Fallout: Zion 2018

Veritas nimis saepe laborat, exstinguitur numquam.

On August 18th 2271 Legion squad ran a liberation counterattack at Fort Hamilton held by NCR troops which by force took away territory from the local tribes. With the cost of their own lives Legion soldiers manager to destroy and kick NCR forces out from Fort Hamilton and return stolen territory to their original owners.

Despite the propaganda and network of lies created by NCR supporters, Legion spies managed to complete every single task they were assigned to. The NCR justice system once again proved that NCR tries to resurrect the deceitful Government structure with all its defects and flaws: lynching without any evidences, intimidating and threatening casual civilians with guns and murdering innocent people. Putting out the fire in hearts of casual civilians Legion could return faith in justice and stood on defence of peaceful citizens of the Wasteland. Alike NCR soldiers Legionnaires never hid behind living shields and each Legionnaire was fighting in the first row.

Having fulfilled every word of their promises, Legion liberated the territory that belonged to tribes from NCR and secured routes for caravans and merchants. Once again, the truth was on the side of valor and courage.

Ave, true to Caesar! So… on August 15-18, 2018 we participated famous in certain circles Fallout: Extreme LARP on the old airfield close to Kolychevka, Chernigiv, Ukraine. This years DLC was called Fallout: Zion.

Well, let’s start from the beginning.

Location: old airfield with a vast amount of forests

Mechanics: LARP/NERF (it’s important to add - hungry engine, that hungry that everyone had a soup dinner, drinking Sunset)

LARP: 24/7 First of, let’s talk about that “famous” Extreme and hungry engine. Overall this system is rather interesting and has a right for existence. But what is that after all? For the game itself you get a starting capital of caps for which you can get yourself items for the game. Literally: food, guns, matches, etc. By default you can take only cloth, sleeping bag and a toothbrush. Also in unlimited amount you can any junk items (teapots, spoons, books, shovels, etc.). Valuable resource in fact are, let’s say it this way, result effective items: food, water, lighters, armor, etc. Tools are also useful items, but it doesn’t help you directly to survive and you can dig holes with your bare hands. Saying that - absolutely fucking everything is limited on the game, mostly food and water. And that’s a bit “scary”. But every game has its own but.

Game for most hardcore survival players was, probably, fucked up by real life corn field and water pump on the territory of the game. But considering everyone found out about them mid-game - we can proudly say that first half of the game we were able to feel that hungry engine in full force. But on the other hand considering how big the starting package was for each player and, if you’re not a complete jerk - you could eat and get wasted every single day. We have to be fair it was fucking scary sneaking close to NCR outpost to get two flasks of water shitting your pants and drink half on your way back to the base. But despite that, there’s nothing we can complain about - only ideas what else can be done.

During this game you start to value community and you understand that you will not survive alone. Or you will, but it will be shit of a life.

On the other hand only due to this circumstances the game appeared to be the one it was. Spies were spying, traders - trading, soldiers - soldiering, barmens - barmenning. Thus it’s for orgs to decide whether to play ultimate beggars and drink urine or play citizens of the Wasteland, NCR soldiers, Followers, etc.

Also we have to note that you could steal absolutely everything during the game. Only items that were inalienable was your cloth, sleeping bag, first need items.

Mechanics

Nerf is a hilarious bullshit no matter how you look at it. The only advantage of NERF is if all your enemies are armed with machete and axes.

That’s all.

Economics

Economics during the game was implemented with help of caps (very nice, thanks) and NCR bucks (the only disadvantage - glossy print and size; thank Gods they were not that big as paper money in Imperial Russia).

Well, that’s also all. The thing that the money you received at the start was not enough to buy at least anything - it’s pussy whining.

Just in case another note: the budget depending on your role gave you an option to get items for the beginning (food, ammo, guns, armor, etc.). After that you were also randomly given some cash. Exactly that cash was not enough for anything, maybe for a cup of tea.

Also as it appeared there was a nice bonus at the game - orgs were very loyal to players and could help you with any extra items you required. The only thing no one knew that and was gathering nickles anywhere they could, while NCR had an armor each, a gun and a good dozen of grenades, which were not even in the rule set of items NCR could take (and that’s just what brave spies of Legion could find out on the first day). And that’s not considering minor goodies. C’est la vie. Overall rules now look like rules and don’t make you shit bricks, like some rules on some “invite-only” games (which Fallout: Extreme in fact is. Despite that everyone can visit the game and there's an open entrance to anyone - there’s absolutely the same faces on each game). There are tons of minor flaws and desire to fix them. Because rules are the tool that helps players to avoid calling orgs each time, helps to resolve conflicting situations, no need to make rollbacks (who the fuck even do this on games?) and you can always poke a jerk with them, like a kitten into its shit. We will surprise you, but even real life has certain rules.

The game itself, factions and people

Everything is cool here as well. You instantly want to praise two unknown heroes who in fact crafted armor for half of the players this game. You are two badass motherfuckers.

On this game you could find tribals, NCR, farmers\citizens\other shithead beggars, caravan and of course Legion (24 units all together). Everyone could be easily recognized and you could everywhere notice Fallout style. Also we would like to thank orgs for minor stuff for the game. Every single game we wanted to praise them for this: Stimpaks, caps, Cram, Rad-X, posters - absolutely everything was almost identical copy from the game. When I was proposed to try a dead rat I didn’t even think that that’s a woolen toy with a fried sausage inside.

The game itself was rather active and intense, but being honest mostly because players rushed to do shit and play intrigues from the whole beginning. Quests like quests were mostly “go fetch” and, looking from the side, if players didn’t start to plot against each other from the whole beginning it would be fucking nothing to do except searching for loot and food. There are ups and downs, if you think about it. At one hand - Fallout is very rich for some Wunderwaffes, which can be inserted into some God forgotten villages, but on the other hand - it’s Wasteland and it’s actually an empty place with nothing to do. That was very noticeable at the bar where the most entertaining stuff was sitting and watching at the wall.

Conclusion

Despite the drama around Fallout: Extreme - the game is very nice. It’s up for orgs to think over all pros and cons, because that made the game which we had and everyone enjoyed. Polish rules a bit (strangely it’s a tradition to advise to do that for all local games) and they can proudly march ahead.

The only survivors who managed to benefit from this situation. Caravan.

Facebook Photos (again Facebook)