RE: Why does east have to be evil?
I hope this isn't so long that noone will take the time to read it.
" I like your idea about them trying to keep the east Isolated from the reast of the world. The easiest way to maintain power in an area is to control everything that the general populous sees or hears as much as you can. If there is no outside influence, then you can spread false propoganda all you like, and they'll never know."
Like in WWII, most of the germans never really realized what was going on, even though in Holland (right next to Germany, west, just in case) we find that kinda hard to believe. But the way you bring it it sounds like the people know that they depend on this Evil faction. I originally meant that the people of the East wouldn't be aware of the fact that they are being controlled (you could use that later in the game, by exposing the Shadow Government, so to call it, and leading a rebellion, so this time you won't become an exiled hero, or a President, but a revolutionairy) The 'shadow government' or whatever the power is called would control people through small companies or something wich at first sight don't have anything in common.
"And any kind of powerhungy orginization will have spies etc. in the general population."
And dubbelspies, how about that? What I'm talking about? A small and weak resistance group which would be willing to help you, in exchange for... This small resistance group of people who either are paranoid or accidentally found out could be lead by a man named Sculder and a women, Mully. (just a little fallout-type joke) You would during the game also be able to convince other factions (towns or Raiders) to join you, and the resistance of course. Do a couple of quests like going to places such as S.A.D. or the Gunrunners.
" The only reason their in power is because they control all the water/food/medicine or something, so people have to depend on them. But the more the world recovers from the holocaust, then the more pure water there will be, there will be better crops, etc."
I left away the part about needing the Evil faction, since in my book they still don't know there is such a thing. The have been cut of from al communications and other forms of contact since day 1, for as far as they are concerned they might be the only survivors of the war. The needing of food is good, cause even if you destroy the very thing that is regulating the radiation it might take years for the wastes to slightly recover. You can use that in your speach to get the rebellion started, 'the New Arroyo Republic can help if we could somehow get a message to them and deactivate this magnetic field.'.
"maybe even detonate a few nuclear devices."
Can also be used in the end, once the Shadow Government realises it's losing it's power FAST, they'll threaten to set of the remaining nukes. As soon as you have defeated it (or at least think so), you'll see an FMV showing you aircrafts taking of from the facility (probably hidden like a vault) and heading away... WEST! But luckily, they left a few Flyingmachines (I doubt they'll have vertibird too, that would be to factions, wich never had contact, having the same tech) and you'll head back after them. To finish the game in the west, protecting your home. (This way I still get to see New Arroyo too)
I CAN spell (a little, and then only in dutch)
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