Travis' List of Headcanons [Part II]

Headcanon #4: What Remains of New York City?

While never directly featured in a main Fallout game, the fate of New York City can be inferred from the general destruction of other major urban centers during the Great War: it would almost certainly be a devastated ruin. As a major global city and prime target for nuclear attack, it's highly probable that multiple warheads would have struck the metropolitan area, reducing iconic skyscrapers to twisted skeletons or rubble, and leaving vast craters where buildings once stood. The widespread destruction of major cities is a recurring theme across the Fallout series, often referenced by NPCs. For instance, in Fallout 3, Moriarty, the owner of the bar in Megaton, occasionally mentions the destruction of major cities, hinting at the devastation wrought by the Great War. Similarly, throughout Fallout: New Vegas, characters often speak of "the old world" and the scale of the cataclysm, implying that no major population center would have been spared. The very existence of the Capital Wasteland (Washington D.C.) and the Commonwealth (Boston) as irradiated ruins further s the idea that major governmental and cultural hubs, like New York City, would have been prime targets. More specifically, New York City has been referenced by name. In Fallout: New Vegas, Dean Domino, a ghoul and pre-War performer, briefly mentions being from "pre-war New York" and describes it as "extremely crowded." While not detailing its post-War state, this confirms its pre-War existence and significance. Additionally, in Fallout 76, the robot Adelaide remarks that the "Big Apple is now a big crater," a clear, albeit possibly hyperbolic, reference to New York City's demise. Terminal entries on the Prydwen in Fallout 4 also describe the Brotherhood of Steel ing by "city after city. Buildings taller than I've ever seen. Some that nearly clipped the Prydwen," on their flight from D.C. to Boston. Given the flight path, these could plausibly refer to the skeletal remains of New York's towering skyscrapers, even if not explicitly named. The city would remain a highly radioactive hotspot for centuries, rendering it largely uninhabitable. Beyond the initial blasts, firestorms, fallout, and potential seismic activity would have further annihilated the city, with natural processes and post-apocalyptic scavengers slowly breaking down any remaining structures. If ever depicted, New York City in Fallout would undoubtedly be one of the most utterly destroyed and dangerous locations in the wasteland, a landscape of irradiated ruins.

Headcanon #5: Will we see Dixie (south) Kudzu Vines in a future Fallout?

Seeing Dixie (South) Kudzu vines in a future Fallout game set in the American South is a highly plausible and visually compelling idea. Kudzu, a notoriously invasive vine in the real-world American South, is known for its rapid growth and ability to completely engulf landscapes. In a post-apocalyptic Fallout setting, the lack of human intervention to control it, coupled with potentially altered ecosystems, could allow kudzu to spread unchecked, perhaps even mutating due to radiation to become more aggressive, resilient, or acquire new, dangerous properties. Visually, imagine entire cities and landscapes swallowed by dense, green kudzu, creating eerie, organic structures that offer unique environmental storytelling, navigation challenges, and potentially conceal hidden areas or dangerous creatures. This would fit perfectly with Fallout's environmental storytelling and unique world-building. This concept gains further traction when considering canceled design documents from Fallout Tactics 2. While the original Tactics ultimately focused on the Midwest, discussions and concepts for a potential sequel, Fallout Tactics 2, explored various regions for future Fallout titles and often delved into unique environmental challenges and regional flora/fauna. Although not explicitly about kudzu in the South, these early Fallout Tactics 2 documents indicated a design philosophy that valued leveraging specific regional characteristics to create distinct gameplay and aesthetic experiences. For instance, the Fallout Tactics 2 team experimented with ideas for unique biomes and ecological hazards. This suggests that had a Fallout game been set in the American South during that period of Fallout Tactics 2's conceptualization, the rampant spread of kudzu would have been a prime candidate for a prominent environmental feature, aligning with the developers' willingness to integrate unique, localized ecological elements into the post-apocalyptic landscape. Therefore, the idea of kudzu taking over Southern Fallout locales isn't just a fan concept but aligns with a historical design sensibility within the franchise's development history, specifically from the abandoned plans for Fallout Tactics 2.

Headcanon #6: Is Fallout Tactics Canon?

While the canonicity of Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel is a subject of ongoing debate and has been viewed differently by various developers and fans over time, it's fair to say that yes, certain elements and broader concepts introduced in Tactics are often considered part of the overarching Fallout lore by many fans and have seen subtle nods or thematic continuation in subsequent games. It's true that Bethesda Softworks, the current stewards of the main Fallout series, generally treats Tactics' entire narrative as "semi-canon" or "questionably canonical," primarily due to its different development studio (Micro Forté) and specific lore elements like the intelligent Deathclaws, which diverge from the established lore of Fallout 1, 2, 3, New Vegas, and 4. However, ignoring Tactics entirely would overlook its contributions and the ways its ideas have subtly influenced the broader universe. While direct, explicit references to Tactics' specific plot points are rare in Bethesda's main series, the game's influence can be seen in several ways: Brotherhood of Steel Expansion: Tactics depicted the Brotherhood of Steel expanding beyond California into the Midwest. While the fate of the specific Midwestern chapter in Tactics isn't directly confirmed in later games, the concept of the Brotherhood's expansion and diversification into different ideological camps (e.g., the more zealous East Coast Brotherhood in Fallout 3 and 4) aligns with the idea of them moving beyond their initial West Coast roots. Technological Concepts: Tactics introduced concepts like the Calculator, a highly advanced AI. While not directly featured, the idea of powerful pre-War AI systems influencing the wasteland (like the ZAX systems in Fallout 76 or even elements of House's Radio New Vegas Host, Mr New Vegas) resonates with Tactics' exploration of advanced pre-War technology. Specific Gear and Visuals: Though often redesigned, some unique weapons, armor types, or even enemy designs from Tactics might have served as inspiration or prototypes for later iterations in mainline games, albeit typically without direct credit. Environmental Storytelling: Tactics explored diverse environments, including desolate plains and ruined cities, enriching the visual vocabulary of a post-nuclear America. This broadens the scope of what a Fallout wasteland can look like, a concept embraced by later games setting themselves in different regions. As a Fallout fan, I can only try to synthesize and understand lore information, but I can explain why Fallout Tactics is often considered canon by many dedicated fans and why its inclusion enriches the overall universe: Adds Depth to the Brotherhood: Tactics offers a detailed look into the Brotherhood's internal structure, ranks, and various factions, providing a more nuanced understanding of their organization than simply being an enigmatic military order. It explores how different conditions could lead to different Brotherhood philosophies, which is a theme revisited in Fallout 3 and 4. Expands the Geographic Scope: Before Bethesda expanded Fallout to the East Coast, Tactics offered the first significant exploration of the post-War Midwest. It showed that the destruction and mutated life extended far beyond California, making the world feel larger and more interconnected even before the official mainline games ventured there. Rich Lore Contributions: Despite its controversial intelligent Deathclaws, Tactics introduced a wealth of lore, character backstories, and unique challenges that many players find compelling. For those who immerse themselves in the Fallout universe, the events and characters of Tactics often provide valuable context and depth to the lore, even if they aren't explicitly referenced in every subsequent entry. It fills a chronological and geographical gap. "Soft Canon" for World-Building: Many players adopt a "soft canon" approach to Tactics. This means they accept the broad strokes, the general existence of the Brotherhood in the Midwest, and many of the technological concepts, while perhaps disregarding elements that explicitly contradict later, more established lore (like the Deathclaw intelligence). This allows Tactics to contribute to the rich tapestry of the Fallout universe without undermining core elements. In essence, for many, Fallout Tactics serves as a valuable chapter in the Fallout saga, offering a different perspective on the post-apocalyptic world and the enduring struggles within it. While its direct narrative might exist in a slightly ambiguous space, its conceptual contributions and broad strokes are often integrated into a comprehensive understanding of the Fallout canon. If Bethesda is going to start referencing, borrowing, or confirming elements from Tactics that are considered hard canon, then integrating the game more fully into the established lore, perhaps with some strategic retcons, makes sense. For instance, the contentious issue of intelligent Deathclaws in Tactics could be reconciled. Bethesda could borrow the concept of the Vox Interpreter from Fallout 76, which allowed for a degree of communication with animals. Given that Fallout 76 and Tactics are roughly 90 years apart, this device or similar technology could explain why the Deathclaws in Tactics were able to be communicated with or understood by humans. Furthermore, the Beastlords in Tactics could be re-explained as a major Psyker faction. The existence of psychics in the Fallout universe has been hinted at or shown since Fallout 1, and later referenced in New Vegas (e.g., the Psychic Nullifier) and Fallout 4 (Mama Murphy's "sight"). This would provide a lore-friendly explanation for their unique abilities and control over mutated creatures, weaving Tactics' distinct elements more seamlessly into the broader narrative fabric.

https://fallout.wiki/wiki/New_York

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/New_York_City

Link to RadKing's Video on "FALLOUT MYTHS: NEW YORK IS!/ISN'T/IS? A GIANT CRATER"

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fallout_Tactics:_Brotherhood_of_Steel

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fallout_Tactics_2

Link to TriangleCity's Video on "FALLOUT TACTICS IS CANON"

Outro Video:

Black Sabbath - War Pigs

Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" is an exceptionally fitting anthem for the Fallout universe, both thematically and plausibly within its alternate timeline. The song's scathing critique of warmongering elites and the devastating consequences of conflict perfectly mirrors Fallout's central narrative of nuclear apocalypse driven by corporate greed and political hubris. Lyrically, the song directly parallels Fallout's pre-war societal ills: "Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses / Evil minds that plot destruction / Sorcerers of death's construction" evokes the shadowy military-industrial complex and the scientists who developed the world-ending weapons, embodying the "evil minds" responsible for the Great War. "Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight? / They leave that role to the poor, yeah" precisely articulates the stark class divide in Fallout, where the privileged instigated the conflict and retreated to safety (e.g., Vaults, Enclave), leaving the common populace to endure the wasteland. "Time will tell on their power minds / Making war just for fun / Treating people just like pawns in chess / Wait 'til their judgement day comes, yeah" underscores the dehumanization prevalent in Fallout's pre-war and post-war societies, with leaders viewing lives as expendable, culminating in the "judgement day" of nuclear annihilation. The song's imagery of desolation further reinforces its Fallout compatibility: "In the fields the bodies burning / As the war machine keeps turning / Death and hatred to mankind / Poisoning their brainwashed minds" literally depicts the immediate aftermath of nuclear fire and the persistent, destructive conflicts among post-apocalyptic factions, fueled by lingering propaganda. "Now in darkness, world stops turning / Ashes where the bodies burning / No more War Pigs have the power / Hand of God has struck the hour" paints a chilling picture of the nuclear winter, where civilization ceased to function, leaving "ashes" in its wake, and the very destruction wrought by the "War Pigs" ultimately stripped them of their power, a self-inflicted "judgement." Aesthetically, "War Pigs'" heavy, ominous riffs and Ozzy Osbourne's wailing vocals perfectly capture the oppressive, despairing atmosphere of the Fallout wasteland. Its existence within Fallout's lore is plausible: despite a late-60s timeline divergence, cultural elements, particularly music, often follow similar trajectories. The pervasive fear of nuclear war, corporate dominance, and social anxieties in Fallout's pre-war era would have provided fertile ground for the emergence of a heavy, politically charged genre like that of Black Sabbath's, allowing for a "War Pigs" equivalent to have been created and preserved, resonating profoundly with the experiences of wasteland survivors via old radio broadcasts or records.