Nursery design document/1

Publication
1
Author	John Deiley
Publisher	Interplay (leaked internal document)
Release date	October 1, 2005
Download	see main page of document
Connection	Nursery design document
Next	Part 2

The following is based on Van Buren design documents and is not canon.

This is part 1 of the Nursery design document for Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios.

The following is the original document or a transcript thereof.

Overview

The Nursery Version 1.0 9/12/2003 11:55:00 PM

“Near as I can figure, some really smart scientists built the Nursery before they decided to let the bombs fly. Like most Pre-War things, you kind of wonder what the hell was rattling in their heads when they were whipping up all these gadgets and gizmos.”— Harold, the Ghoul.

The Nursery: You find yourself standing at the edge of a canyon, looking into a valley below. The valley is green and filled with lush vegetation as far as the eye can see. At the head of the canyon is a lake of crystal blue water, not the murky brown of the wasteland. A river flows from the lake, down the center of the valley, and vanishes into the far canyon wall. Bordering the lake, you can glimpse several buildings, but the details are blurred by distance.

The Nursery is a miracle of pre-war engineering. It is a self-contained balanced ecological system set within a deep canyon. The valley floor of the canyon is rife with the flora and fauna of times past. At the head of the valley is a lake of crystal blue water that feeds a river. The river flows from one end of the valley to the other, disappearing into the canyon wall. Bordering the lake are several buildings that house the maintenance equipment that keeps the Nursery functioning.

The Nursery is located southwest of Denver Colorado near the Black Canyon National Park. The rim of the canyon is approximately a mile above sea level and the canyon itself is approximately a half mile deep. This area was chosen as the home for the Nursery because of its isolated location, its protected status as a national park, and it was deemed least likely to be effected by a war (or most capable of recovering from such effects).

The Nursery will be composed of the following maps:

Map area	Transition	Map #	Map size	Complexity
Spillway 1	Full Party		Small	Mist filled cave
Spillway 2	Full Party		Small	Vault like
Nursery, Greenhouse Ext.	Full Party		Large	Vegetation filled valley, river
Nursery, Greenhouse Int	Full Party		Large	Vegetation filled greenhouse
Nursery, Outdoors	Full Party		Large	Vegetation filled valley, river
Nursery, Control	Full Party		Large	Vegetation filled valley, river, and buildings
Factory 1	Full Party		Small	Factory interior, damaged
Factory 2	Full Party		Small	Factory interior, damaged
Power Plant	Full Party		Small	Cavernous underground
Tower	Full Party		Small	Tower interior
Repository	Full Party		Medium	Laboratory interior, damaged

The goal of the area is the following:

1. Foreshadowing: The Nursery is intended to give the player a feeling of hope for the future. It can be viewed as the last surviving remnants of Mother Nature, the last hope of the earth being returned to its former glory.
2. Threat of destruction: The Nursery has suffered several technological malfunctions that could, if not tended to, ultimately lead to its destruction. The player will have the opportunity to restore functionality.
3. Threat of contamination: The Nursery has suffered a biological accident that is threatening to wipe out major sections of the plant life it contains. The player will have the opportunity to re-establish the status quo or to encourage the changes.
4. Possible plague vaccine: The Nursery is currently run by a sophisticated robo-brain that has extensive medical knowledge at her disposal. The player can convince the curator to download this knowledge into his pipboy.

Area History

In the early days before the bomb, scientists around the country were pondering how to save mankind from the ravages of war. Eventually their musings gave birth to a company named Vault-Tek, and the vaults. Over the next decade some of the most ambitious underground construction took place throughout the United States as hundreds of vaults were built. Into these shelters, the people and the hopes, of a nation could retreat in times of war.

The Environmental Protection Agency viewed the vaults as only half the solution. Their concern was not only the salvation of mankind, but nature as well. With this in mind, they proposed yet another type of vault, but on a much grander scale. This vault would be used by Mother Nature herself, where she would patiently await the re-emergence of man. When the survivors of the war came forth to reclaim the earth, the Garden of Eden would await them. Thus the Nursery was conceived.

The construction of the Nursery posed quite a problem, however. It was agreed that it could not be built underground like the vaults. Nature needed the sun, the wind, and the rain to flourish. And yet, if exposed and open, how could it possibly survive? The only conceivable answer was that it must be located in an isolated area, free from influence man, and the ravages of war. A search for such a location began.

Computers were fed massive amounts of data detailing the effects of war, where the bombs were likely to strike, and how the devastation would spread. Information about air currents, weather patterns, and the conditions that the Nursery would need to survive were then added to the equation. Finally, topographical maps of the nation input, and the machines were asked to choose.

It took years, but a choice was made. A single canyon was found to house the Nursery, deep in the mountains, shielded from the influence of both man and war. Soon afterward the most ambitious project conceived by the minds of men was devised: a self contained, self sustaining ecological system, with the capacity to reproduce itself. Of course, the expense of such an enterprise could not be footed by the government alone. The project was put up for bid in the private sector.

Derek Greenway was a scientist working under the employ of Poseidon Energy. When it became apparent that Poseidon was more interested in the development of weapons of destruction, and less in the saving of mankind, Derek resigned and started his own company. Greenway Hydroponics, with its turnip headed stick man logo Mr. Green, was the result.

Over the years Derek's company prospered due to their state of the art innovations in farming technology. When the Nursery project was put up for bid it was only natural that Greenway Hydroponics won and construction was began.

Area Composition

The Spillway:

It is here that the river that exits the valley of the Nursery, is strained, purified, and then recycled for irrigation.

The Nursery:

The Nursery is divided into three major sections: the Valley, the Gardens, and the Control Facility. The Control Facility is further divided into four sections: the Factory, the Repository, the Power Plant, and the Control Tower.

The Valley:

This is the actual canyon floor that houses the Nursery and its facilities. It is filled with lush vegetation and samples of wildlife. A river teeming with fish divides the valley in twain. The western end of the valley houses the Gardens, while the eastern end houses the Control Facility.

The Gardens:

This large greenhouse straddles the river of the valley for about half a mile. It is subdivided into four sections. Each section contains the flora and fauna of one of the major climate zones of the United States. The gardens are maintained by a vast network of irrigation pipes, computer equipment, and a small army of robots.

The Factory:

This is a fully automated production facility capable of creating the legendary GECK, the Garden of Eden Creation Kit. Each kit can be supplied with the appropriate flora and fauna from any area in the continental United States, and comes complete with detailed operations manuals. The kits can be distributed by various automated transportation systems such as truck, train, or verti-bird.

The Repository:

Within these walls are sperm and egg samples of a diversity of animal life in the United States. The Repository also contains a computerized gestation environment, the CGE, capable of giving birth to each of the various species.

The Power Plant:

The Geothermal Power Plant is the ultimate in power systems. Relying entirely on thermal energy converted into usable electricity, this plant stands ready to provide all the power needs of the Nursery. It is self sustaining, self repairing, and, in case of unforeseen emergencies, it boasts a crew of robotic repairmen ready to tackle any situation that may arise.

The Control Tower:

This is the heart of the Nursery. It is here that all data pertaining to maintaining the many facilities is collected, correlated, and digested. A state of the art robo-brain then decides on the appropriate course of action necessary to keep operations at an optimum level.

The Helipad:

The helipad provides access to the Nursery via helicopter. Once construction is completed and production begins, the helipad will be disabled to prevent unauthorized entry.

Locations

The Spillway

Entry to the Nursery is through a small cave in a mountainside. The cave meanders a short distance before it dead ends at a spillway for the river. Water under pressure flows from a manmade nozzle in the cave wall and arcs toward an opening in the cave floor. Water striking the wall is aerated and then falls into the hole below, much like a heavy rain. Within the hole is a fine grate that captures debris from the river. A set of stairs surrounding the hole leads down to yet another secure door.

The hole contains the filtration plant for the river. Debris captured by the grate is collected by crab-like scurry robots. The debris is then separated into organic and non-organic piles and taken to grinders where it is recycled. The water falls into a natural underground cavern where it is filtered through the water table. Finally, the water empties into yet another reservoir where it is pumped to the surface to replenish the river at its source. The filtration plant is powered by the geothermal power plant beneath the Nursery. However, in case of emergencies, the plant has a trio of hydro-electric generators for back up.

The filtration plant is overseen from a nearby control center. Here small contingents of robot wardens carefully watch the entire process. Most of these robots are simple maintenance droids capable of making the necessary decisions to keep the plant functional. However, the plant supervisor is a more sophisticated model capable of making command decisions independent of the main computer of the Nursery. He also has a small contingent of security bots armed with stun weapons at his disposal.

To gain entry to the Nursery the player must get by the locked security door in the spillway. This can be accomplished several ways (regardless of the method used, the door will be repaired within an hour of its use):

1. Combat boy: Can use bash the door open with the proper weaponry. (attacking the door will activate the security robots)
2. Diplomacy boy: Can convince the robot supervisor in the filtration plant to open the door.
3. Science boy: Can program the computer in the filtration plant to open the door.
4. Stealth Boy: Can hack the electronic portion of the lock to open the door or blow it open with explosives.

Once opened, the door reveals a long hallway that slopes upwards and rises through several switchbacks. This hallway is patrolled by more security robots; however, their weaponry is of the deadly variety. At the opposite end of the corridor is another secure door. It can be opened using the same methods as the previous door (regardless of the method used, these doors will be repaired within an hour of their use).

The robot workers in the filtration plant pose a small threat to the player. Anyone attempting to tamper with any equipment will be asked to stop. Failure to do so will result in the workers trying to gently remove the player. If combat ensues, the supervisor will order the workers to retreat and initiate a lockdown of the plant. The workers will then flee to recharges stations located throughout the area and seal themselves in. At this point the supervisor will try to deal with the player diplomatically. If this fails, he will call upon security robots to deal with the player.

The robot supervisor can be spoken to and possibly reasoned with. The following can be revealed to the player:

1. An earthquake recently rocked this area.
2. The master computer has not issued any directives since the earthquake.
3. The filtration plant lost power and had to switch to the emergency system.
4. The percentage of water loss throughout the closed system appears to be on the rise.
5. The master computer recently granted a human female access to the Nursery. She has not been seen leaving.
6. The only other person to have been granted access to the Nursery was a ghoul. However, that was several years ago. The ghoul has not been seen leaving either.

Finally, the cave that houses the spillway can be a small combat area. Wasteland animals could use the area as a lair because of the abundant water supply and organic matter that can be used as food.

Scripting:

1. Locked security door.

   There are two proper ways of doing this. The first is to get the Supervisor to open the door. The second is to hack the computer and get it to open the door. If either of these methods is used the door opens without consequences.

   If an improper method is used (attacking the door, hacking the door, etc) the security bots will then spawn and attack the player.

2. Messing with equipment.

   The player can mess with things here (certain objects will be dynamic I guess). If he does, the worker robots need to ask him to stop. If he does not stop within 30 seconds they will ask again. If he still does not stop then the Supervisor is summoned.

   The Supervisor should auto initiate dialog with the player. The outcome of dialog will determine his level of hostility to the player. If hostile, he will order all robots to their recharging bays. Security robots will then spawn and attack the player.

   If the security robots are destroyed, the Supervisor will offer the player whatever he wants to prevent further destruction. This could include opening the secure door, shutting down the plant until further notice, or any number of other options. We can determine which option via flags that are set in game.

The Valley

This area is to be used for exposition purposes. It is intended to show the earth as it was in the golden era of the 50's, and instill hope that at some point it could return to such a state. The valley is lush with vegetation and wildlife. Grass, flowers, and trees are abundant here. Wolves, mountain lions, badgers, and raccoons (to name a few) flourish here and show no fear of man. However, there are some telltale signs that all is not as it should be.

The water level along the river banks appears to be receding as well as that of the lake. Patches of grass are beginning to turn brown in some areas. Trees further away from the river are starting to show signs of dehydration. In most areas lamps are not lit, computer equipment does not work, and door locks have failed.

For the most part, the player can wander the valley at leisure and explore. There are no dangers here with the exception of the greenhouses. This area is terrorized by wandering bands of carnivorous plant life that will attack animal life on sight. Examination of the greenhouse will show that these creatures escaped through small cracks in the glass that seem to have been formed very recently. The greenhouse itself is in lockdown mode and cannot be entered.

The carnivorous plants will ignore the player but attack indigenous animal life. If the player intervenes he will be marked as a target for attack from that point forward. The plants can be eradicated but they will return unless they are halted at their source. This can only be accomplished by gaining access to the greenhouses.

It should begin to be obvious to the player that the Nursery has undergone some recent catastrophe that has damaged its systems. The most apparent damage is to the power systems and the greenhouse. He can continue to explore the area or begin to search for the cause of the failures and how to deal with them. Game play at this point moves to the Control Facility.

While exploring this area the player can become involved in the following:

1. Animal defense. An animal lair is under siege by a group of aggressive plants. The player can choose a side to support (aiding the plants does not make them the players friend).
2. Lake infestation. The lake is infested with a version of the hag-snake. The player should find their lair (a cave behind the waterfall) and destroy it.
3. Marauding plants. Bands of plants wander about and try to slay any animal life that the find. The player can destroy them.

Scripting:

1. Random encounters

   The player can run into various animals and plants while wandering the Nursery. If he encounters an animal it will be wary but stare at him with curiosity. If it is a plant it will pause for a few seconds, giving the player the feeling he is being watched, and then continue on.

   If the player attacks an animal they will flee. Any further encounters with animals will result in their fleeing. If the player attacks a plant it will attack back. Any further encounters with plants will result in their attacking.

2. Animal defense

   The player can encounter an animal lair that is being besieged by a group of plants. The player can either choose a side to defend or just watch. Defending the animals will set them as friendly to the player and plants as an enemy. Defending the plants will leave them as neutral to the player and set animals to enemy.

   If the player has already been marked as an enemy by animals due to random encounter attacks, this can repair animal faction and make them friendly again. However, plants remain as enemies even if the player aids them in this encounter.

3. Lake infestation

   The creatures in the lake are enemies of all and will attack on sight. There is nothing the player can do to befriend this faction.

The Control Facility

This area is to be used for exposition purposes. It is intended to show the stark reality of the damage that has occurred here in contrast to the beauty of the surrounding valley. It is here that the player will see the true nature of the catastrophe that has befallen the Nursery. The control facility has been wracked by an earthquake that has literally shattered the area. The buildings are in various stages of ruin, fissures have opened in the ground in several places, and the area appears to be powerless.

It should be obvious to the player that, unless power is restored, this area is dead. Finding the power source for the many facilities should be the player's first goal. The control facility can be explored freely; there is little danger here except for random encounters.

Two minor parts of the control facility are the helipad and the hedge maze.

The helipad was originally used to gain access to the Nursery during its construction. It now lies in ruin because of the earthquake that ravaged the area. Sitting on the pad is the remains of a helicopter that was destroyed in the quake. There is nothing else of interest here.

The hedge maze is a simple manor house garden maze. The plants are well trimmed and the path clear of debris and weeds. However, it is home to some of the carnivorous plants that are plaguing the Nursery. Creeping vines, thorn sprayers, and tangle weeds have taken root here. They have inadvertently turned the maze into a trap for unwary animals that wander in.

Note: The maze is not meant to be difficult to navigate. It was simply a fanciful addition to the Nursery during its construction.

Scripting:

1. The maze

   If the player enters the maze plants will spawn at all the entrances/exits to the maze after a minute. This will simulate it being a trap of sorts.

2. Random encounters

   The same rules apply here as in the Valley.

The Factory

This is the production center for the GECKs. A conveyor belt winds its way around a variety of robotic arms that assemble the kits. At the end of the line is another conveyor belt that delivers the finished product to the distribution center below. Next to the assembly area is a huge chasm that has split the building in twain. The ruins of the testing center for the GECKs can be found here. On the opposite side of the chasm is the control center for the factory. A pair of lift tubes here leads to the distribution center below and the control tower access above. Central to the distribution center is a small train station with a side rail. Currently the side rail holds a flatbed car with a semi-truck upon it. The main rail holds a locomotive with a boxcar attached. The distribution center also acts as a warehouse for finished products and the parts required for their manufacture. Next to the warehouse are a series of robot charging stations and two lift tubes. The first lift connects to the upper level of the factory and the second to the power plant.

When the player enters the factory he will find that it has been overrun by creeping vines. These plants have wound themselves throughout the machinery and are clogging up just about everything. The plants seem to be living off the seed packets intended for the GECKs. Inspection of the conveyor belts shows that the plants are currently winding their way along the belt toward the level below.

Lodged among the plants is an unusual robo-brain shell. Instead of the usual housing that contains a human brain, this shell contains a sophisticated remote control apparatus. Careful inspection reveals that the remote control is removable and that a 'brain' module can then be inserted. Unfortunately, this shell has been severely damaged.

Before the factory can be made operational the player will need to clear out the vines as well as restore power. One possible way to do this would be to use an herbicide (which can be obtained in the Garden). Another choice would be to burn them out. A controlled blaze (or maybe a flame thrower) would not damage most of the equipment here. However, just setting fire to the place would.

The robo-shell is used by the main computer for inspection of the Nursery. It can be used remotely or, by having her 'brain' transferred into it, directly. The damage to the shell is severe and will require replacement of the motivational units. Also, the radio receiver will need to be replaced. Once this is accomplished the power cell can be replaced (or recharged) and the shell will function.

As for the lower level, the main thing here will be to get the train system functional. Once power is restored to the factory the trains will start to recharge their power sources. However, the sealed doors will not open due to damage. The player will need to patch power to the door locks to get them to open.

Scripting:

1. Removing vines

   The vines here can be removed by using an herbicide. Another method would be to use a controlled burn such as a flame thrower. It sounds dramatic, but you can control the damn thing. The player could also just pour oil on the plants and set them on fire. However, this would be a dirty burn that would then require the machinery to be hosed down.

2. The elevators

   Unless power is restored, they don't work. We can do the same thing that we did in Fallout 1. If the player has rope and clicks on the descending shat then it ties the rope there and lets him go down. If the player has a grappling hook and a rope and clicks on an ascending shaft then it hooks the rope there and lets him go up.

3. The robo-brain shell

   This is a simple repair job. If the player has the proper parts and the appropriate skill he can repair the shell.

4. Train station doors

   The player will need a power cable that can be stretched from a power outlet (robot recharge bay) to the door panel. This will provide power to the doors and make them functional.

The Repository

The Repository is a sight to behold. The walls are lined floor to ceiling with pairs of vials set into small niches. Each niche has a plaque beneath it with cryptic inscriptions such as Felis Libyca or Canis Lupus. At the rear of the building is a complex looking piece of machinery with a glass dome. The dome has been cracked due to debris falling from the roof. A series of flashing red lights along a side panel indicates that the machine is functional, but a fault has occurred. At the front of the building is a hologram showing the Nursery valley.

The Repository contains sperm and egg samples from a variety of wildlife throughout the United States. The samples are kept frozen until artificial insemination is ready to begin. The building also contains a computerized 'womb' in which samples can gestate to maturity, at which point they are released into the valley. The computer carefully controls which species are released and in what numbers. The ratio of predator to prey is finely balanced. Two service-bots run the entire process.

The building is also patrolled by two battle-bots. These sentries will not take kindly to anyone tampering with anything within these walls. However, if the player can convince the bots that he is there to repair malfunctioning equipment he will be allowed to do so.

This is the only building within the area that currently has power. When the power plant went off-line, the main computer diverted all available backup power to the Repository to keep it functional. However, the system is currently in standby mode and will remain so until the main power is restored. Also, the 'womb' has been damaged by falling debris. It can be repaired by replacing the glass dome.

Once the player enters this building he will have to deal with the battle bots in one form or another.

1. Combat boy: Beat the living crap out of them. Violence does, after all, solve everything.
2. Diplomacy boy: Talk to the bots. Convince them that he wants to repair, not destroy.
3. Science boy: Shut down the bots. They must have some sort of on/off switch.
4. Stealth Boy: Sneak by the bots, find the damn off switch.

Once the Repository is fully functional an option opens for the player. He can program the 'womb' to produce and animal companion. There are several choices available: a grizzly bear, a large panther, a wolf, or a badger (I don't want to get into the DnD 'dire' animals here but these critters should be above average so that they can hold their own). In any case the computer will need to be programmed to allow this, part of the animals creation will involve imprinting it will the desire to follow and obey the player. If he just has the machine pop out an animal 'as is' he will find that it wants to put him on the lunch menu.

Some thoughts on the animals are listed below.

1. Grizzly bear: This animal is huge, slow, and obviously a carnivore. It hits hard and for a good amount of damage. When close to death it goes berserk and does double damage. It is not accepted in towns and no amount of diplomacy will change that.
2. Panther: This animal is large, fast, silent, and obviously a carnivore. It hits good and does a fair amount of damage. It can sometimes surprise its prey, but usually depends on its great speed to reach enemies before they have a chance to react. It is questionable as to whether or not it would be accepted in a town. Perhaps if leashed with a chain.
3. Wolf: This animal is large, silent, and stealthy. It is often mistaken for a dog. It hits good and does fair damage. It has the advantage of stealth and can take enemies by surprise. It would most likely be accepted in town as a dog. It may not be required to be leashed so long as it displays obedience.
4. Badger: This animal is average, tenacious, and viscous. Most people wouldn't know what to think of it. It hits good and does fair damage. However, it doesn't let go of anything it hits and continues to do damage each combat round. It would probably be allowed in towns. Most people would consider it a curiosity until it bit them.

Scripting:

1. Battle robots

   These robots will auto initiate dialog and warn the player away. Through dialog the player will have the opportunity to try and convince them that he means no harm to the facility. If successful they will allow him entry.

   If dialog fails, the robots begin a thirty second countdown. During this time the player can try to access the side panel of the robot and reprogram it, find the off switch on one of the control panels inside, or prepare for a fight.

2. Repair the CGE

   This is a simple repair job. If the player has a robo-brain dome and the appropriate skill he can accomplish the task.

3. Restoring power

   This is a long and drawn out process that is covered in several areas. What needs to be done here is to press the reset button. If power has been restored and the jury-rigged cable removed then the place powers back up.

4. Animal companions

   This requires a punch card with the proper information imprinted on it. The player can choose and an animal and insert the card. Said animal will then be ready in X amount of time. However, when born it will not follow the player or obey his commands. In order to receive a proper companion a second punch card must be used that has the appropriate commands imbedded in it. When both cards are used the player receives a companion that will follow his instructions.

The Power Plant

This cavern serves two purposes. First, it is the final stage of the natural purification process of river water. The water cascades down several waterfalls until it comes to rest in a reservoir. From there it is pumped up to the lake above. Second, a part of the river water is diverted to the geothermal power plant. Here the water is converted to steam to power a trio of turbines.

Upon investigating this area the player will discover three faults. First, the pipe that carries river water to the heat exchanger in the power plant has broken. The water now flows freely into the thermal vent and is converted to steam. Second, the floor of the reservoir appears to have cracked. A whirlpool has formed and is slowly draining away the water. It will be necessary to repair both faults to bring the power plant online. Finally, the reservoir has been infested with hag-snakes like the lake above. These creatures wander freely down here and attack anything on sight.

Repairing the power plant will not be an easy task for the player. First, a way must be found to repair the pipe that delivers water to the heat exchanger. There are a few ways that this could be done:

1. Combat boy: Find pipe. If owner of pipe disagree with it being taken, then beat the crap out of them. There will be areas where this is possible. The Spillway for example could have a pipe but it is currently in use. Taking it would piss off the security bots.
2. Diplomacy boy: Am appropriate piece of pipe could be found at the Jericho water plant. Perhaps the foreman could be talked into relinquishing it.
3. Science boy: Draw up a set of plans for the new part and have it made somewhere. Of course, the power to the repository could be diverted to the factory just long enough for a replacement to be made...
4. Stealth Boy: Steal the plans for a similar part and have it made somewhere. Or do the power diversion routine above.

In any case, once the part is found/made then it will need to be installed. This can be done by using one of the scurry-bots from the spillway. The robots are made to crawl around on unstable sections of grating in the hole and carry away debris. This would be a simple matter for one of them to complete. Some thoughts on how to do this:

1. Combat boy: Beat the crap out of everything except one of the scurry bots. Then take the damn bot where it is needed.
2. Diplomacy boy: Talk nicely to the robot warden until he agrees to loan the player one of the robots.
3. Science boy: Program one of the bots to follow him to the power plant and perform the task.
4. Stealth Boy: Sneak into the maintenance room of the spillway and abscond with one of the bots there.

The second task involved in this area is the repairing of the reservoir floor. Unless this is done quickly the water in the closed system will drain away and everything will shut down again. In order to accomplish this, the player will need to have the water pumps in the spillway shut down. Once the water in the reservoir is empty a patch can be made to seal the crack.

The first task will be to shut down the water pumps. Some ways this can be done are:

1. Combat boy: Damage the pumps in some way. The repair bots will try to repair them but not if he beats the crap out of them.
2. Diplomacy boy: Talk nicely to the robot warden again. He must be your buddy by now.
3. Science boy: Program the computer to show a fault in the system. It will then shut down until the fault is cleared.
4. Stealth Boy: Sneak into the pump room and disable them.

The second task is to patch the hole. Some ways this can be done are:

1. Combat boy: Blow up some of the cavern wall and have the debris plug the hole.
2. Diplomacy boy: Talk one of the bots into giving up its life by having it plug the hole with its body.
3. Science boy: Devise a patch. Perhaps disassembling the round plate in the distribution center (the rotating tracks use it) and having a robot put it in place.
4. Stealth Boy: Mine the crack in such a way that it will seal itself when the explosives go off.

The hag-snake infestation will give this area the needed combat opportunities to round it out. These creatures have formed a nest near the steam outlet in the condensation area of the cavern. They really like that humid sultry heat for their eggs (since they lack 'hosts'). The player will need to find their nest and destroy it.

Note: The replacement for the damaged pipe can be made at the Blackfoot town foundry.

Scripting:

1. Repair the pipe

   The act of repairing the pipe is no big deal. If they player has the item in his inventory, he can repair it. I think it would be interesting if he also had to find a way down to the pipe. For instance, he could use a rope or maybe have to reprogram one of the scurry robots to go down to the pipe and do it.

2. Repair the reservoir

   The act of repairing the reservoir will be a bit more involved in that it requires the river to be turned off. This can be handled by speaking with the Supervisor in the spillway, or possibly by damaging the pumps. If successful, the river and reservoir will need to disappear at this point so that repairs can be made. Once made, they can come back. As for the river in the Nursery, it won't disappear but it will appear to no longer be flowing. Also, the waterfall that feeds the lake will need to stop. Whatever is done, this will only last for 24 hours. After that amount of time things start working again and return to normal.

   In any case, the repair of the reservoir may be a simple matter of having a patch item ready. If that is the case then the player need only click and have the appropriate skill. I'd also like to have it be repairable by using explosives on the reservoir wall. Maybe the player can blow a chunk of the wall away and have it seal the crack.

3. Hag snakes

   It's combat. Kill them.

The Control Tower

The Control Tower is accessed via a lift in the factory. The lift exits on the force-bridge landing stage. Activating the bridge will span the gap between the landings with a force field. A secure door gives access to the main computer room in the tower. Neither the lift nor the force-bridge is functional until power is restored.

The tower contains the main computer room that controls all Nursery functions. The computer is composed of two Zax units operating in tandem with a central brain (a human volunteer was chosen to donate her brain) core between them. Next to the computer are two empty recharging bays. On either side of the door are two massive memory cores. None of this equipment is currently functional, even if power has been restored to the Nursery.

Upon reaching the control tower the player will find that the secure door has been opened. A thick power cable runs from inside the tower, out the door, and over the landing to the ground below. From there the cable runs to the Repository. Once inside, the player will find that several floor panels in front of the computer core have been removed to give access to the main power line. The main line has been severed and a new cable, the one that leads out the door, has been attached.

When the power for the Nursery went offline the auxiliary system, solar charged batteries, kicked in. The central computer immediately tried to determine the damage to the facility and how best to correct it. Unfortunately the damage was much more severe than the facility was meant to sustain. Repairs were possible, but not within the time needed to save the most critical of the Nursery's systems, the Repository.

Fortunately, the Nursery had a visitor at the time of the disaster, a Follower of the Apocalypse named Akeisha Moon. Following instructions given her by the computer she was able to rig power from the auxiliary system to the Repository to keep it functional. However, this created a few problems on its own. First of all, she had to disconnect power from the central computer. Second, she had to put the Repository into standby mode indefinitely. There was simply no way for the solar backup system to support such a drain on its resources.

There are two ways for the player to get to the computer room. First, he could restore power to the Nursery and simply use the force-bridge. Second, he can climb the power cable draped over the landing. In either case, he will find Akeisha waiting for him.

Akeisha is provided for informational purposes (she is also one of the missing prisoners). She will gladly explain everything that has befallen the Nursery since the earthquake. If the player has not already done so, she will ask him to make the necessary repairs to all Nursery equipment. If the player attempts to bring the main computer online before power is restored (by disconnecting the backup power from the Repository) she will try to talk him out of it, explaining to him the importance of the Repository. If the player refuses to listen she will not interfere.

If the main computer comes online and the Repository is at risk, the computer will ask the player to undo what he has done. She will use any means at her disposal, including begging and bribes. If the player refuses she will then send out an SOS signal to Ulysses alerting him of the player's presence and the clear danger to the Nursery. This will result in a tactical death squad arriving and trying to take the player out. Regardless of what happens here, Akeisha tries to stay in the background out of harms way until she can reconnect power to the Repository.

If, however, the player has restored full power then the computer will be most grateful and all is well and good. She can then ask the player to perform certain quests for her:

1. Restore production: Get the factory online and producing again. This will require clearing out unwanted plants, cleaning up the warehouse, and getting the distribution center running.
2. Greenhouse repair: Find out what has happened in the greenhouse and put it to right. This will entail repairing the malfunctioning hub.
3. Robo-brain shell: Find the parts needed to repair her shell and get it working. This could require the player to go to Boulder Dome for parts.
4. Leave: Hey, you guys have the freakin plague! Now I'll have to purify everything and start all over. Get the fuck out!!

The main computer is named Diana. She is the same Diana who poses as the goddess of the Twin Mothers tribe. Once she is activated, she will once again assume her divine role for the tribe. This will include re-activating the robots in vault 29 and insuring the isolation/protection of the tribe (for more information, see the area overview for the Twin Mothers). Of course, this is all dependent upon actions taken by the player while he was with the Twin Mothers.

If the player has caused irreversible harm to the Twin Mothers, Diana will take great exception to the fact. After the player leaves the control tower she will seal the door, collapse the force bridge (even if the player is on it), and turn all the security robots against the player. If this is ineffective in dealing with him she will send an emergency signal to Ulysses so that a tactical hit squad can be sent after the player.

If the player has done well by the Twin Mothers, Diana will be indebted to the player. She will offer him technical/medical help or even an animal companion from the repository. Another possible boon is to restock the dying Brahmin herds of the wasteland with Brahmin that are resistant/immune to the plague. When she discovers that the player is carrying the new plague, she will begin work on finding a possible vaccine, but ask him to leave before he infects the entire Nursery.

Scripting:

1. Akeisha Moon

   Akeisha needs to auto initiate dialog upon the player entering this area. She will not go hostile because of dialog responses. However, she will leave the map (to return later) if the player is an ass or attacks her. Her dialog will check several flags that have to do with the state of repairs at the nursery.

2. Main computer

   If power to the main computer is restored then Diana needs to initiate dialog with the player. As with Akeisha above, her dialog will check several flags that have to do with the state of repairs at the nursery.

   If the repairs have been completed and in a proper manner then Diana will simply be another character to interact with. However, depending on the state of repairs she may ask that the player shut her down until repairs are completed. A flag needs to be set if the player complies. If the player is a total ass or attacks Diana she will set all robots in all areas of the facility to attack him. If this fails to deal with the player then a flag needs to be set that will allow the spawning of robot death squads randomly throughout the game.

3. Robo-brain shell

   If the player repairs Diana's shell then she can transfer herself to it and become a mobile NPC. We need to set a flag that indicates whether or not she is in the shell.

The Gardens

The garden is a huge greenhouse that straddles the valley river. It is divided into four sections, each detailing a different environment. The four sections are: mountains, plains, forests, and deserts. Each section is rife with plant life indigenous to that type of environment. The garden is monitored and controlled by the central computer. However, in case of emergencies, each section has a central hub that acts as a backup unit should communication be lost.

When the earthquake struck, communication was lost with the central computer. The hubs in each greenhouse section immediately activated and began to monitor activity and issue commands to stabilize the area under its care. One of the hubs, the one in the plains section, was severely damaged by falling debris. The hub sent out a burst of scrambled commands that were interpreted by the greenhouse as instructions for altering the plant life and environment in that section. As a result, a variety of carnivorous plant life that was created. The damaged hub then shut down and no longer monitors the area.

The rogue plants pose a threat to the greenhouse and the Nursery both. Although they are non-intelligent, they are inimical to plant life that they do not recognize as their own species. They are very aggressive in their growth and are insinuating themselves throughout the Nursery. If they run unchecked they will take over as the dominant form of life. These plants also have a rudimentary form of locomotion, much like creeping vines, and are capable of traveling about the Nursery. Having been mistaken for food by some of the herbivorous life in the Nursery, the plants now attack animal life.

They player can deal with this threat by simply eliminating the plants and their nests. The hub of the greenhouse will also need to be repaired so that it can issue the proper commands to restart proper plant growth.

Harold the ghoul has made himself a home in the gardens, specifically the forest area. It seems that the Nursery took a liking to his tree and wanted a sample of it for its records. Meanwhile, Harold is trying to decide if he wants to exchange 'Fred' for another type of vegetation. In any case, Harold is here just to talk to the player and offer advice/suggestions for dealing with various problems in the area.

One thing that Harold would like is a nice little hut in the forest that he can call his own. Maybe the player can program the hub to provide him with one? If not could he find the materials and build him one? In return Harold can reveal information to the player that would be of great benefit to him:

1. Plants that can cure disease and poison, or absorb radiation, or cure addictions.
2. Plants that can be used for healing like stim-paks.
3. How to grow/maintain these plants.

Notes: Each of the garden areas needs to be set up as small self contained worlds. I want them very detailed, as if they are an entire theme park in themselves.

Scripting:

1. Repair the hub

   Once again this is a simple matter of having the right skills. If the player does, then the hub is repaired. This will cause all carnivorous plants to stop spawning.

2. Harold's hut

   Diana can instruct the hub in Harold's garden to produce a hut for him. Otherwise the player can do it with the appropriate skill.

Up: Nursery design document

Next: Part 2