A wide open world (that has only been slightly buggered by mutually assured destruction in a Cold War that got very warm very quickly with red-hot nuclear weapons). Millions of players starting a journey with nothing but a PIP-boy on their wrist and a spring in their step. A vast wilderness to explore and tame. Man, what a glorious day…TO BE AN ASSHOLE!
There’s no getting around the fact that Fallout 76 is going to have its fair share of jerks. While it’s not a strict survival game per se, the idea of forming a gang that runs around collecting nuclear launch codes and then proceeding to drop those bombs on unsuspecting players is simply too good to pass up. Not that I would ever resort to such underhanded tactics, no sir no way hey look over there.
Anyway, how do you deal with griefers running amok? By making them an interesting part of the Fallout 76 experience, that’s how. At Quake Con, game director Todd Howard revealed a plan to curb-stomp the more dickish side of the video game player community, with a simple idea (via Polygon):
We turn the assholes into interesting content.
Here’s how it works. Let’s say you’re the kind of person who has failed so hard in life that the only way that you can feel a modicum of joy is in a rampage against fellow players using skills and equipment that has cost you hundreds of hours of time and effort to accumulate. You decide to make life hell for a newcomer in Fallout 76, you relentlessly chase them down and you pretty much wipe the floor with them in a fight that was more one-sided than Britain’s tiff with Zanzibar in 1896.
By performing the dirtiest of in-game deeds, that player then becomes a “wanted murderer” and now has to deal with having a bounty on their head. Nothing too out of the ordinary so far, right? Here’s the catch: When that player is eventually subdued, the bounty is paid out from their own collection of bottle caps. Also, these players will be visible on the mini-map and the in-game world with particular highlights but they, in turn, won’t be able to see other players or even be informed that a bounty is on their head.
Brilliant stuff, which makes for a subtle yet fascinating idea that explores the notion of keeping griefers in line. For more on Fallout 76, don’t forget to check out our handy-dandy guide for the game right here.
Last Updated: August 13, 2018
G8crasha
August 13, 2018 at 13:59
The question I ask though is whether or not it is worthwhile pre-ordering the game when there is a very real risk it might be the lowest point in the franchise. I really want to see extensive gameplay. RDR2 is a pre-order for me, no matter what because of the recent gameplay reveal, so I’m sold there. Now Fallout has to win me over, or else it goes onto the Bargain Bin Purchase List!
Kromas
August 13, 2018 at 12:40
You forgot a few key things. 1 if someone shoots at you and you don’t shoot back they will only do 10% of the damage they usually do so you can essentially get away if need be as long as you don’t engage. 2 Bullet jumping has been fixed already and 3. wanted murderers can’t generate caps through basic gameplay.
Pariah
August 13, 2018 at 13:01
Nice! Means if you want to be a dick, you have to put a lot on the line. Reminds of PK servers in Korean MMOs. Except there you’d drop your equipment when you were killed.
Pariah
August 13, 2018 at 13:01
Nice! Means if you want to be a dick, you have to put a lot on the line. Reminds of PK servers in Korean MMOs. Except there you’d drop your equipment when you were killed.
Kromas
August 13, 2018 at 13:05
Oh yeah if you die you only lose your junk. Junk is important but still. At least I get to keep my power armour etc etc etc.
Pariah
August 13, 2018 at 13:16
Hah, someone’s planning on exploring the dick side of things I see. 😛
Kromas
August 13, 2018 at 13:53
No I mean the player that does not engage. I am a fallout PvE player. Hell I prefer being the nice guy in most survival games. Except for Rend cause you know my Faction wants to win.
Kromas
August 13, 2018 at 13:53
No I mean the player that does not engage. I am a fallout PvE player. Hell I prefer being the nice guy in most survival games. Except for Rend cause you know my Faction wants to win.
Pariah
August 13, 2018 at 14:38
Oh. Well that sucks a bit. On the PK Korean servers you only start dropping your shit if you’re tagged as a PKer. And once you are, anyone can attack you without penalty, and get your gear. A strategy they used to employ was to keep their inventory full of junk so that the chance they’d lose their equip was less.
Edit: Also the PK level scaled. So the more of a dick you were, the more you’d end up losing if you died. And the longer and harder the “redemption” quests would be to get rid of your PK level.
I earned a pretty damn nice bow once. 😛
Lord Chaos
August 13, 2018 at 13:20
I’d be the reverse arse and not engage, but stand still and let them become a wanted murderer. It’ll take a while to get the kill though at 10% damage
Original Heretic
August 13, 2018 at 13:20
One can also set yourself as a “pacifist”, which then eliminates all PvP damage, or so I read.
Pariah
August 13, 2018 at 13:34
That would be perfect for noobs like me, honestly.
G8crasha
August 13, 2018 at 13:59
The question I ask though is whether or not it is worthwhile pre-ordering the game when there is a very real risk it might be the lowest point in the franchise. I really want to see extensive gameplay. RDR2 is a pre-order for me, no matter what because of the recent gameplay reveal, so I’m sold there. Now Fallout has to win me over, or else it goes onto the Bargain Bin Purchase List!