Long-time Fallout fans weren’t sure about the future of the series when Bethesda obtained the franchise. Their developers had some successful game series under their belts, like The Elder Scrolls, but Fallout was a fan-favorite series. Bethesda made it clear that they wanted to make the series more accessible to all audiences. They changed the isometric game into an open-world, action role-playing game.
Many gamers were shocked to learn that a mere ten years occurred between Fallout 3 and Fallout 4. Between the end of the base game of Fallout 3, the Lone Wanderer went on to explore the East Coast while the Sole Survivor of Fallout 4 was waking up from a 200-year cryogenic nap. An entire game took place between these two numbered entries: Fallout: New Vegas. Many gamers disregarded the game since it wasn’t a numbered Fallout entry. It was still canon to the series and remains a favorite of old-school Fallout fans. They ended up being lost on small references made throughout Fallout 4.
Many significant events that took place between 3 and 4. The war didn’t end after the Lone Wanderer and Brotherhood of Steel defeated the Enclave. Unless you read every terminal, read every note, or talked to every settler in Fallout 4, you’re bound to have missed something. Our list compiles some major events you missed while transitioning from the Capital Wasteland to the Commonwealth.
25 Scientist Went Her Own Way
Dr. Madison Li was a brilliant scientist who worked with the Lone Wanderer’s parents in Fallout 3. In Fallout 3, the Wanderer seeks her out in Rivet City as she searches for James. She eventually helps you complete Project Purity, which purified the water in the Capital Wasteland. After the Wanderer took off into the sunset, Dr. Li had to consider her future. She didn’t think the Brotherhood of Steel needed to stick around anymore with the Enclave gone. She wanted to keep doing her scientific research. After getting a tip from Dr. Zimmer, she decided to seek out the Institute in the Commonwealth. They quickly accepted her. Thanks to her brilliant mind, she became Director of their Advanced Systems division. We eventually meet her again in Fallout 4.
24 A New Birth Of The Printed Word
Piper Wright isn’t the most powerful companion the Sole Survivor can choose, but her words are her most powerful asset. She was able to uncover the devious plot that caused her father to be eliminated. Piper and her little sister, Nat, finally raised enough money to move within the safe walls of Diamond City. She eventually founded the newspaper Publick Occurrences, which she was willing to risk her life to publish. The people of Diamond City believed her work was too negative. After writing a controversial story about Mayor McDonough, she was locked out of the city. Getting locked out was devastating because she couldn’t protect her little sister. She wasn’t able to get back in until the Sole Survivor showed up.
23 Going In Steel Into A New Direction
The Brotherhood of Steel in the Capital Wasteland developed a positive reputation. After the success of Project Purity and driving out the Enclave, people were happy to see the Power Suited soldiers patrolling the roads. In 2280, the Brotherhood decides to broaden their horizons by exploring more of the East Coast. There’s no reason for them to stay hidden away in the Citadel. They wanted to expand their search for technology and to improve the lives of their faction and the citizens of the coast. They send out a small recon team to explore the nearby Commonwealth. After discovering a wealth of undiscovered technology, they decide to send out more teams. They eventually station their mobile base, The Prydwyn, in the area near the Boston Airport.
22 Saving The Wastelanders One Bottle At A Time
The entire plot of Fallout 3 revolves around finding your missing father, James. After finding him, you’ll work together to complete his life’s work, Project Purity. Unfortunately, James sacrifices himself to save his work, leaving you to do the rest. The Lone Wanderer and Brotherhood of Steel can push the button and start the purifier. After the Enclave is driven out of the Wasteland and success of Project Purity, the Wanderer takes off to find their path. The Brotherhood takes it upon themselves to ramp up the water purification process. They start bottling the clean water, Aqua Pura, and handing it out to the citizens of the Capital Wasteland. Purified water is almost impossible to find, so the thirsty residents opened the Brotherhood with open arms.
21 The Most Loyal Butler Awaits Their Master
The prologue of Fallout 4 takes us to the day the bombs fell. Nate, Nora, and Shaun live in a two-bedroom home in Sanctuary Hills with their loving butler, Codsworth, who is a Mr. Handy machine. Nate and Nora are placed in a cryogenic sleep, and Shaun is kidnapped. Codsworth wasn’t allowed to enter the vault but survived the bomb blasts. He spent 200 years wandering around the small settlement, hoping his master would return. For the first ten years, he did his daily housework and tried to pretend everything was normal. He tried to visit Concord, but the locals threw rocks at him. He had no choice but to remain in Sanctuary Hills. The Sole Survivor finally does come home but without their spouse and son.
20 A Synth’s Humanity Is Restored
Nick Valentine escaped the Institute thanks to his “brother” DiMA. He and his brother parted ways, with DiMA ending up in Far Harbor, while Nick wandered into the Commonwealth. When humans saw the Synth, they were scared. He was eventually welcomed into a small settlement. They didn’t treat him like a monster but like a friend. A mechanic helped repair the damages Nick endured over time. Nick made his first real friend, a child named Jim. The settlement was the first place that Nick realized that he wasn’t just a thing created by the Institute. He eventually left but promised to return. Unfortunately, everyone in the town was gone. Raiders had taken over, possibly eliminating everyone who lived there. Nick left and arrived at what would be his new home: Diamond City.
19 Fighting For The Good Of The Mojave
The whereabouts of the last courier before you were hired was a mystery for the main story of Fallout: New Vegas. In the Lonesome Road DLC, you learn he was Ulysses. Like the Courier, he was hired to transport packages across the Mojave. He was a man who had suffered through a betrayal at the hands of the Legion. He just wanted a new place to call home. His long journey ended at The Divide, which resembled pre-war America. The NCR and the Legion both wanted the community wiped out. The Courier delivered a package at The Divide that activated several buried warheads. Angered that he was almost destroyed and his new home was gone, Ulysses wanted revenge against the Courier. They reunite in Ulysses’ Temple. The Courier can either eliminate him or talk him down. If spared, Ulysses will help the Courier take down the Legion.
18 Reunited Into A Single Force
The Lone Wanderer meets two groups from the Brotherhood of Steel in the Capital Wasteland: Elder Lyons’ benevolent group and the Brotherhood Outcasts. The Outcasts retain the original values of the faction from the West Coast. They believe the locals are uneducated and unclean and dislike interacting with them. The Outcasts hate how Lyons wanted to help the people instead of keeping their technological advances secret. They left the Citadel to expand their interests. After Arthur Maxson takes control of the Brotherhood, he can bring both groups together. Not only do the reunited Brotherhood help the people of the Commonwealth, but they also work to advance their technological research. They also are less trusting of the people in the Boston area and keep to themselves in their mobile base, The Prydwyn.
17 The Railroad Faces Off Against Their Biggest Threat
Fallout 4’s Railroad works to help Synths escape from the Institute. Many have their minds wipes and continue their lives without knowing they were a Synth. Before the Sole Survivor awoke from their cryogenic sleep, the Railroad was continually battling against the Institute. The faction wanted their property back. They would discover the Railroad’s hidden locations and raid them. Their last base, The Switchboard, suffered massive casualties and damage from the Institute. They were finally able to find refuge in the Catacombs of Old North Church. This base has remained their headquarters for several months until meeting the Sole Survivor. Those of you who have played Fallout 4 know how important their secrecy is, considering that the Sole Survivor plays a major role in the faction’s future.
16 A Thirst For Partying Has Negative Effects
John Hancock is the leader of Goodneighbor, a settlement home to mostly Ghouls and a few smooth skins. Besides his Ghoulish appearance, it looks like he stepped right out of a history book. Like all Ghouls, Hancock was once a regular human male. He was always looking for new ways to party. His body had become so used to common narcotics that Hancock needed more and more to be happy. One day, he discovered an experimental substance. One breath and it brought him the effects he was desperately seeking. Unfortunately, it caused him to wake up as a Ghoul. Hancock isn’t upset about his new looks. He’s almost immortal, and the experimental substance was the most euphoric he’d ever felt.
15 Now We Know Why He Stayed In Sanctuary Hills
Preston Garvey is one of the first potential companions you’ll meet outside of Vault 111. Many ignore him because they don’t want to deal with his radiant quests. Get to know him, and you’ll learn he suffers from depression and PTSD. He was part of a Minutemen group located in Quincy. The team was close and worked hard to help the people of the Commonwealth. One day, Gunners stormed the settlement. They wiped out the colony, except for twenty people, including Garvey. The Gunners have remained in Quincy ever since. No one has been able to drive them out. Garvey has Survivor’s Guilt and questions why he wasn’t strong enough to stop them and why he had to survive. Until he meets the Sole Survivor, he believes that the Minutemen don’t have a chance.
14 Human Inequality Wins The Heart Of The People
Diamond City was once home to a wide variety of residents: humans, Ghouls, and Synths. Synths hid among the residents and were hard to point out between the humans. Everyone was scared of the docile Ghouls. McDonough was part of the City Council for years and decided to step up to the plate. He ran for mayor and promoted a “Mankind for McDonough” platform. The citizens voted him in, and non-humans were forced from Diamond City. The Ghouls ended up founding their settlement nearby called Goodneighbor. When the robotic man, Nick Valentine, first entered the city, he was treated to the same discriminatory judgment as Ghouls. He had to prove himself to gain the respect of the citizens, and some still don’t trust him.
13 Courier Faces Another Kick To The Head
The Big Mountain Research and Development Center was a private pre-War company. They worked with the military to develop technology without any moral objections. The Courier unwittingly finds themselves part of the Big MT’s operation. After finding a satellite at the Mojave Drive-in, the Courier is transported to the Big MT. The Courier was taken to the experiment room, The Sink. The scientists were prepared to experiment on the Courier’s brain, but couldn’t due to the gunshot wound from Benny. The scientists worked out the issue, removing their spine and heart and replacing the organs with manufactured replacements. The Courier had to help the Think Tank bots to escape the Big MT before more of their body parts were removed.
12 A Super Mutant Creates Her Own Utopia
When you first meet Tabitha, you’ll probably immediately judge her on her appearance. She’s a Nightkin who was part of the Master’s Super Mutant army. After the army split apart, she wandered the Mojave alone. She eventually found a Mister Handy and another Super Mutant named Marcus. Together, they founded the State of Utobitha on Black Mountain. Tabitha finally kicked him out because he was too smart. She ruled the remaining less intelligent Super Mutants and Nightkins with an iron fist. Tabitha hated humans and demanded they be eliminated on sight. Her sanity slowly began to fade, and she made the settlement a fortress. When the Courier discovers the settlement, they have the choice to either throw Tabitha off her throne or destroy everyone inside.
11 A Legion Wipes Out A Settlement
The settlement of Nipton was home to some of Fallout: New Vegas’ most nefarious criminals. During the day, Powder Gangers would visit for some fun with the NCR coming at night. The Mayor, Joseph Steyn, decided to make some money off of his town’s visitors. He conspired with the Legion to sell the NCR Soldiers and Power Gangers for some caps. The Legion had their plans. Caesar’s most loyal soldier, Vulpes Inculta, decided to have some fun by harming the town of degenerates. He held a lottery, where the winners were spared to tell the tale. Less fortunate residents were harmed. The “Lucky Losers” were eliminated on the spot. Others were burned to serve as an example to future visitors.
10 Rise Of The One-Man Machine
Conrad Kellogg is the man who destroyed the Sole Survivor’s spouse and abducted their son, Shaun. You learn more about Kellogg’s past before he became an uncaring rogue. He was employed as a mercenary by the Institute. He helped the faction when they were out in the Commonwealth. To help him survive his missions, he was fitted with cybernetic enhancements on his brain stem. This enhancement made him stronger and extended his lifespan. By the time the Sole Survivor meets him, Kellogg is over one-hundred years old. He could have run off into the depths of the Commonwealth but continued working with them because they paid well and he believed he was respected. In reality, he wasn’t well-liked, but being able to have some control over him ensured he wouldn’t turn against the Institute so easily.
9 An Unrecorded Event In The Mojave
The factions of the Mojave will eliminate anyone who gets in their way. Caesar’s Legion will harm anyone who they deem is unfit. The Great Khans decided to abduct and destroy four NCR soldiers. The NCR wasn’t going to accept the losses without a fight. They took the fight to the Great Khan’s settlement at Red Rock Canyon. In revenge for eliminating four of their friends, the NCR destroyed men, woman, and children. They wanted to send a message to the other members of the Great Khan that they would make them pay if they dared mess with the NCR again. Many would consider the NCR the “hero” faction, but they’re just as deadly as the others. After the event, they tried to hide it from the NCR records to preserve their “good guy” reputation.
8 A Little Mayor Finally Grows Up
The Lone Wanderer is forced to meet the children of Little Lamplight. They all live in a cave right next to a Vault filled with Super Mutants. The Wanderer needs to get inside but has to first get the permission of the leader, Mayor Robert Joseph MacCready. After being forced out of the settlement, he joins the Gunners, which are almost as bad as Raiders. He meets his wife, Lucy, on the road. She’s a simple farm girl but is smitten with the uniformed man. They marry and have a child together named Duncan. The pair live happily together until they’re attacked by Feral Ghouls. Lucy perishes, leaving MacCready and Duncan to fend for themselves. Duncan comes down with an unknown sickness, and MacCready does his best to make money and survive. Everything changes when the Sole Survivor hires him in Fallout 4.
7 A New Leader Emerges
The Lone Wanderer first meets young Arthur Maxson in the Capital Wasteland. He’s learning how to fight, thanks to Sarah Lyons. His future has already been written out for him. After the passing of the two most important members of Lyons’ Brotherhood of Steel, Arthur has to take charge. His Brothers in Steel aren’t quick to trust him in battle, but he quickly proves himself a formidable fighting force. The scar on his face was from a fight with a Deathclaw when he was 13-years-old. After years of the Brotherhood being out of order, Arthur became Elder Maxson and the respected leader of the East Coast Faction. He combined the teachings of Elder Lyons to improve technology instead of hoarding it while helping the residents of the Commonwealth.
6 President Eden’s Fighting Force Disappears
Fallout 3’s primary antagonists are the Enclave; a secretive faction made up of descendants of the US government. Colonel Autumn and his men work under President Eden. Thanks to the Lone Wanderer and the Brotherhood of Steel, they utilize the power of Liberty Prime to take back the Capital Wasteland. President Eden loses the war to gain control of Project Purity and is pushed out of the area. Their home base at Adams Air Force Base is taken over by the Wanderer. Players hoped to learn what happened to this fighting force in Fallout 4, but they’ve disappeared. Even though there is no trace of the Enclave in the Commonwealth, it doesn’t mean that evil has disappeared. There will always be more enemies trying to take control of the East Coast.
