Hello new user and welcome to Vault-Tec's "Guide To The Wasteland". This guide should serve as a manual to our fully interactive and immersive simulation of life outside of your Vault-Tec vault. Remember, Vault-Tec: America's first choice in post-nuclear simulation. Users can experience this simulation from the comfort of their Vault-Tec vault, so that there is never a need to venture outside the confines of their safe and secure Vault-Tec vault. This simulation is designed specifically for users from Vault 101. First, a little history on Vault 101.
The "Jewel of the Wasteland", Vault 101 has faithfully served surviving residents of Washington D.C. and the surrounding area for more than 200 years. Vault-dwellers, as vault-residents are referred to, are kept in relative comfort and safety knowing that their Vault door has never been breached, and will never be opened. Questions about the vault or any of its policies can be brought before the Vault Overseer.
Vault-dwellers are born and bred right within the Vault itself; here at Vault-Tec we believe that all residents, young and old, are S.P.E.C.I.A.L. These traits define who you are; your strengths and your weaknesses. Chosen early, it is always possible to further develop and refine these skills throughout your journey through life here in Vault 101. At the tender age of 10, Vault-Dwellers are given their Pip-boy; this device is worn on the wrist much like a watch and serves as every Vault-Dwellers guide, giving them inventory lists, work requests, notes, progress on their current task, a fully-interactive map, health status and an inventory system, to name just a few things that your Pip-boy is capable of.
At the age of 16, Vault-Dwellers are required to take place in the G.O.A.T. exam. This mandatory test determines what skills the Vault-Dweller is proficient at, and what job the he/she will be spending the rest of their days performing. All Vault-Dwellers capable of working must do so; the smooth function of your Vault-Tec vault is contingent on the collective work of every one of it's inhabitants. Of course, G.O.A.T. exams are somewhat superficial, and Vault-Dwellers can customize their exact skills as they see fit.
Now that the history is out of the way, lets review the Vault-Tec Wasteland Simulation together. The first thing users may notice after beginning their Wasteland simulation is the graphics within. The simulation is meant to allow users to experience life outside of the Vault as if they were really there doing so; as such, many users will be taken back by the view of sunlight over the scorched rocks and debris left behind in the crumbling ruins of Washington D.C., known to most as the "Capital Wasteland". The environment can be gray and bland at times, but such is the look of the nation's capital; after all, it is a wasteland.
Small developments of survivors can be found throughout the land; poor souls incapable of affording the security and piece of mind a Vault-Tec vault provides have cobbled together houses and towns out of refuse and debris. The Wasteland Simulation features a full plethora of free-thinking individuals that users can interact with; these characters each have their own personalities, thoughts, mannerisms and schedules generated based on data collected by Vault-Tec researchers.
One thing that will be made painfully clear to users is the danger the capital wasteland holds; something as simple as finding clean water can be a deadly hazard. Almost everything within the Capital Wasteland has some degree of radiation to it; the user's Pip-Boy can be accessed at all times during the simulation, where their health status can be viewed and their Radiation level can be monitored. Certain areas of the Capital Wasteland are still highly radioactive and areas such as bodies of water contain high levels of radiation. Users must keep a close eye on their radiation level; their body can only absorb so much radiation before harmful physical effects begin to occur. There are various items that can be found or purchased within the Capital Wasteland to lower and even resist radiation, though, so a well-supplied user should not have any trouble.
Another danger is that of enemies; due to the radiation even mundane creatures such as rats and ants have become over-sized and pose a deadly risk to an ill-equipped Vault-Dweller. Users will have to arm themselves with anything they can find; from a BB-Gun to a pool cue, anything they can use to defend themselves. Over-sized erradiated animals are not the only threat; mutants roam the wasteland as well. These savages pose little resemblance to the humans they once were; the beasts roam the wasteland, preying on weak survivors and terrorizing civilians for fun. It is no wonder your Vault-Tec appointed Vault Overseer never lets the door to your Vault be opened; your Vault-Tec vault is impervious to any and all dangers posed by the Capital Wasteland.
Once the user has found and equipped a weapon with which to protect themselves, they are able to take advantage of the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S. With V.A.T.S., users can pin-point exactly which area on an enemy they wish to strike, determine how likely they are to hit that area judging distance, weapon accuracy, and other guiding factors, and finally make the attack. V.A.T.S. cannot be used indefinitely, and once used time must be given for a user's Action Points (AP) to replenish. Attacks within V.A.T.S. take a pre-determined amount of the user's AP, governed by the weapon that they are using. For example, a user with a handgun may be able to take three shots at an attacking enemy, whereas a user with a shotgun may only be able to make one attack before they are forced to either fight in real time or avoid the enemy until their AP returns.
V.A.T.S. may take some time to get used to, but once users utilize this feature to its full potential, they will find that combat without V.A.T.S. can be a much less fulfilling experience; weapons will seem less accurate, and enemies will seem to be able to attack much quicker than a user. Vault-Tec recommends using V.A.T.S. whenever, and wherever possible; though the simulation can be performed without ever using it, users may find they do not have a fun experience when it comes to combat without it.
There is a great range and variety of weapons for which users to find and equip themselves with in the Capital Wasteland as well; from laser pistols and plasma rifles to basic 9mm handguns, mini-nukes and missiles to baseball bats and lead pipes, hand grenades and pocket mines to sniper rifles users will find that each brings a different aspect of combat into play. Items can be rummaged through everywhere, and must be in order for users to keep themselves well stocked on ammunition and supplies.
Users will also find the ability to utilize work benches to create even more items; new and unique items based off of blue-prints that can be found, purchased, or stolen within the Capital Wasteland. A mundane item such as a tin can can be strapped with an explosive and turned into a land mine. Should their skill be high enough, users can also attempt to repair items and equipment within their possession in order to keep it at peak performance.
When users have performed enough tasks or defeated enough enemies, they may find that their experience level will be raised. The experience level determines how experience you have become with surviving at life within the Capital Wasteland Simulation. With each new level, users are able to increase their skills, and even learn new and useful abilities called Perks. Yes, there is always a reason for users to continue to grow and learn what they can from this simulation.
Users will find that many choices that they make while in the Vault-Tec Capital Wasteland Simulation will impact their Karma; how good, evil, or neutral they are. Actions and speech can have either a negative, positive, or no effect on a users Karm rating. The karma rating can impact things such as persuasiveness when in conversation, or even what companions will or will not travel with the user. The Karma rating, however, is entirely up to the user, allowing Vault-Dwellers to be as good, or as evil as they wish.
One thing users might notice is that, while everything is located conveniently within the confines of your Vault-Tec vault, travel through the Capital Wasteland Simulation can be quite tedious at first; locations can be traveled to quickly from your Pip-boy once you have discovered them, but undiscovered locations can prove to be quite a trek indeed. Streets and roads are broken and piled with debris; most of the time users will be forced to take to the underground subway in order to travel from place to place. With all of the dangers and pitfalls of life within the Capital Wasteland, making it what looks like a relatively small distance on the user's Pip-boy may prove to be a trek costing them many bullets and health items.
There is also a primitive radar that is visible within the Users HUD while exploring the Capital Wasteland, but it is of no real use except to show the user the appropriate direction that their objective is in. Any in depth analysis of the map and surrounding area will have to be done by consulting the user's Pip-boy. However, the HUD radar is suitable enough in most cases.
Vault-Dwellers must also take note that once the Wasteland Simulation is completed, it is not possible to return without starting over from the beginning. That means that if archived data is not kept prior to the Simulation's completion, the Vault-Dweller must begin anew. Please keep that in mind, and remember that Vault-Tec recommends that users backup and archive progress through the Simulation often, deleting archived data only when absolutely necessary.
Altogether, Vault-Tec is sure that Vault-Dwellers will find the Capital Wasteland Simulation an engrossing and in-depth experience; nothing is pre-determined and all choices are made by the user. Not without a few minor shortcomings, Vault-Tec is sure that Vault-Dwellers can spend months within the Capital Wasteland Simulation. Vault-Tec also promises to deliver periodic updates to add additional content to the Simulation when it is prepared and tested. Please consult your Vault's Overseer for further questions on Vault-Tec's Capital Wasteland Simulation. Here at Vault-Tec, we hope that once you have experience the Capital Wasteland through this simulation, you will not be prompted to ever leave the confines of your Vault-Tec vault. If you do have the desire to venture out of your vault, please make these feelings known to your Vault Overseer. Once again, thank you for choosing Vault-Tec, dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in apocalypse survivability technology.
The "Jewel of the Wasteland", Vault 101 has faithfully served surviving residents of Washington D.C. and the surrounding area for more than 200 years. Vault-dwellers, as vault-residents are referred to, are kept in relative comfort and safety knowing that their Vault door has never been breached, and will never be opened. Questions about the vault or any of its policies can be brought before the Vault Overseer.
Vault-dwellers are born and bred right within the Vault itself; here at Vault-Tec we believe that all residents, young and old, are S.P.E.C.I.A.L. These traits define who you are; your strengths and your weaknesses. Chosen early, it is always possible to further develop and refine these skills throughout your journey through life here in Vault 101. At the tender age of 10, Vault-Dwellers are given their Pip-boy; this device is worn on the wrist much like a watch and serves as every Vault-Dwellers guide, giving them inventory lists, work requests, notes, progress on their current task, a fully-interactive map, health status and an inventory system, to name just a few things that your Pip-boy is capable of.
At the age of 16, Vault-Dwellers are required to take place in the G.O.A.T. exam. This mandatory test determines what skills the Vault-Dweller is proficient at, and what job the he/she will be spending the rest of their days performing. All Vault-Dwellers capable of working must do so; the smooth function of your Vault-Tec vault is contingent on the collective work of every one of it's inhabitants. Of course, G.O.A.T. exams are somewhat superficial, and Vault-Dwellers can customize their exact skills as they see fit.
Now that the history is out of the way, lets review the Vault-Tec Wasteland Simulation together. The first thing users may notice after beginning their Wasteland simulation is the graphics within. The simulation is meant to allow users to experience life outside of the Vault as if they were really there doing so; as such, many users will be taken back by the view of sunlight over the scorched rocks and debris left behind in the crumbling ruins of Washington D.C., known to most as the "Capital Wasteland". The environment can be gray and bland at times, but such is the look of the nation's capital; after all, it is a wasteland.
Small developments of survivors can be found throughout the land; poor souls incapable of affording the security and piece of mind a Vault-Tec vault provides have cobbled together houses and towns out of refuse and debris. The Wasteland Simulation features a full plethora of free-thinking individuals that users can interact with; these characters each have their own personalities, thoughts, mannerisms and schedules generated based on data collected by Vault-Tec researchers.
One thing that will be made painfully clear to users is the danger the capital wasteland holds; something as simple as finding clean water can be a deadly hazard. Almost everything within the Capital Wasteland has some degree of radiation to it; the user's Pip-Boy can be accessed at all times during the simulation, where their health status can be viewed and their Radiation level can be monitored. Certain areas of the Capital Wasteland are still highly radioactive and areas such as bodies of water contain high levels of radiation. Users must keep a close eye on their radiation level; their body can only absorb so much radiation before harmful physical effects begin to occur. There are various items that can be found or purchased within the Capital Wasteland to lower and even resist radiation, though, so a well-supplied user should not have any trouble.
Another danger is that of enemies; due to the radiation even mundane creatures such as rats and ants have become over-sized and pose a deadly risk to an ill-equipped Vault-Dweller. Users will have to arm themselves with anything they can find; from a BB-Gun to a pool cue, anything they can use to defend themselves. Over-sized erradiated animals are not the only threat; mutants roam the wasteland as well. These savages pose little resemblance to the humans they once were; the beasts roam the wasteland, preying on weak survivors and terrorizing civilians for fun. It is no wonder your Vault-Tec appointed Vault Overseer never lets the door to your Vault be opened; your Vault-Tec vault is impervious to any and all dangers posed by the Capital Wasteland.
Once the user has found and equipped a weapon with which to protect themselves, they are able to take advantage of the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S. With V.A.T.S., users can pin-point exactly which area on an enemy they wish to strike, determine how likely they are to hit that area judging distance, weapon accuracy, and other guiding factors, and finally make the attack. V.A.T.S. cannot be used indefinitely, and once used time must be given for a user's Action Points (AP) to replenish. Attacks within V.A.T.S. take a pre-determined amount of the user's AP, governed by the weapon that they are using. For example, a user with a handgun may be able to take three shots at an attacking enemy, whereas a user with a shotgun may only be able to make one attack before they are forced to either fight in real time or avoid the enemy until their AP returns.
V.A.T.S. may take some time to get used to, but once users utilize this feature to its full potential, they will find that combat without V.A.T.S. can be a much less fulfilling experience; weapons will seem less accurate, and enemies will seem to be able to attack much quicker than a user. Vault-Tec recommends using V.A.T.S. whenever, and wherever possible; though the simulation can be performed without ever using it, users may find they do not have a fun experience when it comes to combat without it.
There is a great range and variety of weapons for which users to find and equip themselves with in the Capital Wasteland as well; from laser pistols and plasma rifles to basic 9mm handguns, mini-nukes and missiles to baseball bats and lead pipes, hand grenades and pocket mines to sniper rifles users will find that each brings a different aspect of combat into play. Items can be rummaged through everywhere, and must be in order for users to keep themselves well stocked on ammunition and supplies.
Users will also find the ability to utilize work benches to create even more items; new and unique items based off of blue-prints that can be found, purchased, or stolen within the Capital Wasteland. A mundane item such as a tin can can be strapped with an explosive and turned into a land mine. Should their skill be high enough, users can also attempt to repair items and equipment within their possession in order to keep it at peak performance.
When users have performed enough tasks or defeated enough enemies, they may find that their experience level will be raised. The experience level determines how experience you have become with surviving at life within the Capital Wasteland Simulation. With each new level, users are able to increase their skills, and even learn new and useful abilities called Perks. Yes, there is always a reason for users to continue to grow and learn what they can from this simulation.
Users will find that many choices that they make while in the Vault-Tec Capital Wasteland Simulation will impact their Karma; how good, evil, or neutral they are. Actions and speech can have either a negative, positive, or no effect on a users Karm rating. The karma rating can impact things such as persuasiveness when in conversation, or even what companions will or will not travel with the user. The Karma rating, however, is entirely up to the user, allowing Vault-Dwellers to be as good, or as evil as they wish.
One thing users might notice is that, while everything is located conveniently within the confines of your Vault-Tec vault, travel through the Capital Wasteland Simulation can be quite tedious at first; locations can be traveled to quickly from your Pip-boy once you have discovered them, but undiscovered locations can prove to be quite a trek indeed. Streets and roads are broken and piled with debris; most of the time users will be forced to take to the underground subway in order to travel from place to place. With all of the dangers and pitfalls of life within the Capital Wasteland, making it what looks like a relatively small distance on the user's Pip-boy may prove to be a trek costing them many bullets and health items.
There is also a primitive radar that is visible within the Users HUD while exploring the Capital Wasteland, but it is of no real use except to show the user the appropriate direction that their objective is in. Any in depth analysis of the map and surrounding area will have to be done by consulting the user's Pip-boy. However, the HUD radar is suitable enough in most cases.
Vault-Dwellers must also take note that once the Wasteland Simulation is completed, it is not possible to return without starting over from the beginning. That means that if archived data is not kept prior to the Simulation's completion, the Vault-Dweller must begin anew. Please keep that in mind, and remember that Vault-Tec recommends that users backup and archive progress through the Simulation often, deleting archived data only when absolutely necessary.
Altogether, Vault-Tec is sure that Vault-Dwellers will find the Capital Wasteland Simulation an engrossing and in-depth experience; nothing is pre-determined and all choices are made by the user. Not without a few minor shortcomings, Vault-Tec is sure that Vault-Dwellers can spend months within the Capital Wasteland Simulation. Vault-Tec also promises to deliver periodic updates to add additional content to the Simulation when it is prepared and tested. Please consult your Vault's Overseer for further questions on Vault-Tec's Capital Wasteland Simulation. Here at Vault-Tec, we hope that once you have experience the Capital Wasteland through this simulation, you will not be prompted to ever leave the confines of your Vault-Tec vault. If you do have the desire to venture out of your vault, please make these feelings known to your Vault Overseer. Once again, thank you for choosing Vault-Tec, dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in apocalypse survivability technology.
I tried to take a bit of a different approach to this one, as Fallout 3 definitely deserved something extra special. Meg neglected to mention, however, that this is also the only Fallout 3 review she has read yet.
