Arwens Fallout 3 Journal

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Updated November 06, 2009

Arwen's Fallout³ Journal
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Nov 06, 2009:

It has been a busy couple of weeks, as I'm now very close to a Final released version of my Realism Tweaks. Version 3.0 was a MAJOR update, which included a LOT of changes and a reorganization of my mod into 6 modules. I released it late on Monday, but the new scripts in my Weapons module contained a couple of nasty bugs, so I immediately had to go to work on a patch, which I released on Wednesday. As soon as I was fairly sure that the bugs had been squashed, I went to work on version 3.0.1, which was just released this afternoon.

I'm currently nearly finished on an updated version of my VisionFX mod. Then I'm going to install the GOTY version of FO3 (which I've had for a week, but haven't even opened), and begin a new game.

Oct 23, 2009:

I'm currently working on version 3.0 of my Realism Tweaks . . . which is focused on improving the Weapons module and the Survival module, but also makes some changes to other modules.

This Week's Mod Updates:
Evergreen (added 10/23/09) v.1.3- adds live looking leaves and foliage to the scenery - available in three seasonal flavors.
Fallout 3 Re-Animated (added 10/23/09) v.22.1 - gives your character some more realistic animations (mostly weapon related).
Real Injuries Patch (added 10/20/09) v.2.4.2- tweaks for RI/PN and adds compatibility with BLTC, FOOK, and DLC.

Oct 13, 2009:

This Week's Mod Updates:

Arwen's Realism Tweaks (10/13/09) version 2.9.1 (minor update to fix a game freezing problem that a few users were having, and to increase compatibility with other mods (now 100% compatible with EVE - Energy Visuals Enhanced)
Arwen's VisionFX (10/13/09) version 1.0 - adds a bit of visual immersion when wearing sunglasses and reading glasses.

Oct 9, 2009:

This Week's Mod Updates:

Arwen's Realism Tweaks - many gameplay changes that make game play more immersive and more challenging, while improving balance. Now includes 8 independent modules, and a merged esp. (Includes new Weapons module.)
DarNified UI F3 - greatly enhances the appearance of the UI and increasing visual feedback (this new version includes my requested Combat Indicator).
EVE - Energy Visuals Enhanced - this mod will make you start using energy weapons.
KTs_Centercamera - centers the over-shoulder camera - gives you Oblivion's 3rd person view perspective (does not remove sneak messages).
Real Injuries Patch - tweaks for RI/PN and adds compatibility with BLTC, FOOK, and DLC

Sept 28, 2009:

I just updated my mod list to ensure that it gives the latest versions for all the mods. I'm currently working on another update for my Realism Tweaks . . . which should improve the SmarterAI module and the Armor module a bit . . . and will include a brand new Weapons module. (This should hopefully be ready within a few days.)

Previous news is in my
News Archive Page

Update (9/22/09): I just changed over to a higher priced hosting package, which should now allow me to keep my site online for the entire month. My website is now averaging 3000 hits per day, which is 4 times the amount of traffic it was getting just a year ago (69,000 hits so far this month). I'm thrilled about this, but success comes with a price, as I was exceeding my monthly allotted bandwidth (which meant that my site would be unavailable during the last week of each month).

Welcome to my Fallout 3 Journal!

Fallout³ was released by Bethesda on October 28, 2008, and I didn't immediately run out and buy it. The thing is that I just never got very interested in the game, and didn't even follow its development of the forums, like I had with both Morrowind and Oblivion - which were also created by Bethesda (who didn't create the Fallout series . . . just this latest installment of it.) I was just not all interested in Fallout, since it didn't seem to be the type of RPG that I would enjoy much.

But then I made the mistake of checking out the Fallout mods forums to see what mods were now being made for the game, now that it has been out for a few months . . . and I got hooked on some of what I was seeing and reading there. Anyhoo, I ordered the game at the end of February - and guess what? Fallout was a bit of a surprise for me . . . in a good way. I was worried that I wouldn't even like the game, but I found it surprisingly fun to play (once I fixed some of my biggest game issues with mods).

See Playing Fallout 3 - My First Impressions for my short Fallout 3 review.

My Character

Here's a screenshot of my Fallout character, shortly after she escaped from Vault 101. She's more than a little uneasy about suddenly finding herself all alone in a whole new world.

For more about my character and on her adventures in the Capitol Wasteland, you can check out the Trials of a Wasteland Wanderer, which is the fantasy story part of my Fallout³ Journal. (There's also quite a bit there about Fallout3 and the Fallout game world as well.)

Fallout 3 Expansion Packs

Fallout 3 Game Ad-On Pack: Broken Steel and Point Lookout is now available on DVD (9/07/09)

Fallout 3 Expansion Pack: Operation Anchorage & The Pitt was released on DVD on May 26.

Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition? According to Amazon.com, the FO3GOTY edition will be released on October 13th.
Note: I have yet to see a confirmation of this by Bethesda.

Arwen's Realm

Are you new to Oblivion? Do you need some help with this game? Are you having trouble with MODs? Or do you just have questions or comments about my journal? Or do you just want to join a friendly moderated forum (where members actually respect each other.)

I've put together a place called Arwen's Realm, and this is my personal invitation for you to become a member.

I Need My Shades . . . because the Wasteland is a very harsh place

One of My New Object Effects (my own unique ImageSpace modifier)

Without Sunglasses Wearing Sunglasses

When I put on my sunglasses in my game (by activating them), the glare from the sun is actually reduced. This does not happen in the vanilla game. My VisionFX mod simulates wearing real sunglasses by reducing the harshness of the lighting when you equip a pair. This was done by creating my own unique ImageSpace modifiers, which kick in when you put on a pair of the game's default sunglasses. The cool thing is that these work like real auto-tinting sunglasses, so they also work indoors. The effect only works fully if you have HDR enabled in your game. I also created a different effect for reading glasses. And, as a bonus, I fixed all the default eyewear so that you can wear them with most hats and helmets.

Updated 5/27/09:

Playing Fallout 3 - My First Impressions

March 5, 2009:

Fallout was a bit of a surprise for me . . . in a good way. I was worried that I wouldn't even like the game, but I found it surprisingly fun to play.

Yes, I have same major issues with some parts of the game (such as the excessive blood and gore), but I was expecting that. What I wasn't expecting was such an interesting game world. And some things, such as the world not leveling up with you, are definite improvements over vanilla Oblivion. So far I've only met a few characters after completing the vault tutorial (other then the ones who were only interested in killing me). But the characters that I have interacted with in Fallout 3 have been a very welcome improvement.

I also love the fact that I have some actual dialog choices in the game, so I can often pick a response that is at least somewhat in sync with my character.

Updated 3/29/09: I tried playing the vanilla game just to see what it was like, and to see if I could handle it. In order to grow, one needs to push the comfort walls every now and then (and I have trouble handling violence). As expected, I didn't last very long at all and began adding mods to my game. Reducing the gore was one of my first priorities (right after adding a larger section of hair styles for my character).

I'm now playing a heavily modded version of the game, and have been able to fix most of my own issues that I had with the vanilla game. These mods have transformed Fallout 3 into a more realistic and much more immersive game. I've basically taken what I learned with improving Oblivion, and have applied it to Fallout 3 (but with some very different specific focuses, since the two games are quite different). Most of the mods that I've added were chosen because they were made to improve realism and immersion, but I was also able to mod out much of the gore (that I really didn't need). If you're interested, my Fallout 3 mod list begins HERE.

Arwen Note: I'll only be able to support the PC version of the game, and I won't be including any mods that rely on any of the DLC add-ons (at least for a while).

April 13, 2009: Now that I've been playing for exactly one month, I figured that it was time for a bit of an update. Basically I'm having a blast! My biggest complaint is that I'm not able to play nearly as much as I would like (due to being near the end of my final semester at my university). I'm now playing a rather heavily modded version of the game (~ 60 mods), which has made some major improvements on what was already a pretty amazing RPG. Yes, there is way too much focus on combat (yeah, I know, the wasteland is a harsh place, so this isn't supposed to be a walk in the park) but the immersion factor has been incredible for me.

Ok, so I have a pretty good imagination, but this is what actually happened to me a few nights ago. I had played the game for an hour or so just before going to bed - and after my computer had been been off for a few minutes - just for a second I began wondering where Dogmeat (my canine companion in Fallout) had disappeared to. The funny thing was that I had just noticed that I no longer heard him panting, so I felt like I had to look for him in the real world. Ok, so the feeling only lasted a second - and way too many nights in a row without getting nearly enough sleep likely was a factor - but I've never had a game experience follow me into the real world to that extent before. So just saying that Fallout 3 has been an immersive game experience for me is a bit of an understatement.

Below is a very recent screenshot from my modded game. Dogmeat and I had just had a very rough day in the Wasteland, trying to get to and from the National Archives. We were both hurting and tired and I was limping rather badly and really needed to get to a doctor (or at least find some more bandages soon). I took this shot just outside of Megaton (where I just aquired a house). I was taking a short break under a full moon, with my furry best friend (who tries his best to protect me.) And we're a pretty awesome team.

I'll try to add a daytime shot soon, as this one is rather dark (well, it is the middle of the night and there aren't many artificial lights out here).

Fallout Links (off site)

Arwen's Realm (my forum) - The is usually the FASTEST way to contact me. If you are new to Fallout and need some help with this game, or are having trouble with mods, or just have questions or comments about my journal - just drop in and post a message. I've put together a place called Arwen's Realm, a friendly little moderated forum community (where members actually respect each other) - and this is my personal invitation for you to drop by and become a member.

Fallout 3 Nexus - Arwen Note: this is my favorite place on the net to find Fallout 3 mods.

Official Fallout³ Site - Bethesda Softwork's Fallout³ home page.

The Vault (Fallout Wiki) - "a community that aims to create the best resource for the Fallout series of games, including Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and their spin-offs."
Arwen Note: this is a great place to find Fallout resources, such as lore (for the entire series), maps, and much more.

next: Fallout³ journal index page