WiP: Properly dark wasteland

[twrdrockfan]

My first time in the Springvale Elementary, I noticed a distinct problem. There was power. While I have no idea how the power grid to Washington DC is setup, one would think after a century or two of no maintenance to it, it would shut down or self-destruct in a way. I know movies are generally the worst possible sources for facts, but lets look at "I Am Legend". He was in that city for 3 years, and only his own home had lights even, from which I am assuming a self-contained power source somewhere in the building. Everywhere else was pitch black if it had no windows or way to allow in daylight.

 

So my project is to isolate which facilities should have power, and leave them alone. Everywhere else however, is going to get a lot darker. So, here is what I need:

 

- A list of facilities (not necessarily from the same person) that would reasonably have their own power supply figured out, and thus retain lighting properly.

 

- A solution to the issue of eagle-eyed raiders and the like that have no concept of whether something should be visible. I have hidden in sneak mode in a totally dark corner (of my own making in a test on Springvale Elementary), and as soon as a raider looked my way they saw me and opened fire.

 

- A player/npc-carried light source that isn't lore-breaking and gives that nice tactical element of avoiding light sources and turning your own off when total darkness is needed.

 

For the first, I already decided Megaton and Tenpenny Tower would have power (that way you don't need to carry a flashlight in your own home). As well as Rivet City, since ships like that, when maintained, are more self-sustaining than most small towns. So if you want to suggest a place to retain its power, please explain why it should be so.

 

For the second, leaving animals out of it would be acceptable. They have stronger senses (especially the Mole Rats, since they already cruise around in total darkness), but humans do not have built-in IR imaging goggles.

 

For the third, while the PB3k already has a built-in light, it is about as tactical as going hunting wearing Christmas tree lights. Also, it only accounts for player lighting, and leaves out the npcs running around in subway tunnels.

[Circuitous]

Most of the buildings have functional power generators inside of them, Springvale Elementary included. Take the lowest entrance and it's right in front of you. So pretty much all the lights are explained.

[ivenoname]

In that case, Hospitols, and Schools have thier own emergency power supply, so the elementary school shouldn't be messed with.

[Severite]

While Im sure that is the lore reason, I agree with OP, after 200 yrs, I want it dark, and, more importantly, when it is dark, I dont want enemies unaffected by what I have to deal with.

[Tagaziel]

Most of the buildings have functional power generators inside of them, Springvale Elementary included. Take the lowest entrance and it's right in front of you. So pretty much all the lights are explained.

 

 

It would have burned out LONG before 200 years have passed.

[mikekearn]

I don't know if it is possible right now (maybe when the script extender comes out?), but if you were going to make things dark, you could have it depend on the power generators. You shoot them, and they explode, but there is no effect beyond that. Having all the lights die when you destroy all the power generators would be pretty cool.

 

I don't know how it's set up, but it might help to look at

Evergreen Mills. The Behemoth there is in an electrified enclosure, and you can either hit the switch to shut it off, or blow up the generator.

 

[twrdrockfan]

As an addendum, in case I missed it, part of this project is also to remove all decorative ambient light levels from hostile areas. So even the facilities that do retain power are going to have a lot of dark corners to sneak in. Residences and the like will retain the ambient lighting, since homes are usually better lit than derelict ruins from two centuries ago.

 

To be honest, something else just occurred to me. Generators themselves need a power source of sorts. Gasoline and other fossil fuels are unavailable, or at least insanely scarce as any gas that was left in stations or what not is all that is left of the refined fuels. I do not know of a battery that could sustain itself for two centuries. And I don't think they are using anything more powerful than that, since things like that tend to go boom when not maintained properly, as any residents in the Chernobyl area can attest to.

[mikekearn]

Well, the Fallout universe does have some very advanced nuclear technology. The cars, for example, all have a nuclear power source that is still storing lots of energy, as anyone who has stood too close to a damaged car can attest.

 

I don't think the generators are nuclear powered, but one can never tell.

[Syntax1985]

in all fairness the op has a point =

 

The typical light bulb is good for roughly 900 hours.

 

now after running for 200 years, you would assume such thing a rare resource.

[Tagaziel]

Well, the Fallout universe does have some very advanced nuclear technology. The cars, for example, all have a nuclear power source that is still storing lots of energy, as anyone who has stood too close to a damaged car can attest.

 

I don't think the generators are nuclear powered, but one can never tell.

 

Errr, no, that's Bethesda's stupid addition that is overriden by statements from previous games.

 

All cars in the Fallout world are powered by electric motors, charged with energy. There is nothing nuclear about that. Where Beth got the idea they were nuclear, I have absolutely no clue.

 

The technology in Fallout is based on fusion, not fission. Fusion cars, fusion cells, fusion TX-28 power units on T-51b suits of power armour... however, even those cannot last 200 years, as the most advanced portable fusion power source (the T-51b micro fusion reactor) has enough fuel to sustain operations for 100 years. And that's THE most advanced fusion power plant, civilian applications (such as generators, cars etc.) would not last half that time.