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Landview Lighthouse is a location in the Forest region of Appalachia in Fallout 76. It is located just southeast of Vault 76 and north of the overseer's camp.[Non-game 1]

Background[]

The origins of this landlocked lighthouse are as unusual as the lighthouse itself. Originally conceived as a theoretical concept by engineering students from Morgantown, the concept was ruthlessly mocked by students from a rival university. On a dare, the students decided to make the project a reality, and its construction became a point of pride for everyone involved. The project soon took on a life of its own.[1]

Before construction began, over a year was spent consulting with the lighthouse enthusiast community for general tips, guidelines, and pitfalls to avoid. From these conversations, it became clear that it could not come across as just another "tourist trap." It was determined that the lighthouse had to serve as a true aid to navigation, with a working light and authentic architectural design. It had to have an operating beacon and a 360-degree gallery deck for observation.[2]

The lighthouse was eventually erected in October of 2036. Tourists from all over flocked to the curious structure and raved about the beautiful view of the landscape it provided from atop the trees.[2] It was dedicated to Donald and Shirley Jamieson, the two professors who helped spearhead the project from the very beginning. The Jamiesons lived in the nearby house, where they served as lighthouse keepers full-time, keeping it functional solely on donation money from visitors.[1] Future students continued to develop the landscape over the years, by building a lighthouse keeper's house, a picnic pavilion and general reforestation to recover from previous timber harvests of the surrounding area.[2]

Landview Lighthouse is a 102-foot tall structure thousands of feet above sea level, with 76 steps to climb for visitors to reach the 360-degree gallery deck. The second-tier lamp room features a rotational Fresnel lens beacon capable of projecting a beam for over 25 miles. Guests on the 360-degree gallery deck could enjoy unrivaled views of various landmarks in all directions: Beyond the mountain to the north lays Grafton, a major shipping hub and railroad intersection for the area. To the east, Morgantown, home of Vault-Tec University and the founders of the lighthouse. In the distance was the "Top of the World" located at Pleasant Valley Ski Resort, featuring the highest elevation in the region. To the south is the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the longest bridges in Appalachia. On a clear day, the unmistakable silhouettes of the luxury mega mansions in Bramwell can also be spotted.[3]

MTG 0343 crop

At some point before Reclamation Day, the cultist Brother Moncrief died here while waiting for the Mothman. After the Vault Dwellers emerged from Vault 76, they began regularly summoning the Wise Mothman here by filling the lamp with bioluminescent fluid.

Additionally, a holotape titled "Where am I?" near a settler corpse at the picnic area indicates that a chem addict became so overwhelmed upon seeing a lighthouse in a landlocked state that he lost his mind and died.

Layout[]

A long dirt path leads up to the hill on which the lighthouse can be found. A few mole rats can be encountered on this trail. At the top, a small townhouse sits to the west and is inhabited by some feral ghouls. The first floor holds a basic kitchen and dining room, while the second floor is a bedroom with two skeletons inside: one lying on the bed and the other at a desk with a terminal on it. Directly across from the house is an American flag that waves on the edge of a cliff.

The lighthouse itself is positioned at the southern end of the area, and on its top floor are a number of different containers, including ammo boxes and duffle bags, as well as a sleeping bag, on which the skeleton of Brother Moncrief lies. The observation deck has an air sensor from which a holotape can be taken during the daily quest Ecological Balance. Inside the cupola is a footlocker that can be looted.

About 100 feet to the north, there is a small covered picnic area with a water pump.

Notable loot[]

  • Brother Moncrief's note - Note, on a crate on the top floor of the lighthouse, near Moncrief's skeleton.
  • Giant Teapot advertisement - Note, on the kitchen counter of the house, to the right of the sink.
  • Where am I? - Holotape, on a table in a covered picnic to the north of the lighthouse, next to a body on the table.
  • Two potential Vault-Tec bobbleheads:
    • Inside the lighthouse, on the highest level of the interior stairway.
    • Inside the nearby house, in the upstairs bedroom, on the desk between the typewriter and the lighthouse keeper's terminal.
  • Two potential magazines:
    • Directly north of the lighthouse, on a picnic table in one of the covered areas.
    • Inside the nearby house, on the dining table.
  • Potential armor mod/weapon mod plan - Underneath the bed on the second floor of the house, near a pillow on the ground.
  • Two potential weapon mods:
    • At the top of the lighthouse, next to the duffle bag.
    • Underneath the bed on the second floor of the house, near a pillow on the ground.
  • Potential recipe - In the house, on the wooden bookshelf to the left of the lighthouse keeper's terminal.
  • Six lighthouse souvenirs - At the base of the lighthouse, a good source of copper.

Notes[]

  • The Magic: The Gathering crossover card "Opulent Palace" depicts a red-eyed mothman near the lighthouse, with a second hovering nearby. In-game, only the purple-eyed Wise Mothman can be encountered here.
    • Moncrief may have been attempting to summon a Holy Mothman.

Appearances[]

Landview Lighthouse appears in Fallout 76 and in artwork for the Magic: The Gathering crossover.

Behind the scenes[]

  • Despite the fact that West Virginia is a landlocked state, the Summersville Lake Lighthouse is a real lighthouse that was erected above Summersville Lake in 2012.
  • Lead artist Nathan Purkeypile visited the real-world Summersville Lake Lighthouse while touring West Virginia. He had to prove to incredulous developers that such an oddity really existed in West Virginia, which led to its inclusion in-game.[Non-game 2] However, during development, the Landview Lighthouse was moved to be less visible upon exiting Vault 76, which Purkeypile jokingly described as a concession.[Non-game 3]

Gallery[]

References[]

Non-game

  1. Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p.287: "07. LANDVIEW LIGHTHOUSE
    This landmark oddity offers views of the surrounding countryside. To reach the lighthouse perched on the cliff, head south up the path that starts near the road to the north, near a covered picnic area. Check the upstairs and downstairs of the small white house for a couple collectibles. Explore a second covered picnic area for some light reading, a holotape, and some combat with the revolting deceased."
    (Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia)
  2. Bethesda Fallout 76 Interview ~ QuakeCon At Home 2020:
    Mark Tucker: "Well, I know our lead artist actually... he took a 'vacation' [air quotes], but while he was on vacation, was taking a lot of photographs. And apparently the people with him were like 'why are you taking all these pictures?' and [he was] like 'I don't know, it's just, y'know, really interesting...' And so he took a lot of photos, so we got a lot of photo reference there. That's one thing that I'm aware of that helped. Ferret can probably elaborate quite a bit more because he was more involved in those earlier stages than I was. But I do know that that has been, in the past, other projects have done that."
    Ferret Baudoin: "Yeah. Nathan Purkeypile was our location scout, like, he did an epic tour of West Virginia. And some of the goofiest things in there, like the Landview Lighthouse... Y'know, the first time I saw that on the list, I'm like 'dude, no way, we can't do that! I mean, Fallout's goofy enough!' And then he'd show a picture: 'there! It's there!' I'm like, 'fair enough!'"
  3. Fallout 4 Point Lookout Mod with Joel Burgess and Nate Purkeypile (1:12:42)
    Nathan Purkeypile: "I think we did move it so it wasn't quite as visible when you started the game, though, that was like one concession."
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