SPECIAL

SPECIAL is the ruleset that powers all the Fallout games with the exception of Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. The name "SPECIAL" is an acronym standing for the primary stats in the system: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck.

Initially, Fallout was meant to use the GURPS system by Steve Jackson Games. However, when SJG saw how violent Fallout was turning out to be, they pulled out of the agreement. Pen and paper games at the time were still reeling from endless instances in the 1980s of religious and parents' groups attacking role playing games, accusing them of inciting violence and other questionable habits into children's lives. Steve Jackson Games felt it would be wiser to not associate themselves with a game as graphically violent as Fallout. Fortunately for the Fallout team, the only element of GURPS in Fallout was the ruleset and the setting was entirely Interplay's, so they could continue development. Chris Taylor, Jesse Heinig and Tim Cain developed the SPECIAL system. Many elements from it are inspired by GURPS, but it is largely original.

Aside from Fallout games, SPECIAL was also used in Lionheart and two cancelled projects - TORN and Reflexive Entertainment's Deadlands game.