old State House next to a set of clothes that belonged to John Hancock.[14] Putting on the clothes, John McDonough "started a new life" as Hancock.[15]
Hancock set out to raise a militia, making sure that the next time Vic's henchmen "went on their tear", he would be ready. Temporarily going sober in preparation, he gathered a crew of drifters and convinced KL-E-0 to loan them some weapons.[16] They gathered together one night, waiting on the rooftops and inside buildings for Vic's goons to gather. Holding off until their opponents were heavily intoxicated, the militia burst from their hiding spots and killed the gangsters.[17]
Once they had "mopped up", Hancock and his militia stormed Vic's quarters in the State House and brought him out to be hanged by the neck from the balcony.[18] Looking down and seeing that the people of Goodneighbor had gathered, Hancock felt he had to say something to the crowd. He gave what he now considers to be his inaugural address, "Of the people, for the people!" With that he became Mayor Hancock and vowed to "never stand by and watch" ever again.[19]
The majority of Goodneighbor's citizens look to him for leadership, and he acts as a source of reassurance concerning the looming Synth threat. Following the events of Bobbi No-Nose's big plan (The Big Dig), a plot to steal from his stronghold, he claims to feel too pampered and comfortable.[20] He gives a speech proclaiming his leave of absence.
Hancock then proceeds to offer his services to the Sole Survivor as a possible companion. Reaching the highest affinity level with Hancock results in him granting the Isodoped perk to the Sole Survivor. If spoken to after gaining more than 500 affinity, Hancock refers to the Sole Survivor as his friend.
It is then possible to flirt with Hancock, and by passing his Speech challenge he will mention that he has impure thoughts about them, and hints at acting on those thoughts. This is obtainable without the Silver Shroud Costume while he is a companion and flirting within the second private conversation. Hancock occasionally gives the character chems.
Publications[edit]
Interactions Overview[edit]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
| This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | ||
| This character is a permanent companion. They grant the Isodoped perk. | ||
| This character starts quests. | ||
| This character is involved in quests. | ||
| This character is romanceable. |
Requires maximum affinity. | |
| This character can be sent to a settlement. | ||
Range of interests[edit]
| Approvals | Disapprovals |
|---|---|
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Inventory[edit]
Notes[edit]
- He has an Intelligence of 14, the second-highest of all companions.
- He will comment if brought to Nate/Nora's corpse in Vault 111.[21]
- If Finn is killed by the Sole Survivor, Hancock will be rather calm and applaud the player character.[22]
- He recognizes Nick Valentine.[23]
- He turns a blind eye to the Railroad's activities in Goodneighbor.[24]
- He will comment if the Sole Survivor travels without clothing equipped.[25][26] This will also increase his affinity towards the Sole Survivor.
- After the completion of In Sheep's Clothing, he will contemplate whether his anger toward his brother was justified.[27]
- Piper refers to him as her "second least favorite Mayor."[28]
- His Chem of choice are Mentats because they make him feel "intellectual."[29]
- According to Irma, he was even more "handsome and dangerous" before he turned into a Ghoul.[30]
Quotes[edit]
- "Of the people, for the people."
- "Plenty of folks wanna make life hard for people just tryin' to survive. I'm not willing to stand for that kinda shit."
- "If someone needs help, we help 'em. If someone needs hurting, we hurt 'em. It's not hard."
- "Like it? I think it gives me a sexy, king of the zombies kinda look. Big hit with the ladies."
- "Careful! You don't know where that's been." – When picking up junk
- "Hey, does that play "Red Menace?" Love that damn game." – Accessing a terminal
- "Christ, it's bright in here. Clearly they didn't consider some folks might be nursing hangovers. " – When entering Vault 81.
Appearances[edit]
John Hancock appears in Fallout 4, Fallout Shelter Online, Fallout: The Board Game and Fallout: Wasteland Warfare.
Behind the Scenes[edit]
Unused dialogue lines of Finn refer to Hancock as deceased.[31][32]
Bugs[edit]
Hancock issues a misc quest to investigate Pickman Gallery, but if he is available as a companion, on returning to report to him there will be no dialogue available to complete the misc quest. This also the case with the interaction with Hancock in The Silver Shroud mission. To finish this quest, speak with Hancock and let him join as the companion. Then speak with him again and in dialogue, there will be an option to finish the mentioned quest. Hancock will say something like: "When I wanted you to investigate Pickman Gallery, I didn't mean you to take me there." He does it even if one didn't take him with or had another companion on that quest. After that, the quest will be finished.
Gallery[edit]
As seen in the launch trailer
Meeting John Hancock
Overseeing Goodneighbor
Addressing Goodneighbor
From The Art of Fallout 4
Hancock's model for Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
Featured in Minecraft: Fallout Edition
References[edit]
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