The world of Fallout 76 is full of curious places and events. The quests also have the classic Fallout humor. However, one particular quest drove our author Benedict to the brink of despair.
Fallout 76 offers many content that players can discover. Over 150 hours of material is scattered in side activities, and there is a main quest line that you can follow to discover the story of Fallout 76. However, a part of the main quest line is so clever that it almost drove our author Benedict crazy. And that, even though everything worked exactly as it should.
Warning! The following text contains massive story spoilers and the course of a complete quest from the main quest line.
Brotherhood of Steel, here I come!
The main quest line of Fallout 76 takes you through many factions that settled in Appalachia after the war and had their bases there. As a player, you learn their history and complete tasks for the people, even if they are already dead.
One of the factions is the Brotherhood of Steel, which you can also join and even must if you want to follow the story. However, that is not so easy.
The Brotherhood of Steel is an association of former military personnel who have made it their mission to gather, preserve, and archive technology for future generations. To be allowed to join, you must have served in the US military.
Off to basic training
After finding and exploring the Brotherhood of Steel’s base, I first have to join them as a new member via a terminal to gain access to the upper rooms. However, this requires a “military ID.”
To obtain this, I must complete the basic training for US Army soldiers. So far so good, as the enrollment is automated, and the corresponding Mr. Gutsies, including the sergeant, still exist.
So off to the training camp to complete the training. It consists of three parts:
- Shooting exercise
- Running training
- Tracking down communists
The quest series is short, entertaining, and relatively easy. I am now officially a soldier in the US military and may pick up an ID at City Hall. The next quest starts now. And that is where the real war begins … .
Paper war with bots
To pick up my official ID as a soldier, I need to go to the Capitol Building in Charleston, basically the city hall. Although it is completely destroyed, the bureaucrat bots and the automatic terminals still work.
Since no one else is alive except me and other Vault dwellers, it shouldn’t take too long to process an ID application. With the corresponding motivation, I enter City Hall and start the registration.
When creating the application, there are some funny options at the terminal. I decide to go with the name Private Parts (Haha) and live at Apocalypse Drive 1. With the printed application, I head to official bot KZB-Bot B2.
Take a number
This is where the actual fight against the windmills of bureaucracy begins. As someone who has already applied for passports and BAFöG in German offices, I consider myself somewhat hardened when it comes to bureaucratic processes. Far from it.
Bot B (I forgot his full name out of frustration) won’t accept my application. I must first take a number. Fortunately, the number printer is right next to me, and as I said, there is no one else alive.
I take a number and start the announcements. An announcement is now calling out numbers. Of course, I am not called immediately, but rather other waiting customers. They may not be alive anymore, but they are also not dead. Each one comes around the corner as a ghoul and attacks me.
Funny gag that really made me smile. However, I actually want my ID and to return to the Brotherhood. After 5 minutes of waiting for ghouls and distributing bullets, I can finally submit my application. By the way, the bot only addresses me by my drawn number … .
Documents incomplete
Now it’s back to waiting. The bot only replies: “Processing … processing … processing …” Shortly after, the next problem arises: The documents are incomplete. I need to prove that I live in Charleston by submitting a letter with an official US Post stamp.
This is somewhat difficult since the post no longer exists, but there are still mailboxes. I quickly leave City Hall and collect “spam” from the mailbox. I apparently won money or something. But it doesn’t really matter what’s inside; I just need the stamp.
“Processing …” Now the bot is missing another piece of paper. Some kind of digit sequence that forcibly made me think of pass request A 38. Alright, the reference is still funny, but the running around is starting to annoy.
I disappear into the next building in the archive, grab a blank application form, and submit it. “Processing …” All complete. Wonderful! Then I should be able to return to the Brotherhood with my ID. Or not.
Application complete! But …
In the matter-of-factly bored tone of a bureaucrat, the bot informs me that Department B is only responsible for extensions. For new applications, I should please contact Department C.
At this point, I was about to bite into my desk. But since all the documents were here, it shouldn’t take that long. Or?
I speak with Bot C, who tells me to please take a number. Again. So, take a number, start the announcement … kill ghouls that come running. One of the ghouls is even an elite enemy named “J46” or something. At least.
It doesn’t end
Finally, when it is my turn, I want to submit my application. But I’m not allowed to. “Prescribed second coffee break.” Coffee break. With a bot. Really? Well, at least it only lasts (still) 5 seconds.
However, Bot C informs me that an error has occurred. He gives me the error code, which I can look up on the terminal myself. The code reveals: I need a birth certificate with the governor’s stamp.
Fortunately, the governor’s office is just around the corner. A quick break-in, some minutes of fighting through either Burned, Ghouls, or Super Mutants, and press the seal from the office onto the documents. Done.
Can I leave …?
After I have submitted my certificate, the bot “processes” my application again. I’ve never attacked friendly NPCs anywhere else. By the way, they take no damage, but the bullets were worth it.
I finally have all the documents together and still have to take a photo. Fortunately, the camera is right behind me. A quick snapshot and the military ID is ready. Finally, I am allowed to return to the base and join the Brotherhood.
I would like to point out that although this quest annoyed me at the end, it made many acquaintances laugh. It will certainly remain in my memory for a long time. Certainly a successful design.
A little tip for all those who follow: Complete the quest from start to finish right away. If you log out in between, you will have to start over.
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