What could have happened to the Northeastern Commonwealth

[Surf Solar]

... during the war?

As I've set my game in this region and already put up the setting, I'd really be interested what you think could've happened there. What coul happen to the bigger cities? (Detroit, Chicago, etc) What happened to the Big Lakes? Have they dried out? Or even overflooded some areas? How dangerous is the water? Has the are a turned into a desert aswell?

As this is a part of america which hasn't been really covered in the games yet, has some interesting geography and borders to canada, I'd really be interested what you guys think/wish could happen there.

(Note, that I don't want to "steal" your ideas incase someone might accuse me doing that, as said the setting I use is already "carved in stone" I am just interested in this particular region and want to discuss some ideas with you)

 

[Mr Krepe]

Well:

I reckon, Detroit with all of it's industry, will get hit badly by the economic depravity before the war. Detroit would go through a rather long period of depression as their main industry is car manufacturing, and oil is starting to take a turn for the worst, thus hitting the car market. Many people in Detroit start to lose jobs as companies that base their profit on oil-ran cars start to die. Eventually nuclear-powered cars start to be manufactured in Detroit, and many people get jobs back, but not enough. Gangs roam the streets, more people get mugged or killed than ever, and the lower-class areas sprawl. When the bombs hit, it's the lower-classes that take a turn for the worst, their slums being highly compressed, with people stuck in their like sardines in a tin, many people die. The river it rests upon, starts to become irradiated as the acid rain, and after-effects of the bomb start to take it's toll, as well as that, the river becomes even more polluted, as the factories automated systems keep on pumping waste into the river, long after the workers stop working. By 2240, Detroit would be a mess the river, would be terribly polluted, often ending in death or severe radiation poisoning if drank, or swam in. Once again, gangs of roaming people terrorise the streets, but without the fear of law, the crimes get worse, rape, murder, not simple muggings anymore, and it happens on a nightly basis. Dogs also wander the streets in huge feral packs, acting like families, this is due to the law department being rather large in the city before the war, linking to the large crime rate pre-war. Often the police cyberdogs integrate themselves successfully into these packs, but some of the cyberdogs, having much longer lifespans than the average dog, remember their days under human masters, and would very rarely attack humans under no pretenses. Other creatures would roam the streets as well, these creatures were often the last remnants of people who ventured into the river, and came back alive. Not many settlements dot Detroit, as most people would rather stay together in small nomadic camps, in a way to stay safe, and hidden. Only one town-size settlement is in Detroit, and it bases itself inside a large industrial complex, the town, 'New Chryslus', is home to many budding minds, all trying to figure out how to purifier the horrific remains of the river, well protected from the horrors of Detroit by a large standing guard regiment, trained in the ways of the U.S. Army. In short, Detroit is a town of horrific creatures, geography that could kill, and often murderous denizens, but there remains some hope, some hope that the river will be purified, and the town freed from the shackles of nuclear fallout.

 

[Surf Solar]

I liked it all, except maybe for the "purifying river" bit. "New Chryslus", a town in the town is very nice. Could be used as a setting template all across the US though.

I wonder, since the area over there is filled with lakes and rivers, would you think some would turn into swamps, or rather prefer it to dry out? I personally like both of it, a bit variation could never hurt - also the more hazardous nature, the better. ;D

 

[Mr Krepe]

Yeah the purifying the bit was a tad off, I was in a hurry in when I had written that bit. The rest of it I had thought in-depth about, although I would like to stick with the scientists living in New Chryslus though. When i've got more creative steam in me i'll write more about the Great Lakes. But, I like the hazardous idea, but I would like a sort of safe haven place against the dangers of radiation and stuff.

 

[WillisPDunlevey]

Since I live in the Detroit area, this has been a major focus of my fallout game writing (not game playing as everyone is busy with WOW or other MMORPGs)

I have 60 pages of typed info on detroit plus a couple notebooks full of gadgets, weapons, locations etc.

I even got my wife to do some artwork (computer) of plants and animals for my game... Tom Monaghan (from dominos) figures into it. he is a creepy dude who loves his weird animals... in real life. So my pizza dude sold his company and spent all the money making new animals (or tried to bring back old dead ones).

They of course roam the area.

I also solved the problem of huge carnivores and nothing for them to eat (except for a few humans)... biotech is great SCIENCE!