[Dark]

I joined the Fallout franchise with the 2nd game.

Some things Shamus Young recently posted about other games are exceedingly apropos:

I guess the industry needs to re-learn this lesson every few years: Not every game benefits from multiplayer. Here’s to them figuring it out as soon as possible, before they ruin too many games.

On top of this is the hilariously improbable way that randos are depicted in the trailer. Have you developers ever TRIED to play online? Haven’t you heard the stories? Are you new to this planet? Randos are rude, mean, scamming, incoherent lunatics. Why would I want them populating the world around me?

They seem to imagine everyone is a polite helpful articulate roleplaying friend, which is profoundly delusional. Or perhaps they’re well aware of how their game is actually played and they’re just being incredibly dishonest. Either way, it’s not a good look.

The lack of NPCs, if true, means they can't even be bothered to try making a proper RPG anymore. They're just going full sandbox.

[Dark]

I'd actually rather they stick to making sandboxes (which they're excellent at), and get Obsidian or Bioware or Black Isle ( ) or any developer that's actually good at writing to do the RPG aspects.

Be like the FO3/FNV relationship, except entirely sandbox followed by an RPG based upon it.

[Glenn42]

I'd actually rather they stick to making sandboxes (which they're excellent at), and get Obsidian or Bioware or Black Isle ( ) or any developer that's actually good at writing to do the RPG aspects.

Be like the FO3/FNV relationship, except entirely sandbox followed by an RPG based upon it.

THIS is an idea I can definitely get behind.

2019 - Fallout 5 (Sandbox)
2020 - Fallout 5 - Vaultdwellers' Nightmare (Open World RPG)

[Diazz72]

I've wanted a Fallout MMO for years...i even remember there was a development of an fallout MMO years ago but it was stoped or something, but the approach they are taking it its worries me.
Fallout was not and should not be battle royal and i have a filling this will be :/.

[Buckaroo]

I have a question I hope gets answered the closer we get to the game release:

Will we still be able to use the Fallout Pip-Boy app (or an updated one for Fallout76) on our tablet/phones while in the game?

I used the crap out of it in Fallout4, especially to see where I was on the map and switching gear/weapons quickly...

[Petrarch]

In a bit of reassuring news, it has been confirmed that if you get killed, either by a player or an NPC critter, you don't lose any of your loot or gear, you just pick a spot to respawn and get back into it.

[Three of Seven]

Yeah, which is good, I don't like losing gear, it's why I was never interested in DayZ.

[Olllipop]

I prefer ES to Fallout in general. However, Fallout 76 takes place in my home state and I'm curious to see how it is portrayed.

[Petrarch]

Some more news from the Bethesda front, Fallout 5 was mentioned briefly and confirmed that it, TES VI & Starfield will all be single player games.

And a couple of videos:

Welcome to West Virginia Trailer



Base Building trailer



Fallout 76 Weapons Showcase

[Petrarch]

A couple more bits have come to light:

The progress from the Beta test is considered the full game and will be carried over into live for all players.

Fallout 76 will not be available on Steam and will use the in-house Bethesda.net as a launcher instead.

[Arlu3n]

Steam, Battle.net, Origin, UPlay, this, and this, Bethesda.net launcher, that and this....

Can we please use one launcher? Thanks

[Petrarch]

More info regarding Fallout 76, there's a video of the panel in the link.

Things learned about Fallout 76

Some highlights:

- PVP is opt-in. If a player fires at you, their weapon only does a small amount of damage. To start PvP properly, you have to shoot back and that boosts damage for both players back to normal levels.

- There's a pacifist mode similar to what GTA Online has and players can be blocked/ignored.

- Someone who does kill a player that doesn't accept a PvP invite is flagged for everyone to see on the map as a wanted murderer and they earn no caps or experience. If they're hunted down and killed by another player, the cost of the bounty is taken from their own pockets. They're also unable to see other players on the map while marked.

- VATS is still present, but takes place in real time and you can't target body parts without a certain perk.

- You can blueprint anything you build so you can easily recreate something that was destroyed or build at a new location.

- Radiation can cause mutations to your character. This seems to be random chance and you don't seem to have much choice in the matter short of avoiding radiation entirely (something that's nigh-impossible to do in Fallout)

[Petrarch]

Little bit of a bump, the B.E.T.A. (Break-It Early Test Application they've coined a phrase for) dates have been announced - 23rd October for Xbox One, 30th for PS4/PC. Progress from the beta will carry forwards into the live game, but it's only open to anyone who pre-ordered. It was also confirmed the other day that the title does not support cross play.

They also released a new trailer, which is actually the Fallout 76 Intro.

[Arlu3n]

I don't like the concept of their beta. It's basically just being able to play the game a few weeks(?) earlier. They use the phrase of it being a beta as an excuse for bugs, personally.

While I'm looking forward to videos, I just genereally don't line their concept of the beta pre-order.

[Petrarch]

On the topic of the BETA, I got to have a quick look at last night, though due to a combo of being shattered, a bit ill this past week and the beta window being 23:00-03:00 GMT so it's harsh times for us on this side of the pond, it was only for half an hour.

First impression is that it does have potential and seems to have hallmarks of the survival mode from Fallout 4, it's quite strange with the lack of NPC's which will take a bit of getting used to. I only ran into a handful of other players, but by and large they tended to either emote at you, invite you to team or simply leave you alone. Griefing hopefully won't be an issue if they keep the same system they have planned in place. I'm sure some folks will still try it of course, but it may not get much legs in the long term.

I had heard a few bad things about it, but on the brief look so far, I actually quite liked it. There should be private servers down the line too.

Next beta window is 20:00-01:00 on Thursday, slightly more reasonable times, so I'll dive in a bit deeper then.