A terrible future where mutant cows sneak up on innocent settlers.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. Last time I begrudgingly decided to go with the flow and do every settlement quest that came along. I continued doing that much longer than any sane person would.

I was actually getting into it for a while. My companions seemed to enjoy it, I was still getting the odd (but increasingly rare) new location to explore and I was finding many things I missed in the old locations. Then I traveled to the Super-Duper Mart and was ambushed by a weird, stray behemoth. That put a bit of a damper on things.

One benefit to my adventuring: I gained six levels and am now level 49. I was so set on trundling through the missions I haven’t spent a single perk point… I’m seriously debating skipping new skills and just maxing out Luck. Maybe a point or two to Endurance or Strength?

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Yeah, that’s the good stuff.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. Or at least I tried. Last time I swore – pinky swore – that I was going to finally rescue Nick Valentine. I had every intention of doing so: I went back to sanctuary to pick up Piper. I wanted to be clear that despite my recent tryst with Cait, she’d always be my number one lady. We hit the Diamond City Market to stock up and things went south from there.

The distractions were extended, but profitable. I gained no less than eight new levels in this marathon weekend session, bringing me to level 43. I took the fourth ranks of Gunner, Science! and Armorer to max out my crafting capabilities, but remain sadly unimpressed with Armorer. I also worked on my core a bit and raised both Strength and Endurance by a point each for the carrying and the sprinting. I also took the first rank of Demolition Expert, so that I could craft explosives (and put all the lunchboxes I’ve been finding to good use) and the third and final rank of Ninja, for those sneaky strikes. Finally I took the last rank of Sneak, although I’ve yet to truly understand how it works.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Cait wasn’t the only one with a monkey on her back.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. Last time was all about Preston, this time it’s all about Cait. It was supposed to be all about Nick Valentine, but yet again I got distracted and ended up going off in a different direction.

On the character front, I spent the perk points I had been stockpiling on cleaning up a few outstanding things. I took the third levels of both Hacker and Locksmith. No secret is safe from me! Although I specifically said I wasn’t going to, I also took the next level of Armorer. I really wanted to construct ultra-light armor.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

I got a new hat!

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. Before I begin, an embarrassing admission: I’ve been permanently banned from Reddit’s /r/fo4 for posting these diary entries. They were considered spam. I disagree, of course, but respect the decision.

I have no hard feelings towards the moderators. They’re just doing what they think is best. I will say that a one-strike-and-you’re-out perma-ban policy is harsh. It’s easier, to be sure, but it’s also lazy. People get better when they’re helped to get better; when they’re given a chance to do better.

I’ve been doing this site, in its current form, for over five years. I’ve produced hundreds of thousands of words of material. Almost nobody reads it. I earn nothing from it. Obviously I enjoy when people do read it – who wouldn’t? – but I don’t expect it. An audience would be nice, of course, but it’s not the goal or else I would have given up long ago.

For the little that it’s worth: I sincerely apologize if these posts have offended anybody. That said, back to the wasteland!

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Seems like only yesterday!

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. I reached level 30 near the end of my last session, so thought a moment of reflection was in order. I’ve got a little over two weeks with the game under my belt; including several mini-marathon sessions over the holidays. I’d like to offer an overview of my character as she stands, the decisions I’ve made, and some of my thoughts on the game so far.

One of the more challenging aspects of this experiment in journaling has been avoiding spoilers. I haven’t been completely successful. For one thing, my son is playing the game as well, making it almost impossible to not get some outside intel. For another, I really enjoy the Fallout community. The memes, the let’s plays and sheer fun of immersing one’s self in something so many others love. I’ve kept all of that at arms distance, but it’s getting more and more difficult every day!

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead (although not as many today as usual)!

(more…)

All I know is that if I’d have said “No”, I’d have a lot more free time.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. After the epic battle with the Mirelurk Queen to retake The Castle, I assumed there would be some clean-up. Preston jumped on me right away to get things in order and report new settlement problems. A returning Minuteman veteran, Ronnie, also led me on a short adventure to reopen the armory.

I ended up spending the entire session working on various settlement quests, crafting and generally adding to the Minutemen empire of swampland and dirt farms.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

The radiation storms may be annoying, but damn if they don’t set a mood.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. I had planned to head straight to The Castle today – Preston’s been very patient – but, not surprisingly, I got distracted. This time by a Brotherhood of Steel distress call.

I’ve still not decided where I stand with the Brotherhood, but I also can’t turn my back on a mystery. I’m leaning towards a pro-synth stance and I don’t get the sense that the Brotherhood will be cool with that. At this point, that’s more of a general, personal amiability towards machines than anything specific in the game. Things could change!

Oh, I did get to the Castle, eventually. I soon wished I hadn’t.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Everybody loves me even more now!

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. I resumed cleaning up some of those oh-so-urgent requests that I’d gathered; as usual I ended up getting distracted along the way.

I helped Jack Cabot with some family problems that had been simmering for a few centuries, did the whole “Criminal Minds” thing with a rather nasty avant garde artist and helped the Travis the DJ gain some confidence.

MacCready and I also got much closer. Don’t worry, Piper: not too close! I discovered the Charisma Bobblehead, which got my Charisma past where I needed it, so finally took the “Local Leader” perk. I was then able to set up helpful, but confusing, settlement supply lines.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Just loving the new lighting engine.

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. I now have a growing collection of absolutely urgent, must-not-delay missions! Edward and Jack are waiting for me to tackle the raiders at the Asylum. Ellie is still waiting for me to rescue Nick Valentine. Preston and his men have been poised to liberate The Castle since Day Eight. Paladin Danse has been patiently waiting for my answer ever since Day Six.

So I, of course, ignored all of them to play super-heroes and scum-bags! You know what they say: Always be yourself. Unless you can be the Sliver Shroud, then definitely be the Silver Shroud!

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)

Yippee-ki-yay, Mother – um, “Fudger”!

I continue my play diary of Fallout 4. I was forced to delay this update because of a last-minute business trip to New Jersey… so it was exactly like Fallout! Ha! Rimshot! Jokes about New Jersey are sophisticated comedy, people! Just like mocking airline food or doing terrible impressions of whatever minority are supposed to be bad drivers!

In any case, I spent more time in Covenant, did some errands, and got closer to my new best friend Piper. I also met a very odd family and a very angry deathclaw. I also broke down and put a perk point into Armorer because I was feeling a little exposed out there. I now have a nice set of matching “shadowed” armor to help with my sneak.

Obviously, there will be spoilers ahead!

(more…)