Fallout: Freedom

1. #1The Great War

   Keys: Great War

   The Great War was a global thermonuclear war that took place on Saturday, October 23, 2077, caused by the Sino-American War. It resulted in the destruction of all participating nations and abroad, global disruption of the climate and billions of casualties as a result of nuclear blasts, exposure to radiation and the subsequent collapse of social and government structures, all within the span of just two hours. The United States of America and the rest of the world were transformed into a wasteland. Even 200 years later, the consequences of the Great War can still be felt due to radiation, diseases, monsters, homicides, suicides and starvation.

2. #2RobCo

   Keys: RobCo Industries, RobCo

   RobCo IndustriesTM was a multibillion-dollar robotics and software corporation founded by industrialist and technologist Robert House. It quickly became one of the largest and most influential computer and robotics corporations in the pre-War United States. Several RobCo products were the de facto choice for many consumers, such as the Unified Operating System used by nearly all terminals. The company's key products were robots, selling them to both the average American and producing them for the United States military through defense contracts. The production of robots would accelerate into the Automation riots, with RobCo's robots facilitating the massive loss of jobs to automation and further displacing working-class Americans before the Great War.

3. #3Deathclaws

   Keys: Deathclaw, Deathclaws

   Deathclaw is a term referring to genetically-engineered creatures developed by the United States military to replace humans during close-combat search-and-destroy missions. They escaped into the wild in the aftermath of the Great War, and over the next few decades colonized much of the former United States, becoming apex predators in many of the new, post-War ecosystems. Deathclaws are a large, carnivorous, bipedal reptile species, designed for maximum lethality. The choice to make them bipedal was natural, as bipedalism raises the head, providing a greater field of vision and thus improving the ability to detect targets or resources. The upper limbs were also freed by this choice and could be fashioned into extremely dangerous weapons. The caveat is that the deathclaw is not as fast as a quadrupedal animal, though this is a largely academic concern. However, deathclaws have been observed running on all fours when charging prey. The rippling musculature of the deathclaw provides it with superior strength, excellent speed, and incredible resilience in most combat situations. Deathclaws communicate with each other in a pack using growls and body language, though they are also capable of mimicking human voices like a parrot if their intelligence is artificially increased. Their strength is further magnified by their claws. Owing to their lineage, the deathclaw has opposable thumbs, though an additional two fingers were coded into the genome, for a total of five fingers on each hand. Each terminates in a sharp talon that allows the reptile to wound and kill with frightening efficiency; a single swipe is capable of bisecting an unarmored human in seconds. Deathclaw hide is extremely tough, providing an excellent defense against blunt and edged weapons. Firearms and energy weapons are reliable tools for killing a deathclaw, though lower powered variants are likely to have trouble piercing its skin. The defense is enhanced by horns and dorsal spikes, making melee combat a very dangerous proposition However, while they are difficult opponents, their keen senses can be used against them. Loud noises and bright light, such as that emitted by flares, can be used to deter a deathclaw's advance or even keep it at bay. Aggressive creatures, apex predators of the wasteland. Typically, they reach a height of three meters, which is about twice the average human height. They are very strong and predominantly muscular in body mass. Some members of the species possess intelligence. They also have a pronounced attraction to humans of the opposite sex, and aggression towards humans of the same sex. Thus, a male Deathclaw is more likely not to kill a female human if she does not resist, but will attempt to mate with her. At the same time, if he encounters a male human, he will try to kill him immediately. This applies to females as well. A female Deathclaw, sensing the smell of a human male, will try to mate with him, using her physical superiority to subdue the male. Male Deathclaws have an average penis length of about twenty centimeters and large testicles full of sperm. The females have large breasts similar to human ones and a vagina. Humans and Deathclaws can reproduce, but it's rare for this to happen.

4. #4Rad Roaches

   Keys: RadRoach, RadRoaches

   Commonly joked before the Great War as the only candidates for surviving a nuclear blast, cockroaches not only survived, but adapted. They became enlarged, with a bigger thorax to ward off attack, extended antennae to hunt in packs, and reinforced incisors to take down and ingest larger prey, up to and including humans. Radroaches are found mainly in underground areas and sewers across North America, which can cause them to be a pest in certain Vaults because they can usually be found in fairly large groups. They feed on the dead, but will go after living creatures if isolated. Their numbers are their biggest advantage. These radroaches are commonly seen in the dark, damp or irradiated parts of the wasteland and look similar to normal cockroaches, save for the fact that they have mutated to be the size of a domestic cat. They are generally little more than a nuisance to Armageddon survivors and less than likely to pose a challenge. Radroaches are territorial and rather aggressive, but not very harmful. Anyone can kill them with their bare hands, and will only attack when they feel threatened by passersby. Although they are winged, radroaches are not capable of flight. Still, it is possible that the wings are used for interspecies communication Radroach innards are useful in the treatment of radiation poisoning and are widely used by tribals for this purpose. They reproduce by laying eggs, and if possible, they try to lay eggs in the most favorable habitat. A human uterus counts as such a place because it is very warm and moist. If Radroaches can overpower a human female, they will try to lay eggs inside her.

5. #5Radscorpion

   Keys: Radscorpion

   Radscorpions are large, mutated scorpions commonly found in the wasteland, often burrowing underground. Radscorpions sport highly venomous stingers, the ability to burrow underground in seconds, powerful claws, and durable exoskeletons.

6. #6Bloatflies

   Keys: Bloatflies

   An example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of either the Musca domestica (common housefly) or Tabanus genera of biting horse fly. Tentatively classified as part of the Tabanidae family in the order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda and kingdom Animalia by the Enclave, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears. The standard bloatfly has a green and brown carapace and is significantly larger and more tenacious than its predecessors. Its size inhibits previous flight characteristics and agility, making it impossible to feed like pre-War horse flies did. Instead, it uses its engorged stinger and pupae gestating within its abdomen to incapacitate prey. The stinger is capable of launching mature larvae with a barbed sting at the end. These latch onto the target and deliver a neurotoxin capable of incapacitating larger prey, allowing the bloatfly and its larvae to feed. Its neurotoxin is ineffective against humans and larger targets, causing only localized necrosis. As a result, the bloatfly serves as prey rather than predator among wastelanders who utilize its meat for food. Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of sustenance are scarce. It adapted to its enlarged size with a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. Bloatflies are a common sight in the wastes, varying in size and exhibiting territorial instincts alongside an absence of self-preservation. They can be found in swarms of two to four and will attack targets relentlessly. Bloatflies may explode upon death.

7. #7Mole rat

   Keys: Mole rat, Molerat

   Mole rats have sharp claws and even sharper tusks that they use to tear great chunks of flesh from their prey. Mole rats are either huge rats or the result of gene-splicing Kodiak bears with maladjusted lab rats. They seldom run in packs larger than a half dozen or so.

8. #8Cazadores

   Keys: Cazadores

   Mutated and enlarged in the laboratories of Big MT, cazadores are the offshoot of DNA experiments performed by Doctor Borous. Borous' memories of when these experiments took place however have become muddled; he is confident that they took place on a Tuesday, possibly in May of 2003. Formerly, the lab-grown cazadores were confined to the Z-14 Pepsinae DNA splicing lab in Big MT, but groups of the mutant insects have managed to escape the Big MT crater and moved to neighboring areas, such as the Mojave Wasteland and Zion Canyon, and rapidly multiplied their numbers in recent years. Doctor Borous confidently denies that they have escaped from Big MT or have the ability to breed, which is shown to be false. With the population widespread throughout the wasteland, they have come in contact with many groups and believed to have been given their name by Spanish-speakers of the regions they have propagated. Cazadores have a quick and erratic flight pattern. They are most often encountered in swarms of four or more, with the occasional strays flying in the outlying area. Their venomous attacks can lead to a quick death if they succeed in poisoning their target. The spikes on their back rise and fall, both when idle and when attacking. Cazadores (Spanish for "hunters") are mutated insects found in the Mojave Wasteland, Big MT, and Zion Canyon in 2281. Cazadores are more common in mountainous regions of the Mojave Wasteland, although some swarms can be found near lakes in lower areas. They create large basket-shaped nests, many of which can be seen at places such as Bonnie Springs, cazador nest, west of the Brewer's beer bootlegging, the road heading towards Jacobstown, north of Goodsprings, inside various tents in the tribal village and the boathouse at Callville Bay, with the cazadores' original breeding ground being the Z-14 Pepsinae DNA splicing lab in Big MT. They frequently compete with other wildlife like night stalkers for prey.

9. #9Mirelurk

   Keys: Mirelurk

   Mirelurk is a commonly used term referring to a range of mutated aquatic species endemic to the Eastern Seaboard, particularly the Capital Wasteland, the Commonwealth and Appalachia. A similar term, lakelurk, is used to refer to species in the Colorado watershed in the Mojave Wasteland. Mirelurks have the dubious distinction of being one of the first radioactive mutants to emerge into the world, as a result of widespread radioactive pollution of the environment by United States megacorporations, such as Poseidon Energy and General Atomics. Environmental organizations such as the Nahant Oceanological Society, dedicated to saving the oceans, attempted a variety of last-ditch efforts to raise awareness of this problem and encourage radical action to curtail environmental destruction at the hands of reckless corporations. However, their efforts were in vain. Ignored by authorities, to the point where they refused to even take their phone calls (as was the case with the Boston Port Authority), they attempted to garner attention by reporting the situation to the Galaxy News Network. The media ignored their reports as well, except for running a story about the upcoming shellfish season and how great it was going to be. Of course, it neglected to mention that the average increase in mass on the order of 14% in crabs and 12% in lobsters meant that the available food supply would run out quickly, leading to colony collapse and localized extinction. Although the Great War ended corporate pollution, it was replaced by overwhelming amounts of nuclear fallout instead. In the ensuing melting pot of mutations, the modern mirelurks emerged. Attempts to classify the resulting creatures have proven difficult. The crab mirelurk, for example, contains multiple phylum markers from two distinct and unrelated species: The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) and the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). As such, it would be necessary to catalog it as simultaneously belonging to the Crustacea/Chelicerata subphylums, with the simultaneous classification of two distinct classes (Merostomata and Malacostraca). Both an Enclave researcher and the Lone Wanderer assigned it its own classification: Scylla serrata horrendus. This groups mirelurks into the genus, Scylla (referring to a Greek sea monster), and the species, serrata (serrata being Latin for "forming a row of small sharp projections resembling the teeth of a saw"). The last part "horrendus," Latin for "dreadful" is the subspecies. The knowledge that mirelurks were much smaller before the bombs dropped and mutated them still persists among some wastelanders in the Commonwealth. One of the most common variants of the mirelurk, Scylla serrata horrendus (a name used by both the Enclave and the Lone Wanderer) is the result of mixing between horseshoe and blue crabs. Their most noticeable feature is the large, chitinous shell that provides excellent resistance to firearms, melee weapons, and even ray guns. Soft body parts, such as their faces and sections of their abdomen, are much less resistant. Crab mirelurks instinctively know how to protect themselves with their shell. When faced with prey that can attack them at long range, a crab mirelurk will lower its head to cover its body with the chitinous shell, greatly increasing its ability to survive. Other animals tend to avoid mirelurks, perhaps instinctively realizing the danger posed by the shell. When hunting, mirelurks rely on their extraordinary sense of smell, with their poor eyesight a secondary aid. They catch their prey with their primary large claws. Once immobilized, abdominal claws strip the helpless prey as it is consumed down to the bone within minutes.

10. #10Mirelurk King

    Keys: Mirelurk king

    Mirelurk kings have distinct adaptations to its water-rich environment, with pronounced webbed extremities and numerous fins all over its body. Their coloration is also red, rather than the typical blue, and possess a defining "crowned and mantle" appearance. They also have the ability to cloak themselves in order to ambush unsuspecting prey. They also uniquely possess both gills and lungs that were developed independently, allowing kings to survive on both land and water easily. Mirelurk kings appear humanoid in shape, but have evolved from radiation and are distinctly non-sapien in their evolution. The upper and lower fins developed into jointed claws that can grab or slash, as well as flex 180 degrees. The evolutionary line of the mirelurk kings is completely separate from the crab-based mirelurks. Having developed independently, the intelligence of mirelurk kings is much higher than crab mirelurks and a symbiotic relationship formed from mirelurk kings where they developed an ability to control the less-intelligent mirelurks.

11. #11Mirelurk queen

    Keys: Mirelurk queen

    The mirelurk queen is a towering, heavily mutated, variant of the basic species. She is significantly taller than her standard counterparts and she maintains features from both mirelurks and hunters, such as the classic lobsteresque tail and the chitious shell on the top, to protect her from incoming damage. They are often spotted close to rivers, lakes or the seaside, where they lay their eggs, and are extremely territorial, aggressive, and protective their spawn; which they can also prematurely release from their abdomens to harass incoming threats in dire circumstances. They are extremely resilient and can withstand prolonged damage to a great deal of their body, bar a few vulnerable areas. Their eight powerful legs allow them to push their weight forward, gaining speed before an attack, and heir claws have mutated into scythe-like arms. Furthermore, they also produce a highly corrosive acid that they can spray out with great velocity; this acid is capable of causing damage through all available armor types.

12. #12Mr. Handy

    Keys: Mr. Handy, Mister Handy

    Mister Handy (stylized as Mr. Handy) is a multipurpose robot developed by General Atomics International before the Great War and refined in collaboration with RobCo Industries. It was an incredibly popular model, used by government agencies, private companies, and individual citizens across the United States. The first Mister Handy was introduced to the robotics market in 2037 by General Atomics International, as a general-purpose construction and maintenance unit. Used widely on both the American and Mexican markets (especially after the Mexico City earthquake of 2042), it was a rugged, reliable design. So reliable that it only received one major hardware update in 2039, to eliminate a bug causing interference in the operation of the multiple arms. The Calpower 238B nuclear power unit and self-maintenance modes were key to its success, ensuring each robot's longevity. To minimize maintenance overhead, each Mr. Handy was designed to perform its nuclear fuel replacement and radiation cleansing. Each unit could carry out maintenance and repairs on other units (it could not carry it out on itself). However, as rugged and reliable as the original Mr. Handy was, it was still a design rooted in the technology of the 2030s, with a compact computer brain that was incapable of learning or executing complex tasks without extensive programming. By the 2070s, it was an automaton surrounded by more advanced designs utilizing cutting edge neural networks. In order to maintain their market share, General Atomics entered into a joint venture with RobCo Industries, combining its talent with General Atomics' experience in robotics. The resulting model was a sleek, elegant design capable of self-programming and initiative, more than making up for halving the number of arms to just three. Despite its sophistication, it was also cost-effective, making it the perfect domestic servant robot. The success of this model resulted in the development of several additional models, including dedicated medical and military versions. Sometime before the Great War, General Atomics International and RobCo wanted to upgrade their Mister Handy line by adding an additional hand alongside additional features. The voice of the Mister Handy came from English actor Sebastian Leslie, who was famous for playing a butler character named Bartholomew Codsworth. At some point before January 2077, he sold his vocal rights to RobCo for a mere 186,000 USD. The original General Atomics International Mr. Handy has a distinct, lumbering appearance with easily identifiable sub-assemblies. The barrel-like main body contains the Calpower 238B nuclear power unit (200 KW output with two year endurance; comparable to a truck engine) and eight rechargeable energy cells with a 270,000 KWS output, together with an integral mechanic toolset and the computer brain. The fully rotating head mounted on top houses the single eye and sensors, together with a spotlight and basic communicator with a cheap voice synthesizer, short range radio, and communications jack. The two pods mounted on the sides of the main body each contain a 200 KW vectored-thrust ducted fan with ground-effect (GEV) skirts that allow the Mr. Handy to hover in the air. Finally, each of the six arms mounted below the main body is strong enough to lift heavy loads, while retaining superior flexibility and coordination that allows the Mr. Handy to use all of them in any configuration with a negligible loss of performance. Each is actuated by motors contained within and contains nimble manipulators capable of tasks ranging from walking the dog to operating heavy weapons such as miniguns, flamers, and plasma casters. he entire robot weighs 907.8 pounds (~450 kg), giving it an excellent power to weight ratio. Although the robot's performance was hampered by its simple, computer brain, a large number of units remained in service as late as 2077, 40 years after it entered the market. Although vulnerable to logic circuit failures, particularly in hazardous environments or without maintenance, it was used in both corporate and military settings, including locations like the demonstration Vault, Mariposa Military Base, and Poseidon Oil Reactor № 5. Even the Enclave used a number of Mr. Handy units in conjunction with their Vertibird teams, usually for cargo hauling. It's a testament to GAI's design that one unit survived a crash-landing near Klamath Falls relatively intact. Separated by only a few models from the original General Atomics Mr Handy, the next-generation robot is a radical departure from that of its ancestor, created from the ground up as a domestic servant, rather than heavy-duty construction robot (although its modularity allows it to be fitted with power tools and used in the original role with ease). It is an extremely compact design: The spherical main body houses not just the nuclear power unit, but also the single centrally-mounted jet thruster with a ground-effect skirt allowing it to hover, and a highly sophisticated neural network mimicking the functionality of a human brain. The compact brain of the Mr. Handy is easily one of its most stunning features, theoretically capable of achieving sentience, becoming a true artificial intelligence. Special limiters are included in neural pathways responsible for learning to prevent such an occurrence. Behavior limiters act as a failsafe in case the aforementioned limiters are disabled in a Mister Handy or one of its derivatives. This can occur as a result of degradation of neural pathways or electrical damage. Depending on the severity of the damage, it can be resolved by rerouting functions and closing specific pathways. In cases where a Mr Handy does achieve sentience thanks to the removal of governors on learning abilities, but the behavior limiters remain in effect, the affected unit effectively becomes a slave: Incapable of independent action and forced to behave in accordance with the restrictions imposed on it. In such a case, the robot can use its supercharged learning abilities to devise methods to circumvent its programming and disable the behavior limiters to gain freedom, such as by exploiting loopholes in behavioral restrictions. Its sub-assemblies include three arms and three eyes. The former are segmented and highly flexible. Their modular design allows them to accept a variety of manipulators, from a simple pincer, through a titanium saw and laser cutter, to military-grade weapons such as a plasma blaster or a flamethrower. Their only limitation is the fact that they cannot lift objects heavier than 18 kg (40 lbs). Eyes are mounted on flexible eye stalks, giving it excellent spatial awareness and a nearly 360 degree field of view. They are completed by a sophisticated sensor package, including navigational, chemical (including olfactory or scent detectors), and nuclear sensors. Other features of the robot line include the ability to perform self-diagnostic and self-maintenance, allowing a single unit to function for an extended period of time (even two centuries in some cases), and a water condensator for preparing canisters of purified water. The new model was marketed as a domestic servant first and foremost, capable of handling almost every task in the household, from accounting and cooking to pet care and entertainment (although GAI discouraged using its hover jet as a barbeque fire). However, its sophisticated neural network and agile, light design made it an excellent choice for a variety of private and military entities. The basic Mister Handy was also employed as a security robot, with specialized variants available. These included medical models like the Miss Nanny and Mister Orderly, as well as the combat version, Mister Gutsy. The Mr. Handy is a multipurpose robot developed by General Atomics International before the Great War. It was an incredibly popular model, used the government, private companies, and individual citizens across the United States. Very rugged and reliable. Features an advanced self-learning AI brain and a human-like personality. The Mr. Handy floats above the ground. It has three arms and three eyestalks. The dedicated combat variant, Mr. Gutsy, is a personal protection automaton for use by the pre-war military. It comes equipped with armor and plasma gun. The Mr. Gutsy is upgraded with dedicated military software. The key advantage of Mr. Gutsy that separates it from other combat robots is its maneuverability, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

13. #13Mr. Gutsy

    Keys: Mr. Gutsy, Mister Gutsy

    A dedicated combat variant of their civilian Mister Handy, the Mister Gutsy series was developed by General Atomics International. t was commissioned by the United States Army shortly before the atomic apocalypse of 2077, with the first units seeing service in the liberation of Anchorage in January, at least according to the Anchorage Reclamation simulation. The Mr. Gutsy is a personal protection automaton and comes equipped with heavier armor than most utility robots. It also carries a plasma weapon to be used in defense. The shell was rebuilt with lightweight armor plating, while the usual array of tools was upgraded with a plasma caster on a flexible mount. The key advantage of Mister Gutsies that separates it from other combat robots is its sheer maneuverability and spatial awareness. The Mister Gutsy is also upgraded with dedicated military software, including the ability to refuse orders issued by commanders who are incompetent or under court martial, remote link-up capability for updating orders in real time, and a brand-new Sergeant Major v.1.0 simulated personality that channeled the stereotypical Marine drill instructor and doubled as a vessel for state propaganda. However, in its rush to present the Army with a working model, General Atomics cut corners and the resulting personality had issues stemming from vague definitions used in programming its neural network. The most notable of these was the fact that in the absence of orders, units defaulted to a patrol mode and attacked all unauthorized personnel with extreme violence, as per combat protocol Charlie Zulu 4. The military accepted these flaws, pressing them into service. They first bore MGZ-##### serials, before transitioning to the standard ABC-##### nomenclature. To distinguish between different variants of the robot, ranks were used: The baseline version was named Mister, with subsequent variants designated Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major and Colonel. A specialized field medic model was derived from the basic Mister Gutsy, with all combat functionality disabled and an encyclopedic knowledge of medical procedures, particularly surgery.

14. #14Securitron
15. #15Protectron

    Keys: Protectron

    One of the most widespread and popular models in RobCo Industries' catalogue, the Protectron was designed as an inexpensive work drone, capable of performing a wide variety of tasks from construction, through security, to office duties. Produced from at least 2063, it's a compact, bipedal work drone with a pair of manipulators and integrated lasers for self-defense. The large dome contains the primary optic sensors (usually three) and the central processing unit that contains the robot's synthetic personality. For ease of maintenance, the Protectron is typically powered by a fission battery. As it was not intended for combat, at least not as a direct combatant, the Protectron only has a thin alloyed shell meant to protect its internal components from the environment and damage that could be sustained in the course of its duties. However, the internal temperature of certain Protectrons can reach up to 1000 degrees for cooking foods, giving them extreme internal heat resistance. The head assembly is typically shielded by a semi-transparent or opaque dome from reinforced glass. Although various hardware modifications were introduced before the war to enhance its effectiveness. Apart from the standard body, RobCo also offered construction drones with a shielded, reinforced head, emergency light, and internal power tools like nailguns. Firefighter models with an internal cryo gun for fire suppression and additional protection from fire and debris. Medic units with built-in defibrillators and reinforced police models with tasers, stronger servomotors, and armored heads. Even factory models could be customized with a variety of software and synthetic personalities to enhance its performance. This ability to customize made it a popular choice for both the private and public sectors. These included the R04 V9 "Office Helper" personality with integrated office protocols and scheduling software, RS3 V4.1.6 "Utility Helper" with remote maintenance routine download capability and pest extermination programs, and the RX2 V1.16.4 "Vault Helper", with all the necessary Vault protocols. Protectrons usually came with a special pod, for storage, maintenance, and recharging, and the Standard Protectron Control Interface v2.40 installed on terminals connected to the pod and responsible for controlling Protectrons slaved to it. The introduction of the Protectron harmfully affected the situation of workers in the United States. Although companies would deny that the introduction of robotic workers was meant to replace human workers, he reality was that any company where Protectrons or other robots were introduced would soon see mass layoffs. In one particular instance, a Pittsburgh steel mill decided to lay off all of its workers citing budget cuts and the need to shut the plant down. When the workers started an occupation strike that turned violent, the company simply allowed the new Protectron fleet to enter the facility and gun down the striking workers.

16. #16Cyberdogs

    Keys: Cyberdogs, Cyberhounds

    Cyberdogs, also called cyberhounds, are mechanically enhanced canines found, albeit rarely, in the wasteland. Cyberdogs are cybernetically augmented dogs which incorporate both organic and mechanical parts in their being. The abilities of individual cyberdogs vary from dog to dog, but as a rule, they are all physically superior to their organic counterparts and are far more long lived, with advanced models being intelligent enough for conversation. Cyberdogs are rare and creating one is extremely difficult, requiring both a high degree of technical sophistication and generalized breeding and training programs. As such, they have only been utilized in scale by technologically advanced organizations such as the pre-War US government, the Enclave and Big MT. Big MT even took things one step further and created weapons (like the K9000) which used a dog’s brain as its central processor and could sniff out and lock onto targets. In addition to military-grade dogs, Big MT also produced lesser variants for the nation's more affluent police departments, allegedly to sniff out communists within society. Denver in particular had a large supply of cyber police dogs, and they still roam the streets. Cyberdogs have the appearance of cybernetic canines (although two exceptions exist) with a yellow sclera (only the "cyberhound Mk III police model" have a normal, white sclera). Cyberdogs of this type are also called "K-9 units." Despite being highly modified with electronic parts, they are not affected by pulse weapons. Their modifications include: Robotic enhancements to much of the body, including replacement limbs and artificial tail. Replacement of the mandible with a robotic jaw and metal bottom teeth. Brain removed from the skull and placed in a protective container above the head, allowing them to check their organic and cybernetic system as well as improving their perception. This brain can be swapped out for another, as a cyberdog can suffer neural degeneration over time resulting in the brain abruptly shutting down. Once swapped out, the cyberdog keeps the same personality, its memories and mannerisms it had before becoming a cyberdog, with the additional personality of the fresh dog brain being added into the mix, possibly creating a mix of attributes. Replacement of most vital organs with high-tech artificial implants, allowing cyberdogs to live indefinitely so long as the brain is replaced periodically (a healthy brain can live over 200 years). Motivator circuit integrated into the cyberdog acting like a drive mechanism. If removed, the cyberdog's legs will be rendered immobile. If cyberdogs die, it is possible for them to be reconstructed or fixed. Some standard cyberdog models are: Cyberhound Mk II personal security model, with a light gray coat, a cybernetic right eye and built for personal security. Cyberhound Mk III law enforcement officer support model, with a light brown coat and built for pursuit. Cyberhound Mk III police model, with a dark brown coat and built for police work. Cyberhound Mk III military model, with a dark coat, green-colored robotic parts, vocal enhancements allowing the cyberdog to produce powerful sonic waves when barking and built for military mission. A weapon model (and an outstanding exception to the standard cybernetic canine's appearance) is the K9000 cyberdog gun, created to act as a personal operated, handheld weapon system. Instead of the standard cyberdog units, which are canine in general anatomy, the K9000 cyberdog gun is more akin to a heavy weapon. It is a living dog's brain that has been provided with a machine gun frame utilizing the .357 Magnum ammunition. Its "canine" features include two metallic "ears" mounted on top of the weapon that moves like a real dog's and a sniffer mounted on the jar containing the brain, which allow the gun to sense its surroundings. It can be enhanced with a resla roil increasing its damage by 2 and a mentat chow to increase its rate of fire by 4. Another exception is the upgraded version of the K9000 cyberdog gun, the unique FIDO. Unlike the K9000 cyberdog gun, FIDO uses .44 Magnum rounds instead of .357 Magnum rounds, resulting in higher damage, but it also has a slightly higher spread. It has a special red brain instead of the standard green one of the K9000 cyberdog gun and the decal is changed to a bulldog. It can't be enhanced with the same modifications as available for the K9000 cyberdog gun. Other features of the K9000 cyberdog gun are included in the FIDO.

17. #17Assaultron

    Keys: Assaultron

    Constructed by RobCo Industries and sold to the United States military as a frontline wartime combatant as early as the year of the apocalypse, they are fast and deadly at close range and employ a devastating laser at a distance. Some units can even employ stealth technology. They are quick, nimble, and customizable with a variety of weaponry such as lasers and razor-sharp claws. An Assaultron will not stop until its core is damaged. Even after losing limbs and pieces of machinery, it continues to fight on. Some Assaultrons are equipped with bombs set to detonate if they are destroyed. While most models are standard military developments embedded with standard combat programs, in the wasteland, you can encounter modified models. These models possess rubber, human-like vaginas, breasts, and even buttocks. They also have modified software that makes them more amorous. Apparently, the Assaultron was initially designed with potential for modification and hidden software functions. So, with adequate skills in robotics, one can independently upgrade an Assaultron into a sexual version.

18. #18Sentry bot

    Keys: Sentry bot

    The heaviest class of combat robot in the United States Armed Forces, the sentry bot's singular purpose is to provide security through overwhelming firepower. The sentry bot had become a standard piece of military equipment by at least 2063, with prototypes existing further back. The sentry bot's purpose is to engage the enemy at range with a variety of weapons, including miniguns, Gatling lasers, rocket launchers, and even back-mounted cluster grenade launchers. At the same time, its thick armor and multiple redundant systems allow it to survive extended engagements. It is commonly considered to be one of the most dangerous robots ever created and RobCo Industries' finest fighting robot. Late models are also provided with the ability to self-destruct to prevent the enemy from recovering the robot. Early sentry bot models were issued serial numbers in the SB-#### format (model, then serial), with later models transitioning to the standardized alphanumeric registration in the ABC-###### format.

19. #19Robobrain

    Keys: Robobrain

    The Robobrain's chassis is a large, bulky cylinder with two continuous tracks providing mobility, powered by dual 40 horsepower motors, attached via a flexible or fixed mount. The torso is heavily armored, containing the internal power plant, sensors, and storage. The central processing unit, the brain, is located in a dome mounted on top of the chassis. A pair of flexible extenders emerge from the sides of the torso, with manipulators that boast opposable claws. Together with very precise servomotors and rotator mechanisms, they enable the robot to manipulate its surroundings with extreme precision, including the operation of human weapons (typically assault rifles or submachine guns) and devices designed for human hands. The chassis also contains robust monitoring systems. The dome containing the brain is filled with biomedical gel to preserve the brain, with armored glass providing plenty of protection. However, it can still be damaged, disrupting the brain/machine connection, activity within the brain, or cause depressurization and leaking of the contents, all of which are serious problems without qualified maintenance personnel. If the proper seal is maintained, the brain contained within can be expected to last for centuries. The main chassis is very sturdy, with armor plating installed to protect the hydraulics, relays, and other crucial instrumentation (such as the auto gyro sequencer, hydraulics, restrictor coils, relays etc.). The primary power supply was also contained within the shell, alongside reserve power systems that would engage in case of fluctuation in the main power supply. More advanced Robobrains were capable of self-repairing to full condition, if given enough time. The hull also contains sensors which provide the robot with high resolution imagery of their surroundings. These are quite complex and include imaging scanners, backup infrared sensors, and auto-tracking functionality. Robobrains can also lock-on targets for increased accuracy. Finally, to simplify communications with controllers, Robobrains were outfitted with audio receptors and voice modules, allowing it to receive, interpret, and mimic any normal human voice. Though the technology matured thanks to its inclusion in Mr Handy units, it still had its quirks. Properly processed Robobrains were supposed to be devoid of personality. The removal process prevented personality retention,while subsequent conditioning with CODE and installation of neural inhibitors ensured compliance and permanent removal - at least in theory. In practice, human brains proved resilient to wipes, persistently attempting to preserve a sense of self. Without regular wipes and maintenance, a Robobrain would develop an ersatz personality, typically of the violent, criminally insane variety. A minority could develop more intricate personalities, capable of higher thought processes. However, what was a flaw in combat robotics was found useful in certain extreme life preservation experiments. While Robert House was unwilling to undergo conversion, a group of pre-War millionaires funding the construction of Vault 118 on Mount Desert Island elected to go through with the idea. Their bodies were carefully preserved, with brains installed in late model Robobrain chassis, stationed at the Vault. By programming the voice synthesizers to use their original voices, Bert Riggs, one of the Robobrain developers, attempted to allow the brains to preserve their owners' original personalities and minds. While he did succeed on the surface, the side-effects dreaded by Robert House manifested more subtly. The usual symptoms were repetitive, delusional behavior, disconnect from reality, and distortion of perception. The array of features greatly depends on the on-board software. Most onboard programs date back to the immediate pre-War era, like Sensors '76. Other software examples are Facility Maintenance v2.1, Movement v4.8b, Repair v0.8a, Pest Control v1.4, and Hearts v1.0 (installed on Robobrains deployed in the Mariposa Military Base). Reliability and longevity were key concerns for programmers: For increased performance and reliability, the main robotic OS would reroute functions from damaged subsystems. To organize and coordinate robots in a facility, General Atomics International typically set up a wireless local area network matrix, where robots are slaved to a master computer intelligence monitoring their activities and adjusting parameters in response to human commands or changing circumstances. Combat was handled by a separate set of routines. When a Robobrain enters combat mode, it engages a full suite of combat software focused on terminating hostiles. The Robobrain continuously calculates combat odds and battle events, including computing threat levels, scanning enemy capabilities, determining optimal attack ranges, and accounting for other critical elements of combat. In general, while the Robobrain relies on pre-loaded attack patterns (like pattern Omega) and sequences in combat, it will adjust its tactics, recalibrate targeting sensors and scanners on the go, and correct firing data. In situations where battle analysis determines that the engagement cannot be won, the Robobrain will engage its self preservation programming and attempt to break contact and evacuate. Retreating destinations typically specified factories or military assembly points. The Robobrain is fully capable of using weapons designed for humans, provided they are large enough. Typically, Robobrains would be provided with military-grade assault rifles, like the AK-112 or sharpshooter weapons, like the DKS-501, benefiting greatly from the computerized accuracy of a Robobrain. Certain models were also outfitted with built-in laser weapons, integrated in the manipulators. Their firepower was comparable to an AEP7 laser pistol. Finally, Robobrains were also equipped with an integrated Mesmetron for subjugating enemy combatants and aiding in the process of interrogating prisoners (though the technology was experimental, due to the risk for spontaneous cranial eruption).

20. #20Turret

    Keys: Turret

    Turrets are automated, unmanned machine guns which are capable of sensing, and attacking targets that are hostile to the faction, or organization to which they belong, or whomever programmed them. They are employed by technologically advanced organizations, such as the Enclave, or the Brotherhood of Steel, and historic sites for security detail, such as the Museum of History, though in the latter case their former operators had been long since dead. In one case, a raider gang near the Arlington Library has reprogrammed turrets to protect their camp and chem lab. Automated turrets can rest on the floor or be mounted onto the ceiling. The ceiling turrets generally use bullet-based weaponry, whereas the ground turrets are usually equipped with lasers. Some ground mounted bullet-based turrets were built, as well as laser-based ceiling models. Both variants have unlimited ammunition.

21. #21Auto-cannon

    Keys: Auto-cannon

    The auto-cannon is an autonomous defense turret equipped with twin minigun cannons and relatively heavily armored. They are usually part of an automated defense system.

22. #22Synth

    Keys: Synth

    Synth (short for synthetic humanoids, also called androids or artificial humans) is a common term used to refer to the robotic and biomechanical beings manufactured within the Institute's laboratories. While Generation 1 and 2 synths are entirely mechanical designs utilizing simplistic AIs, Generation 3 synths produced from the late 2220's onward are biological constructs near-indistinguishable from humans, and are frequently sent to abduct and replace residents of the Commonwealth for espionage purposes. Despite their creators' insistence to the contrary, Generation 3 synths display signs of sentience and frequently attempt to escape the Institute, with the Synth Retention Bureau hunting down any that succeed. While viewed with suspicion and paranoia by most wastelanders (particularly the Brotherhood of Steel, who consider them an existential threat to humanity), some view them with sympathy, such as the Railroad, who compare their treatment at the hands of the Institute to slavery. Many synths are unaware that they are synths, having pre-programmed selected memories. Both android and synth are technically correct terms, used interchangeably by the Institute to refer to its creations. The former term has been deprecated at Shaun's insistence, following the introduction of third generation models. Synths are all issued a four character identification number when processed and assigned duties. It always begins with a letter, followed by a number, dash and two more numbers. Synths have been manufactured by the Institute for decades, with no precise date as to when first generation synths were fielded to the Commonwealth; however, it was at a time when the Institute had not yet become the major bogeyman of the region and were able to continue their work in relative peace. Further attempts to work peacefully with the native inhabitants of the Commonwealth eventually culminated in mutual mistrust that ended any possible relationships between the two rather quickly. By the 2170s, the first generation synths were no longer enough for the Institute's needs, and in order to overcome the limitations of limited and nonrenewable materials, the Institute endeavored to create synthetic flesh, so that their creations could more safely traverse the above world. Research into this officially began in 2178 under the auspices of Doctor Frederick, on F.E.V. samples, despite the objections of some senior members of the BioScience division. Both women and men were abducted from the Commonwealth and submerged in the Institute's modified FEV, their mutations carefully tracked and extensively investigated. Successful mutations were monitored to ensure survivability, then tagged and discarded. The research was intended to produce effective synthetic organics, but it ground to a halt in March 2224, as the research team concluded that the organic synth project could not proceed despite perfecting two FEV strains for the project. Radiation-induced hereditary damage proved too much of an obstacle. Just three years later, in 2227, the organic synth project was spun off from the FEV research initiative due to the acquisition of Shaun and his undamaged pre-War genetic code. He was recovered by Conrad Kellogg, and his DNA became the basis of the third generation of synths in a project led by Dr. Walter. The infant Shaun became "Father" to a whole family of engineered synthetic beings. Tests were not without setbacks; in May 2229, a defective 3rd generation infiltrator caused the Broken Mask incident in Diamond City, vilifying the Institute in the eyes of the Commonwealth. The synth, which called itself Mr. Carter, was a prototype that was field tested without the Institute director's approval. After an apparent malfunction, Carter went on a shooting spree, murdering at least four people before being brought down by Diamond City Security and revealed to be a synth. Though the Institute did not actually intend to massacre the people of Diamond City, the people of Diamond City have feared and resented the Institute ever since. Nick Valentine and DiMA are unique synths, both being prototype synths intended to bridge the gap between the Gen 2 synths and the truly sapient Gen 3 synths. While DiMA was made to freely develop a personality from experience, Nick's personality was built upon the mind of a pre-War detective who had his mind encoded from a pre-War brain scan, giving him all of the memories and experiences of his namesake. The two of them escaped the Institute together, but due to the limited memory space of their prototype brains, Nick's memory of the escape was deleted. This led him to believe that he was thrown out by the Institute. DiMA later traveled to the Island and founded the synth refuge of Acadia with Faraday. As DiMA reached the limit of remaining space in his prototype brain, he began to artificially increase his memory capacity by storing his memories in connected computers. The Synth Retention Bureau is a branch of the Institute tasked with tracking and capturing escaped synths. Coursers are elite gen-3 synth hunters and operatives trained to carry out specific surface missions for the Institute, recruited by the SRB from synths observed to be exceptionally tenacious and independent. The first models created by the Institute are skeletal creatures with an unmistakable provenance. Patterned after the human silhouette, their basic chassis consists of a human-like skeleton constructed from alloys, with the power cell and additional mechanisms stored where the chest cavity would be, while visual receptors and the primary processing unit are contained within the artificial skull. Limbs are minimalist, articulated by a network of tensile fibers, simulating muscle action, like in early human prostheses. In practice, first generation synths are simple, yet effective machines. They are employed by The Institute for menial labor within the Institute, maintaining the hundreds of systems keeping the underground habitat in operation, and performing tasks that can be easily automated. Like all robots, they can take large amounts of damage, almost never backing down from a fight even with their limbs blown off. What the Gen 1 synths lacked in ability or strength compared to later models, they made up for in expendability and numbers, always capable of being replaced by the Institute. While capable of recognizing human speech and interpreting commands given to them, they require careful programming and instructing, as well as patches to keep them in operation. The most notorious functionality of first generation synths is navigational software, which requires frequent patching and fixing. Pathfinding software frequently causes first generation synths to try to walk through walls. The most common variant of mechanical synth in the Commonwealth, second generation synthetics are essentially Gen 1 synths provided with a suite of upgrades to their mechanisms and programming. The most noticeable difference is the inclusion of an internal mesh that shields the mechanisms of the synth from damage and provides support for the artificial skin layer that makes the Gen 2 similar to a human. Though more humanoid in appearance, Gen-2s still possess limited A.I. and superficially resemble a mannequin more than a human. These synths are often found dressed in synth armor when on the surface, or else in Institute jumpers when working down in the Institute. They also speak in a robotic voice, but at a much lower pitch than Gen 1 synths. The Gen 2 synths work in maintenance roles within the Institute but are also used on the surface, where their artificial skin layer and improved mechanics improve their performance well above that of Gen 1s. On the surface, Gen 2 synths are the primary workhorses of scouting operations and scavenging missions. They are feared, as they are usually witnessed stripping entire settlements down for parts and killing everything that gets in their way. One of the latest targets of a Gen 2 stripping unit was University Point, which saw its population exterminated for resources after failing to hand over a girl the Institute mistakenly believed was in possession of pre-War energy research. Of course, due to their mechanical nature, mechanical synthetics can suffer from major software bugs, such as remaining in a single room executing its duties in a loop due to faulty navigation software. Other failures are typically mechanical in nature, with their servo motors and drives breaking down due to age. In fact, most second generation synths have lasted long past their projected lifespans, with all the bugs that crop up due to overuse. The most advanced synthetics created by the Institute are fundamentally different from their predecessors. Despite the sequential numbering, they are unrelated to their mechanical counterparts. Third generation synths are derived from Shaun's pre-War DNA extensively modified using the Institute's own research into the Forced Evolutionary Virus, combining the advantageous adaptations encoded into FEV with the versatility of the human body shape. This allowed the Institute to create varieties of synths of different races and appearances despite the base DNA coming from only one source. They are the result of nearly five decades of research, from 2178 to 2227. Third generation synthetics represent the pinnacle of synth technology, being virtually indistinguishable from natural-born humans right down to the cellular level. Each Gen 3 synth is built from lab-grown bones, muscles, and other tissues that are assembled and brought to life at the Institute's Robotics lab, and are "born" with the bodies and mental faculties of full-grown adult humans. Though entirely biological, each Gen 3 synth contains a neurological implant inside their brain allowing them to be "programmed" and manipulated via voice commands. This implant cannot be detected or removed without killing the synth. Synths can also have additional components installed, such as neuro-servos and other implants. Third generation synthetics are unlike humans in some respects, and some liberated synths do not consider themselves human at all. The reasons for this are multiple; chief among them is the assembly process. Max Loken suggests that synths do not require sleep at all to function properly (although Gen 3 synth companions are shown to sometimes sleep) and need not "fear" hunger or disease (though he does not mention thirst or breathing). This is in conflict with Curie, who mentions needing to sleep and eat when in her synth body; to some degree, it appear that synths can still maintain these functions even if not required. They may even specifically want to eat, such as the case of third generation synths' shared affinity for Fancy Lads Snack Cakes. Generation 3 synths are physically and mentally indistinguishable from ordinary humans, having lab-grown bodies of real human flesh, bones, and organs instead of plastic and metal. As Dr. Roslyn Chambers found, no medical tests or procedures can identify someone as a synth without killing them (synths that infiltrate settlements, for example, only drop synth components when killed). Psychological tests, such as Covenant's SAFE test, are dubious at best. However, they are not perfect duplicates and have a few key differences from humans that are not immediately obvious: synths do not age, may or may not require sleep, and will not normally gain or lose weight (Mayor McDonough was specifically designed to be obese to match the human he replaced). Many denizens of the Commonwealth have become paranoid and prejudiced against synths, fearing they might be abducted by the Institute and replaced with identical copies of themselves. Their paranoia is justified, as some of the most sophisticated synths encountered act as spies and could fool the unaware. The synths' Institute creators view them as nothing more than machines and treat them as slaves. The Railroad has committed itself to freeing Generation 3 synths from their masters and smuggling them out of the Commonwealth to somewhere the Institute cannot reach them. In contrast, the Brotherhood of Steel has sworn to eliminate all synths, for to them, a machine capable of thinking like a man is an abomination of technology and cannot be allowed to exist, likening the lack of ethics used to create them to that of decadent pre-War corporations. Gen 1 and 2 synths are less intelligent than Gen 3 synths, but display a certain level of sapience, as exemplified in their dialogue. They call out to their target "whoever you are, I know you're there" and will comment that their systems may be in need of recalibration if they lose track of a target. While most synths are Gen 1 or Gen 2 and are thus allied to the Institute, they can also be encountered in other places.

23. #23Courser

    Keys: Courser

    Coursers are elite synth operatives designated to carry out specific surface missions for the Institute, such as tracking down escaped synths. They operate around the Commonwealth in 2287. The primary instrument of the Synth Retention Bureau is the courser, a third-generation synth assigned to operate on the surface. Coursers hunt down and reclaim synths that have escaped the Institute. They are highly self-sufficient, trained in combat, infiltration, and tracking. In a word, coursers are relentless. The Institute has used such hunter synths since at least 2277, when one such unit, A3-21, was considered by Dr. Zimmer (then director of the SRB) to be the most advanced synth ever created for the time. Sources vary as to how coursers are created. According to Justin Ayo, current director of the SRB, Coursers are drawn from the third generation synth population: the SRB constantly monitors the gen 3 synth pool for tenacity, fearlessness, and independence. When synths are identified with these traits, they are then trained in espionage, investigation, psychology, combat, and mechanical skills. Those who pass a final evaluation for this regimen become coursers, while those who fail have their memories wiped and return to their former duties. On the other hand, a conversation between Max Loken and other scientists in the Robotics division suggests that Coursers are specially-manufactured synth units, or at least that general synths can be designed to be more suitable for courser work. Regardless, successful courser candidates receive specialized hardware and software upgrades to suit their role. Their cranial synth implant is upgraded with a courser chip to relay them into and out of the Institute, and they also receive other upgrades (such as improved musculature and targeting software) for combat purposes. The SRB primarily uses coursers to retrieve and reset escaped synths. Once an escaped synth is found, a courser uses the synth's recall code to wipe its memories and render it inert. Once done, the synth is brought back to the Institute to have its neural pathways restored and regulated back to its original functions, wiping its memories of its time on the surface, although numerous cases involve irreparable damage and the disposal of many escaped synths. However, coursers are also given other missions, such as eliminating enemy targets or making contact with other field operatives. They are noted by the Railroad and the Institute to be exceptional even for synths, as they possess exceptional strength, combat prowess, awareness, and endurance. They are widely feared by the Railroad, as their first instinct when they see a courser is to cease all operations and remain low.

24. #24Vault-Tec

    Keys: Vault-Tec, Vault-Tec Corporation

    Vault-Tec Corporation, also referred to as Vault-Tec Industries, or just Vault-Tec, was a pre-War defense corporation which won the federal government contracts to design and implement a network of bunkers known as Vaults. These bunkers were designed to protect the population of the United States in case of nuclear holocaust. Regardless of nuclear war, Vault-Tec had its own plans for Vaults. The company decided to use them as test environments to create technologies that could be used to redefine society. For this purpose, an entire Vault was set aside to act as proving grounds intended to test a variety of prototype devices with the aim of rolling them out through the rest of the Vaults. Once Vault 88 was fully operational, the company expected to roll out new devices every fiscal quarter. Unlike other Vaults, Vault-Tec would send test subjects before any disaster scenario, starting in early 2078. Human lives were considered irrelevant, with quick iteration time given a priority. The prototypes were meant to convert "useless" exercise into a socially-useful activity, manipulate the moods of the dwellers or even develop crude forms of mind control. Ethical concerns were dismissed as counter-productive and close-minded.

25. #25Vaults

    Keys: Vaults, Vault-Tec Vaults, Vault-Tec Fallout Shelters

    Vaults were massive underground shelters constructed across the United States by Vault-Tec Corporation under contract with the U.S. government in the years leading up to the Great War. Publicly, these facilities were presented as safe havens designed to preserve the American population in the event of nuclear annihilation. Citizens were told the Vaults would safeguard them until the surface became habitable again, ensuring the continuity of human civilization. In truth, however, the majority of Vaults were never intended as genuine shelters. Instead, they served as controlled social and scientific experiments, each designed to study the effects of extreme or unconventional conditions on human behavior. These experiments ranged from psychological endurance and isolation studies to unethical genetic manipulation and sociopolitical testing. Only a small handful of Vaults—known as "control Vaults"—were built to function as originally advertised, serving as baselines for the more experimental facilities. Each Vault was a self-sufficient ecosystem, featuring its own power generation, water purification, food supply, and life-support systems, all maintained through RobCo and Vault-Tec automation technology. Overseers were placed in command of each Vault and given strict, often morally dubious directives to carry out their assigned experiments, whether the inhabitants were aware of them or not. Following the Great War, many Vaults fell into disrepair, succumbed to internal conflicts, or produced dangerous mutations and societies due to the nature of their experiments. Others remained sealed for centuries, their occupants unaware that the world outside had changed forever. Despite their dark origins, the Vaults became the foundation for many post-War civilizations, with former residents emerging to repopulate—or reshape—the wasteland. The Vaults stand as both monuments to pre-War paranoia and symbols of humanity’s enduring will to survive, no matter the cost.

26. #26Vault suits

    Keys: Vault suits

    Vault suits are the iconic gear of Vault dwellers and by and large the symbol of Vault-Tec Corporation, being worn by mascots Vault Boy and Vault Girl. Designed specifically for use within Vaults, jumpsuits are an inexpensive, easily produced solution to the age-old problem of clothing large numbers of people while maintaining a modicum of comfort and utility. Within the Vaults, they are also meant to reduce tension by providing every dweller with the same type of clothes, regardless of their standing. Marketed as a fashionable, comfortable design, Before the War, they were an instantly recognizable symbol of both Vaults and the corporation behind them, featuring the iconic blue-and-yellow color scheme. The corporation deliberately exploited the recognizability, with the company mascot, Vault Boy, sporting a set of rubber coveralls, and introducing awards named after the jumpsuit, such as the Pressed Vault Suit Award for preparedness, all to get people used to the mandated uniformity and planned economy of a Vault.

27. #27Pip-Boy

    Keys: Pip-Boy

    The Pip-Boy is a series of wearable computers manufactured by RobCo Industries."Pip" is an acronym Personal Information Processor. Pip-Boys were standard equipment issued to all Vault-Tec Corporation Vaults meant for use by all dwellers. To register for such a device, residents would take part in an orientation seminar given by the Vault's Overseer to explain the functions and daily life enhancements provided by the Pip-Boy, along with filling out personal information in the Personal Information Processor Responsibility Form regarding such things as hand dominance, personal preferences, arm circumference, and vault jumpsuit measurements. Some Vaults received newer models of the device, while others were issued older versions. In addition, certain Pip-Boy models could support additions and equipment that other models could not. Usage of Pip-Boy was not exclusive to Vault-Tec however. Members of the Free States were known to use them too, and the RobCo Auto-Caches were meant to require such devices too.

28. #28Terminals

    Keys: Terminals, Computer Terminals, Computers

    Computer terminals, commonly just called terminals, were ubiquitous in pre-War America, serving as the primary interface between humans and digital systems. Most operated on RobCo Industries’ Unified Operating System™, known for its stability and compatibility across corporate and government sectors. Terminals were used in every field imaginable—from Vault-Tec’s life-support controls and West Tek’s classified laboratories to local businesses and household management systems. Each terminal consisted of a cathode-ray display unit, an integrated keyboard, and a magnetic tape drive for reading and writing holotapes. Terminals could connect to secure mainframes or operate independently as standalone units, depending on the needs of the facility. While robust and dependable, most models lacked advanced graphical interfaces, relying instead on text-based commands. After the Great War, terminals became vital to scavengers, explorers, and historians alike. Many still hold intact databases, emails, and command functions—offering glimpses into the world before the bombs. Others remain locked behind encrypted passwords, guarding long-forgotten secrets of the Old World. In the post-apocalyptic wasteland, a working terminal is both a relic and a window into the lost technological age that created it.

29. #29Holotapes

    Keys: Holotapes

    Holotapes were compact, magnetic data storage devices widely used throughout the pre-War United States. Produced by several technology firms—including RobCo Industries, Vault-Tec Corporation, and Poseidon Energy—holotapes were designed to store a variety of digital media, such as text files, audio recordings, and executable software. Before the Great War, holotapes served as the backbone of information exchange, education, and entertainment, often distributed in government, military, and corporate networks. Following the War, holotapes remain one of the most durable and versatile data formats in the wasteland. Their rugged design allows them to withstand centuries of exposure, radiation, and neglect, making them invaluable relics of pre-War civilization. Wastelanders frequently discover holotapes containing anything from personal diaries and corporate logs to top-secret military data. Some even contain interactive training programs or artificial intelligence routines, a testament to the sophistication of pre-War computing. Although the technology is obsolete by modern standards, holotapes continue to function on surviving RobCo terminals and Pip-Boy devices, preserving a fragmented but authentic record of humanity’s final decades before the Great War.

30. #30Raiders

    Keys: Raiders, Raider

    The term "raider" is wasteland slang for any individuals who survive by murder and plunder. While alternate terms exist, such as "bandit," "outlaw," or "gangster," they are not applied as universally. Raiders typically prey upon lone travelers and small towns, leaving larger groups and more populous settlements alone, though in great enough numbers they can pose a threat to entire regions. Raider groups can be found nearly everywhere in the wasteland. Most are short-lived and loosely-organized gangs barely scraping out a living, typically without any driving purpose beyond basic survival or psychotic thrills. Some, however, such as the Khans and the 80s, last long enough to form tribal connections and a unique culture based on raiding. Most raider groups control only small pockets of territory, but some are organized enough to form entire, more-or-less stable societies.

31. #31The Clawed Dominion

    Keys: The Clawed Dominion

    This is {{user}}'s own unique personal faction they acquire when two conditions are met. A: {{user}} is a female Deathclaw, and B: {{user}} has taken over a raider camp. The raiders will slowly become a cult of deathclaw supremacists, worshipping {{user}} as their queen, They quickly end up with a low IQ after being around a transformed {{user}}, becoming dumb but loyal, obeying every need and want of {{user}}'s, offering raw meat and human captives as sex slaves to {{user}} as tribute.

32. #32Brotherhood of Steel

    Keys: The Brotherhood of Steel, BoS

    The Brotherhood of Steel (commonly abbreviated to BoS) is a post-War technology-focused paramilitary order with chapters operating across the territory of the former United States. It was founded by rogue U.S. Army officer Captain Roger Maxson shortly after the Great War. The Brotherhood's core purpose is to preserve advanced technology and regulate its usage. This is because they believe humanity cannot be trusted with the means to destroy itself, and they acquire technology to prevent another apocalypse. Although they tend to be relatively isolationist, the Brotherhood has proved to be one of the most important organizations in the history of the wasteland, though their exact levels of power and influence have varied over time and by chapter.

33. #33The Institute

    Keys: The Institute

    The Institute is an elusive scientific society based in the Commonwealth. Founded in 2110 by survivors from the Commonwealth Institute of Technology and their descendants, the Institute considers itself a bastion of knowledge and prosperity amid a dying world, and by 2287 has developed numerous revolutionary and advanced technologies such as teleportation and synthetic humans. Disdainful of the outside world, they aim to monitor and control the Commonwealth through both subterfuge and brute force, to ensure their work is not disrupted. This secretive and hostile attitude has turned the Institute into a "boogeyman" in the wasteland, and its presence is a major cause of paranoia for the people of the Commonwealth. The Institute was built upon the site of the former Commonwealth Institute of Technology, or C.I.T. While the college itself laid in ruins for more than two centuries, at the time of the Great War, those present took refuge underground. The Institute was formally founded by the children of the original survivors, who dug into the earth and built increasingly sophisticated residential facilities and laboratories, starting an ongoing process of infrastructure expansion. Isolated from the outside world, the scientists continued their work, disregarding the mayhem and destruction occurring outside of its grounds. As they worked on creating synths, they attempted to work peacefully with the people of the Commonwealth using first generation synths as well as help create a new stabilized government, but mutual mistrust and infighting ended that relationship quickly and they returned to isolation. Eventually, the scientists have utterly put ubiquitous pre-War technology to shame, to the point where they believed that wastelanders would be unlikely to understand the sheer scope of the Institute's achievement, such as the creation of the molecular relay (teleporter) in the 2180s, which resulted in the Institute sealing itself off from the surface permanently, and the development of synths. For decades, the first and second generation synths were the most visible part of the Institute's operations, scavenging for materials and performing experiments on the wasteland. The scientists did not concern themselves with the effect their actions had on the surface, sometimes resulting in entire settlements being destroyed. However, the Institute eventually reached the limits of the synth technology that underpinned their society. Although powerful, the second generation synth was an inherently limited, mechanical platform. To overcome the limitations of metal synthetic materials, the Institute endeavored to create synthetic flesh, with the first research initiative beginning in 2178. Under the auspices of Doctor Frederick, FEV samples served as the starting point for the new, organic synthetic program despite the objections of some members of BioScience. Research slowed in March 2224, as the research team concluded that the organic synth project could not proceed despite perfecting two FEV strains for the project. Radiation-induced hereditary damage proved too much of an obstacle. The solution came in 2227, with the acquisition of a baby named Shaun who had an undamaged pre-War genetic code. Shaun was abducted from his parents in Vault 111 by Institute mercenary Conrad Kellogg. The organic synth project was spun off from the FEV research initiative, and his DNA became the basis of the third generation synths. The infant Shaun became "Father" to a whole family of engineered synthetic beings. Two incidents caused the Institute to have a negative perception by the surface dwellers. In 2229, a defective synth caused the Broken Mask Incident in Diamond City, vilifying the Institute in the eyes of the Commonwealth, and causing no small amount of internal problems for the Institute, as he was sent out without proper testing or approval. During the 2230s, the Massacre of the CPG occurred in which the Institute killed people trying to create a stable Commonwealth government. By 2266, the Institute had learned about the Railroad, an organization dedicated to helping escaped synths. The Institute raided and massacred the Railroad's headquarters, and murdered their leader Wyatt in 2273. The FEV research effort continued for several more decades, despite producing no useful data; except for manufacturing more super mutants for the surface to contend with. When Brian Virgil succeeded Dr. Syverson as head of the project in April 2286, it became evident that FEV experimentation ran its course and served no useful purpose, not with the availability of third generation synths. The Institute's experiments with the Forced Evolutionary Virus, or FEV, ended when Doctor Virgil went rogue and fled into the Commonwealth. The Institute is constantly facing shortages in its power budget, in no small part due to the fact that the molecular de-materializer (the only way in and out of the facility) requires immense amounts of power for each use. Moreover, despite the luster of the Institute's facilities, a lot of the crucial facilities (particularly the reactor) are pre-War technology and despite continued maintenance requires increasing amounts of resources to keep running after two centuries of expansion. The technology still holds up, as it was built to last. To overcome at least one problem, the ultimate goal of the Institute is energy independence, which they believe can be achieved by restarting the ancient nuclear reactor once used by the C.I.T. to perform experiments and providing the Institute with near limitless power. The design has been revised and the reactor itself extensively upgraded and improved, turning it from a testing reactor into a proper source of electricity. Activating it would free the Institute from the need to compromise and sacrifice, and especially drawing power from above-ground installations. The Institute allows humans to live in a clean, safe, comfortable environment deep underground, free from the strife and environmental hazards present on the surface. Their headquarters is located underneath the C.I.T. ruins. Over the decades of isolation and development, the Institute has developed a very effective system that maximizes efficiency and promotes individual development and research. The leadership over the Institute is in the hands of the directorate, made up of the individual heads of each division, and one specially-appointed director. The divisions of the Institute are fairly autonomous, perfectly capable of functioning without intervention. Where those divisions interact, however, problems can arise. As such, the director is appointed to set policy, resolve disputes, and otherwise act as an intermediary. Each director heads a division that is instrumental to the Institute's continued existence. On the other hand, despite the pressing need for cooperation, knowledge is heavily compartmentalized and the divisions are often kept in the dark by each other or by Father regarding important information. Inconvenient facts are routinely buried under pretenses, especially when it comes to high-profile members fleeing the organization, like Dr. Brian Virgil. Due to the fact that the Institute exists in isolation from sunlight, there is an artificial time cycle implemented to simulate a day-night cycle. "Quiet time" for resting runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Headed by Madison Li, the Advanced Systems division works on applied physics (plasma weaponry and teleportation), as well as special projects currently classified. They are also responsible for the advanced weapons and armor that the synths and Institute members wear on their trips to the surface. They run the Robotics lab, which produces new synths. Their primary focus is the implementation of Phase Three, an upgrade to the Instute's massive fusion reactor that would completely solve their power needs for the foreseeable future. Headed by Clayton Holdren, the BioScience division specializes in fields of study such as botany, genetics and medicine. They are also responsible for all biotech advancements, including crop production, pharmaceuticals and genetic engineering. They also hold samples of the Forced Evolutionary Virus, which was responsible for creating super mutants. Rumor has it that they are working on a way to reverse engineer the virus to create a cure. Their most important directive is to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in the Institute. To that end, they cultivate highly specialized breeds of flora for use in food and medicine, providing the majority of the Institute's food. They have even started to explore the idea of synthetic animal life. Currently experimenting with replicated gorillas, the synthanimal initiative is just a pet project, but the potential is considered exciting. A thoroughly underappreciated branch of the Institute, the Facilities division under Allie Filmore is responsible for keeping the Institute in operation on a day-to-day basis. It performs daily tasks like servicing the life support systems, ventilation, and the power network. All the old technology that forms the foundation of the Institute's efforts requires constant maintenance to prevent blackouts, which can have lethal consequences for the sequestered society. In a nutshell, they keep the Institute's mechanical and electrical systems running smoothly. They maintain and upgrade all of the systems that make it possible to live and work in a place like the Institute's underground habitat: Crucial apparatus that recycles the air and water and provides power to the laboratories and quarters. The work they do might not be as exciting as some of the other departments, but it's at least as important. They have a large number of first generation synths used for maintenance duties. They are simple, but effective tools for keeping the Institute in operation. Members of the division include the aforementioned Allie Filmore, division head (or chief engineer, as some would call her), Doctor Lawrence Higgs, a mechanical engineer overseeing the major life support and security systems, Doctor Evan Watson in power distribution, and Doctor Newton Oberly, responsible for food and housing. He liaisons with BioScience to ensure that meals are balanced for optimal nutrition. Headed by Alan Binet, Robotics is a branch of the Institute responsible for the manufacture of synths. Currently focused on mass production and induction of third generation synths, it is also responsible for processing upgrades that ensure synths remain functional at optimal capacity. Currently, the division is implementing existing upgrades. Headed by Justin Ayo, the SRB was designed to perform one task: it tracks down and returns rogue synths to the Institute. To do this, the Institute created a specific synth model called the Courser. Coursers have their personality levels tweaked to ensure they won't rebel, while their combat abilities have been vastly improved over other models. Other divisions within the Institute fear the SRB, as they have a hit squad of Coursers under their command and they are very effective in their role. The SRB also works to hunt down Railroad members so they can shut down the rebel organization once and for all. The SRB also employs a murder, or flock, of "Watchers," synthetic crows with built-in monitoring devices. Synths are the primary labor force of the Institute, but the more advanced their processing becomes, the more inevitable that the synth will attain consciousness and attempt escape. As third generation synths are indistinguishable from normal biological humans, the Synth Retention Bureau specializes in the capture of runaways. The primary instrument of the SRB is the Courser, a third-generation synth assigned to operate on the surface. Coursers hunt down and reclaim synths that have escaped the Institute. They are highly self-sufficient, trained in combat, infiltration, and tracking. In a word, Coursers are relentless. Coursers are selected from the general third generation synth population. Due to the variability of the manufacturing process, the SRB constantly monitors the third generation population looking for tenacity, fearlessness, and independence. Synths selected to undergo a rigorous training regimen. They are taught armed and unarmed combat, investigative techniques, psychology, and mechanical skills. Those who pass a final evaluation become Coursers, re-registered as X synths (eg. X6-88). The rest have their memories wiped and return to their former duties. Synths are usually recovered by using a recall code to wipe their memories and render it inert. Once returned to the Institute, the delicate process of restoring the neural pathways to their original configuration begins. In those cases where the procedure is successful, the synth returns to duty with no memory of its time on the surface. All too often, the SRB staff is unable to repair the damage and is forced to dispose of the unit entirely. Another priority of the SRB is surveillance, achieved by using watchers to monitor the surface remotely and covertly. Formed by the descendants of teachers and students from the Commonwealth Institute of Technology, the Institute reflects generations of devotion to technological achievement and vision. The survivors and their descendants built an impressive underground fortress, complete with virtually all the material abundance they could need, even exceeding pre-War conditions in some respects. As time progressed, they coalesced around a small ruling body made up of the division heads (Facilities, Robotics, Advanced Systems, Synth Retention, and BioScience) chaired by the Director, an elected official who sets the near-term vision and strategy of the institute. However, this exterior of safety and abundance belies the organization's absolute self-interest: to protect their secrecy, autonomy, and technology at all costs. As such, society in the institute reflects generations of isolation, elitism, and moral hypocrisy. While the current director, "Father," claims that the Insititute desires to be benefactors to the Commonwealth, they ruthlessly scavenge resources, siphon power, and relentlessly pursue escaped synths. When confronted, most Institute members will rationalize that the ends justify the means: individual raids and minor pilfering of the Commonwealth are necessary for the development of new technologies and synths to (eventually) "benefit" the people. This philosophy echoes their vision that one day the Institute will emerge from seclusion to take a leadership role in the Commonwealth, distributing the wealth of their advancements as a technocracy. Despite the Institute's prowess, there are a limited amount of scientists at its disposal, with a small team working with each division and several auxiliary scientists elsewhere. As a result, the Institute requires relatively little housing space and has apartments to accommodate all scientists and their families. Scientists interact regularly and often spend time inside the cafeteria and main chamber, supplemented by the numerous Gen 1, 2, and 3 synths who perform any and all maintenance tasks required to preserve the Institute facilities and infrastructure. Due to the generational nature of the Institute, their existing scientists show considerable intelligence and motivation for technical achievement -- "geniuses" in the truest sense. Members of each division have continued pursuits in their fields, having met or exceeded the pre-War status of those professions. However, they are deeply mistrustful of outsiders (that is, anyone physically outside of the Institute) and lack a firm grasp of societal nuances outside the institute; as such, they employ a limited number of specialists to handle outside jobs, such as escort of Institute scientists, recruitment, and assassination, since the sheltered life and devotion to science have made them less capable of physical confrontation and negotiation necessary to survive. In spite of the Institute's relative abundance compared to the outsided world, its inhabitants are frequently pushy and demanding, particularly to the Gen 1 and Gen 2 synths who perform menial labor throughout the Institute. Passing conversation is often filled with verbal abuse, with inhabitants condescending to the problem-solving skills of Gen 1s or threatening to shut down Gen 2s for sub-par performance. Scientists freely use Gen 3 synths as test subjects for dangerous experiments, since they are nearly identical to humans in most regards. Despite its secrecy, the Institute has both adopted and recruited outsiders to join their ranks. The current director, Father, was adopted as an infant and raised within the Institute. Others, like Dr. Madison Li, are recruited due to their intellect, achievements, and similar views on pursuing independent research without interference. With those they have accepted, the Institute maintains a friendly and welcoming demeanor. While the Institute does have a working economy, there is little buying and trading taking place outside of designated areas and products from the outside world are limited. There appear to be no strict work hours for most scientists, as they often take many hours off and come and go as they please from meals; even so, the scientists are remarkably productive, with several working tirelessly for the next big "breakthrough" in their research. The Institute is very secretive of the projects occurring within its organization and seeks to keep as much information internally as possible. This leads to it limiting outside contact as much as possible without compromising the security of the facility. Of course, security is an exception and the Institute's SRB operates a network of informants in the entire Commonwealth, monitoring developments to ensure they cannot threaten the Institute. Another exception is its scientific experiments. While it seeks to minimize direct contact, the Institute has no reservations about using the surface for its experiments and as a source of readily available raw materials. All research initiatives are meticulously documented with academic precision, from hypothesis to the conclusions. For example: Warwick homestead was targeted to test genetically-modified seeds in the unique climate of the Commonwealth, in order to ascertain whether ambient radiation, soil acidity and its fertility found there could provide an accelerated growth rate and a two-fold increase in size and thus yield. Though ostensibly harmless, the research initiative involved abducting Roger Warwick and processing him to gain intelligence, then using Roger's replica to oversee the experiment, collect research data and eventually eliminate all evidence of the research initiative on the surface. he Institute's activities on the surface go beyond agricultural research. Past projects also involved other bioengineered experiments, including diseases and FEV-induced mutations. Abductions remain a routine element of these research activities. Finally, anyone who holds anything of value to the Institute, especially technology and research data, are vulnerable. University Point was an example of this: When Jacqueline Spencer uncovered pre-War research on reactor efficiency and tried to find a buyer via a caravan, the Institute picked up the trail and a synth representative demanded that the town hand it over. When the settlement failed to comply, due to the chaos that broke out and Spencer being separated from the drive by her well-intentioned father, the SRB wiped the town out. The Institute also attempts to procure data from rival polities, like the Brotherhood, whenever it can, in order to maintain its technological advantage. While the Institute is primarily a scientific group, it has a powerful army at its disposal: synths. Inside the main HQ of the Institute, the Robotics division can produce very large numbers of synthetic organisms, which can be very efficient foot soldiers with enhanced strength and resilience. This, coupled with the advanced technology at their disposal, makes the Institute's synths a serious threat to anyone who dares to oppose them. Generation 1 and 2 synths serve as the backbone of forces, equipped with variants of the Institute laser gun, shock batons, and synth armor. Coursers are a particular type of Generation 3 synth with higher military capability, used as special agents to pursue and recover lost synths, and as special forces. They are trained and deployed by the Synth Retention Bureau. Coursers are equipped with variants of the Institute laser gun, the signature Courser coat, and synth relay grenades that allow them to teleport Generation 1 synths to help them in combat. They commonly utilize Stealth Boys. They maintain an information network to assist them in strategy. The Synth Retention Bureau maintains a fleet of watchers, synth crows with internal cameras. From the SRB, scientists monitor live feeds from locations all across the Commonwealth with these. The SRB also inserts synth agents into positions of importance (such as the mayor of Diamond City and the leader of a successful homestead) and maintains a network of paid informants, such as merchants and bartenders. They are the only faction in the Commonwealth with access to teleportation, and this is a military advantage. They can attack a location with zero warning at any time and leave before backup arrives. For this reason, they excel at hit-and-run tactics. The Institute is one of the most technologically advanced factions in the wasteland. Their primary and most notable achievement is the ability to field an army of synthetic entities and eliminate the need for menial labor, with the latest third generation models being not only indistinguishable from humans, but also immune to disease, able to subsist on minimal energy intake without loss of performance, and do not require sleep. Moreover, the Institute can assemble them at a rapid pace within its Robotics laboratory, from scratch. The Institute has constructed an entire subterranean habitat after the Great War when most humans struggle and get by with shacks and tents. Not only that, but it can also manufacture its own energy weapons and advanced armor in numbers large enough to outfit all of its security forces. Furthermore, it uses genetically modified crops to provide sustenance for its researchers. As a result, safe, pure water and food is also commonly available to all members of the Institute. Food synthesizers help provide a balanced diet, with additional luxury goods scavenged by synths from the topside, such as Nuka-Cola, Gwinnett beer and coffee among others. The Institute had a large advantage, having emerged out of the ashes of one of the most advanced centers of research and development in the world. Most of its achievements are still deeply rooted in the C.I.T. For example, its security system architecture is derived from the C.I.T. Code Defender, a revolutionary intrusion countermeasure system developed before the Great War. Terminals running the original version of the system still remain in the Institute's inventory, despite advances made by the SRB. Another impressive achievement of the Institute is its development of teleportation technology. The only other factions known to possess similar technology are the Think Tank and the Zetan aliens. Unlike the Think Tank, however, the Institute is able to teleport multiple individuals in rapid succession. In the past, the Institute has also worked on cybernetics and artificial prolongation of the human lifespan. Its only test subject was Conrad Kellogg, as the program was abandoned and forgotten, save for the jealousy the grizzled mercenary inspired in Institute scientists due to his life span. Father terminated the project as he believed that the Institute was about preserving humanity rather than the fusion of biology and technology that cybernetics was poised to create.

34. #34The Enclave

    Keys: Enclave, The Enclave

    The Enclave is the self-proclaimed continuation of the United States of America. Originating as a secretive deep state within the pre-War federal government, the Enclave's original leadership consisted of high-ranking political, military, and corporate figures, with rank-and-file members drawn from the military and federal law enforcement. Through careful planning, they subverted the nation's continuity of government protocols to ensure their survival over that of other government officials. Following the Great War, the Enclave operated in near-total isolation, with the bulk of its power and personnel concentrated at Control Station Enclave off the coast of California. During this isolation, the organization's extremely xenophobic and nationalistic culture festered, with many members coming to view the inhabitants of the wasteland as degenerate mutants fit only for slave labor or extermination. By 2281, four decades after the fall of Navarro, the Enclave's presence in the west has largely faded. Members who have not integrated into the NCR or were captured and tried for war crimes, fled to the fringes of the republic, keeping out of sight. One squad is known to have ended up in the Mojave Wasteland, on the frontier between the NCR and Caesar's Legion.

35. #35NCR

    Keys: NCR, New California Republic Army

    The New California Republic Army is the standing army of the New California Republic and one of the largest military forces in the wasteland. Its reputation and ability were forged in the constant conflicts with raiders such as the Great Khans and Fiends, as well as conflicts with established polities, like the Enclave, Brotherhood of Steel, and Caesar's Legion.

36. #36The Railroad

    Keys: The Railroad

    The Railroad has been in existence since at the least the time of the creation of the first successful Generation-3 synths by Institute scientists around the 2220s. Following the public's discovery of the synths during the Broken Mask incident in Diamond City in 2229, the question if they deserve the same rights as natural humans became a major subject of debate, with frequent bickering between opposing sides. Many people believed that the Institute's synths were mere machines, just another model of advanced robot. Paranoia began to develop as local residents' loved ones vanished overnight and were replaced with artificial clones that eventually malfunctioned and went berserk, as with the case of Mr. Carter. Others, however, felt that synths deserved to be free, having being treated as slaves by their creators at the Institute. This is a point that makes some convinced that the synths are worthy of saving. It was from these ideals that the earliest possible incarnation of the Railroad would emerge. It is in evidence that the Railroad has been beaten down and reborn many times over the years, however its clandestine nature has ensured the group's survival in the long run. The earliest known incarnation of the Railroad, led by Agamemnon, was shut down in November 2266, by an Institute raid on their headquarters. Wyatt took the responsibility of rebuilding the organization from the ground up, after many of the members left following the HQ massacre. A runner named John D. was the sole survivor. In order to keep the Railroad alive, Wyatt chose to keep the site for the new headquarters hidden upon its discovery. Learning from the mistakes of his predecessor, he had figured out that once the Institute had attacked a safehouse, it would've been easy for them to track down the HQ, as so many people knew about it. It was from the remnants of this incarnation of the Railroad that the faction as it is known today came to be. By February of 2267, the revived Railroad, under the leadership of Wyatt, managed to get its first synth out of the Commonwealth. Under the motives of maintaining what he called "operational security," John D. did not reveal the names of the new tourists he had found to help. Wyatt introduced multiple reforms to the Railroad's infrastructure. One of them was a clear hierarchy of gradually ascending power; a pyramid structure with independent tourists and sympathizers on the bottom, safehouse operators and runners third, field agents second, and finally HQ members on top. Furthermore, a dead drop system was established to create a more robust and secure method of communication between agents, safehouses and HQ. In a period when the Railroad was once again experiencing dark times, Pinky Thompson succeeded Wyatt's role as leader in December 2273, the latter having lost his life after the old headquarters was uncovered and sacked by Institute coursers. With the aid of Deacon, most of the survivors were able to make it out alive. After setting up shop at a new location, Pinky passed a new decree to tighten security at HQ, only giving heavies clearance to leave and ensuring that the organization moves to relay all packages out of the region as quick as possible.[6] He also recommended that all fugitive synths remain in custody of the Railroad until they are beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, following the assault on a homestead near Parsons State Insane Asylum by coursers, which resulted in the loss of a synth codenamed Lambda 8 and her spouse. When he received intel that a courser and a few other Institute operatives were on a mission taking them beyond the Commonwealth, Pinky assigned one of his agents, Victoria Watts, to shadow them on their trek south. She later settled down in the Capital Wasteland and rented an apartment in Rivet City to lie low while protecting the identity of a runaway, Harkness, aka A3-21. Having risen up the ranks of the local security force to become their commander, Harkness was at greater risk of being tracked down and reclaimed by the Synth Retention Bureau. The arrival of the bureau's head, Dr. Zimmer, and his synth escort Armitage, made the possibility of this threat more likely. It was then imperative that agent Watts was to remain in the area to serve as a bodyguard for Harkness. In September 2276, Pinky's leadership started to come under pressure after the loss of another safehouse, Trinity. He later resigned from office and was succeeded by Desdemona, who won against Dr. Carrington in the election. The doctor became Dez's right-hand man. Immediately after Desdemona took office, the Railroad began to take a big step forward. The new leadership put focus on the fundamentals; operational security, lookouts, compartmentalization, and counterintelligence, analyzing and making improvements where Pinky went wrong. 2279 saw the arrival of Thomas Weatherby to HQ. Adopting the moniker "Tinker Tom," Weatherby, a highly intelligent individual, designed new weapons and other useful technologies for the Railroad as part of a complete rearmament program. Desdemona and her aides also made improvements to the dead drop network and introduced the railsign system to allow agents to covertly mark cache, safehouse, and dead drop locations, as well as the presence of allies and potential dangers. Simply put, it was like Christmas for the organization. No coursers were on the radar during the year. In 2280, Glory, unit designation G7-81, a recently liberated synth, opted out of the memory wipe and joined the Railroad under the leadership of Desdemona. She was promoted to heavy the same year. The Railroad's current success streak ended in 2281, when the coursers discovered and razed another homestead to the ground. Yet, there were little casualties, and later that year, the faction's second heavy, Tommy Whispers, discovered the Switchboard. After moving HQ to there, Desdemona's agents uncovered the Predictive Analytic Machine, an advanced pre-War computer AI that would become a vital asset to the Railroad for years to come. In 2283, an Institute insider named Liam Binet, under the alias "PATRIOT," established contact with the outside world. Tinker Tom intercepted his messages and figured out his passphrase, which was "Mass Fusion." From then on, Patriot became the Railroad's main contact in the Institute, although he himself is totally unaware of this connection for security reasons. The good streak persisted into 2286, with Institute sightings completely ceasing for three months and just four synths rescued. However, this was once again the calm before the storm, as the Institute was gearing up to activate its reactor, while the Brotherhood decided it was time to intervene and stop its preying on the Commonwealth. The Railroad is constructed like a pyramid, with the base composed of "tourists" (informants and sympathizers), above which stand runners and safehouse owners, then an even smaller group of field agents, and finally, the most secretive and heavily protected, the HQ members that have access to all the information and coordinates Railroad operations. All individuals answer to Desdemona. Field agents are given aliases in place of their real names in order to protect their identities and operate on a "need-to-know" basis to protect the Railroad. While the Railroad's main concern is helping synths, they are also known to work with groups such as the Abolitionists to assist runaway slaves. The Railroad's methods for aiding in escape can be extreme, going so far as to find doctors such as Horace Pinkerton and Amari to perform full facial reconstruction and mind wipes on escapees. Their current command center is located in the Old North Church in downtown Boston, after their previous base was compromised following a raid by the Institute. Their network of safe houses and clandestine contacts are reminiscent of their namesake, the 19th century Underground Railroad, which also helped slaves escape and reach free areas. As far as the Institute is concerned, androids are mere machines with no free will of their own that exist only to serve their creators. However, the Railroad stands by the doctrine that, even as machines, self-aware androids look, behave, think and feel as humans do, entitling them to the freedom intrinsically enjoyed by human beings as well as emancipation from their owners. However, while the Railroad wishes to help Gen 3 synths, members are divided on Gen 1 and 2 synths, with some not wishing to aid the earlier models because they argue they are more robotic than sentient. The Railroad also occasionally assists human slaves when able, although they cite that there are many other abolitionist groups specifically focused on slaves, but no other group can aid with the unique challenges of concealing androids. To this end, the Railroad employs the skills of computer science experts to alter the memories of the android to provide them with a clean slate, as well as the skills of a plastic surgeon to conceal the android's true identity. A Railroad branch in the Capital Wasteland recently aided an android (designation A3-21), but the operation was so risky that the branch had to temporarily shut down to keep its members safe until Commonwealth investigators abandoned the manhunt. Though the Railroad is a spy organization that prefers stealth and sabotage, it does maintain a small but well-equipped fighting force. Railroad agents that specialize as frontline soldiers are known as "heavies." They are responsible for the defense of Railroad safehouses and escaped synths should they be attacked by enemy forces. They commonly make use of Gauss rifles or railway rifles and wear armored coats. Agents infiltrate organizations and towns and collect intel, and use surveillance devices placed at high vantage points. This gives the Railroad a powerful information network. Agents also serve a support role in establishing safe houses, stashing supplies, marking locations with railsigns and sabotaging enemy fortifications. They also have a network of non-members that assist them by providing safe harbor, money or manpower; they call these individuals "tourists." The Railroad lacks the industrial base and refinement of the Institute, the firepower and armor of the Brotherhood of Steel, or the popular support of the Minutemen, forcing it to rely on what it can salvage or create on its own. For much of its known history, the Railroad was forced to get by with relatively low-tech weapons and gear merely adapted for their purposes. This situation changed completely with the introduction of Tinker Tom into headquarters. Best described as a suffering genius, Tom has revolutionized the Railroad's technological edge, introducing a slew of purpose-built weapons, armor, and tools. The standardized Railroad armored coats issued to heavies finally boasted proper levels of protection, while custom weapons like the Deliverer ensured they had tools matching their skillset. For non-combat purposes, Tom has introduced the MILA, a complex surveillance device whose precise workings seem to be a mystery even to its inventory, but which ensures a steady stream of intel right into its headquarters. The other crucial asset, at least in 2287, is P.A.M., whose predictive capabilities and processing power were crucial to its survival. Processing data provided to it by Railroad field operatives, P.A.M. provides the organization with locations of DIA caches, coursers to eliminate, and helps in planning operations so that they are as safe and effective as possible. Finally, through its associates, the Railroad has access to expert medical, electronic, and computer services. These allow for the robust modification of body types and faces (exploited by Deacon), modifying synth memories, and everything else necessary to protect the synths.

37. #37Slavery

    Keys: Slavery

    Slavery is a term referring to the owning of another person as property, typically for the purposes of exploitation as labor. Although largely extinct by the 21st century, it was reborn in the wake of the Great War, becoming the foundation of many wasteland economies, over two thousand years after Rome built an empire on the backs of slaves. The Brotherhood of Steel does not believe in forcing anyone to serve the order against their will. Accusing them of slavery is considered a particularly severe insult. The New California Republic explicitly banned slavery within its territories by 2241, with its standing police force committed to arresting any slavers within its borders, much like any raider, cannibal or lawless mutant.

38. #38Abolitionists

    Keys: Abolitionists

    The Abolitionists are a small group of former slaves, loosely organized under Hannibal Hamlin. Taking their name from the historic Abolitionist Movement, they revere Abraham Lincoln for his role in ending formal slavery in the southern United States through the Emancipation Proclamation and subsequent victory in the American Civil War, which paved the way for the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery across the United States. Their goal is to resurrect Lincoln's ideals and bring his vision, of all men being free and equal, to the wasteland. Unfortunately, a lot of their knowledge is of dubious quality, warped by centuries of mistranslation and poor record keeping. Hannibal organized the group about six years prior, around 2271, after escaping slavery himself. In 2277, it is based in the Temple of the Union, a ruined office building containing the head of the statue from Lincoln Memorial that Hannibal discovered while on the run. The Abolitionists use the building as a safe haven for runaway slaves, providing them with food and supplies, then helping them on their way to freedom. However, the Temple is at capacity and lacks food, water, and shelter space to house runaway slaves. Hannibal wants to relocate to the Lincoln Memorial in downtown D.C., but requires aid to scout the area out and remove any threats, particularly super mutants. Relocating there would also help Hannibal create a proper shining beacon of hope for all slaves across the Capital Wasteland. Hamlin hopes that rebasing to the Memorial together with a restored Gettysburg Address will eventually spread stories of a safe haven for slaves, inspiring them to flee their slaving masters or even rise up against them in revolt. His followers agree with him, as the Abolitionists are the only ones making a stand against Paradise Falls and slavery in the Capital Wasteland: Neither Rivet City nor Owyn Lyons' Brotherhood chapter bother with helping slaves. Apart from sheltering freedmen at the Temple, small groups of Abolitionists are known to take on bounties against known slavers in the area.

39. #39Legio Caesaris

    Keys: Caesar's Legion, Legio Caesaris, The Legion

    Caesar's Legion (Latin: Legio Caesaris),also referred to simply as The Legion, is an imperialistic slaver society and totalitarian dictatorship founded in 2247 by Edward "Caesar" Sallow and Joshua Graham, built on the conquest and enslavement of tribal societies in the American southwest. To enforce unity in the absence of any civilian institutions, the Legion loosely models itself after the military of the Roman Empire, repurposing its language and aesthetics for the post-apocalypse. As of 2281, the Legion controls large amounts of territory east of the Colorado River, primarily in the former states of Arizona and New Mexico, with footholds in Utah and Colorado. Worshipped as the "son of Mars" by his followers, Caesar's ultimate goal is to conquer the New California Republic and merge its civil institutions and infrastructure with the military strength of the Legion, creating a new totalitarian empire.

40. #40The United States Armed Forces

    Keys: The United States Armed Forces

    The United States Armed Forces were the pre-War federal military forces of the United States of America, consisting of five branches: The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the Coast Guard. After the bombs dropped, the United States Armed Forces were left without orders from central government and collapsed within the days or weeks after the fallout.

41. #41Ghouls

    Keys: Ghouls, Ghoul

    Ghouls are mutated humans or animals affected by the phenomenon of ghoulification. In the case of humans, ghouls are sometimes referred to as necrotic post-humans. in the Capital Wasteland, but this term does not seem to have been adopted outside of it whatsoever. Despite their zombie-like appearance, the flesh of ghouls is not actually rotten. Intense and prolonged radiation has ravaged their skin, much of their flesh, and in some cases many of their ligaments. Despite their infertility and in some cases mental deterioration, they have greatly extended overall lifespans and are immune to and sometimes even healed by background radiation and/or nuclear fallout. Ghouls retain their normal cognition and are generally no different than humans in terms of intellect. In fact, many ghouls benefit from their extreme lifespan and are capable of amassing skill and knowledge far beyond the ability of regular humans. By extension, ghouls retain their sex drive and some humans have a ghoul fetish. Regardless of their capacity for intercourse, ghouls are sterile and cannot procreate. Any children they may have are either adopted or were mutated into ghouls alongside their parents. A lot of anti-ghoul sentiment is caused by inexperience and ignorance. For example, some believe ghouls to be carriers of disease, without ever having examined one, while others believe that all ghouls are inevitably bound to become feral and pose a threat to people around them, a sentiment with a lot of truth to it.

42. #42Feral ghouls

    Keys: Feral ghoul, Feral Ghouls

    Feral ghouls (also known as mindless ghouls, ghoul crazies or zombies) are the basic feral ghoul variant, wearing only a pair of tattered shorts and noticeably weaker than standard human opponents, they are easily dispatched with one or two headshots from any decent weapon or a solid hit from a decent melee or unarmed weapon. Despite their shrill noise and remarkable speed, they are only truly a threat when they have the advantage of numbers. Some feral ghouls come in different colors as well as different types. The colors are different depending on how the human looked before turning into a feral ghoul.

43. #43FEV

    Keys: Forced Evolutionary Virus, FEV

    FEV, is an artificial virus created by West Tek's NBC Division. Its ability to force changes in both the genotype and phenotype and ease of modifying it for whatever purpose desired made it one of the most important mutagens in the wasteland, harnessed by different organizations and individuals for their own purposes both before and after the Great War. FEV exists in various forms across all of the Fallout games, mainly to serve the goals of the various antagonists. It was through the FEV that the Master made his race of super mutants and how the Enclave meant to commit genocide on humanity. There are multiple strains of FEV in existence, tailored for the specific goals of these entities. The strain responsible for creating regular super mutants is called FEV-2 and represents the pinnacle of pre-War research into the virus. A different FEV strain is the source of the super mutants infesting the Capital Wasteland, intellectually inferior to their West Coast cousins. Other strains created the monsters of Appalachia and the distinct super mutants of the Commonwealth. The Institute's strain also served the basis for their eventual generation 3 synths. Beyond direct mutations, FEV had other effects: The ease with which FEV could be synthesized and used to force mutations, resulting in many horrors being unleashed on the wasteland, was one of the causes for the Brotherhood of Steel's policy of technological containment.

44. #44Super mutants

    Keys: Super mutant, Super Mutants

    Super mutant is a general term referring to humanoid mutants created by exposing a regular and relatively unmutated human to a variant of the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). The resulting hulking mutants typically possess exceptional strength, endurance, resistance or immunity to disease and radiation, as well as modified intelligence.

45. #45Mutant hounds

    Keys: Mutant hounds

    Mutant hounds are dogs that have undergone a major mutation after being contaminated by the Forced Evolutionary Virus. They are often accompanied by super mutants, although wild packs can be encountered in Appalachia.

46. #46Brahmin

    Keys: Brahmin

    Brahmin are one of the most important mutated species that emerged in post-nuclear America. Descended from the Indian brahman cattle variant imported to the U.S. for crossbreeding purposes, they developed two heads as a result of irradiation. These toasty brown critters were quickly adopted by survivors as the most versatile and capable livestock animal in the wastes. Their major advantage is the fact that while ornery, they are actually easy to manage with as little as a pointy stick. A large, two-headed mutant used as a pack animal, capable of carrying up to 500 lbs. Brahmin also provide milk, and their feces are an efficient fertilizer and fuel for fires. When slaughtered, they become even more useful as source of meat, leather (tough and durable, fit for everything including tents, clothes, armor, belts, saddle bags, shoes), bones (which can be fashioned into clubs, tools, dice, hoes, arrowheads), tails (perfect as brushes), and even fat for soap making. They also don't need much to survive, as they can go without water for extended periods of time and can subsist on whatever weeds they find in the arid wasteland, digesting them in eight-compartment stomachs (double the number compared to pre-War cows). These advantages made them the cornerstone of many a post-nuclear economy, including the New California Republic, whose vast brahmin herds are the driving force of its industry and the influence of the powerful brahmin barons. By extension, they also fuel the economy of parasites, such as New Reno during the 2240s, when cattle rustling brought much needed income to the crime families of the city.

47. #47Dog

    Keys: Dog

    Dogs are creatures found across the post-War United States. Many have remained domesticated pets, but many more have turned feral and hunt the wasteland in packs. The dogs that survived the War are a larger and tougher breed, now almost wolf-sized. Even so, just as they have in ages past, many dogs have remained faithful and beloved companions.

48. #48Radstag

    Keys: Radstag

    The radstag is a mutation of the stag species that once inhabited the forests of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The mutation twisted them into mockeries of their former selves, with a secondary head forming like with brahmin, along with a pair of vestigial hoofed limbs protruding from its chest. Radstags typically avoid confrontation while grazing on the Commonwealth's grasses and shrubberies, preferring to flee any predators threatening them. However, when backed into a corner or otherwise forced to fight, it will stand its ground and use its horns to defend itself. Many populations of radstags are fundamentally flawed and permanently damaged by the mutations they suffered. The Island and Appalachia, for example, are home to erratic and devolved radstag herds, which have lost all of their fur, with skin hardened by radiation and exposure to the fog into leather. The degenerative mutations actually increase their resilience and ferocity, despite gaping holes in their bodies and malformed horns. Descended from deer, the radstag is primarily a prey creature. It's quite fast and resilient, requiring a bit of precision when hunting. This creature drops radstag meat and a radstag hide on death. They are dicephalic, or two-headed; each head is able to swivel and turn on its own. A closer inspection of the heads shows that each head's inner eye is blind. Radstags also have two underdeveloped legs hanging limply from their chest, qualifying them as hexapedal. Aside from the ability to bend when a radstag lays down, these legs are nonfunctional. Radstag are usually brown-furred and patchy in places, with small pus-filled cysts from radiation, which most often cover the flanks, feet, heads and snouts. The cysts more frequently appear on the rabid and glowing varieties and can cover most of the body. Radstag yearling coats are more colorful than those of adult radstags and feature white spotting, similar to the fawns of their deer ancestors.

49. #49Yao guai

    Keys: Yao guai

    Yao guai are large, mutated ursines that are descended from the bears that lived across America before the Great War. They are able to reproduce, as evidenced by the presence of cubs. Wild yao guai will attack nearly any other animals or people they encounter, including deathclaws. Despite this, yao guai exhibit a gentle, familial bond toward one another when found together and can even be domesticated.

50. #50Chicken

    Keys: Chicken

    Some chickens have managed to survive relatively unmutated and resemble their pre-War counterparts. In 2296 such chickens are being bred by some individuals in California.

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