The railroad in F3 was from Boston, where there were several well documented and historically protected Underground Railroad houses.

Boston has a lot of history- I expect that we will see a lot of references to it in the game. There are a lot of historic buildings that have become museums, so I don't find it hard that history of the underground railroad could be unearthed in Boston and that a faction aligned to it's goals would adopt it's name.

I'm in the middle on this. I think all of the stuff like the name "Minutemen" and "the Railroad" make sense.....but what I don't think makes sense is that literally every single person ever within the Fallout universe can think of nothing better to do than make history references. Where's the originality? I thought most wastelanders were uneducated? Abraham Washington himself has the job as historian in Rivet City and his interpretation of historical events is waaaay off. Despite this, the entire city of Boston is fully educated on history and there's not a single person who says "nah I'd rather think up a new name for my group?"

In short, I think his complaint is that it becomes cliché. It all becomes way too predictable because their method just seems to be "research historical groups/events from Boston, then copy them." Thusfar we have the Minutemen, the Railroad, and what appears to be a red coat ghoul for some reason. I won't be surprised if a quest involves throwing crates of Nuka Cola into the water, deemed "the Boston Nuka Cola party."

The first time such a historical reference is made, it's clever. The sixth time...? It makes you groan because it's so expected, and it's annoying to see the writers don't have a shred of originality or that they can quickly become that predictable.

I can't tell you anything because the game hasn't come out yet.
It may be the case that it isn't explained in game and it's just a gimmick, like the vaults being experiments.
But as it stands right now, we have no context as to why this gun is a thing, so I find bashing them for poor writing over it to be funny.


As for the factions named after historical stuff.
I agree that it can go too far.
And sure, they don't always get it right. Abraham Washington. Ledoux and his hockey gang.
I think it is partially trying to paint a picture of people wanting to emulate something from the past in the hopes that they can capture some of it for their present.

"Like the vaults being experiments."

Which if I recall, is yet another choice of Bethesda's. Could be wrong, but I believe it is.

Lately I've been hearing a lot of that: "it's not out so we can't say." This is definitely true, but it's always said with a tone that seems to want to dismiss any of the logical assumptions and educated observations that might shine a negative light on the game. Just don't act surprised when those assumptions turn out to be true.

Honestly, I think the Laser Musket is kind of cool, but I can't see the point of it. The hand crank thing makes absolutely no sense; there's no way you could generate that much power by just spinning the crank twice. In the gameplay footage, it appears that it uses some sort of ammo. If that's the case, what point does the crank serve? A battery, which is essentially what energy cells, microfusion cells, and electron charge packs are, doesn't need any cranking to power a device.

I do wonder what kind of mods will be available for the laser musket through the new crafting system. Between the laser and plasma weapons they showed us, you basically accessed all the older weapons from laser rifle to laser scatter-gun through the modding of the plasma/laser pistol. The crank is kind of that gun's "thing" so I would assume you couldn't remove it, though possible. Maybe it upgrades to a crank laser gattling gun?

Vaults as experiments were spoken of in the Fallout Bible, and in Van Buren the reasoning for them being experiments was in preparation for leaving earth. So Bethesda at most took the ball and ran.

too me its a just lazer rifle with more LCF i like it

Most likely a bayonet

Nailed my point completely. The NCR's flag is cool because i'ts based off California's actual flag, but the NCR having a Gold Rush would be Cliche.

As far as bringing historical groups revived for Fallout, I want there to be a Ghoul named "Paul Reaver."

i think they found a old armory of obsilite test weapons mybe thes wher the first laser guns but why use em when u can use reg ones cheapness mybe but then why not use a ak or similer wep

It's also kind of nonsensical when you think about. This entire forum exists to discuss a game that isn't even out yet. What are we supposed to do other than speculate?

Plot the death of one Preston Garvey?

To those criticizing a hand crank, find an old telephone with a hand crank

Plot to hug two Preston Garveys?

You just described Fallout in a quote! Congratulations. You said 'Honestly , I think the Laser Musket is kinda cool, but I can't see the point of it'

Fallout is a tongue and cheek setting where common sense has given way to Mr Handy, Fusion cell powered cars, corrupt Vaultech, Ghouls, Super Mutants and so on. Its not a reality, its a game simulating a bizarre reality where Laser Muskets are possible. If you want a game powere by reality go play Goat Simulator.

Wait. Didn't the gauss rifle in fallout 3/nv have a crank?

People have always relied on symbols for hope and struggle. As far as fighting slavery goes, Lincoln may be the best symbol there is, certainly considdering the fact that it's DC and his statue is there, beheaded. The same thing that happens to the slave when they try to escape.

No.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMD-4p2aytA

snip

The minute-men strikes me as overly moralistic rebel crusaders stuck in the past. They said they were 20, then 8 then 5 left? At the rate they are dying they seem so useless and weak that I'd rather help them by killing them. As they are set on the path of going extinct anyway. The way I see it - saving them to prolong their lives is like throwing ice-cream at a melting snowman.

Yeah wasn't 100% sure on that, merely recalled that FO3 is where the vaults jumped the shark and became experiments like "Gary!"

Not criticizing (for the most part) cause I actually think they're fun while still being realistic enough (usually), but there's definitely a clear gap between how past Fallouts have approached all topic matters with an educated point of view, whereas Bethesda comes in all like:

"HOW ABOUT A LASER MUSKET CUZ COOL?"

"Todd, that doesn't seem remotely practical."
"AND THEN THE SOLE SURVIVOR SUMMONS A GIANT FIGHTING ROBOT TO DESTROY THE INSTITUTE."

"Todd, we have to explain how and why that would happen, or how it's even possible."

"AND THEN THE SOLE SURVIVOR RIDES A DINOSAUR INTO THE ENCLAVE TOP SECRET BASE WHERE THEY'RE NEGOTIATING AN ALLIANCE WITH THE ALIENS AND HE BLOWS IT UP WITH NUKA COLA BOMBS!!"

"Pete, can you bring Todd to his room? I think now would be a good time for his afternoon nap."

New Vegas had a gang of Elvis impersonators and a Mafia-run casino (apparently in Fallout's timeline, organized crime never lost its grip on the Vegas gambling scene). I doubt any local references in Boston will bother me.

Not sure why there is hate for the laser musket, its like a lower tier variant of the gauss rifle and both fire and reload is exactly the same for both with the only difference is one reloads with a lever and the other is direct replacement of a charge pack. If anything the laser musket is more practical since all you have to do to reload is to turn the lever instead of tugging out the charge pack and placing in a new one.