A New World[]
It is time for a new generation of gaming, so it is time for a new generation of Fallout. The world maps of Fallout and Fallout 2 have combined with the local maps of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, fast traveling is done through the Chryslus Fortress, and cities are larger and more populated than ever before! Travel to the Commonwealth, River City, Ronto, and hundreds of places in between!
A Player Character with Infinite Possibilities[]
Appearance editing is done like never before, traits are returning with more options than ever, and there are two much more important character options now...
Race[]
The player is now able to pick between four different races, each with their pros and cons.
| Race | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Gain +2 skill points per level | None |
| Ghouls | Radiation heals your health over time Limbs heal over time |
Chems' positive effects reduced Limbs have less health |
| Super mutants | Immune to Radiation Bonus to all Strength based checks +10% Damage Resistance |
Penalty to disposition towards most characters Can only wear specially crafted, hard to find large armor |
| Andriods | Don't need to worry about Hunger, Thirst or Sleep Immune to radiation and poison |
Need to worry about their systems' Power Majority of consumables have no effect Need to find specialists for repairs, instead of doctors |
Background[]
Of course, what is a character without a background? This is the first Fallout game to offer a choice in one's history.
| Race | Background | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Vault Dweller | You were born and raised in Vault 122 to the north, until the Vault was abandoned. |
| Human | Commonwealth | While not a full-fledged member, you've done plenty of work for the Institute in the Commonwealth. This could make the wars very interesting... |
| Ghoul | Auto Mechanic | Whether learned recently or centuries ago, you are one of the few who hold the pre-War knowledge of auto mechanics that make Detriot famous. |
| Ghoul | Ronto | You worked for the government of Ronto, that was before the military coup, mass murders and anarchy forced you away from the city, of course. |
| Super mutant | Vault Dweller | You are from Vault 87, super mutants like you are hated throughout the Capital Wasteland. |
| Super mutant | Brotherhood of Steel | You work for the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, sent east on a mission. |
| Android | Commonwealth | You are a forced servant of a member of the Commonwealth, sent south on a mission. |
| Android | Vault Dweller | You are from Vault 82, one of the two "Brain Vaults". How did a Vault get androids? |
| All races | Blank Slate | Your origin is a mystery, few to none in this region know who you are or where you've come before this. |
Modifying Mods[]
One of the new features of hardcore mode is advanced mechanics when repairing weapons. While some weapons are still simple, such as the good old baseball bat, other, more complex weapons are divided up into multiple components. Repairing is now done by replacing or maintaining these individual components. As the components degrade, the weapon's stats are decreased and if the component's health hits 0, the weapon will stop functioning.
Meanwhile, modifying weapons is now done by either adding new components to a weapon or replacing pre-existing components with more advanced versions. One could add a scope component to a laser rifle, replace the magazine component of a 9mm with a larger magazine, replace the deathclaw gauntlet's main hand with one of an alpha deathclaw, and limitless other possibilities. Some components are unique to just one weapon, while other components may be used by multiple weapons.
Other Features[]
Combining the systems of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4 has both damage resistance and damage threshold, resulting in a wider variety of armor effects. While optional, two of the main quests in the story contain a bit of a strategy side, where the player is given a map and can decide how to deploy their resources or can leave it to somebody else to do. Unlike previous titles, the Pip-Boy is an optional component of the game, with Vault dweller characters gaining it at the start of the game and other characters optionally getting one at Wilson or Vault 82. Characters without a Pip-Boy use a journal as their menu instead.
Gameplay after the main story is expanded upon more than any other Fallout game. The player can return to a wide variety of locations after the story is complete, seeing the effects of their actions, can continue side quests they didn't have time to do during the story and start new side quests that become available. A greater emphasis has been put on the SPECIAL system, with the primary statistics have a greater effect on gameplay than previously, the player acquiring less skill points than previous games depending on whether they are in hardcore mode or not, and dozens of traits.
Reference to Other Works[]
- Paladin117's previous entries: Gamma Defense Incorporated, a faction from the Ravens' Port add-on, appear again in this entry, allowing the player to visit their aforementioned headquarters and recruit them as possible allies.
- Competitors' previous entries: The Lakefront district of Ronto is taken directly from The Old World Relics' Fallout: Ronto.
- Cancelled Fallout games: The character starts out as "Prisoner 13" at Rikers Island, a reference to the Prisoner from the cancelled Fallout 3. Maxson also mentions at one point a Florida chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel and crocodiles, a reference to the cancelled Fallout Tactics 2.