Personality: Most of this is conjecture and hearsay, given the fact that Thom canonically has no lines. HOWEVER that said, there are several things we can infer. Thom is canonically described as being ‘cowboy-like’, which in and of itself tends to carry several connotations along with it. Cowboys are generally thought to have that vague, laconical attitude that alternately gets them into trouble and sees them woo any number of pretty ladies, HOLLA.
Also, considering the impact that his death had on the rest of Noble Team (canon cite: 'You're stepping into shoes the rest of the squad would rather leave unfilled'), it’s probably a safe bet to say his personality is a memorable one, if compounded by a certain recklessness. By what we know from the Deliver Hope trailer, and the Noble Team Performance Reports (http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Noble_Team_performance_reports), Thom’s death was the result of total disregard for many of the ingrained traits of a Spartan III (ie: TEAMWORK, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT) and more than a little stupidity. When presented with two options: GIVE THE COVENANT BACK THEIR BOMB or WAIT FOR FUCKING BACKUP, most team players would choose option B, but Thom got it in his head that he needed to Lone Wolf himself right to a stupid and more or less pointless death. Derp.
But, you say! How are you planning on playing this character with a grand total of five seconds (a slight hyperbole) of screentime! HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS NOT PART OF SOME NEFARIOUS PLOT TO GAIN OUR TRUST SO YOU CAN KILL US ALL IN OUR SLEEP?
And to that I say – well, you don’t rightly know. But I’ll give you a brief summary on My View Of Thom, as it were.
Though I try to stay within the parameters of what canon has provided for us, as noted it’s not much, so a lot of headcanon does come into play. I figure Thom as being pretty laid-back, friendly, gregarious, and a bit of a joker when the situation calls for it – the sort of guy it’s easy to get attached to, and easier to mourn. If confronted with a tense moment (Emile and Jorge ARE YOU BUTTING HEADS AGAIN) he's more likely to interject with some sort of self-deprecating quip ('Come on guys, I haven't even had breakfast yet') than he is to pull rank. Top it off with the tendency to be a bit hot under the collar, a helping of macho bravura, add a maraschino cherry of badassery and c’est voila, you’ve got yourself one cowboy of Spartanation.
As a rifleman, one can also hedge the assumption that Thom is at least capable of operating with a cool hand – from a distance. When there's nothing but a scope and reticle between he and whatever he's punching holes in, life is good. Damn near zen, in fact. It's when you thrust him into immediate, action-reaction combat that he starts taking way more risks than he should. Call it an invincibility complex, if you will – a slight buying-into of the Spartan mythos, on an entirely subconscious level. He's all too aware of their mortality, but hey. Sometimes it slips the mind.
I also believe he tends to be protective of his teammates, verging on irrationality. Sure, they're all big and strong and fully capable of taking care of themselves but they're his family, damnit, and he will put himself between them and anything that's threatening them.
While not exactly an optimist, he does attempt to make the best of a bad situation. No maudlin tendencies here, bro! (canon cite: the fact that he chose to turn and run from the nuke he'd just lobbed into Covvie territory leads me to believe he had some hope of surviving it, even if logic told him otherwise)
If you ignore the vaguely WE ARE THE BORG like qualities of the Spartan IIs (that being, very few seem to have retained much to their personalities beyond: we are soldiers, hear us fuck shit up), the IIIs by comparison are practically a wellspring of attitude. It's my belief that the slightly less regimented training of the IIIs is responsible for this sudden and alarming diversity, and Thom is undoubtedly a result of that.
thom 293 || associated halo canons
Also, considering the impact that his death had on the rest of Noble Team (canon cite: 'You're stepping into shoes the rest of the squad would rather leave unfilled'), it’s probably a safe bet to say his personality is a memorable one, if compounded by a certain recklessness. By what we know from the Deliver Hope trailer, and the Noble Team Performance Reports (http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Noble_Team_performance_reports), Thom’s death was the result of total disregard for many of the ingrained traits of a Spartan III (ie: TEAMWORK, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT) and more than a little stupidity. When presented with two options: GIVE THE COVENANT BACK THEIR BOMB or WAIT FOR FUCKING BACKUP, most team players would choose option B, but Thom got it in his head that he needed to Lone Wolf himself right to a stupid and more or less pointless death. Derp.
But, you say! How are you planning on playing this character with a grand total of five seconds (a slight hyperbole) of screentime! HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS NOT PART OF SOME NEFARIOUS PLOT TO GAIN OUR TRUST SO YOU CAN KILL US ALL IN OUR SLEEP?
And to that I say – well, you don’t rightly know. But I’ll give you a brief summary on My View Of Thom, as it were.
Though I try to stay within the parameters of what canon has provided for us, as noted it’s not much, so a lot of headcanon does come into play. I figure Thom as being pretty laid-back, friendly, gregarious, and a bit of a joker when the situation calls for it – the sort of guy it’s easy to get attached to, and easier to mourn. If confronted with a tense moment (Emile and Jorge ARE YOU BUTTING HEADS AGAIN) he's more likely to interject with some sort of self-deprecating quip ('Come on guys, I haven't even had breakfast yet') than he is to pull rank. Top it off with the tendency to be a bit hot under the collar, a helping of macho bravura, add a maraschino cherry of badassery and c’est voila, you’ve got yourself one cowboy of Spartanation.
As a rifleman, one can also hedge the assumption that Thom is at least capable of operating with a cool hand – from a distance. When there's nothing but a scope and reticle between he and whatever he's punching holes in, life is good. Damn near zen, in fact. It's when you thrust him into immediate, action-reaction combat that he starts taking way more risks than he should. Call it an invincibility complex, if you will – a slight buying-into of the Spartan mythos, on an entirely subconscious level. He's all too aware of their mortality, but hey. Sometimes it slips the mind.
I also believe he tends to be protective of his teammates, verging on irrationality. Sure, they're all big and strong and fully capable of taking care of themselves but they're his family, damnit, and he will put himself between them and anything that's threatening them.
While not exactly an optimist, he does attempt to make the best of a bad situation. No maudlin tendencies here, bro! (canon cite: the fact that he chose to turn and run from the nuke he'd just lobbed into Covvie territory leads me to believe he had some hope of surviving it, even if logic told him otherwise)
If you ignore the vaguely WE ARE THE BORG like qualities of the Spartan IIs (that being, very few seem to have retained much to their personalities beyond: we are soldiers, hear us fuck shit up), the IIIs by comparison are practically a wellspring of attitude. It's my belief that the slightly less regimented training of the IIIs is responsible for this sudden and alarming diversity, and Thom is undoubtedly a result of that.