“Entrance to Vault 87 will be particularly difficult for you, I'm afraid. The area is highly irradiated; lethal levels are all around the entrance. Gaining direct access will be quite impossible.”— Scribe Rothchild
Vault 87 is a Vault-Tec Vault located in the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3. It is located northwest of Little Lamplight and southwest of Broadcast Tower KT8. It is the source of Super Mutants in the region.[Pub 1]
Background
| Vault Information[1] | |
|---|---|
| Number | 87 |
| Starting Construction Date | May 2066 |
| Ending Construction Date | December 2071 |
| Total Number Of Occupants | <redacted> |
| Total Duration | <redacted> |
| Computer Control System | Cyberbrain v2.3 |
| Primary Power Supply | General Atomics Nuclear Power |
| Secondary Power Supply | Versicorps Fusion Power |
| Non Standard Equipment | Stasis Chamber (4) Plasma Containment Field (3) G.E.C.K. (1) Food Processing Station (6) |
Construction on Vault 87 began in May 2066 and finished in December 2071.[2] The primary computer system was Cyberbrain v2.3, while energy was provided by a General Atomics nuclear reactor, with a backup Versicorps fusion power generator.[2] Non-standard equipment included four stasis chambers, a plasma containment field, six food processing stations and a Garden of Eden Creation Kit.[2] Led by Dr. Wayne Merrick, the staff studied the effects of the Forced Evolutionary Virus on humans as part of the Evolutionary Experimentation Program.[3][Pub 2]
Post-War
The overseer and security guards were aware of the nature of the experimentation,[4][5] The dwellers of Vault 87 were turned into super mutants beginning in 2078, and these test subjects broke free, overwhelming the security forces.[6][Pub 3] The super mutants kidnap humans and bring them to the vault to be mutated.[7] They did so for nearly 200 years until their source of FEV started to run out.[8][Pub 3] Super mutants search for a new source of FEV, calling it "green stuff."[Pub 1]
Publications
“This is a place where F.E.V. experiments have led to unspeakable breeding programs and the creation of new Super Mutants. Humans began experimenting on one another in order to gain a jump forward in evolution. What they achieved was a plummet into a realm of monstrosities. Seen as the Eastern “birthing” place of the Super Mutants, this is the closest the Muties have to holy ground. The central hot spot of the radiation has been measured at up to +2910 RAD/SEC. This means instant death, and the exterior entrance is inaccessible. There’s a .32 Pistol and a dead scientist with a Radiation Suit, but you’ll never live long enough to reach them. The only way to enter is
via Little Lamplight.”— Tour of the Capital Wasteland
“The Super Mutants that infest the urban ruin of Washington D.C. originated in Vault 87. Those unlucky enough to have reserved space in Vault 87 soon found themselves forcefully taken to a secure part of the vault, where they were locked in airtight chambers and exposed to a concentrated form of the F.E.V. The Overseer and his security force had no real idea what to expect; they were simply following the "plan." When the exposed vault dwellers started transforming into Super Mutants, nearly the entire vault population had been exposed. Those who hadn't yet metamorphosed knew what was coming, and, well...it didn't end well for humanity.”— Fallout 3 Official Game Guide/Faction profiles
“The dwellers of Vault 87 were turned into Super Mutants in 2078, and have been a presence in the Capital Wasteland ever since. Most of those original Super Mutants have long since been killed. But whether it's because of the nature of the F.E.V. they were exposed to, or a simple underlying human instinct, the Super Mutants of the Capital Wasteland are obsessed with the preservation of their own species. Super Mutants are asexual and incapable of procreation, so their only way of reproducing is to kidnap other humans, drag them back to the Vault 87 chambers, and infect them with F.E.V. And so they have done, for nearly 200 years.”— Fallout 3 Official Game Guide/Faction profiles
Layout
Vault 87 can only be accessed through Little Lamplight by speaking with Mayor MacCready after The Waters of Life is completed. There are two possible routes, crossing Murder Pass or by speaking to Joseph in the schoolhouse, gaining access to a terminal. Joseph will only fix the terminal if Penny has been rescued from Paradise Falls, or if the Lone Wanderer has 50 Science or Speech skill, or the Child at Heart perk.
Exterior
The radiation near the entrance to Vault 87 is the highest in the game, peaking at nearly 4,000 rads per second in the center. The map marker will activate near this entrance. There is a dead scientist in a Radiation Suit near the door, as well as RadAway and Rad-X. Super Mutants have built a barricade of broken girders and wrecked cars around the entrance and an Enclave eyebot patrols south of the entrance.
Interior
The vault is in disrepair. Medical recovery rooms have been turned into makeshift prison cells meant to store failed experiments.[9] A friendly super mutant named Fawkes is trapped in a test chamber.[10][11] Via intercom, Fawkes will offer their services in acquiring the G.E.C.K. in return for being freed from his cell.[12] There are two methods to free Fawkes. First, in the room at the end of the right hallway, a fire can set off the fire alarm in a room inhabited by two super mutant variants, which will open all five isolation rooms. Hacking the Average-locked terminal located next to the fire alarm will make it so the player can unlock an individual chamber, of which Fawkes' cell is the fifth.
Inhabitants
| Former |
|---|
|
Loot
- A Garden of Eden Creation Kit can be found in the G.E.C.K chamber located deep into the Test Labs.
- Fawkes' Super Sledge can be acquired several ways.
- Kill Fawkes and loot his body.
- Trade weapons with him on the way to the G.E.C.K.
- Pick it up if Fawkes was disarmed in a fight.
- After escaping Raven Rock recruit Fawkes and return to Vault 87. Passing the trigger near his cell adds super sledge to his inventory.
- A copy of Nikola Tesla and You can be found in a wooden box at the feet of a mannequin in the southwesternmost dead-end tunnel of the reactor chamber, along with four bottles of whiskey (from the Murder Pass entrance, turn left and go downstairs, turn left again, then through the door at the end of the corridor).
- A copy of Pugilism Illustrated is on a shelf in the storage room behind an Average locked door on the south side of the catwalk level of the living quarters. The room is on the top part of the catwalk in the south hallway.
- A Nuka-Cola Quantum is located in the same room as the Pugilism Illustrated skill book on a different shelf.
Related quests
Notes
- Vault 87 is mentioned by Uncle Leo in a random encounter.[13]
- In the main area, there are two locked doors requiring 100 Lockpick to open, they serve as shortcuts.
- If the player character reaches the G.E.C.K. on their own, the option is given to either take it or activate it. However, they will be killed upon activation.
- On the way from Fawkes' isolation room to the G.E.C.K. storage room, there is a door that says "Requires Key." If one returns to the Vault after escaping the Enclave, it is left open (does not apply to the Game of the Year version.) Walking through this door leads to an empty room containing the closed main Vault door for Vault 87, complete with an "87" logo on the outside. The door has functional opening animation, but there's no exit.
- Super mutants near the Vault 87 entrance and inside Murder Pass belong to the general super mutant faction, while other super mutants in the Vault belong to the faction MQ08Vault87Faction.
Appearances
Vault 87 appears only in Fallout 3, and is mentioned in Fallout 4.[14]
Bugs
If the player character goes to the door in Little Lamplight that requires the broken terminal to be repaired, one may find it is already open and they can get into Vault 87 without problems.- Upon re-entering the Vault with Fawkes after completing the quest, if one selects the "Kill subject" option on the terminal outside of Fawkes' old cell, he will instantly die if he enters it, even if he is not in the room when the fire is released.
- Exiting the test labs area, Charon might randomly "die". Highlighting him will say "Talk Charon", but pressing A will open up his inventory. This may also occur with Jericho.
- Exiting the test labs area, Star Paladin Cross will "die". She drops dead on the floor at the other side of the doors. Her body will follow the player character at every door. If one asks her to wait for them before exiting, she will drop on the floor where the player character left her. In any case, highlighting her will say "Talk Star Paladin Cross", but pressing the dialogue button will open up her inventory. This can also happen to Dogmeat.
- Sometimes after the player character retrieves the G.E.C.K., a super mutant will follow them into the room where the Enclave ambushes the player character. Once the player character falls to the floor, the Enclave and super mutants will not attack one another, and since the player character is hidden from the super mutants, they cannot be attacked nor escorted to Raven Rock, but will be stuck on the floor.
- When returning to the Test Labs area in Vault 87; both Butch and RL-3 will not follow through the door and will "die". However, Fawkes and Dogmeat can traverse the Test Lab.
Gallery
Outside's sign of Vault 87
The surface above Vault 87
Outside of the locked entrance
Alternate entrance in The Great Chamber
Murder Pass entrance
Living quarters
Failed Forced Evolutionary Virus experiment in Vault 87
Fawkes in his cell
Activating the GECK in the chamber
Colonel Autumn's ambush
Nikola Tesla and You in the reactor chamber
Maximum amount of radiation, 3617 rad/s at 8% resistance
Reaction chamber and living quarters map
Vault door texture
Vault entrance
Sign texture file
- Concepts
Concept art by Adam Adamowicz
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 42: "The Super Mutants that infest the urban ruin of Washington D.C. originated in Vault 87. Those unlucky enough to have reserved space in Vault 87 soon found themselves forcefully taken to a secure part of the Vault, where they were locked in airtight chambers and exposed to a concentrated form of the F.E.V. The Overseer and his security force had no real idea what to expect; they were simply following the "plan." When the exposed Vault dwellers started transforming into Super Mutants, nearly the entire Vault population had been exposed. Those who hadn't yet metamorphosed knew what was coming, and, well...it didn't end well for humanity."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide/Faction profiles) - ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 337: "This is a place where F.E.V. experiments have led to unspeakable breeding programs and the creation of new Super Mutants. Humans began experimenting on one another in order to gain a jump forward in evolution. What they achieved was a plummet into a realm of monstrosities. Seen as the Eastern "birthing" place of the Super Mutants, this is the closest the Muties have to holy ground. The central hot spot of the radiation has been measured at up to +2910 RAD/SEC. this means instant death, and the exterior entrance is inaccessible. There's a .32 Pistol and a dead scientist with a radiation suit, but you'll never live long enough to reach them. The only way to enter is via Little Lamplight."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 42: "The dwellers of Vault 87 were turned into Super Mutants in 2078, and have been a presence in the Capital Wasteland ever since. Most of those original Super Mutants have long since been killed. But whether it's because of the nature of the F.E.V. they were exposed to, or a simple underlying human instinct, the Super Mutants of the Capital Wasteland are obsessed with the preservation of their own species. Super Mutants are asexual and incapable of procreation, so their only way of reproducing is to kidnap other humans, drag them back to the Vault 87 chambers, and infect them with F.E.V. And so they have done, for nearly 200 years."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide/Faction profiles)
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