Pip-Boy 2000

The RobCo PIPBoy 2000 is a device similar manufactured by RobCo Industries, using ultra-modern super-deluxe resolution graphics, which coupled with its capability to store large amounts of information make it the obvious choice for the wandering explorer, the out-on-his-own newbie or the all-around survivalist expert.

The PIPBoy 2000 is a very special piece of pre-war equipment that was used primarily by travelers. The Pip Boy holds a surprisingly large amount of information and can transfer data to and from holodisks and from data tubes. It displays information in bright green on its black 5" x 3" screen. It can record sound and video footage for later playback. It uses a simple but elegant form of sonar and satellite tracking (where available, which is far from everywhere in the post-apocalyptic world) to map out areas where its user travels. Though input is slow, a user can also hand-enter and edit text messages on their Pip Boy 2000s. The original Pip Boy 2000 was a hand-held device, though some very cumbersome models were made to be worn on the arm. These models were unofficially called Pip Boy 2000 Plus.

The character who shows in images which illustrate all of the characteristics of the SPECIAL character system (Perks, Traits, Stats etc.) is often incorrectly called Pipboy (even in Fallout Tactics). His real name is Vault Boy.

Buttons
The PIPBoy 2000 includes four handy buttons each with his own function and one broken button (at least in the one which belonged to the Vault Dweller and Chosen One):

Status
The Status will display any quests the budding adventurer in you has been attempting to perform. Completed quests, if any, will be crossed out, but still visible, to provide that "good feeling" in you when checking back the Status.

Automaps
Advances in terrain renderization allow the PIPBoy 2000 to store automaps of any location you visit during your journeys. The Automaps button will display all of the automaps the PIPBoy 2000 has in its memory.

Archives
Including a video recorder, the PIPBoy 2000 saves filmic events that might occur. Here you can watch them all again, in full playback mode!

Movies include:
 * Overseer Briefing
 * Vault 13 Water

Clues
In the PipBoy which belonged to Vault Dweller, this button is broken. Its name was visible only in the Fallout demo.

Close
The Close button will power down your PIPBoy 2000 and release you from its high-resolution monochromatic graphics.

Fallout 2 enhancements

 * linguistic - speech skill increase
 * medical - doctor skill increase

Pip Expansion Hardware
Tech Level: 8 All Pip Boy models can download and tranfer data from holodiscs. All models can also accept expansion hardware. Expansion hardware comes in the form of data tubes, which are highly advanced, jam-packed vacuum tubes. Data tubes cannot be written to with Pip Boys, but their data can be accessed while they are connected. Pip Boy 2000 models can take six tubes, 2000 Plus models can take four, and Lil' Pip 3000s can take six.
 * Battle Buddy increases the Melee and Unarmed skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * Diplomat Buddy increases the Investigate and Persuade skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * When the Motion Sensor module is installed, all objects on the map that are currently moving will show
 * When the Rad Counter is installed, the PC's pip boy will start to crackle as he or she approaches a radioactive area. The intensity and volume of the crackle will increase as the intensity of the radiation increases.
 * Reloader Buddy increases the Firearms and Science skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * Spy Buddy increases the Sneak and Deception skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * Survival Buddy increases the Medic and Outdoorsman skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * Thief Buddy increases the Security and Steal skill totals of the wearer by 1 while it is worn.
 * The Toxin Counter operates similarly to the Rad Counter, but for poisonous spills and creatures like radscorpions, thorn slingers, and giant two-headed snakes. Instead of crackling, the Toxin Counter beeps. The closer the toxin, the more frequent the beeps.
 * Workshop Buddy increases the Mechanics skill totals of the wearer by 2 while it is worn.

Variants

 * A miniature version exists, called the Lil' Pip 3000. Curiously, it features the image of the Vault Boy instead of the Pipboy character.
 * Dr. Presper was planned to use Super PIP Boy, that monitors health, acts as motion sensor and has a built in programming attachment allowing instantly to create and download own programs.

Appearances in games
The main characters in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics are all equipped with PIPBoys.

Van Buren characters such as the Prisoner, Symm, other Tibbets prisoners and dr. Presper's party (Coleridge, Briggs, Davidson and Pierce) were planned to be equipped with PIPboys also.