#damn you bethany esda....

[venacoeurva]

I haven't shown you my new lady from before my game shit itself and I had to start from scratch, she's a bodyguard with a gambling debt, Her name is shortened to Bites, and yes she can spit acids <3

[atombonniebaby]

Thinking about Starfield and how Matt Mercer's involvement was as hush as FO4's Next-Gen update...🤔🤔🤔

I mean, it's not as if they would do a whole:

Bethany Esda: Hey Matt. So, um 👉👈 since you're here—

Matt: Roll for persuasion!

*They roll a nat 20 and hand Mr. M a page of dialogue*

Cut to scene:

MacCready: Hey, Mungo...get your frickin' coat! It's time to go get my damn kid!" SoSu: About time. It's only taken you 7 years, 9 months, and 29 fuggin days! *Danse appears in a Vertibird with Deeks, Hancock, and Nick V.* Danse: Time to clean up the Capital Wasteland, General. Deeks: Aww, he's all grown up. I still can't believe my first assignment with the RR ended up becoming a Paladin for the BOS...we need to talk about your life choices M7-97 Danse: 👁👄👁

Nick and Hancock: We're just here for the ride...

Could you imagine...Ugh, a girl can dream.🤣🤣🤣

But also:

Skyrim's Special edition included new CC...

We already have FO3 CC content that takes us to the Capital via Vertibird...

But have you seen all the FO3 mods for FO4... CC is mostly made by modders anyway...

FO76 gave us the Pitt...

Great chance for end-game content...we know the Brotherhood, the Railroad, and the Institute have connections to the Capital...

Death Shroud showed how much the VAs love their characters.

[vaultsixtynine]

every npc is named (besides enemies, unless you're playing morrowind in which case even most humanoid enemies are named); if a building exists, you can go into it. there are one million lore books that most people don't read. there's irrelevant-to-the-main-plot shit everywhere. it's okay if you don't see it. it's wonderful if you do see it. there are pros and cons to this approach, and yes we can make fun of environmental storytelling skeletons all day (and bethany esda is NOT a perfect beautiful company that makes no mistakes with its lore or storytelling, i feel like i shouldn't even need to qualify this), but. idk.

there is something to be said for the fact that the world is filled with shit regardless of if you're looking. every side story, no matter how small or stupid, is important to the frame it's in - and it's not about faction favor or advancing your position in a larger frame, except perhaps gaining the lived experience to make you better prepared for other ones. faction questlines are important on their own merits, and sometimes tie into the main quest, but are not necessarily designed to be Ancillary to the main quest, and all those people continue to walk around the world living their little lives when you're done.

i might be some big damn hero but i'm also just a guy in a cave or some ruins or a random village stealing stew from someone and catching bugs. sometimes i eat the bugs.

ik this is personal preference but elder scrolls as a World Setting feels so much larger than dragon age for a variety of reasons, one of which is actually spending the time to spin irrelevant side stories in a way that doesn't make it obvious it's Just A Side Story That Truly Doesn't Matter.

[commonwealthoccurences]

If It's A War You Want

Request: Idea: Sole at the end of Blind Betrayal threatening "You lay one hand on Danse, and you start a war with me!" Can't trust Bethany Esda to write a proper conclusion for my boy Danse, so I trust u cuz ur writing slaps.

Word Count: 2,2027

Warnings: Threats, canon typical violence mentions

It was never supposed to turn out like this.

Sole hadn’t exactly come to love the Brotherhood’s ideology, specifically surrounding their opinions on synths, but it was a means to an end. It was messy, and at times downright infuriating. But Sole never intended to go face to face with them; the priority was the Institute. Once they were out of the picture, Sole intended to enjoy what was considered retirement in the Wasteland, and take up the role of a simple farmer.

Everything shifted once Elder Maxson told them about Danse and then ordered them to kill him. They couldn’t even think to react, to lash out in astonishment or in disgust. They were whisked away and before they knew it, they were being told his location by Scribe Haylen, and off they went. On an assassination mission for one of the people they cared about most in the Wasteland.

Of course, that was never going to happen. The walk to his location left them a lot of time to think. To come up with a plan, specifically. First, they wanted to hear his side of the story. It didn’t matter whether or not he was a synth, but they couldn’t imagine what he was going through, the stress, the betrayal, the possible resentment. Then, they would get him out. Wherever he wanted to go, they would get him there safely.

There would always be a place for him in Sanctuary. If it appealed, the Railroad could do what they did best, though they doubted he would want to lose what little he had left of his identity. Whatever Danse needed, they were there.

Before long, they were shooting down the turrets outside of the bunker Scribe Haylen said they would find him in, and they crept in, gun held in a tight grip by their side. Sole wasn’t sure what state of mind he’d be in. Whether or not he’d be defensive, whether or not he expected an enemy instead of a friend. He was smart. Maybe he expected Elder Maxson to test them the way he was, to send them after him to prove the loyalty Danse knew had wavered the very first day they stepped on the Prydwen.

There was water dripping from the ceiling, a leak of some sort made obvious from the heavy rains. The incessant dripping grew more and more irritating as Sole took careful steps through the damp hallways, jaw clenched, boots barely making a sound. It was a break in the structure of the wall that opened up to the end of their journey. Carefully, they straightened up, and stepped through the crumbled wall. “Danse?” Sole asked, cautious. They raised their hands on either side of their head in an attempt to appear non threatening.

But when Danse turned around, it was apparent he wasn’t going to make any attempt to defend himself. His gun was across the room, bullets scattered on the floor, magazine a few feet away. “Danse?” They repeated, tone softer, as they holstered their weapon.

“If you’re here to kill me, get it over with. Please.”

“Danse, I’m not here to kill you.”

He laughed, but there was no humor to his tone. “You should be. There’s no way you made it here without Maxson finding out, and if you’re disobeying direct orders….”

“I don’t give a damn about his orders, Danse. You know that.”

Danse scoffed. Yeah, he knew that. They had never been great at taking orders from anyone in the Brotherhood, until he asked them himself. It was obvious where their loyalties lied, and maybe he was selfish, but he had been okay with that. Now? Now, their misguided trust was only going to put them in danger. He knew that if they didn’t take back his holotags, they would be the next to fall. It was the way the Brotherhood worked. He had been a cog in their machine, after all; he knew better than anyone.

He turned away. It was nearly unbearable to look at them, at the hope they had represented for him in the year that they had been around, and the fact that they were looking at him pleadingly, a silent begging for him to go with them, and directly result in their death. “Get it over with, Soldier.”

“I’m not a soldier. Danse. You know I was never one of their soldiers. Don’t make this decision for me, please. It’s hard enough.”

Maybe if he begged them, they would go through with it, and they’d be safe. Of course, Danse didn’t want to die, if the loss of his life even counted as death, considering what had been discovered. But between the options of him living just a moment longer with the hope that he could return to some semblance of normal only for both of them to die, or for him to die for Sole to live, Danse would not hesitate in choosing them every time.

The drip hadn’t gone away. It drove at Sole’s patience as they stood there in silence, waiting for Danse to come to his senses. Or maybe it was them who needed sense, the sense to just move, to grab Danse and drag him away where no one could hurt him again. They nearly fully considered it when he spoke. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

They wanted to laugh, but instead, sucked in a deep breath and tapped their fingers against their thigh. “Have you met me?”

Danse nodded slowly. “Yeah.” He turned and looked at them. “It was a blessing in disguise. More than I knew, in the beginning.”

They found themself clenching their jaw tighter in an attempt to suppress the urge to cry. “Danse, let’s go. We can go back to Sanctuary and figure this all out. You don’t have to stay here and be alone in this miserable ass bunker.”

“Are you sure?”

“Danse, please. Let’s go home.”

It would be a long process, of course. To get him settled in Sanctuary, into a civilian lifestyle, without all the heavy-duty armor and the rigid structure to keep him firmly in place. But he would figure it out, Sole knew; he was much more resilient than he’d ever given himself credit for. They held out their hand and placed it on his shoulder when he stepped forward.

They guided him over to his weapon and loaded it for him before placing it firmly in his hands. “You still need to defend yourself.” The double-meaning of their words hung in the air between them as Danse stared them down. He nodded choppily.

The walk out of the bunker seemed much shorter than the trip in, and to Sole’s relief, they put distance between them and the dripping leak faster than they expected. As soon as they were relieved from one pressure, the next appeared in front of them. Through the thick rain, they could see the shadow of a familiar figure, one dressed in an oversized coat that they had thought many times would go for a high price at Myrna’s. “We don’t have to do this, Maxson.” They had to raise their voice to be heard over the pounding rain.

“You had orders, Soldier. Explain yourself, or I end this now.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. And I’m not your soldier.”

Sole could feel the rage radiating off Maxson. The vastness of his ego must’ve taken a dent from being so blatantly disrespected. “Sole, he’s right.” Danse piped up from over their shoulder, not loud enough to be heard by the leader of the Brotherhood, but clearly heard by Sole. They shook their head and raised a hand, clearly signalling him to be quiet. “See, Maxson. I’m not as stupid as you think I am. I didn’t come out here blind. I knew you were testing me.”

They took a step forward, despite the fact that they felt adrenaline and anxiety thrumming in their chest. God knows the rain wasn’t helping, with the way they had to squint to be sure they had an eye on Maxson’s weapon. “I didn’t leave straight away. I have help, Elder, and I don’t take risks without insurance. I’m sure once you return to the Prydwen, after being unsuccessful in locating both Danse and I, that you’ll find many hidden explosive charges located throughout your beloved airship.”

Danse’s sharp intake of breath was barely audible, and they hoped he didn’t make his surprise too obvious. Of course, they were lying through their teeth; they hadn’t had time to even think before they were being ushered out of the Prydwen on their mission. But Maxson didn’t know that. He had simply sat back in his chair and expected them to clean up a mess that didn’t even exist.

“You’re bluffing.” Maxson called back.

“Do you really want to find out? You lay a single hand on Danse, and you’ll start a war with me. With me and the Minutemen, and while you may have protocols and guidelines, know that I will stop at nothing if something happens to someone I care for.”

Silence. If there was anything Maxson cared about more than being respected, it was the Brotherhood. If what they had said was true, they could turn the entire Eastern branch of the Brotherhood into gory, scrap metal ridden confetti and then follow up with their own, albeit small, army if there were any survivors. They shifted their grip on their weapon and raised their chin; this was the moment of truth. Would they get away with their companion in a nerve wracking scrape, or would they die for their loyalties?

Their heart thudded, even when Maxson lowered his weapon and took a half step backwards. The pressure was off, ever so slightly. “Go. You can return to wherever you came from, but if either of you are seen again-”

Maxson didn’t have to finish. The pair knew exactly how little they had as an advantage, and they were lucky to get as far as they did. Sole managed to not burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation and instead gave him a sharp nod before their hand returned to Danse’s shoulder, and they began their departure to Sanctuary.

The first half of their journey was silent. Each was lost in their own thoughts about the situation, about what their futures may look like now that Sole had threatened war against one of the more powerful Commonwealth presences. Danse’s footsteps faltered momentarily just as they made it to Quincy. “Were you- did you actually have the means to blow up the Prydwen?”

Sole, overwhelmed with the confrontation of what they had said, burst out laughing. “God, no, Danse! But I had to think of something. If I didn’t have any leverage we would’ve ended up as ghoul feed.”

Danse frowned. “I told you you should’ve-”

“I know what you said, and it was the worst idea you’ve ever had. Try not to top it in the future, would you?”

The humor fell flat, Danse’s expression barely illuminated by the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. “Look, Danse. I made my choice, there’s no going back, and even if there was, I wouldn’t change my mind. Even if I couldn’t blow up the Prydwen at that moment, I was serious. I would’ve started a war that rivaled the Great War. I still will, if he sends anyone after you.”

“Sole, you can’t possibly mean that.”

Whatever semblance of humor fell from their demeanor. They closed the gap between them and Danse and looked him in the eye. “I know that the Brotherhood may have made you feel otherwise, but you have people that will fight for you, Danse. You have me, and you have the Railroad and Sanctuary now. And it might be hard to believe, but I’ll spend every day proving it to you. Do you understand?”

Danse swallowed. The nod he gave them was barely visible. Stunned. They gave him a weak smile and brushed a strand of his hair away from his eyes. “Let’s go home, Danse.”

[henrylevesconte]

It’s a travesty, it’s a god damn shame that Bethany Esda misunderstood and continues to not understand what gamers really want. They created the most charming and charismatic synth and immediately made him ride or die with your lone wanderer after you go on a rescue mission to save him. The guy who risks his well being for you to find your kidnapped son. And you can’t romance him??? Nick Valentine romance when???

[enjoyslurm]

i want skyrim for the switch like So Bad but thats $60 (STILL?) that i would be spending on it. a game that i have bought 4 or 5 times already. a game i already have and play on pc. bethany esda how can you be charging $60 for this god damned game still...

[t-ycho]

Ok guys... I’m gunna get real with you for a sec about my excitement for The Outer Worlds

So 

I’ve had a little time to think on The Outer Worlds news and take it all in, and I just want to articulate a few things on it because... it’s been years since I was truly looking forward to anything, especially a game.

I know I joked about it, but I'm not going in expecting it to be FONV 2: SPACE BALLERS. It wouldn’t be fair to think that it would be. 

This is a new IP, a new adventure. So yeah, I am excited - not for the fact it could be like Fallout: New Vegas in spirit, I’m excited for the fact that the developer, people who made me love FONV and the original Interplay Fallouts, are making a new RPG.

Of course it isn’t a guarantee that it will be the dog’s danglies dipped in gold. But for me, the track record for these guys creating things that make me genuinely happy is... pretty up there, y’know? And I like this feeling. I’ve missed it. But because I had more things I wanted to say than I thought, I’ve popped under the cut why I think the info we have been given so far (and its timing) is really quite encouraging considering how much people have been burned by the industry lately.

But what I like the most about Outer Worlds is that it seems that Obsidian has been developing this game without much fanfare, not making promises about development times, releasing a teaser trailer when they were ready to. Which is a good sign, as it indicates they want it to be as close to want they envisioned before sharing, and that they want it to be a good experience for players. Which, if this is the case, shows that this is a project they care about getting right.

And while they know their formula for the ‘decision-based-outcome’ style RPG worked for New Vegas, they were able to take time to think of other possible ideas.

Then... THEN... they were lucky enough (in hindsight, after being - quite frankly - shafted) to see all the things they SHOULDN’T do, and were able to take all the feedback from people playing B/ethesda’s Fallout games post-New Vegas and utilise it themselves.

It’s an interesting opportunity that can’t come up that often, surely? (If it has, let me know.)

They could literally see people saying why they thought O/bsidian’s last game worked better/worse in places than another game in the same franchise because it had a different developer who tackled it their own way. It isn't the fact it was a Fallout game that made FONV enjoyable for so many people - it was the way O/bsidian did it compared with the FO4 style of RPG.

And as games in the same universe (it’s all canon, don’t care what Bethany says) they had very different feels to them and were enjoyable in different ways. But you don’t want to use ideas that people don’t like. It’s common sense.

It’s like... free beta testing results.... without having to release a damn thing before an ACTUAL beta. And looking at info on features that have been touted for Outer Worlds, they are using certain features that are expected in an rpg like character creation and companions/followers and quests, etc... but there a specific ones that are like traits the O/bsidian guys RPGs have and are very welcome:

attributes like perks and flaws for your character

 utilising interesting/skill related dialogue options with the decisions made affecting the narrative’s outcome similar to the way the courier can choose who gets to run New Vegas through player choices

character backstory is looking like it is going to use the concept of a blank slate like the courier had in FONV - a colonist is woken from cryosleep (HA) to help a Scientist on the run from the law. That could literally become anything. Your character’s history could include whatever you want, just like with the courier’s - You have this scenario happen and then the rest is up to you with what you do about it.

In-depth narrative for companions and other NPCs, as well other sidequests  - also not having romanceable companions. Now... lots of people may not agree with this decision, but the reason they gave makes some sense explaining why. They didn’t want the player to feel they had to make choices that would make a romanceable companion like them more, turning those moments into a ‘romance mini game’. You have the same sytem of approval like with NV and you can attempt to persuade any upset companions that your way is best. Just no smoochin’ in game. BESIDES... that’s never stopped us romancing any companion in our hearts. I can live with that.

unlocking access to other places by helping/proving alliance with certain groups and factions or buying a pass for the locations - At first, this sounded like a ‘to access this area, grind on help quests or pay money’ which... might have made me groan out loud. But then I remembered - They’ve used this mechanic before but it was so linked with plot and narrative that I didn’t even think about it until now. (which, ya know... is how you should utilise game mechanics, right? ) For example, if you want to get to the Fort to see Caesar, you need the Mark of Caesar to have safe passage, which is given to you by Vulpes after you finally find the guy who shot you. Which is technically quite a bit of play time from starting at Doc Mitchell’s and going STRAIGHT to Vegas. AND to access Vegas, you may have to gain the favour of the Kings if you have no money. But this was all interwoven with things along the way to show the political climate that the Mojave has - it didn’t feel boring or laborious to get there. They’ve done it well once, so they are capable of doing it again. And I am excited to see how it goes

And yet... it looks like it has some tricks up its sleeve. It has a real Bioshock Infinite/Borderlands/Fallout vibe aesthetically, sure, and the humour is that familiar dark humour (which I definitely appreciate it) ... but it feels like there is something else there as well that I can’t identify.

O/bsidian are seeming to be going about this in the right way though, by treating it as ‘making a game that people will enjoy and Not. Rushing.’ 

And yeah. There is hype already. There will probably be a pretty big hypetrain running up to the release. Because this seems like the miraculous antidote for the discontentment people feel towards Ms Esda atm.

But I don’t want it to be a miracle. I just want it to be fun and looking at everything they’ve revealed so far, I don’t have any reason to think I won’t have a good time playing this game. So yeah.

I’m going to remain excited for it. And I am enjoying looking forward to it.

[grraveryl]

"Respect Preston Garvey" I so want to but bethesda themselves fucked him up so bad. The VA director gave him terrible directing, which led him to sounding a lot worse than what the actor himself can do and they made him be the one to spout the got dam settlements quest from bethesda's radiant engine, the absolute worst idea they ever came up with, and the minutemen radio already provides you with the same quests so what the hell did they gave preston that too. They wasted him :(

bethany esda doesn't kno what to do when presented with characters/concepts/etc. that potential which does suck, but if you disregard canon enough Anything is possibleon a kinda serious ish note it s u c k how badly preston got screwed over by bethany esda's broken ass game mechanics which has made ppl hate on him like he programmed the damn game itself, plus preston along with all the other companions aren't given the chance to be as fleshed out as they should have been and it sucks man :/

[geese-howards-transscriber]

kavonnovak replied to your post “kavonnovak replied to your post “DAMN YOU, YOU MADE ME MENTALLY SAY...”

o yeh

there you go, Todd Bethany Esda Howard

[bottlecaps-and-brimstone]

Since one of my betas is in the middle of exams and the next chapter plot is being fucky and uncooperative, I decided I’d fill out this meme I found @beckiboos​ in the FO3 tag. Feel free to do it yourself!

1. What was the first Fallout game you played?

It was Fallout 3, which I picked up back in the summer of 2015 since I was a deprived child when it came to video games, and also really bored with nothing better to do. Before then, I’d only played Elder Scrolls games (mostly Skyrim), but once I adapted to the mechanics I fell in love with the franchise, hard. And now here we are, and I am an endless font of useless 50s references.

2. What’s your favourite faction? (Any game)

Tough one, because I love the FO3 version of the Brotherhood of Steel, but in other games...not so much. I guess I can’t go wrong with the Followers of the Apocalypse, then, it’s trying to actually do some good, has a kickass name, AND has got handsome snarky doctors with tragic mysterious pasts.

3. What’s your favourite romance?

Unfortunately you can’t really romance characters in the older games, unless you count Benny in NV and that’s...no.

4. Your favourite non-romanced character?

WHAT KIND OF SICK MONSTER WOULD ASK ME THIS AND FORCE ME TO CHOOSE Shit. Shit shit shit. I guess it’s tied between Arcade and ED-E, because I didn’t expect to get attached to them NEARLY as hard as I did. Actually no, ED-E. Definitely ED-E. Holy shit I love that little robot so much.

5. All time favourite quest?

There are SO many good quests but without a doubt, the one that gets me giddy just thinking about it is Stealing Independence. It’s a ridiculous, historically heartwarming adventure from beginning to end.

6. Your funniest moment? (What made you howl with laughter)

It’s a tossup between the ENTIRETY of the Wang Dang Atomic Tango quest, guilt-tripping Arcade into being my companion through usage of shitty drug-dealer whiskey to lower my INT stat until he was wholly convinced my Courier could not be left alone without adult supervision, and another event (also from NV) that I have infamously dubbed the “conga line of failure.”

So I’m wandering the Mojave Wasteland, primarily just to pick up map markers for later fast travel. No problems so far, except when I get over a ridge near Bradley’s Shack and realize the area’s lousy with Jackal Raiders, and I, being a low-level who’s had my ass chewed on by geckos recently and no spare Stimpaks, have just been spotted. I’m now fleeing and shooting wildly with my 9mm, determined to either kill the Jackals or lose them as I go for another marker - the Old Nuclear Test Site, because I figure, hey, feral ghouls are made of paper and don’t shoot back; now THOSE I can deal with.

Except there’s feral reavers there. That I didn’t know about. That are meaner and nastier than the ones in FO3. And they hit like a fucking tank.

So now I’ve basically screeched off into ANOTHER direction to get away from the ghouls now; my health dangerously low; crippled from mis-use of explosives; geiger counter going fucking ballistic; still on the lookout for stray Jackals, when I encounter a herd of Bighorner. I think “oh thank god”, because I figure if I don’t get TOO close and don’t bother ‘em, they won’t bother me and I can get my bearings and find a safe place to rest up and heal.

I don’t see the Bighorner Bull that’s been aggroed until it’s too late, and I’ll be damned if that son of a bitch didn’t headbutt me and send me flying off the ridge right into the ghoul pack I was hauling ass to get away from.

Anyway, THAT killed me, and to this day, it’s been legendary for being such a hilariously bad string of luck. Thus, “conga line of failure.” It wasn’t until a similar incident involving nightstalkers, radscorpions, giant ants, and explosives did I even get close to surpassing it.

7. The best glitch you experienced?

I was kiting a raider and a deathclaw and when I killed the deathclaw it glitched and literally went flying across the screen to smack the raider in the face, who then ragdolled and wrapped around a tree. 10/10 A Bethany Esda Classic.

8. Good or Evil?

Good. I may be able to threaten to send kids to horribly abusive orphanages in Skyrim, but Science Dad makes me feel guilty about stealing so much as a tin can.

9. Your favourite OC?

Okay now I absolutely will NOT be playing favorites here. But I will say that Peri and Zir are probably my most *developed* since I’ve had those two the longest. ASK ME ABOUT THEM.

10. Your favourite Fallout game? (Can be a DLC if you want)

FO3 will always be my favorite, and anyone who says it’s trash can fite me. Point Lookout was practically like hanging out at home, what with the cult of inbred mutant cannibals and the terrifying swamp life.

Plus, don’t get me wrong, New Vegas is absolutely an improvement in storytelling, and mechanics, and characters, and is just plain fun. But FO3 will always feel like a true post-apocalypse to me, feels like a real story of struggle and hope. Feels like home.

Don’t know why I left the homestead, I really must confess...

[esgaypism]

So I was walking the divide, creeping along fearfully as one does because fuck the enemies in this dlc. And I was fighting a string of deathclaws. I got to the last one hoping to finally get a goddamn sneak attack but the fucker sees me and I gear up for a near death experience. Go into VATS for a headshot to start off as best I can, make the shot, exit VATS, and the deathclaw flies straight up. Just fucking ascends like the angel it damn well knows it isn’t, hovers almost gracefully for a second while I consider shooting skeet, then falls back to the overpass with enough force to finish itself off. And as soon as the ragdoll finishes it explodes into a pile of raw meat.

Thank you, Bethany esda for this glitchy ass game. 10/10 would survive tragic deathclaw mauling by freak accident again

Edit: now that it's no longer three am it occurs to me that this was not developed by bethesda but by obsidian. I am more fond of obsidian than bethesda but my point still stands.

[beansthembo]

.

[vickymaree]

Todd Howard owns my ass

[giantmonsterdad]

lmao just

the dash is half excited, happy, thankful hype

and half bitter, angry, hateful--to the point of making fans feel bad--salt.

chill, dudes.

[grraveryl]

not to be a broken record but replaying fo4 reminds me of how bogus this flaming dumpster of a fandom treated preston and quite frankly he deserved damn better than being reduced to bethany esdas buggy ass quest system thank you goodnight