Fallout 3 Reborn: A Realism Mod

9 comments by Slayer_2 on Nov 9th, 2009 digg this super bookmark

Alright, below I've outlined some key points about Fallout 3 Reborn V7 and discussed them in detail.

I don't know if you guys have ever noticed, but every Reborn version has been the older versions with a few bug fixes and some new features. While this saves me lots of time and lets you guys get your hands on newer versions much quicker, it has cause me to forget what I set out to do with my Reborn mods. Version 7 will be designed from SCRATCH. Nothing will be re-used except basic ideas.

I feel silly admitting that I've only used my own mod since Version 2, but as this mod has progressed, I've had many people ask about compatibility, and while I still believe that simply using both mods at once is the simplest way to find out whether Reborn will play nice with MMM or such, I believe that it is time I tried some other mods, and made Reborn compatible with them. I will create a list of tested mods, telling you what does and doesn't work with Reborn. Last weekend I tried literally over a hundred mods, many at the same time, and everything from Saving Nova to Enclave Commander. It has broadened my perspective and given me a few new ideas.

Since this version of the mod is going to introduce a few new major features, I am also going to be designing new perks and "Inventions". Inventions are a new feature I'm going to be introducing in V7. What you can do is invent things from 2, 3 or 4 miscellaneous items. The more pieces an item has, the harder it is to figure out the design. Some inventions will be discovered by finding blue-prints throughout the wasteland (such as the custom weapons, which will be included in this system).

At a certain date, when the mod is far enough along in the development phase, I will open the contest for 2 weeks, during which time, each person may enter as many ideas as they want. I will pick what I believe are the top ten (hopefully there are at least ten). The people in the top ten will get the option to become a beta tester and their inventions will be added to the mod. Then the community (minus the people in the top ten) can vote on which invention is the best. The winner will get the code for a 700 Microsoft Points card. If something really weird happens and I get more then 10 decent ideas, I will add those into the mod as well (but you won't get to beta test).

Now, I know you've all been thinking "Compatibility, yay! Contests, yay!", but I'm also going to alert you to a few features I'm planning for V7. First up is redesigned interactive items. Your items you can get in your house will all be redone. Even the Jukebox might be customized to play your favorite tunes and feature the ability to change radio stations, hopefully making it a little less useless. Nuka Cola machines (in V7 the name will be back to normal for a few reasons. Ask me if you want to know why) now actually act like vending machines. I'm even attempting to create new food items such as chocolate bars to add more options in.

I'm planning to add new items in and make miscellaneous items useful. Not only can they now be used to create inventions, I'm also working on making jerry cans and such, which allow you to make all sorts of fun traps. Unfortunately, I'm not a modeler and have no idea where to start on such an endeavor, but if worst comes to worst, I'll use the flamethrower ammo tank or something. A weight rebalance is also in order, as the current weight setup makes no sense whatsoever.

A very rough, but perhaps possible idea is the addition of semi-destructible environments. This means that you could blow down a locked door instead of bothering with the screwdriver and bobby pin combo. Brawn over brains or something like that, right? :P Again, I have zero modeling skill, so I doubt that it's happening.

On the topic of destruction, I am also planning to add new weapons in. I have plans for a breaching charge, a toned down railgun and orbital weapons. There may also be the same arsenal of standard firearms as you can see in V6.

There are many more features, both new and old that will be in V7. There are too many to list and none of them are certain, so you'll just have to wait and see what happens.

As I previously mentioned, there is no set release date. My best guess is a few months. Perhaps a Christmas present if you're lucky :P

A note to all beta testers: the V7 beta is months away, but if you wish to beta test, you must re-sign up. No new recruits at this time please. I just want to see who is still willing to test. The last beta testing program was... well... a massive failure. I got a few helpful people, but the majority didn't even reply to my original messages.

Alright, so that was a pretty long update. I hope you're as excited as I am for this new installment in the Reborn series, till next time,

Adam