» Thu May 03, 2012 5:32 am
Welp, I just posted this on Gamefaqs, and though I assume someone already posted a similar idea on this topic, I will put it here first then read through to see it all.
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Massachusetts. There is already a good amount of lore on the Commonwealth (which is what the whole area would be called), and we know 2 factions already. There is the Institute, an organization of secluded scientific geniuses that have the ability to create Androids so lifelike and with such good A.I. that they can even learn to have free will. However, the Institute treats these Androids as slaves. The opposing faction would be the Railroad, a group of people whose purpose is to bring freedom to the enslaved Androids.
There is the very possible chance the Eastern Brotherhood of Steel could be there too, having defeated the Enclave, taken their technology, and if I remember correctly, should be set to remove the super mutant threat from DC with the knowledge of how they are being made. After the events of Fallout 3 the Eastern BoS could easily move north, following Doctor Li & the rumors of the tech up there. Of course Dr. Li wouldn't be too happy about this.
Now you say "But I destroyed the BoS in my FO3." Well, I think it is entirely within Bethesda's right to pick a canon story for the game. This would annoy many people that went the evil route though, but I think they should do it for story purposes. Unless they did some Mass Effect kind of thing where they read what happened in your game and changed the story to fit that, but I doubt that will happen.
With that argument, There would be the possibility of meeting and expanding on already known characters as well. This next section assumes the canon story is revealing his past to Harkness, and having him kick Zimmer out of Rivet city.
Dr. Zimmer - Having lost his greatest work and being forced to leave Rivet city and presumably go back to the institute, he would obviously be a laughing stock at the Institute. He would most likely turn this into either hate towards the Railroad for this loss (assuming they even know about them), or hate for the Institute with desire to destroy them for the shame.
Armitage - Being Zimmer's guardian android, he could either be a powerful ally or enemy, based on if he begins to grow feelings of humanity too.
Harkness - With the knowledge of being an android and the plight of his enslaved kin along with the lessened need for security in Rivet city as the BoS grows, I can easily imagine Harkness going back to the Institute to enact revenge or to free the rest of the androids. He would most likely be a major figure in the Railroad, probably the leader of the group. Also, since I just read that a simple code can turn a rogue android back to factory standards, that possibility needs to be destroyed. That's a major quest right there, lol.
Madison Li - She just grew tired of everything that was going on, mainly with the Brotherhood of Steel. She left for the Institute, though I'm not sure what she expected to find up there. With her scientific knowledge I can see her being accepted by the Institute, and really, she doesn't seem like the type to help people out so I can see her as a villain.
Victoria Watts - If anything, she is a dedicated member of the Railroad. She traveled from Massachusetts to DC (I believe), all to help Harkness gain his freedom. I can see her being more prominent in a game featuring the group.
Now more about the area itself. We don't know much about the Commonwealth, and all we know is from Zimmer. He describes it as a "war ravaged quagmire of violence and despair" (probably like DC), but this may be an exaggeration on his part. It is in the middle of a city though, and It probably is all wrecked up with lots of raiders and stuff. There are probably "bastions of civilization" like Megaton and Rivet city too, I doubt Zimmer would separate them from the rest of the savages because of his attitude.
There is one big possibility for DLC too. New York city isn't too far away, and I'm sure that place would be perfect for some added content. Most likely Manhatten.
Oh, forgot about time constraints too. New Vegas happens what? 20 years after FO3? Well the android characters (Harkness and Armitage) wouldn't be affected by this, but the humans would be. Dr. Li would be pretty old (I assume 60s 70s), but this is fine. Zimmer however would be extremely old, so he may need to have been augmented with the tech of the Institute to keep living, or perhaps he could be a brain like Calvert from Point Lookout. Victoria Watts doesn't have an established age I think, so she could have been in her 20s during FO3 and 40ish now. They could also keep this game's time separate from NV's, making the time passed not as much to allow the characters to be mostly the same people.
Speaking of Calvert, Desmond could make a return as well. He went North to face his next enemy, and the Commonwealth is right in the way.
