I realize that there are probable a hundred other topics like the one I'm making here, but digging through 10-20 pages can be a chore. Feel free to enlighten me if there's a topic that answers the questions I'm about to ask here.

I was first exposed to the Fallout Universe through New Vegas. I loved the idea of playing in a retro 50s cyberpunk western. Needless to say it's been a lot of fun. I recently started playing 3 about a week ago. I've made it as far as Megaton and the town on top the bridge past the super-mart. I first tried to go to Galaxy News Radio after finding out that Father had been there, but got slaughtered by the Super Mutants despite trying to sneak past them. What I'm asking is where can I go to gain some experience before attempting to try and get into D.C. again? I'm currently at level two with Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Science, and Repair as the main skills I would like to focus on. I'm going to be playing a good character, so no bad karma suggestions please. I'm also playing the GOTY edition. What are some good weapons I can use until I find something more to my taste? Are there any companions nearby I can recruit? Thank you in advance for your help.

Springvale school is a good starter "dungeon" you'll pick up some xp plus a couple of decent weapons.
Also do a couple of Moiras wasteland survival guide missions to build up exp.

Agreed. Moira's Wasteland Survival quests are a good way to get into some XP's. Have you considered playing Op: Anchorage DLC?
It would give you some nice armor for sneaking around those mutants and a very nice energy weapon.

One of the best tips is this: don't worry too much about following the main quest. As Angry Max say, Moira's Wasteland Survival Guide quest is there specifically to help you in the early stages of the game. Do that, and do some exploring.

there are 100's of side quests you can do, if your on pc try adding some quest mods, this is a good starting quest mod and most of it you dont need to leave megaton! http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3080

How hard is it to get to the Operation Anchorage simulator from Megaton? Am I likely to encounter something different from the usual raiders and mole rats?

Also, thank you for the replies so far.

Raiders are the main enemy you'll encounter going to OL. Unfortunately you have to deal with Super Mutants at the site. I'd wait until 5th before trying OL. I also suggest doing Moira's quest to level up. Don't sweat the main quest. Take your time and explore.

I think after completing Moira's quests, you should be well equipped to get to the Op: Anchorage simulator.

The Enclave is your friend.

I have done Anchorage at a very early level, and it is fairly easy. When you get to the area with the muties, there will be some outcasts.
While in the simulator remember the ammo crates, and the health crates. They never run out.
When finished Anchorage, you will be able to wear power armour. And some will be given to you.
When you finish you will be about level 6-8, and you will be able to kick mutie ass.

And the Brotherhood are traitors to the good old American dream.

They seemed like decent folks in New Vegas, even if they were a bit paranoid. I'll admit the Enclave Remnants were BA though. They were a real help in the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, plus the Vertibird entrance was epic.

Enclave are much more important in 3, and so are the Brotherhood.

One thing to note: You cannot chose sides like you can in NV. Some groups will attack you, even if you do nothing to them.

If a friendly group becomes hostile because you shot them, try to leave for at least three days.

Good luck finding father.

If one is playing on PC, however, there are plenty of fantastic mods to correct this. A simple line of script can give Fallout 3 a great many hours of extra fun.

Absolutely this.

I'm an Xbox player so am subsequently ignorant of such mods.

Don't worry about it buddy, the east coast Brotherhood are way better than those nasty old Enclave anyway. :wink_smile:

That's preposterous. The Brotherhood is a monarchy of cultists, playing on the lives of the Wastelanders to boost their fading ego. Unable to prevent inner strife, their only argument against criticism is "out of sight, out of mind". Unable to keep their promises, unable to create anything new, the Brotherhood only pillages and dominates for the sake of hoarding weaponry to kill even more innocent Wastelanders.


Atterete dominatum, democracy will prevail! GOD BLESS THE ENCLAVE! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Assuming that you mean the Enclave are better, why do they attack random poeple who have not yet harmed them?

Unprovoked violence towards the player is just laziness on Bethesda's part, but "random" is incorrect when referring to Enclave's relation to the locals in general. Enclave personnel in Wasteland outposts scan the DNA of all locals without hurting them, and those who pass the gene test are given water and sent away. Those who fail to pass the test, almost always Ghouls, are exterminated as mutants.

It's up for debate whether this is because of Colonel Autumn's sympathies for the locals or Eden allowing a small spectrum of Wastelanders survive the FEV holocaust, but one thing is for sure: The Enclave does not unconditionally kill everyone, just the worst mutations. Furthermore, in some outposts the Enclave confiscates any weaponry found from the locals, and registers their names in database for further use. This, in my opinion, hints towards what I call "selective salvation" that is sparing more or less a great deal of the Wastelanders and to integrate them back into the reborn American society upon Enclave victory.

EDIT: Want proof? Here are the terminal entires for gene scanning and weapons confiscation, respectively. Boldings made my me for emphasis





If these do not tell of a conventional occupation with aims to integrate at least some of the Wastelanders into Enclave-dominated USA, then nothing will ever prove anything.

To the OP : Try swimming your way to Rivet City and you'll get some easy quests and experience here. But DON'T speak to Dr Li or you'll shortcut the main quest. Along the way you willm also discover new places and collect some basic equipment fitting the level of your character. Getting overpowered weapons and armor too early would ruin the game

If the enclave want to choose who should be killed and who should be allowed to live then wouldn't that be genocide?

I oppose the Enclave's former plans for global genocide, like Autumn I feel it's too extreme, but they have obviously changed their habits and I say we should give them the chance. Near-humans are now considered human. The only ones the Enclave now appears to destroy are super mutants, ghouls, and heavily irradiated near-humans. I mean, they even rescued Stiggs who was irradiated and unconscious. It means that if the Enclave gained power they could, using their Pure Human stock to create humans and fight wars and near-humans as labor, recreate the United States in a matter of decades. The Enclave knows what it was back then. The Enclave knows what needs to be done. The Enclave already has, according to Eden, "plans in motion" to restore the country "within your lifetime". The Old World had its flaws but it's definitely better than anything the other factions of the Wasteland have to offer.

I'm not saying that the Enclave is a "good" faction. A lot of things what they do would get them all hanged for crimes against humanity in our world. However, after two hundred years of anarchy, death, famine, mutant rampage, should we turn down the best chance to restore the pre-war world even if it means thousands of casualties?

The Enclave could restore the United States, reintegrate Mexico and Canada, finish the job in China and as Richardson says it, "America will once again be the World Policeman!" The difference to Richardson's times would be there would actually be people to protect and punish.

Its less genocide and more "containment".

The Enclave represent an extreme answer to an extreme problem. As my compatriot said, we harbor no illusions that they are "good people" (morally speaking). However, the Enclave represent the solution that would rebuild the wasteland to its pre-war state. However in order to achieve this, humanity must once again dominate the lands of former U.S. territory. Which means wiping out mutations whereever they are found. It also means bringing order to a wasteland that has divided itself into individual warring states and in which petty gangs of thieves and murderors roam the land. In Fallout 2 their goal was more loafty, and the use of the Curling FEV-13 would have allowed rebuilding of the country in quick time once the virus had run its course. In Fallout 3, their ultimate goal remains the same, but they have focused their energy on a specific part of the country, largely because they lack the resources in the east to distribute a virus to purifiy anything larger than the east coast itself (in all likely hood). By Fallout 3 there has also been an idealogical break within the faction in the form of Eden and Autumn.

Pistolero and Lt. Andron

I know that such an event like thus would never happen, but if the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave ever merged together or cooperated together in restoring the wasteland and recovering advance technology, would you think that more good would be done than say the factions against each other.

I mean, the BoS had many good aspects IMO, such as trying to contain the super mutant population in D.C., or helping the Vault Dweller in FO1(I think). They also make sure tech doesn't get in the wrong hands. But of course, that doesn't mean they have their flaws. They sure seem to stretch themselves thin and their nature of tech being worth more than human life can create problems at times.

The Enclave, IMO, needs to have a bigger, more fairer part in a future fallout game. That way more people can understand their good nature and aspects rather then they
murdered the Lone Wanderer's dad and shoot at you for little reason whatsoever. Anyways, while I understand their good aspects, I really don't like some of their corrupt ways. When they captured Nathan in FO3, that raised my eyes
abit. That dude hardly shuts up about the Enclave and he doesn't look too radiated or mutated.

Colonel Autumn is probably my biggest hatred about the Enclave. While I respect his loyalty to the Enclave and his father, I shunn upon his brutal methods, choices, and plans.

I find that both of these factions could fix each other's flaws and also restore the wasteland. Not without many disagreements and problems of course, but still achieve many accomplishments together.

Please excuse any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes. My fingers are huge compared to my IPhone's Keyboard.