Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Document Date 11/02/2010
Revision Notes
11/02/2010 – Initial version of document
11/07/2010 – Level title change from Military Vault 001 to Research Vault 001
11/15/2010 – Added missing sections, Assets, project definition and quest
descriptions. Modified maps, added several clarifications for the images and modified
the Story section.
Quick Summary
Introduction/Project Definition
This document outlines the design of a Fallout 3 level that focuses on exploration,
choices and war drama.
Summary
The Lone Wanderer sees a few Brotherhood of Steel members in front of Vault 101,
and upon talking with their commander, he explains that they are after a group
named “Texas Federation Rangers” (TFR) and could use the Lone Wanderer’s help.
This mission focuses on exploration, as the Brotherhood of Steel does not know the
location of the TFR, but they know the general area of where they are heading. This
is a single player mission for Fallout 3.
Gameplay Overview
General Game Flow
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Begins at the Vault 101 entrance
Talk with Scribe Stogsdill to get mission intro and information
Fast travel, or walk to Minefield cave
Inside the cave speak with the old lady inside, her husband is missing and
she needs someone to find him (side mission)
Once the old lady mission is completed exit the cave
Once out of the cave walk to the first visible building ruins and kill the Super
Mutant patrolling the area
From there move to the TFR camp north of the current location
Interrogate Fernando Garnes and his squad to get the Vault location and their
side of the story
Now move to Vault 001, kill the three Super Mutants patrolling the area and
enter the vault
José M. Nieves
Page 1 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
10. Once inside the Vault move over to the “Common Area”, and into the clinic
and hack the computer to open the door
11. If hacking skills are too low, then walk over to the door and use lockpick
12. Once the door is open walk down the stairs to the second level
13. Walk though the hallway to the storage area, hack the computer to open the
weapon storage door and deactivate turrets
14. Move to the research area and kill all Super Mutants
15. Go to the Weapon Storage, killing all Super Mutants on the way and collect
the weapons
16. Return the weapons to either Fernando Garnes or Scribe Stogsdill to complete
the mission
Start
Talk with Scribe Stogsdill to get
mission intro and information
Inside the cave speak with the old
lady inside, her husband is missing
and she needs someone to find him
(side mission)
Look for the husband, only to find
out he is a Super Mutant killed him,
return with the bad news
She now wants the Super Mutant
heart
Fast travel, or walk to Minefield cave
If no hacking skills then walk over to
the door and use lockpick
Get into the cave and walk over the
other side
Collect the hearts and give them to
the old lady, this ends the quest
Once the door is open walk down the
stairs on to the second level
Once out of the cave walk over the
first visible building ruins and kill the
Super Mutant patrolling the area
Walk though the hallway to the
storage area, hack the computer to
open the weapon storage door and
deactivate turrets
From there move to the TFR camp
north of the current location
Return Weapons
Interrogate Fernando Garnes and his
squad to get the Vault location and
know their side of the story
Now move over Vault 001, kill the
tree Super Mutants patrolling the
area and enter the vault
Move to the research area and kill all
Super Mutants
Go to the Weapon Storage, killing all
Super Mutants on the way and
collect the weapons
Fernando
Once inside the Vault move over the
“Common Area”, and into the clinic
and hack the computer to open the
door.
Scribe
End
Figure 1: Research Vault 001 Flowchart
José M. Nieves
Page 2 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Major Elements
A mayor element in the story is discovering that the mercenaries are not what
The Brotherhood described them to be, and that they are good people trying
to fight for their survival. In addition, The Brotherhood is also being misled by
the NCR and this furthers erodes their relationship and forces The
Brotherhood to join forces TFR at the end.
Major Objectives





Intro and starting the mission
Find TFR
o Player travels to the general area where the vault is located and tracks
down TFR by exploring the area
o After finding TFR, the player can talk with them to know their side of
the story and decide if he wants to help them. Player acquires the
vault’s location if he decides to help
o Player can also kill them to get the vault’s location from the TFR
commanders’ corpse
Explore the Vault
o Eliminate Super Mutants
o Explore the vault and find weapons
Return Weapons
o Weapons can either be returned to TFR or to the Brotherhood of Steel
o If the player passes a talking challenge he can get both parties (TFR
and Brotherhood) to cooperate
o Player fails the mission if he decides to keep the weapons
o Player fails the mission if he kills The Brotherhood’s commander
Find The Husband (Side Mission)
o The husband of an old lady named Gertrud Gruba has gone missing
o Player travels to the Research Vault outskirts to look for the husband
and finds out a gang of Super Mutants killed him
o Returns with the bad news
o Gertrud now want the player to kill the Super Mutants and collect their
hearts
o Player collect the hearts and returns
o Mission ends
Technical Overview
Campaign

Name: Research Vault: This mission takes place after Fallout 3 ending and
sometime after Fallout New Vegas. The environment this mission takes place
is on a mountainous area hosting a secluded military base. The player arrives
at this place during the morning.

Level position in campaign: This mission is part of a larger campaign that
takes place in Texas. Before this mission took place, NCR invaded Texas and
several TFR members decided to launch an expedition to search for weapons
that could help them fight the invading force. After this mission, if TFR is
José M. Nieves
Page 3 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
successful they return with the weapons or with an alliance with The
Brotherhood. If they are not successful, NCR invades the city of Austin and
takes over Texas.
Mission Location




Setting: Washington DC Wasteland
Time of Day: Early evening and Night
Season: Post apocalyptic early summer
Weather: cloudy and sunny, then changes to cloudy and stormy
Mission Difficulty



Starting: (1 out of 5 ) No major encounters at this stage, the player is
basically just exploring the area
Middle: (3 out of 5) Exploration with some enemy encounters
Ending: (5 out of 5) Major difficulty setting as the player fights a considerable
amount of Super Mutants, also encounters several locked doors and turrets as
he explores the Vault.
Mission Metrics






Play Time: From 15 to 30 minutes
Physical Length: N/A
Physical Area:
o Approximately two blocks on the grid for the outside world. (2048 by
2048 GECK units, around 2.328 miles) and one block of 1024 by 1024
wide (1.167 miles), with two levels or floors for the inside world
Critical Path Length: Approximately 3075 GECK Units (3.501 miles)
New Characters: 5 new characters
o Brotherhood of steel
 Scribe Stogsdill – Main quest giver
 Paladin Gudger – Assigned to this mission against his will
 Knight Darren Sheely – Long time friend of Paladin Gudger
o Texas Federation Rangers
 Fernando Garnes – Gives the vault location
 Kelly Mondor – Knows the history of Texas after the “big war”
o Minor Character
 Gertrud Gruba – Old senile lady living on a cave
Max Visual Themes: 3
o Caverns – Transition area between DC Wasteland and Research Vault
outskirts
o Mountainous wasteland – Military land destroyed by war
o Research Vault – Vault infected with Super Mutants
Details
Theme/Mood
This level is about exploration with a few enemy encounters scattered throughout the
wasteland and vault. To achieve this goal the level contains:
 Medium sized explorable area with several points of interest
 Building ruins
 Destroyed military base
José M. Nieves
Page 4 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001


Fallout 3
Hangars and Vertibirds
Fire, smoke, lights and enemies to draw the players’ attention toward these
areas
The level gives a feeling of hopelessness, despair and of being in a place torn apart
by war, and makes use of the elements described above to create such mood.
Major Characters/Vehicles
o
Brotherhood of steel
 Scribe Stogsdill
 She belongs to The Order of the Sword scribes located at
the Citadel, and reports directly to Scribe Peabody.
Although she is not a fighter, she was entrusted by Scribe
Peabody to lead the mission to locate Vault 001 and
document the findings
Figure 2: Fallout 3 Scribe Concept Art - http://fallout.bethsoft.com


José M. Nieves
Paladin Gudger
 As a high ranked Brotherhood of Steel Paladin used to lead
squads into the heat of the battle, Paladin Gudger is not
happy that he has been delegated to second in command,
and is waiting for any mistake by Scribe Stogsdill to justify
taking over the mission.
Knight Darren Sheely
 Has fought many battles alongside Paladin Gudger and is
concerned about Scribe Stogsdill’s ability to lead
Page 5 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 3: Fallout 3 Paladin Concept Art - http://fallout.bethsoft.com
o
Texas Federation Rangers
 Commander Fernando Garnes
 Strategist, military mastermind and war hero. He organized
an attack against an army of Super Mutants residing in
Austin and successfully conquered the city. He has been
nominated several times as president of the Texas
Federation but he has declined every time because as a
president he would not be able to work “in the field”.
 On the face of a possible NCR invasion to the city of Austin,
and after finding information about the Research Vault 001,
he decided to launch an expedition to Washington DC and
find weapons that could give him the upper hand, and help
him expel NCR from Texas
 Officer Kelly Mondor
 Kelly was the first person to volunteer for the mission. Long
time admirer of Fernando and has been following him since
Fernando began uniting the different tribes of Texas. Kelly is
fast with the revolver and has a short temper
José M. Nieves
Page 6 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 4: Texas Federation Rangers
Gameplay Mechanics


Prerequisite Skills
o Lockpick
o Science
o Speech
o Any of the following weapon skills
 Energy weapons
 Big guns
 Melee weapons
 Small guns
 Unarmed
Skills Learned
o None
Story

Intro
o
The level starts with the player in front of Vault 101. When the Lone
Wanderer talks with Scribe Stogsdill, she explains their situation. The
Scribe says that they are looking for a band of murderous criminals
that are wandering the DC wasteland looking for a secret vault. Then
she then proceeds to ask the Lone Wanderer for help in locating the
José M. Nieves
Page 7 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001

Fallout 3
criminals, as they are currently not able to move from their location
because their Vertibird is broken.
In-Game
After accepting the mission, I talk with Scribe Stodsdill some more and she
tells me everything about her mission and how Paladin Gudger is watching
her every step, like he is waiting for something. After I am done talking with
her I decide to move over to Minefield and locate the cave. I walk into the
cave and find out that an old lady is living there, she seems pretty sad.
The old lady, named Gertrud Gruba, said that she has been living on the cave
for several years now with her husband. The place looks tidy and somewhat
well maintained, for a cave. She also mentions that her husband has been
missing for a few days now and is asking if I could go and search for him, I
agreed because she seems like a nice person.
I found Gruba’s husband near a Super Mutant camp, well, parts of his body.
Apparently he was searching for water when the Super Mutants spotted him.
They caught him and had him for dinner. I walked back to the cave and told
Gruba what happened and she was fuming! Now she wants me to kill them
and bring her their hearts, weird request. I returned with the hearts and she
went crazy, so I had to put her down. I am not happy about it but eh, such
are the ways of the Wasteland.
Moving on to my main task, while exploring the area Scribe Stodsdill
mentioned I found Fernando Garnes. He wanted me to spare a Stimpak to
help her companion, Kelly Mondor, apparently a band of Super Mutants
attacked them a few hours ago and she is badly hurt. I gave them the
Stimpak along with some other medical supplies and she seems to be doing
better now.
Fernando seems like a fine person, he came to the DC Wasteland all the way
from Texas searching for a Research Vault that is believed to have some
amazing weapons. They need these weapons to defend their home city of
Austin against an impending invasion by the NCR. I think these are the people
The Brotherhood wants me to find, but something is not right, they are not
anything like they described.
Since Kelly is still in bad shape, Fernando wants me to help him find the
weapons so he entrusted me with the Vault location. I move over to the vault
and find out it is infected with Super Mutants, what happened here?
While looking trough the Vaults’ documents I discover that the vault was a
main weapon research facility for the US government. As I get deeper into
the Vault the security is increasing, there’s locked doors everywhere, traps
and Turrets, I have a feeling I am close to the weapon storage area.
Found them! Time to go back to the camp!
Oh wait, what is this. The Brotherhood arrived. This is not good. I asked
Paladin Gudger where Scribe Stodsdill was and all he could mumble was that
she went searching for the Vault by herself several hours ago. I went to look
for the Scribe since she is the one with the brains in that group so I can
explain that Fernando is not what she think he is.
José M. Nieves
Page 8 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
I found Stodsdill captive at a Super Mutant camp. She was grateful to me
rescuing her and I used this to my advantage. I explained that the
“mercenaries” are part of an organization named Texas Federation Ranger
and that they needed the weapons to help fend an attack against the NCR.
She was furious to hear this as the NCR were the ones that contacted The
Brotherhood and told them to look out for the mercenaries. She asked me to
escort her back to the camp and so I did.
Once at the camp Scribe Stodsdill spoke with Paladin Gudger and they both
agreed to release the Rangers and share the technology.

Extro
o The mission ends when The Lone Wanderer makes both parties share
the technology.
o After leaving for the Citadel, TFR and The Brotherhood made a pact.
The Brotherhood would help them protect Austin in exchange of giving
them complete access to the Vaults in Texas.
o Shortly after making the pact, they left for Texas and arrived to Austin
just in time for the great battle. There were many casualties on both
the NCR and TFR, but the Rangers were able to successfully defend the
city with help from the Brotherhood.
Backstory
Shortly after the New California Republic (NCR) took over Hoover Dam in the Nevada
desert, they decided to expand their influence to the east of the United States. NCR
took over Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico easily, but encountered great
opposition in Texas in the form of an organization named “Texas Federation
Rangers”.
Inside one of the Vaults in Texas, TFR found a document that showed the location of
another vault in Washington DC that apparently holds a wide array of powerful
weapons. After this discovery, they decided to send a few of their members on an
expedition to find the vault, and bring back any weapons they can find.
NCR finds out about TFR expedition and decided to contact The Brotherhood of Steel,
located in Washington DC. NCR does not trust The Brotherhood, but since they have
spread themselves too thin throughout the Midwest, they had no other choice but to
exploit The Brotherhood’s interest in new technology. This would stop TFR from
collecting those weapons, and eventually could change the tide of the war.
The Lone Wastelander involvement in the story begins when he (or she) discovers a
Vertibird crash in front of Vault 101 and offers to help. The Brotherhoods commander
explains their mission and points him in the general direction where TFR could be
located.
Visual References
Terrain/Vegetation
José M. Nieves
Page 9 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 5: Burned trees to give the sense of being in a place affected by war
Figure 6: Burned forest surrounded by mountains. Example of mountainous area
surrounding the level
José M. Nieves
Page 10 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 7: DC Wasteland, example of the nuclear fog, mountains and military facilities
that gives the sense of a devastated area– IGN
Figure 8: Cheyenne Mountain. The level has a feel of a secluded military location –
norad.mil
José M. Nieves
Page 11 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 9: Cheyenne Mountain. Another view of NORAD showing the surroundings norad.mil
Models/Architecture
José M. Nieves
Page 12 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 10: Ruined buildings to evokes the feeling of despair and hopelessness
http://halsey.cofc.edu
-
Figure 11: Ruined building - http://www.aisk.org
José M. Nieves
Page 13 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 12: Example of the level environment, with clutter to give a sense or realismhttp://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk
Textures/Lighting
Figure 13: Example of the Vault lightning - IGN
José M. Nieves
Page 14 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 14: Another example of how the light affect the feel of the environment –
Fallout 3
Figure 15: Ruined building texture - Fallout 3
Characters/Vehicles
José M. Nieves
Page 15 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 16: Ranger concept
Figure 10: Lucas Simms – Example model for the Rangers Fallout 3
Rough Map
The numbers in these pictures represent the Gameplay flow
José M. Nieves
Page 16 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 17: Vault 101 entrance and Minefield cave
José M. Nieves
Page 17 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 18: Area outside Vault 001
José M. Nieves
Page 18 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3
Figure 19: Vault map
Quest Descriptions
Be more detailed than this, have sub-bullets for branching paths
José M. Nieves
Page 19 of 20
Level Abstract
Research Vault 001
Fallout 3

Main Mission: Research Vault
o Player accepts mission in front of Vault 101
o Player moves over to minefield cave
o After the player exits the cave he is at a mountainous area
o The player explores the area and finds the “mercenaries”
o The “mercenaries” ask for as stimpak, the player gives it to them and
then they ask for help
o The player agrees and gets the vault location from The Rangers
o Player walks to the vault, explores it and finds the weapons
o Returns to the camp only to find out that The Brotherhood is there and
the scribe has gone missing
o Player searches for the Scribe, finds her and convince her to share the
technology found with the Rangers and this completes the mission

Side Mission: Find the Husband
o The player enters the minefield cave and find a lonely woman inside
o She asks the player to locate his husband
o The player finds the body of the husband near a Super Mutant camp
o Player tell the old lady the news and now she wants him to kill the
Super Mutants, cut off their hearts and bring them back
o Player kill the mutants and return with their hearts and this completes
the mission
Assets
Here’s an example of adequate assets (just giving a general idea of major tiles and
objects).
Transition Cave
 Interior cave tileset
 Stove, bed and appropriate clutter to make a small habitable space
Exterior World
 Medium ten by ten world area with Wasteland terrain and textures
 Rocks covering the level outskirts to give the feeling of being around
mountains
 Destroyed buildings, rubble clutter and rocks to make interesting explorable
areas
Vault
 Ruined vault tileset
 Appropriate clutter to create the feeling of a ruined vault
o Assorted papers on the floor
o Gore bags
o Gore piles
o Destroyed furniture
 Gun cases
José M. Nieves
Page 20 of 20
Level Abstract