I've just finished the Main Quest of Fallout 3. And I'm disappointed by the finality of it.

Being accustomed to Role Playing games like Oblivion, I expected to be able to return to explore the side quests.

I do have the majority of the saved games; and I purchased the GOTY edition with the five Add-On Packs.

My Questions:

- If I need to return to earlier saves in order to explore the side quests, do folks have suggestions about where it would be a good idea to veer away from the Main Quest and start pursuing many of the side quests.

- Is it true that one or more of the five Add-On Content Games (Operation Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout, or Mothership Zeta) provide a solution to this, such that I would then be able to explore the Capital Wasteland again to pursue those original side quests?

Any observations or suggestions will be appreciated.

My understanding is that all other Fallout games end at the conclusion of the main quest as well, so F3 follows this.

If you don't want to finish the main quest, You can traipse around and do whatever you want.

Edit: Oh, and -- yes, Broken Steel begins after the conclusion to the MQ.

if you have the GOTY version, the game desn't end. i think broken steel fits right into the main quest. the main quest restores clean water to the wasteland and deal a major blow to the enclave. broken steel crashes the enclave. and there is a quest or two dealing with water.

be warn, once you start the pitt and the spaceship quest and OA, you won't be able to return to the wasteland until the quest is done.

Thank you both, Skirt with a Weapon and Knightly.

Since there are some limits placed in the DLC expansions, I think I will take your advice, Skirt, and return to the Wasteland from the Enclave exit.

I appreciate FO3 trying to remain true to the ending styles of the original 2 Fallout games (which I love). But the side quests are numerous; and it appears from my still-new FO3 experience that there are many places in the Wasteland not yet visited.

Thanks again to both of you.

Broken Steel allows you to continue after finishing the main quest.

Just download the Broken Steel DLC and the game continues after the final credits role. Its Awesome!.

Actually, you can play Fallout 2 after completing the main quest.

I can't recall how you do it, since I only completed it once and didn't try to continue on. Some of the people you meet will act "weird" when you meet them after the completion of the game, but it is otherwise playable.

I kinda like it when a game ends after the final battle. Gives much more emphasis on the epilogue.