Dev Dairy 3: Map, Tech, Battalions, Mutants, and Focus Trees.

Map Updates: One of the major problems with our first version of the map was that we had chosen to go ahead and use the borders of American States, which among other things, resulted in awkward and squared province connections. This resulted in a number of problems, including the following. New Canaanite was absolutely ruined in terms of expansion options, with no choice but to fight their way through both the White Legs and the 80’s to achieve any sort of freedom. Troll Warren, and to a lesser extent the Washington Brotherhood of Steel, were shoehorned into invading down through the NCR. In addition to this, the following was also true. The Western Brotherhood of Steel was quite literally pinned up against the coast, and utterly surrounded by both the NCR, shoehorning them into the NCR BoS war not only as a way to progress their story, but as a choice for anyone who wanted to place independently. In short, they had no option to remain peaceful and hope to expand via land routes.

So how have we gone about addressing these things? The map has been expanded to include regions of both Southern Wyoming and Idaho, opening up routes around Idaho, extending the eastern portion long 80 for the 80’s tribe, and giving the New Canaanites a large number of tribes to convert to glorious Mormonism. This expansion has also given Troll Warren a far easier path of expansion down into soft minor faction heartlands, where they can rampage to their hearts desire. Umbra, the coastal tribe from fallout 2, has been added north of Navarro as an independent organization. The Brotherhood of Steel can easily conquer them, and open up a route north towards Arroyo and Klamath now, potentially bringing them into contact with New Reno, Troll Warren, and their northern kinsfolk.

It was brought up several times on the forums that we should find a way to stress tactical positioning on the map. One of the primary methods we have used to reach this goal is the usage of Major Rivers and their crossings. Every River that you see on the map is in fact a fully navigable Ocean Tile, within which you can launch naval invasions from one side to the other, trade along, and fight naval battles. If you look at the map, you will note that there are a number of ‘crossings’. An example of this is the visible land bridge across the Columbia River in Washington brotherhood Territory. This tile is quite literally a representation of a functional pre-war bridge spanning the river, and can be crossed by land units. This bridge also does not block ocean traffic, meaning that you can sail through the tile without being impeded. Another thing to stress. Hoover Dam, despite having the same appeared as these tiles, is obviously not navigable, and does block traffic from the northern portion of the Colorado to the Southern. Boats have been adjusted accordingly, and no boat too large to navigate a river is going to be included in the mod. Currently, the heaviest ship in the game is the NCR flagship “Will of Aradesh”, a newly armored and re-equipped version of a Civil War Era Passaic-class Ironclad.

Washington/Oregon Region Overview: https://puu.sh/uoZf8/b4b54780f7.jpg

The California/Four States Region Overview: https://puu.sh/upfaB/25d3b31ab5.jpg

Baja California/Sonora Mexico Region Overview: https://puu.sh/uoZkj/aa67404a45.jpg

Technology: Going about deciding how to handle technology in a game as diverse as fallout is not particularly easy. A number of questions arise, how does one balance power armor and energy weapons? How does one handle manpower and production speeds? What vehicles should and shouldn’t be included due to their scarcity? How does one handle air forces? We’ve gone back and forth on these issues many times, but in short we’ve come to this conclusion.

Everything is going to be produced really, really slowly. For reference, in the base game an infantry firearm of the basic tier required .3 production to produce. Currently, we have that number multiplied by a factor of 10, meaning that it requires 3.0 production to produce a single firearm. Roughly one and a half a day, all other things not considered. The same mentality applies to vehicles, armor, support equipment, extra. Another element that we wanted to include was stressing supply lines as a concept, and we’ve chosen to do this through the use of one of the single most important elements within fallout. Water. Water is a resource that is converted into drinking water, which all organic infantry requires. This includes vehicles divisions. Supermutants in particular require a far greater amount of this resource per unit. Ghouls are the exception to this, not because they don’t need water, but because they can just drink the irradiated stuff that is everywhere.

Weapons, Power Armor, and Vehicles Overview: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iYBeE8ByDiTeHKkdw8Dteq37tlDHYFDoAXCgutI0WCE/edit?usp=sharing

Super Mutants and Ghouls Overview: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZTY0I7w3xhlqEdEJ-Yncr_rnv51uKTErv--O_hRPos/edit?usp=sharing

Focus Trees: As has been previously stated, the mod is going to include, on first release, upwards of 12 custom focus trees for the following nations. The NCR, The Legion, The Western Brotherhood of Steel, The Mojave Brotherhood of Steel, The Washington Brotherhood of Steel, The Troll Warren, New Reno, Vault City, The Desert Rangers, New Vegas, The 80’s Tribe, New Canaanite, and The White Legs. In addition to this, there are three generic focus trees based on the type of generic faction present. Tribals, Raiders, or Settlers.

Today we have previews of three focus trees for you. Two of the three generic trees and one of the minor focus trees. Behold!

Raiders Generic Tree: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5sfsnWwdMTtQkhZTTRHUmRWZVE
(Note, I forgot to credit the piece properly in the image. It is Arsen Asyrankulov's 'Elecrtro')

Tribal Generic Tree: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5sfsnWwdMTtRDg1TmpHckFRazQ

Vault City Focus Tree: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5sfsnWwdMTtTk1fam12dmx3Q3c

If you have any questions about other factions, or requests to seek them, speak up!
All comments should be directed to the "Diary Discussion!" discussion.