That 'Fallout' board game borrows from the series in clever ways
War might never change, but it definitely evolves with changing times.
We got our first peek at Fallout: Wasteland Warfare -- based on Bethesda's hit RPG series -- back in April, but now Fantasy Flight Games is back with more. If you've been wondering how Fallout could possibly work as a tabletop adventure, read on.
Wasteland Warfare is a miniatures game set in some of the familiar locations from Bethesda's entries in the series. Out of the box, you'll have scenarios set in The Capital Wasteland and The Pitt from Fallout 3, and The Commonwealth and Far Harbor from Fallout 4.
The game itself allows for one to four players, and it embraces the same sense of open-endedness that Fallout is known for. Maps are randomly assembled out of hex-shaped cards, with a few known locations at the start, but where you go and how you explore is your choice.
Like many other tabletop miniatures games, Wasteland Warfare appears to lean heavily on RPG-style stats and level progression. The game uses the same S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skill system that the series has always relied upon, with cards and tokens defining every aspect of your character.
Players (when there's more than one) are allowed to group up, but it's not required. If you prefer to explore and carve your own path, there are Vaults, settlements, and other points of interest to divert your attention away from the chosen scenario's story -- which plays out, naturally, as a series of quests.
Your goals vary according to the scenario you're playing, but the basic gist of any game will be to leave your mark in a meaningful way. Fallout video games have never placed many constraints on the player, and Wasteland Warfare seems to embrace the same thinking.
You're amassing an inventory, improving your skills, and juggling faction relationships as you move through the world, but that's "all in pursuit of gaining the most influence." Different scenarios introduce changing challenges and stories, but ultimately you're meant to be the star of your own post-apocalyptic adventure.
There's not a rulebook to look at, but Fantasy Flight's latest update amounts to a broad overview. If you're looking for even more detail, definitely give that a look. Fallout: Wasteland Warfare is expected to arrive at the end of 2017.
Topics Gaming
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
