Fallout: New Vegas FAQ

What is Fallout: New Vegas?
Fallout: New Vegas is a futuristic post-apocalyptic RPG set in an alternate universe based on 50s sci-fi pulp fiction, as if the world had stopped during the optimistic 50s and found itself in a dystopian post-apocalyptic reality. It will make use of the gameplay style of Bethesda Softworks' Fallout 3, however, with a brand new story and setting.

Is it Fallout 4?
No, Fallout 4 will be a separate future project that will likely be developed by Bethesda Game Studios itself. For more information, see: Fallout 4 FAQ.

Will it be an MMORPG?
No, it will be a Single-Player game, like previous Fallouts. However, Interplay licensed the rights to a Fallout MMORPG from Bethesda in 2007 and is currently developing it under the codename Project V13. Bethesda recently moved to rescind the Fallout MMORPG license, claiming that Interplay is in breach of the licensing agreement. Interplay disputes these claims.

For more details, see: Fallout Online FAQ.

Is it some kind of add-on?
No, unlike the add-on packs, it will be a standalone game.

Will it feature exclusive add-ons/DLC, like Fallout 3?
It is not known at this time.

Will it use the Fallout 3 engine?
Yes. J.E. Sawyer says:
 * We have the GECK as well as all art source and code source. We coordinate the viability of any given addition/change with Bethesda since they have a decade-ish of experience with the technology base.

Who is making and publishing Fallout: New Vegas?
Fallout: New Vegas is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks.

What is Fallout: New Vegas rated?
To be announced. However, Fallout 3 was rated M (Mature) by the ESRB in the United States and 18 in the UK; New Vegas will likely have the same rating.

When will it be released?
The game is slated for release in the Fall of 2010.

What platforms will it be released for?
Like Fallout 3, the game will be released for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Will it require Windows Vista?
Fallout: New Vegas will work on PCs running either Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.

Is it being made by people who made previous Fallouts?
Yes, it is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, which was founded by some of the people who worked on Fallout, Fallout 2 and Van Buren at Interplay/Black Isle Studios.

Who is on the team?
J.E. Sawyer, who previously worked on Van Buren, is the project director and lead designer. Chris Avellone, who worked on Fallout 2, Van Buren and wrote the Fallout Bible is a senior designer. For the full list of known developers see: Fallout: New Vegas developers.

Other people at Obsidian who worked on previous Fallout games include Feargus Urquhart, Chris Jones, Chris Parker and Darren Monahan. At least some of them are likely to be on the New Vegas team.

Is the SPECIAL character system used in the game?
Yes, SPECIAL is used in the game.

How does character creation look?
The first part of the game is part character creation, part role-playing. It starts with your character being found almost dead by Victor and Doctor Mitchell, and you pick your stats, skills etc. through psychological tests.

What are the main stats?
The main statistics are the same, since otherwise it couldn't be named SPECIAL (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck). You have 40 character points to divide among your stats (all 7 stats start at 5 and you have 5 more points to distribute). They can't be lower than 1 nor higher than 10.

What are the skills in Fallout New Vegas?
Some of the skills in Fallout 3, like Explosives and Medicine return, while the classic Small Guns and Big Guns have been merged into the Firearms skill from Van Buren. Melee Weapons has been renamed to Melee, and a skill called Survival has been added as a parallel to the Outdoorsman skill from Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics.

What about perks?
Perks are gained every level like in Fallout 3, but none of them have been mentioned specifically yet.

How about traits?
It is unknown whether traits that give you both bonuses and penalties at the same will return, or left out like in Fallout 3.

Is there a level limit?
Yes. Obsidian has assured us that the level limit has been capped at 30.

Is the combat turn-based or real-time?
Unlike Fallout and Fallout 2, which were turn-based, and like Fallout 3, New Vegas uses a real time with pause system.

There are two combat modes; real-time first- or third-person combat and V.A.T.S. (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System). Real-time combat takes into account factors such as weapon condition and a character's skill level in that weapon category, but accuracy depends greatly on the player's skill in aiming the targeting reticule.

The V.A.T.S. mode uses AP (Action Points), of which a character has a limited supply, depending on a number of factors, and weapons require different quantities of AP per use in V.A.T.S. mode. There are two phases in V.A.T.S. mode; targeting and execution. In the targeting phase, time freezes and the player can choose which enemy to target, then which body part to target (except in the case of melee or unarmed attacks), with all targets displaying a percentage 'chance to hit' based solely on the weapon's attributes and the character's skill level, while the impact of a player's skill is seen only in the assessment of tactical options, i.e. which enemy or body part to target. Players can target as many different enemies and/or body parts as they wish, as long as there are sufficient AP.

Once the player commits to a choice of targets, the execution phase begins. In slow motion cinematic mode the player witnesses the results of their choices in the targeting phase. During this phase enemies may continue to move and attack, though in slow motion, so they may avoid attacks by moving behind an obstruction or attack the character. Although successful attacks on the character during this phase do considerably less damage than usual, it's possible to sustain a crippling injury that will have a detrimental effect on subsequent attacks in the execution queue.

When all the actions the player chose in the targeting phase have been executed, time returns to normal, and any AP spent begin to regenerate.

What is V.A.T.S.?
The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S. is the active pause system. While using V.A.T.S., the otherwise real-time combat is paused. Various actions cost action points, and both the player and enemies can target specific body areas for attacks, inflicting specific injuries.

What are the available weapons and armors?
For a list of known Fallout: New Vegas weapons and armors, see:
 * Fallout: New Vegas weapons
 * Fallout: New Vegas armor and clothing

Is there a multiplayer mode?
There is no multiplayer mode, like in Fallout and Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.

Is first or third perspective used?
Like Fallout 3, it will likely allow you to use both first and third-person perspective.

Will there be any changes to gameplay mechanics?
The biggest change is the inclusion of a hardcore mode. There will likely be some changes, as J.E. Sawyer mentioned rebalancing weapon stats and possibly reintroducing Damage Threshold on his Twitter page.

What is the hardcore mode?
Aside from the normal gameplay mode, which is similar to how Fallout 3 is played, the game includes an optional "hardcore mode", in which the character needs to drink water, ammo has weight, healing isn't instant and other changes, making the game more realistic, were made.

When is Fallout: New Vegas set? How long after the previous games?
The game is set in 2280, exactly 203 years after the Great War, 129 years after Fallout, 39 years after Fallout 2 and 3 years after Fallout 3.

What is the main quest?
Your player character is a courier who was meant to deliver a certain package. However, the protagonist is attacked and left for dead in the desert, and then saved by a robot named Victor and Doctor Mitchell. The courier must now discover who the attackers were and what was in the package they wanted.

Where is the game set?
Fallout: New Vegas is set in the Mojave Desert, mainly in the city of New Vegas and its surroundings.

Does the story continue the plot of the previous games?
It is not a direct continuation of any of the previous games, but there will be references to the events of all three previous Fallout RPGs.

Can I continue playing after finishing the main quest?
For now it is unknown whether it will be possible to continue the game after finishing it, like in Fallout 2 or in Fallout 3 with the Broken Steel add-on.

Is Fallout: New Vegas canon?
Yes, there is no reason for it not to be treated as a canon part of the series.

Is Van Buren treated as canon?
While Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios is not treated as fully canon, the game will reuse many of its ideas, like Caesar's Legion or Powder Gangs.

Are super mutants going to be in Fallout: New Vegas?
Super mutants will indeed appear in Fallout: New Vegas.

They look different from the ones in Fallout and Fallout 2. Are they from the East Coast?
While the super mutants in Fallout: New Vegas do indeed look more similar to the ones in Fallout 3 than the ones in previous games, they are meant to be Mariposa super mutants like the ones in the first two games, not their East Coast counterparts, and the similarity is only due to Obsidian reusing many Fallout 3 assets.

Do ghouls appear in Fallout: New Vegas?
Yes, ghouls will definitely make many appearances.

What factions will appear in the game?
The main factions will be the New California Republic, Caesar's Legion and the New Vegas locals. Other, minor factions include the Powder Gangers and Crimson Caravan.

Is the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout: New Vegas?
Yes, although it will not be one of the main factions. It will play a very minor role, like in Fallout 2.

Does the Enclave appear in Fallout: New Vegas?
Unknown for now, but their reappearance on the West Coast after the events of both Fallout 2 and Fallout 3 is unlikely.

What creatures from previous games will reappear?
Geckos from Fallout 2 will reappear in Fallout: New Vegas.

What new creatures are going to appear in the game?
New creatures include the big horners, mutated mountain rams.

Do any characters from previous games return?
It has been confirmed that none of the characters from Fallout 3 will return. It is unknown whether any characters from Fallout and Fallout 2 will.