The interesting thing is that the filth is separate from the level texturing; implying that —at least potentially— some of it could be programatically removed during play. I do wonder if at one time it was intended by someone that the Citadel gets cleaned (like as result of a quest trigger). Doesn't happen as far as I know. Probably not. I think it's just for easy use & reuse of floor textures; to add the trash where they wish.
The interesting thing is that the filth is separate from the level texturing; implying that —at least potentially— some of it could be programatically removed during play. I do wonder if at one time it was intended by someone that the Citadel gets cleaned (like as result of a quest trigger). Doesn't happen as far as I know. Probably not. I think it's just for easy use & reuse of floor textures; to add the trash where they wish.
An organized military-esque faction shouldn't have much issue with cleaning their living space. There's advantages to keeping your dwelling spaces tidier. You can find things you need, you don't have to rummage through garbage and shit you don't need, it's better on your mental health and morale, it helps prevent infestations, diseases, infections, mold, etc., it's not as much of a tripping or slipping hazard.
You can say yeah they're under siege for 20 years but if you're under siege for 20 years and still alive and kicking there's enough downtime to live still and probably pick up the random magazines and tattered cloth around you. With that kind of garbage lying around I find it funny to imagine that at one point, a member rushed to put on their power armor and a magazine was on the floor and they ate shit by falling.
They have time to do push-ups and do target practice, this is just Bethesda thinking that Fallout has to look disgusting and gross because of their misinterpretation of the franchise.
I know this thread is mainly about the writing of the Enclave in New Vegas, and I apologize if I'm deviating too much from the main topic. However, I am genuinely surprised by how many people here know about the lore of Fallout 76.
How did you learn about the lore of that game? Did you force yourself to play it? Did you read about it? Watch some videos (doubt it)? Last thing I heard about 76 is that there were no NPCs in it, thus it offered practically no story besides some environmental storytelling. Even when I found out that NPCs have been added to the game (thanks to some research after reading replies on this topic), I could never bring myself to bother with anything Bethesda-related after how horrible the writing and RPG elements were in Fallout 4.
And I know that people here are way more critical than me when it comes to these things. So...how?
Yeah most people got it for free or played it during a free weekend. Or they just played it anyway. I wouldn't try to sell any Fallout fan on it unless they really liked all the worst aspects of Fallout 4.
It has plenty more flaws due to the nature of it being a quasi-MMO and live-service game alongside the usual flaws of a Bethesda Fallout and even then some. But I do (did) play it but I enjoy it for none of the reasons I enjoy Fallout beyond some of the general aesthetics (apocalyptic, mutants, most technology being bulky vs sleek and thin, etc. Nothing crazy).
I also just don't even know 90% of the lore/story of the game especially if no one has ever directly told me. When I play it, I am definitely not playing it for the stories. I'm playing it as an easy and casual grindy game. I don't need to sweat or compete, I don't need to be absolutely min-maxed to solo end game content, and so on. It's just easy to casually play until it bugs the fuck out at least.
I also enjoy some of the concepts they added to the game and enjoy the variety of mutants that Bethesda has added to the franchise appearing here and mostly fitting but hate that Super mutants and BoS still have to show their face. I like the idea that if we have a West Virginia game, that we'd get mutants that resemble cryptids. Cryptids that show up are Wendigos, Grafton Monsters, Mothman (men?), Blue Devils, Jersey Devils, Ogua, Sheepquatch, Snallygaster, Mega Sloths, and Flatwoods Monsters. Of those, I really dislike the Flatwoods Monster because I dislike the notion of aliens existing or being too involved in Fallout but if it weren't for that, I think the idea works fine. And the only other qualm I have with some of the cryptids is they don't fit West Virginia as well as they could elsewhere but I enjoy a majority of these, especially Snallygasters which I think are FEV mutations? Good, I'm fine with other FEV things happening but I'd rather have mutants like this than constant reuse and consistency of seeing Super Mutants across America. Probably my favorite new mutant due to that.
I also like the radiation causing mutations with pros and cons to the player. Cool idea which I would like to see refined and return to the series. Probably with some more serious implications though but I get it's an online game and there can't really be any serious consequences (they want players to not feel frustrated and to spend money of course). I'd rather have ways to help mitigate mutations happening to you if you take precautionary steps (bringing preventive Aid items), have mutations have meaningful build impacts and narrative moments like some characters not being as cooperative or having Ghouls or fellow mutated folk being more sympathetic. I'm fine with some cure to get rid of them but don't think a simple Radaway is a good solution but rather a more rare item or specialist who charges a significant fee. Also the abilities that come with it could be expanded on especially in singleplayer games.
I enjoy the mostly green setting though it's ironic that Fallout 3 is set 200 years after the war and this is set like 20 years after the war and they probably should swap their landscapes lmao. I get West Virginia wouldn't be as attacked as the capitol of the nation but the timeframe is the obvious issue here.
Of course, there's tons to hate. On launch this game was a shitshow between not really delivering a game that would be competent for years of online play, tons of bugs and glitches, and the shitty stash size. The game really felt like it was set up to be a survival based one. Ammo felt hard to come by, not maintaining your hunger and thirst had detriment, and there's plenty of diseases and crafting to be had. They realized it was really fucking annoying to run out of ammo for your gun and waste all your time hunting scrap to make more. They realized people don't want to be in the end game and still be constantly managing their food's spoilage rate and their hunger meter when they could be doing events and hunting rarer items down. The game changed a lot from what seems was the original intent and if you go level up a character you'll find out that there's a lot of perk cards that just don't make sense to waste time using since you can just ignore hunger/thirst as the changes made it into a build archetype rather than a survival mechanic.
Then the monetization is some of the worst, especially for a game that's not super popular. I feel like games like Fortnite get away with their overpriced bullshit because its so popular and has a lot of content with consistent changes that keep the game fresh. Fallout 76 doesn't do this yet still asks for too much money if you want anything from the shop.
If you like the OG Fallouts and want more things like it, do not buy, replay 1, 2, and/or New Vegas and get mods or a TCM. Play any other cRPG. If you like Fallout 3 and New Vegas, you might like this? If you really enjoy Fallout 4 and would like to play it with friends, then this is the only way I'd easily recommend it. I hate Fallout 4 but "Fallout 4 with friends" and not needing to pay attention to any story is a bit more appealing as a time sink. A few people around here like the game to some extent, but most will not and I do not blame them one bit (how the hell could I lol). Most who have played it around here, likely never paid for it or didn't pay much for it, and probably played it out of the morbid curiosity of the shitshow that happened with it since its an official game of a series they loved and it feels cathartic to see Bethesda fans even hate a new entry as much as they did.
I don't even play it much anymore but I do hop on from time to time. I got a few questlines to finish up and they keep adding in some new ones but they aren't long. I got other shit to play and I've seen everything, or damn near close to it, there is to see in this game.
