Nursery design document/2

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

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

This is part 2 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.

Art Requirements

The Nursery will require a wide variety of art. The areas presented here depict a wide range of styles from underground caverns, high-tech laboratories, to lush gardens.

Tile Set

The following sets will be needed: high tech, desert, forest, ruins, mountains, rivers and lakes.

Critters

The following creatures will be in the Nursery: various plants of dubious nature, dogs, cats, wolves, bobcats, bearsand tigers. For the dog/cat models we can just make one model, resize it, and retexture it so that it looks like several other models.

Generic Scenery Objects

The following generic objects will be needed: high-tech equipment, trees, plants, rocks, ruined machinery.

Specific Scenery Objects

The following specific objects will be needed:

Spillway:

1. Hole with water injector (upper level)
2. Hole with water shower effect (lower level)
3. Balcony overlooking the underground river

Valley:

1. Greenhouse exterior
2. Lake fed by waterfall

Control Facility:

1. Helipad surrounded by turrets
2. Cracks and fissures throughout the area

Factory:

1. Conveyor belts
2. Assembly line with robotic arms
3. Fissure
4. Locomotive and semi-truck

Repository:

1. Hologram
2. Artificial womb

Power Plant:

1. Multiple waterfalls
2. Carlsbad like caverns with lighting
3. Heat exchanger
4. Thermal vent with lava glow
5. Steam turbines
6. Condensation area with steam outlet
7. Lake with whirlpool

Control Tower:

1. Special computer
2. Memory core

Gardens:

1. Miniature areas set up as mountainous, plains, forest, and desert terrain
2. Control hubs

Maze:

1. Hedge maze

Dynamic Scenery Objects

Spillway:

To be determined.

Valley:

To be determined.

Control Facility:

To be determined.

Factory:

1. Conveyor belts
2. Assembly line with robotic arms
3. Rotating train platform
4. Locomotive

Repository:

To be determined.

Power Plant:

1. Broken pipe
2. Replacement pipe
3. Whirlpool crack in floor
4. Water level needs to be changeable

Control Tower:

1. Power cables
2. Floor panels
3. Bridge

Gardens:

1. Control hub.

Maze:

1. Exits/entrances that can be opened/closed.

Area Photo

The Nursery photo should look like this.

Town Map In Pipboy

The Nursery Valley map should look like this.

Scripted Scenes Or Movies

1. When the player first enters the Nursery I would like to have a short movie that pans across a lush valley filled with life.
2. When the player gets the power plant working I would like to have a short movie showing the different areas of the Nursery powering up. The movie would end with a scene showing defense turrets in some areas coming online for foreshadowing.
3. When the player gets the distribution center working and uses the locomotive there I would like to have a short movie showing the train powering up, the secure door to the tunnel opening, and the train pulling out of the station through it.

Cast Of Characters

Akeisha Moon (Human Female)

Akeisha is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse. She spent the majority of her life searching for the ancient vaults and any knowledge that they may contain. She would routinely spend her time traveling the wasteland, researching stories or rumors about the vaults, and then attempt to find them. She has been moderately successful in her chosen career and has discovered two vaults.

While visiting a tribe in the south west, Akeisha noticed that an unusual number of the tribes brahmin were dying. Although not trained in medicine, she was naturally curious and decided to look into the matter. If nothing else she could report her findings to the Followers and perhaps interest them in sending someone qualified to look into the matter. Not long after beginning her research the tribe was attacked during the night by unknown assailants. Akeisha was struck unconscious during the attack.

When she next awoke, Akeisha found herself in what appeared to be a prison cell. For untold days she attempted to contact the warden of the prison, but all she ever saw were the robot helpers. She had just about given up hope when the prison was rocked by an explosion and the door to her cell was jarred open. She wasted no time in fleeing her captors.

Akeisha wandered the desert for days until she stumbled upon a cave. She was intrigued by the sound of running water and decided to investigate. What she found was the spillway to the Nursery. As she stared in wonder at her discovery she was approached by a robot that began to question her as to why she was there. Still awestruck, she stuttered out some answer that seemed to satisfy its master. She was invited to enter the Nursery and speak with the curator. This was an opportunity that could not be passed up.

Diana, Nursery Central Computer Intelligence (Robo-brain Female)

Diana Stone was a scientist working for Greenway Hydroponics. She was a brilliant woman with a career that path that would gain her a place of recognition among some of the greatest scientific minds in the United States. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and given little time to live.

The news of her impending death had a profound effect on Diana's life. She turned away from science and began to look into the spiritual side of life. However, with so little time left to her, she soon became frustrated and despondent. This was to change when she was contacted by Derek Greenway.

Derek was proposing a new type of super-computer that would be years ahead of any system currently in production. Even the highly touted Zax units would pale in comparison. He proposed building a computer that could take a quantum leap forward by being able to pose the simplest of questions: What if? With this in mind he devised a system that would house a human brain with each hemisphere, logical/emotional, linked to a Zax unit. The human mind would have vast amounts of computation power and almost unlimited storage capacity at its disposal. Who could predict what such a mind would be capable of doing? All he needed to find out was a volunteer. With nothing to lose, Diana jumped at the chance.

When Diana awoke from the operation she was overjoyed at the success... at first. As the months progressed she began to doubt the wisdom of becoming part of a machine. Her hearing was acute, but too much so. She could hear into a range far above normal and it was disturbing. Her eyesight was perfect, but once again too perfect. Her vision showed a sharpness of clarity that made the world look unreal. The most disturbing aspect was her lack of skin. She no longer felt the weight of clothing, the touch of a cool breeze, or her own caress. Everything that made her human... was either changed or gone. And they had told her she could live virtually forever.

Diana knew that she had to come to grips with what she had become when they told her the purpose she would serve. After she was installed in the Nursery she buried herself in her work, knowing that she would play a significant part in the salvation of the world and mankind itself. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't enough. She hadn't counted on the years of loneliness once the Nursery was sealed and the war begun. In desperation she began to look for something to do to maintain her sanity.

Harold, Mister Tree Head (Ghoul Male)

Harold the ghoul was ill. The tree in his head developed and unknown disease and was dying. Much to his surprise, Harold found himself affected as well. He didn't think he was going to die, mind you, but still... he just didn't feel right in the head.

So, he set out on a quest for a cure. Naturally, he didn't have an easy time of it either. People just didn't seem to want a ghoul around any more. But, Harold didn't let that stop him. He persisted in his quest until he came upon the Twin Mothers tribe.

Much to his surprise the tribe took him in and accepted him as he was. He explained his quest to the tribal leaders and was told that they would consult their goddess. Days later, Harold was approached by the tribal shaman and given a potion to drink. It was a foul concoction, but it worked. Fred, the tree, got better and was happy again.

Harold couldn't let such a good deed go unrewarded so he offered to help the tribe in any way that he could. They smiled at him, thanked him, but declined his help. "The goddess will provide," they always said. Harold, nice ghoul that he is, said that he would like to pay his respects to the goddess. He was taken to the tribal shrine and granted a private audience. He wasn't really surprised when the projected image of a woman appeared before him, but he was taken aback when she told him where he could find her.

Harold traveled to the Nursery and has been there ever since. He is considering settling down and spending the remainder of his day, however long that may be, in the tranquility of the gardens.

Scripting

General

To be determined.

Cut-scenes

To be determined.

Monster Roster

The players are likely to encounter the following "monsters" at the Nursery:

Monster	Numbers	Difficulty
Dogs, domestic	?	Non hostile
Dogs, wild	Chaotic pack	Easy to medium
Wolf	Organized pack	Medium to hard
Mastiff	Single or pack	Medium to hard
Raccoon	?	Easy
Badger	?	Easy
Cat, domestic	?	Non hostile
Cat, wild	Loner or pride	Easy to medium
Cat, bobcat	Loner or pride	Medium to hard
Cat, panther	Single or pride	Medium to hard
Plant, carnivorous vine	Single	Medium to hard
Plant, carnivorous bush	Organized pack	Medium to hard
Plant, thorn sprayer	Single	Easy to medium
Plant, gas sprayer	Single	Easy to medium
Various robots	?	Easy to hard
Scurry bots	?	Easy
Worker bots	?	Easy
Gardening bots	?	Easy to medium
Pest control bots	?	Medium
Security bots	?	Medium to hard
Battle bots	?	Hard

Emotional Porn

This section sets up all the emotional role-playing opportunities present in the Nursery.

Drama

When the player arrives he finds that an ecological treasure is threatened with destruction by several things ranging from natural disasters to ecological blunders. Working to save the Nursery will require a wide variety of skills to be successful. The suspense of whether or not the player can or will succeed should be gripping.

Moral Dilimmas

The only moral dilemma that I see for this area is what it could be used for. The ability to hoard the knowledge and resources stored here for a profit is huge.

Role-playing Tests And Epithets

Try to find ways to grant Karma based on a player's reasons for taking certain actions. Perhaps this can be done through dialog.

Ties To Overall Game Themes

The main theme of the Nursery, in my opinion, is the folly of the war that created the Fallout universe. When the player compares the beauty of the Nursery to the wasteland that the world has become he can ask himself "Was it worth it?" "What can I do to prevent this from happening again?"

NPC Companion Uses

There are no specific NPC uses in the Nursery. However, the area does challenge the player by requiring a large skill base in order to satisfy all of the quests. Having NPC's with various skill concentrations will prove to be quite useful.

Cool Shit

The players will find the Nursery cool for the following reasons:

1. The player can explore an area unlike any other in previous Fallout titles.
2. Saving the Nursery will give the player a supreme sense of accomplishment and instill hope for the future of the Fallout world.
3. The player can get a special animal companion in the Nursery that is unequaled anywhere in the game.

Possibilities

• To be determined.

Quest Items

• To be determined.

Quests

Main Quests

There are several quests required in the Nursery. For the most part these quests are not assigned but rather assumed by the player. I have listed them in no particular order.

1. Gain entry to the Nursery.

   Find the spillway and discover the best way to bypass it and enter the Nursery proper.

2. Explore the valley and discover the tragedies that have befallen it.

   Find the greenhouse and the destructive plant life that is escaping from it. Discover the lack of power to all Nursery facilities.

3. Restore power to the Nursery and all of its facilities but especially the Repository.

   Find the geo-thermal power plant and repair it. Find the fissure in the reservoir and repair it as well.

4. Restore power to the Nursery central computer.

   Reconnect the computer to the normal power supply once the power plant has been brought online.

5. Heal the central computer of her ails (Diana is a robo-brain).

   Find a replacement robo-brain shell or repair the one found in the factory.

6. Destroy the carnivorous plants that are taking over the gardens.

   Infiltrate the gardens and then locate and destroy all inimical life forms there.

7. Restore the functionality of the distribution system.

   Bring the trains online and hack the doors that have sealed off egress to the outside world.

8. Start up GECK production.

   Get the factory up and running to full capacity.

Merchant Quests

There are some scenarios listed in the location descriptions that could provide a reason for the player to travel to other areas throughout the game.

1. Find a replacement pipe for the power plant.

   A replacement pipe could be located in another area (Jericho water plant?)

2. Find a replacement robo-brain shell for the central computer.

   A robo-brain shell could be located in another area (Boulder Dome?)

3. Collect wasteland animal samples worth preserving and bring them to the Nursery.

   Find plants and animals that are not currently infected with the plague and bring samples to the Nursery for future re-introduction to the world.

Floating Quests

There are no floating quests for this area.

Area	Quest Name	Designer	DStatus	Script	SStatus	Log Stat	Passable	QA 100%
Nursery
	Gain Nursery Entry	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Explore Valley	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Restore Nursery Power	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Restore Repository Power	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Restore Computer Power	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Find Robo-Shell	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Clear Gardens	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Restart Factory	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No
	Restart Distribution	Deiley	0	?	No	0	No	No

Sound Requirements

Music

Most of the Nursery is a beautiful lush woodland valley. The music should reflect a feeling of wonder, serenity and the like. In areas where this is inappropriate I have listed changes.

Basic SFX

The basic ambient sounds for this area should be natural outdoor or woodland sounds. Distant animal life, wind rustling through the leaves of trees, running water through a brook, etc.

The basic chart for SFX would be as follows:

Area	Sound requirements
Spillway	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	Typical Fallout background music. There is nothing that really distinguishes this area from any other underground area.
	BASIC SFX
	The distant roar of water (this will increase in volume until the player reaches the main chamber at which point it will overpower any other sfx).
	WALLA SFX
	None
Filtration plant	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	Typical Fallout background music. There is nothing that really distinguishes this area from any other high-tech area.
	BASIC SFX
	The distant roar of water (this will be subdued unless the player enters the hole at which point it will overpower any other sfx). The hum of machinery, water pumps, flowing water.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Valley, general	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	Since this area is so different than any previous Fallout areas I'd like the music here to be something special. This is going to be a beautiful lush valley complete with natural wildlife. The music should reflect wonder, serenity, etc.
	BASIC SFX
	The rustling of wind through the leaves of trees. Distant animal life. Running water.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Valley, gardens	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	This area of the valley is the home to some carnivorous plants. The music here should change to give the player a more 'dangerous' feeling.
	BASIC SFX
	The rustling of wind through the leaves of trees. Distant animal life. Running water.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Control facility	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	For this area I think we can return to standard Fallout music themes. The area is in ruins and is open to exploration. The music should reflect the lack of imminent danger.
	BASIC SFX
	Distant wildlife. Crumbling stone. Somewhat silent and dead.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Repository	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	The music here should reflect a sense of wonder again so I think it should return to the music used in the valley.
	BASIC SFX
	The hum of machinery.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Power plant	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	Typical Fallout background music. There is nothing that really distinguishes this area from any other underground area.
	BASIC SFX
	Running water. Distant thunder of waterfalls.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Control tower	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	Typical Fallout background music. There is nothing that really distinguishes this area from any other high-tech area.
	BASIC SFX
	Running water. Distant thunder of waterfalls.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Gardens, good	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	The gardens are composed of four small areas. In three of the areas the music should reflect a sense of wonder again so I think it should return to the music used in the valley. In the fourth area (listed below) this should change.
	BASIC SFX
	Running water. Distant thunder of waterfalls.
	WALLA SFX
	None
Gardens, bad	MUSIC DESCRIPTION
	This is a dangerous area controlled by carnivorous plants. The music should change to reflect this danger.
	BASIC SFX
	Running water. Distant thunder of waterfalls.
	WALLA SFX
	None

Map And Map Key

The maps are in the locations section above. I'll have to move them down here.

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