The Fallout franchise is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, and as part of that effort Bethesda previously made the most recent instalment into the series entirely free for a week. We're of course talking about Fallout 76, which has recently celebrated its fourth birthday, and has recently seen the release of its latest expansion, The Pitt, a post-launch addition that as the name suggests, takes players to the post-apocalyptic remnants of Pittsburgh. While many of you have likely been exploring the City of Steel already, with the free week behind us, there is no doubt plenty of new Vault Dwellers roaming around Appalachia, and with this being the case, we've created this handy guide for getting adjusted to the wasteland in 2022.
This might seem like a strange point to start off on, but it's a very important one all the same. In Fallout 76, you can use the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. perk system to develop your character into the individual you want them to be. Enjoy shooting things? The Strength, Perception, and Agility lines will be the best paths for you. What's that, you prefer to craft and build items? Then it's Intelligence instead. The point is that the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system is very broad and has lots of perks to pick up. You might think choosing a varied selection to make you a well-rounded individual is the best direction to go. While you can certainly do that, we'd suggest having a core focus and building your character and perks around that, as it will make you a far more capable survivor in the harsh post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Despite it being, you know, a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Appalachia is also the home to many interesting characters and people. It's a good habit to get into talking to everyone you possibly can, because you never know what advice they may give, or what rewarding quests and tasks they might have in store for you. So speak with everyone you see, be it vendors, wandering NPCs, even other players if they seem friendly. Just don't try and chat-up a Deathclaw, because that probably won't go down too well for you.
We know what it's like to be wandering around and to see junk that has minimal amounts of value and thinking, "I better pick this up, it could be useful in the future!" Well, don't bother. Appalachia is a very big place and the last thing you want is to be bogged down by an overflowing inventory crammed full of stuff you simply do not need. So, travel light, cut the fat, drop anything that isn't vital or actually valuable, and keep some space available in case you stumble across something truly, truly special.
As we just noted, Appalachia is a large place and crossing it on foot will take time. Fortunately, you can fast travel, but most instances of this will cost you vital Caps. However, Vault 76 itself and your CAMP are two of few exceptions to this rule, and while you can't change the location of the former, the latter can be strategically placed to make travelling around the world easier and less of a hassle.
And following on from being smart with your CAMP placement is understanding that death is not the end for your Vault Dweller. Don't get us wrong, dying isn't something we'd recommend, as you will drop a lot of your gear and loot, but the key thing to know is that it isn't final. You will respawn at one of a few locations, including your CAMP, so again, before taking on a high-level and demanding base or quest, be sure to place your CAMP nearby, so you can easily regroup, gear-up again, and head back in guns blazing for round two.
You may be a crack shot and have no need for help when using firearms, but VATS (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) is still a vitally important tool, as it will help you navigate the wasteland in ways you could never imagine. Be it spotting hazards, such as mines and traps, or even highlighting enemy weak points, VATS will make your entire life easier and more manageable, and of course, it will make landing key critical shots all the simpler, so don't forget to use it.
VATS may be your best friend for surviving Appalachia, but real friends are important as well. Yes, you can experience Fallout 76 as a solo player, conquering the wasteland as a hardy and rugged lone wolf, but life is much easier and more fun when you have allies to watch your back and to help with the challenging quests that await you. So, rope in some friends, meet and talk with people on the trails, and team up to master West Virginia as a troupe of survivors.
While all these tips and tricks will help you get your Appalachian journey off the ground, it's important to remember to enjoy your time in the wasteland. Travel off the beaten path, explore every nook and cranny, team up with friends, meet new people, the world is a big playground where adventure lurks around every corner and it's just waiting for you to root it out. So have fun. Enjoy yourself. And be sure to pass some of these tips along to new Vault Dwellers that you meet out on the open road.
Fallout 76 is available today on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, and is even included as part of Game Pass.