Fallout Tactics

Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, abbreviated as FoT, or FoT:BoS (not to be confused with Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel), is the third title in the Fallout Series, but isn't a traditional RPG (so it wasn't entitled Fallout 3). Instead BoS focused on squad-based combat and introduced near real-time combat, called "continous turn-based" by the developers, to the Fallout series. FoT action takes place in the midwest, rather than the west coast as the previous Fallout titles did.

An interesting note is that the History Channel's host of Mail Call, R. Lee Ermey, voices General Barnaky, who plays a major role throughout the game.

The game is also filled with numerous spelling and grammar errors; English majors be warned. It also is considered a major disappointment by most fans, not only for the numerous contradictions and liberties taken with the setting, but also because fans really wanted Fallout 3.

Gameplay
Unlike the previous two Fallout games, Fallout Tactics emphasizes tactical combat and strategy. Players are not able to respond to non-player characters, but they can still trade and gamble. Instead of towns, Fallout Tactics centers around Brotherhood bunkers and missions. The bunkers serve as a central point for the Brotherhood, and players can obtain the services of quartermasters, mechanics, personnel yeomen, and medics. Characters from completed missions occasionally visit the bunkers.

After receiving a mission briefing from the general in charge of the bunker, the player's squad can then move to the area where the mission will take place. Although this is usually a town, it can also be a factory, military encampment, or a Vault. There, the player is given a map of the area marked with objectives and notes.

Combat in Fallout Tactics is more complicated then in the previous two Fallout games. Unlike those, which featured an individual turn-based system, Fallout Tactics features three modes of combat: Continuous Turn-Based (CTB), Individual Turn-Based (ITB), and Squad Turn-Based (STB). In CTB, everyone can act at the same time, and action points are regenerated a rate based on Agility. ITB is the system used in the original games. STB is a variation of that; each turn is given to a squad. Other changes include the ability to change stance, modifiers for height, and setting sentry modes, which let characters shoot automatically in CTB upon encountering an enemy.

Story
With nuclear apocalypse looming over the world, several vaults were constructed to contain the best and brightest of humanity. By being shielded from the imminent death, the offspring of these people could reclaim and repopulate the Earth. However, before the entire network could be completed, nuclear war broke out. One of the vaults became militaristic and technology-driven. Using their superior weapons, they were able to claim the surrounding wasteland. The members of this vault formed the Brotherhood of Steel, an organization dedicated to unlocking new and better technologies.

A split soon formed in the Brotherhood, however. One faction supported allowing tribals (human outsiders) to join the organization to prevent a lack of troops. The other faction wanted to keep the Brotherhood pure. The faction supporting the tribals was sent across the mountains on great airships to destroy a mutant army. A lightning storm struck down the ships, however, and they were forced to land. Free from the Brotherhood members who wanted nothing to do with the tribals, the new Brotherhood was able to grow.