This thread is so that we can keep all the discussion, rumors and speculation in one place.
This topic is for a friendly discussion of ideas and suggestions for Fallout 4.
We all have opinions about what the next game should have and should not have. Each of us has the right to express that opinion freely. There are points we agree on and points we do not agree on. This means that people are going to disagree with you on some things. Accept that and move on. No need to beat your point so far into the ground that no one wants to look at it any more.
At moderator discretion, threads about specific and distinct topics as they relate to FO4 and the rest of the Fallout series may be acceptable in the Fallout Series forum. General idea/suggestion topics for a future Fallout game will either be closed, or moved to this one.
This thread should be used to discuss items you'd like to see in a future game, gameplay tweaks, quest ideas, things you hope are not in the next game and so on. If you want to discuss major issues, use a separate topic - such as the discussion about adding multi-player or co-op play, which already has a thread. Please search first to see if there is an active/recent thread on a particular topic.

Something to note. Discussions of Child Killing is not allowed on these boards. Don't even bring it up in this thread. It won't happen in any future game from Bethesda, so there is no reason to even discuss it. If you post about this subject, you may be Warned and or Banned from the boards for doing so.

This is also not a thread to discuss current or past Fallout Games, other than to mention an aspect of the game you want to see included, or not included, in a future Fallout game.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1508111-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-223/

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1507556-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-222/

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1507095-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-221/#entry23760439

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1506418-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-220
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1506053-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-219/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1505719-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-218/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1505367-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-217/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1504858-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-216/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1504514-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-215/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1504197-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-214/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503984-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-213/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503706-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-212/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503642-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-211/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503490-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-210/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503231-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-209/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1503088-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-208/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1502946-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-207/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1502751-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas-206/

How big is Fallout 4's wasteland going to be? In TES they always build the world to scale with the other games, meaning that Oblivion was the largest game. Fallout 3 was the biggest world that Bethesda has developed, and I think New Vegas is just slightly over by total land area. With next-gen consoles and a dev team 200 strong they have the manpower and the processing power to make a really beautiful and big world, so here's hoping that it covers a huge area both in game world terms but also in the lore terms of where in America its supposed to take place.

Playing Destiny atm, I have to say: I can't wait for Fallout 4!

Destiny's gameplay is flawless, where Fallout has been dodgy at best. But; even without mods, there is great diversity in choices, be it gear, character developement as well as ingame decisions. This is going to be build on for sure, and my hope is that diversity and complexity is in focus. I'd rather have semi-broken explosives than no explosives at all.

For the game itself I hope for more immersion, where both allies and enemies seem to have a purpose in the game. I hope for choices that change the in-game world, like blowing up a building/bridge, detonate nuclear bombs radiating an area for the remainder of that playthrough etc. I also hope for more life like behavior for NPCs. Some enemies will build up both an arsenal and an army if not coped with. That they will patrol around their area, and behave a little smarter, sneaking up on the player or similar behavior. Vehicles could also be amazing, but the danger is that the gameworld will feel that much smaller.

I'm impressed by the detail Rockstar has put into the world of GTA V, especially the mountains and cliffs. I'm hoping for similar detail in the next Fallout game.

I don't see a problem in things appearing based on the PC's ability to notice them [this is especially true with traps, that are supposed to be hidden to begin with... unlike how they are in the games now] - it is, afterall, the PC's eyes that you are using and to which you've determined the abstracted amount of sight, I'd say that's why the stat is there. Boone in New Vegas has the spotter perk that makes enemies flash in red; perception could well work with the same principle. The game could pose a "cone of vision" in front of the PC (invisible for the player of course) the size of which is based on the PC's perception. Inside that cone, if there is something to notice (and it could be anything, really; a hidden trap, a secret door/manhole, just a small item of any kind, or even animal/enemy tracks to follow/clue about) the game makes a check if the PC can spot it, and if s/he can't, that's ok. Not everything needs to be revealed.

And that's just eyesight... Imagine what could be done if you applied smell, taste, hearing and feel to it. Specific instances where these abilities come in handy, apply perception to a plate of food and get a text cue that says "Curiously enough, this beef smells like bitter almond... the commission of health would probably recommend not putting it in your mouth lest a nasty foaming would ensue"; taste your drugs to get an idea if it is over cut; feel inside a small hole and possibly find something hidden, eavesdrop behind a door and have the ability to make out what is said instead of hearing just mumbling (and if the sounds inside are only faint, you may not hear them at all without high enough perception).

The instances don't need to be huge and game changing (not always; if called for, then they should), just something that might provide helpful right away or a bit later on, or just an interesting curiosity to find; and more importantly, to provide interesting gameplay based on how you built your character. Think about a PnP session with a good DM that provides these sorts of situations.

And it's not just for perception; you could apply stuff like this for all the SPECIAL attributes (to varying degrees) and skills. Apply a dropdown menu with a prompt similiar to the "Skilldex" in the original two games where you could pick commands to apply to where ever you see fit (heal, heal other, inspect, repair, repair other, strength, agility, science....). Of course not everything can work everywhere, but when something does, it feels rewarding even if it is something small because it is possible to find due to what you did in the beginning of the game during the character creation. You increase the potential exploration inside the gameworld by miles, and make the charcters abilities something the player actually wants (but of course shouldn't have it all). Apply high enough strength to one of those vehicle skeletons around everywhere to tip them over to see if there's something under it, or to provide better cover from the raiders on the hill; or to lift a rusty manhole to provide an alternative route inside a factory complex near by. Apply agility (or a related skill) to a ledge where you can't manually do the jump; let the PC make his attempt (maybe he succeeds where you couldn't because he's the better master of his abilities that you are with your controller). There's really a world of possibilites to come up with bigger and smaller things like that where ever appropriate.

Now these are just few random examples for possibilities (I do suggest all that as per the thread title, but I don't expect them to happen) that could elevate the gameplay and the systems to provide a bit more than just a rudimentary hiking around.

"Destiny's gameplay is flawless, where Fallout has been dodgy at best"

I explain in detail why it makes sense for Fallout 3 or NV to have clunky combat in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDnAhzwVXRM&list=UUZF7TO4JXuaaOPm5p7hCt3Q

For me personally, the further away Fallout is from Destiny the better. They have extremely different philosophies and reasons for playing them, it should stay that way.

As for changes being realized in-game I'm all for as long as it's plausible, smaller changes like what can be seen at helios one when the NCR or the legions occupies it with each of them dawning their own flag and populating the place with their own people is totally fine and won't be resource intensive I'd also welcome bigger in-game manifestations of change but this would inevitably be a slippery slope 'till people are demanding the end game choices to be realized in-game but that wouldn't be justifiable considering the time and resources it would take.

I personally want a proper weather system (seriously we have farms but no rain?) that will change agriculture and the migration patterns of animals/abominations.

Maybe even having towns being subjected to animal visits/attacks in the summer but in the winter the animals are in hibernation/holed up somewhere and stop traveling, I'd also have it where the weather effects trading routes, if there's bad storms certain items aren't as abundant and prices go up etc.

Maybe that's striving for excessive realism

Technically you can't 'enter' any buildings in Fallout 3 or NV. They're all portals to another cell. But anyway, that's beside the point. There is nothing keeping Bethesda from creating a world that looks just as detailed and still have all the 'interior' areas they want.

How detailed is GTAV actually? Ive not played it since its not on PC yet, but New Vegas and especially Fallout 3 are already packed to the brim with detail. If you're looking for mountains and cliffs then Skyrim has a whole bunch of stuff like that, it does a great job with a winter environment.

Its not just the mountains and cliffs being there, its how they were designed. Fallout 3, NV, and Skyrim's mountains are basically just big mounds of 'land' with a random assortment of cliff and rock meshes stuck into them. GTA V, on the other hand either has hand modeled terrain or uses a LOT more types of rock meshes. The terrain also seems to be able to go at a much steeper angle which is more realistic IMO.

Also the number of different types of architecture is amazing and the roads don't seem to be the same texture pasted all over the place.

So by that logic you can't enter the wasteland either considering it's on a different cell?

I'm not arguing about separate cells, I'm highlighting the point that most buildings in GTA 5 can't be entered

GTA 5 and most GTA games look brilliant from a glance but they are usually still quite shallow. GTA 5 is better than the rest of the series in this regard but it often feels like the buildings may as well be cardboard cut outs

Most of the buildings in Fallout 3 can't be entered either... Know why? Because there is no reason for the player to go in there. Anyway, again, my point has nothing to do with the number interiors in the game. Please stop bringing it up.

Most of the buildings in Fallout 3 can be entered

If you're claiming that a world is of supreme detail and yet most of the buildings are just glorified billboards acting like buildings then I feel that mitigates the detail and is relevant to your quote "I'm impressed by the detail Rockstar has put into the world of GTA V, especially the mountains and cliffs."

Mountains and cliffs do look good but GTA V is more detailed in some regards less so in others compared to fo3 and fonv, so GTA V doesn't represent a ubiquitous upgrade in detail.

If you're talking solely about meshes and textures that's a different issue but you didn't state that initially.

EDIT:

Latest Fallout 4 rumour, please take with a grain bag of salt - http://www.reddit.com/r/Fallout/comments/2hp4id/emailed_bethesda_last_night_oc/

Click image on the top left.

I'm still on my first play through of Fallout 3 and got FO NV waiting for me when I'm done but I do have some suggestions I'd like to see in FO4.

More armors: Many of the armors look the same with just retextures and stats to make them "seem different"

Repair Bench: It would be great to combine armors, weapons and create our own. Or repair our gear at a work bench with materials instead of collecting piles of additional weapons and armor to repair ours when it breaks down. I swear my megaton home is about to collapse under the weight of all the stuff I got stored in there.

Less locations to discover but more things to do at locations that remain: Sure its fun having all these locations on the map to discover. But I can't be the only one who got tired of spending over an hour or more inside subway tunnels trying to get to a location only to discover it and well... all there is to do is sit on that park bench over there I suppose.

Maybe this was fixed in FO NV but like Skyrim I wish there was a "cleared" status that showed on locations I had been through at least once already.

Three Dog is coming back I hear: So I'd like to hear more dialog from him. Maybe he plays his segments on a loop or something but Its been several months since I took care of Arefu and the vampires. he still talks about it like its fresh news. He still warns people not to go to Evergreen Mills because raiders are doing something there. Well he might wanna check his sources. All those raiders are doing is rotting in the wasteland sun. But he jokes about me collecting quantum bottles heh. So give him some fresh stuff. And more up to date on his news broadcasts.

On the subject of armor: I'd like something similar to Skyrim where light armor can be just as strong stat wise as heavy. I dislike looking like a tank. I'd rather look like a lone wanderer wearing a cowboy hat and a duster coat. But if I wear that gear I'm shot dead in seconds. So I'm usually running around in Enclave Hellfire armor. I dislike it, but its armor rating is twice that of the armor I'd rather be wearing.

Maybe this was added in FO NV but if not: Motion detector. Our pip-boy3000 can do a lot of great stuff. But imagine if we could go into a building and do like a sonar ping.

Flares: Wouldn't mind having a few of those.

More player homes: I like megaton's house but I wouldn't mind a place to officially claim as my own somewhere out in the wastelands.

That's just some regular goon, not an actual dev, at least that's what people say. So yeah, no real hint there.

I couldn't possibly care less about a huge game world. What I want is a decently written story with as little hand holding as possible, well thought out and paced quests with multiple methods of completing them. I also want proper choices with proper consequences. I want real factions, and real disguises, along with the ability for the enemy see right through that disguise. I want reputation to play a much larger part in game. I want companions that I care about whether they live or die, I'll gladly take fewer potential followers if it means they'll have unique personalities along with their own quests like New Vegas had.

Basically, I want just about everything that I know Beth is incapable...or unwilling to give me.

I f they give me even any of that, I might consider it a start in getting Fallout on track to becoming what Fallout ought to be, rather than another TES With Guns.

You'll probably get a lot of that in Fallout 4, assuming you are open minded about Bethesdas name being on the box. A lot of what you described is either a completely new feature in New Vegas or already present in Fallout 3. I dont see why they would discontinue quests with multiple choices with multiple consequences and gray on gray writing like in Tenpenny Tower, Oasis, or Blood Ties, Also I dont see them completely scrapping Obsidians work, like disguises or reputation, which are a welcome addition to Fallout.

I would like to be able to go into all the building, warehouses, tunnels, sewers, and such. If they randomize the interiors it wouldn't be as bad as it was in F3 and to a lesser extent NV but only because you can't go in as many house's I think. I get it's set in the era of building when homes were all the same but the people inside weren't. Finding diaries or journals would be interesting especially if you have to read them to get hidden items and locations. Houses don't feel lived in at all either.

The vast majority of buildings should have logically collapsed after 200 years of no one maintaining them.

I could, for the same reason they removed reputation after Morrowind.

The problem with reputation systems is that they apply a blanketing effect across all NPCs in a given faction, regardless of that NPCs personal beliefs. One NCR guy may be against mass slaughter, but if you can mass slaughter a Legion fort to get NCR rep he will get the same rep increase as everyone else in the NCR does. It removes any sort of individual will from NPCs in a faction. There are also problems with detecting your crimes, as NV showed showed, killing guys in the middle of nowhere automatically makes everyone know you did it, despite no one being left alive to report it.

Disguises have just as many problems with taking into account faction rep levels, visibility of your face, and other such factors, which is why, in Skyrim, guards just say stuff like

"You come talking to me wearing Imperial armor? You got stew for brains?"

"For your sake, I hope you took that armor from a dead Imperial scout..."

"That Stormcloak armor's getting on my nerves..."

"You dare strut around here, wearing that filthy Stormcloak hide?"

When you walk up to them wearing armor of the other faction.

I wonder how we can give more weight to weapon ownership. New Vegas did a good job by making all the guns very high valued, and although that did mess with the economy some it atleast made the repair costs a lot higher. I think if we incorporated a new repair system that wasnt simply glueing weapons together but instead replacing specific parts on the gun that fail. I would expect a wastelander's trusty rifle in the falloutverse to be a horrifying frankenstein of cobbled together parts from 15 different guns. Maybe not so much like the "Scrap weapon" look that some mods have, but looking a bit less like a worn-dorn military surplus rifle and more like something that has carried its owner through the horrors of the wasteland would be a bit better. It would give a bit more personality to your weapons aswell, making it something that you have personally spent a lot of time on instead of being the exact same model that everyone else has.

I like a huge open wasteland that seems to go on forever. However I do agree, so far my experience with followers in FO3 has pretty much been "meh" The only interesting ones for me so far are dogmeat and fawkes.

However I don't believe (at least compared to Skyrim) that there is much hand holding in FO. At least not with my experience so far in FO3. So many quests or things you come across with no indication of where to go. Take the radio towers out in the wasteland. If this was Skyrim you'd come across one, a quest would appear and an arrow would show the entrance to the hidden underground area.

Factions would be nice or at least a bit more respect. I've turned in more fingers then I care to count to the Regulators. Raiders and even Talon Company should fear me by now or at least be very cautious. Its not like my deeds haven't been broadcasted through the airwaves thanks to Three Dog lol.

And disguises did work sort of in FO3 at least in regards to AntAgonizer or what ever her name is. If you wear her armor and go visit the Machinist or how ever his name is spelled... he will instantly mistake you for her and attack. I found that out by accident.

But if I'm going across the wastelands dressed as a raider, I should be mistaken by raiders as being one of them.

Have you met Clover yet?

That's about where I'm standing.

It's unfortunate that when ever there's speculation and some distant hopes of something, there's also the taint of knowing pretty much what to look forward to that puts those hopes down.

On the bright side, though, all possible forthcoming surprises are those of positive nature. There's not much room for disappointments left other than the eventuality of the game being "just as expected".

I could see that happening if raiders actually had a specifically themed armor, but most of the times its just whatever random stuff they found that does anything to lessen the impact of bullets, and ANYONE could be walking around in something like that. Not to mention the fact that most raider groups are individual bands of raiders, not some massively organized raider coalition, so even if they saw you wearing raider armor, they would still attack you since they would think you are part of a different raider group.