Fallout 3 from Bethesda Game Studios received widespread praise from critics and fans, maintaining its popularity even today through older PlayStation and Xbox consoles and PC platforms. Introducing a first-person perspective, the gameplay for Fallout 3 changed many of the combat mechanics that had existed previously in the series. The introduction of V.A.T.S. became popular as it utilized aspects of turn-based and real-time combat elements.
While not being a direct sequel to Fallout 2, its post-apocalyptic story follows the timeline of historical events established in the previous entries while also including factions featured in those games. Famously, a faction chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel is present throughout the game, albeit mainly as a rogue chapter that has forgone its primary directive of finding technology in favor of learning about and hunting super mutants. Nevertheless, the Brotherhood's presence in Fallout 3 foreshadows the technological Vertibirds in Fallout 4.
Vertibirds in Fallout
Built by the United States military around 2072, Vertibirds are vertical take-off and landing aircraft used for traversal or as gunships. While prototypes were still being developed and tested during the onset of the Great War, these Vertibirds wouldn't be completed until much later by the Enclave. Second-generation Vertibirds had two versions: transportation models with glass canopies and plenty of cargo storage, as well as gunships, which were heavily armored and contained powerful armaments.
While the Enclave used them in earlier Fallout entries on the West Coast for transporting materials from the mainland to the Enclave Oil Rig, they also appeared in Fallout 3 on the East Coast when the Enclave attempted to secure Project Purity. These Vertibirds featured Gatling lasers, miniguns, missile launchers, and racks for miniature nukes. When Project Purity was recaptured from the Enclave, one Vertibird, Pride One, was obtained and modified by the Brotherhood of Steel on the East Coast.
The Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout
Featured in every title of the series, the Brotherhood of Steel is a technological and religious military order in the post-apocalyptic United States following the Great War, which destroyed nearly all life. Founded by Army Captain Roger Maxson, a rogue US military officer, the Brotherhood of Steel aims to find and preserve advanced technology throughout the US and further regulate its usage while benefiting from its features.
Though many chapters exist across the US, their power has varied by region and its leaders who have followed the group's core values or abandoned them for other goals. Their main headquarters is in the Lost Hills bunker in California, although many installations were spread throughout California wastes out of sight of ordinary people still alive. Within Lost Hill, most of their research and military technology took place, though the High Elder sent out groups to scour territory to the East Coast.
The Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 3
Led by Owyn Lyons, who the Elders directed to bring the Brotherhood to the East Coast in order to salvage advanced technology, the Brotherhood initially took up residence in the remains of the Pentagon. Despite the surface being nearly destroyed, its sublevels, by and large, remained intact and filled with the technology the Brotherhood sought. This brought the promotion of Elder to Lyons, who was instructed to establish a permanent base in the region.
However, with the emergence of a form of super mutants, their origins and relations to those on the West Coast began to consume Lyons, who dedicated more and more resources to hunting and learning about these creatures. Eventually, the Brotherhood Elders in California grew tired of expending resources that they discovered were contrary to the mission objective. When Lyons outwardly refused a direct order, communications ceased, and the chapter on the East Coast was considered rogue.
Arthur Maxson in Fallout 3
Born in 2267, Arthur is a descendant of Brotherhood of Steel founder Roger Maxson who was sent by his mother to study under Owyn Lyons to quench his timid nature and prepare for one day leading the Brotherhood. Arthur was an extremely knowledgeable student in the Citadel, who learned about all aspects of the Brotherhood, the Codex by heart, and how to kill through the help of Sarah Lyons. While the mantle of greatness as Roger Maxson's descendent was placed on his shoulders, Arthur Maxson often doubted talks of his destiny and his soul being forged with steel.
In Fallout 3, players encounter Arthur in the Citadel, who eagerly explains the Enclave's advanced technology especially surrounding their Vertibirds. Later in life, after Lyons died and the rogue Brotherhood of Steel suffered continued ineffective leadership, Arthur embraced the role of leader, accomplishing many feats throughout the Capitol Wasteland. He successfully integrated the rogue chapter into the central fold, working with the Elders in California.
Vertibirds in Fallout 4
In Fallout 4, only one model of Vertibird is seen throughout the game. These are pre-war US aircraft used by Arthur Maxson's Brotherhood of Steel. These transport Vertibirds are bulkier than earlier models and have transparent cockpits, miniguns, machineguns, and docking hooks to dock with the Prydwen. It's evident that Arthur's upbringing in the Citadel, coupled with his experiences in the East Coast Brotherhood, laid the groundwork for the Vertibirds featured in the franchise's fourth installment.
Fallout 3 is a wildly popular game that enhanced the lore and factions established in earlier entries in the Fallout franchise. The Brotherhood of Steel, known for scrounging for advanced technology, worked to establish chapters throughout the post-apocalyptic United States. While the Brotherhood in Fallout 3 became rogue at one point when diverting its core mission objectives, it took the descendent of Brotherhood founder Roger Maxson, Arthur Maxson, to unite the groups. Furthermore, Arthur's study of advanced Enclave technology resulted in the Brotherhood securing their Vertibirds by the time of Fallout 4.
Fallout 3 is available now on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.