Forum:A fallout based novel

Hey guys, im currently planning on writing a novel based around the fallout universe. it takes place starting in 2080 or a couple of years later, until pretty much the end of the main characters life. the main character survives the blast, and the radiation long enough to become a ghoul(hence the start time, right after most people become ghouls according to this sites timeline). i checked to be sure that nothing huge happened in that period of time that could conflict with what is canon. i want ideas for his general goal. what will this man, who was a prewar scientist do, i first thought of him working on a way to make radaway airborne explaining how there is no longer airborne radiation for the most part, i thought about it being a machine that would then be produced, a few thousand of them, weighing like 1000lbs each, carreried by troops of BOS paladins all over the USA, but i thought it could conflict with a lot of things in the fallout universe, and decided to have the story "oh it died down" or whatever it is now. but i need ideas on what his goal would be, all the details, how he travels about, all that, would be made up on the way of writing, then i would reread and fix things, then possibly re-reread, and then have other people read it, post the document here, get criticisms and fix problems,then possibly even send it to bethesda and see if they will allow me to sell it, or even see if they would promote it as a fallout novel, who knows, they may decide on making it canon(like that would ever happen, but if no one tries it wont ever happen)

so ideas, basic ideas on how to do the ideas, like i would like to have him interact with nonghouls, i was thinking of people from personal shlters and some vaults coming out in suits, possibly government set up towns, like bubble towns, that shield radiation, where people would live., imagine megaton, but with proper construction, and the walls are just a clear huge dome that covers the city and no bomb. run like rivet city, with scientists and such. and hed encounter a few of these along in the book, how do you think that would work? im fairly confident i could write it without making it too clunky but i would really like some other suggestions as well.

My suggestion is to get permission from Bethesda first before they sue your ass...
 * Per the above, unless you don't plan on distributing it.

14:43, December 25, 2010 (UTC)

If it's just on here it's fine. 15:12, December 25, 2010 (UTC)

While I endorse your enthusiasm to forge ahead with a Fallout based novel, I'm concerned because over a few things in your in your initial post. My main concern is your grammar. Seriously, if you can't be bothered with using capitals in the right places, such as the begininning of sentances, using proper punctuation, hell even just writing your post in word and spell/grammar checking it before whacking it up as a post requesting input/help and advice, well it doesn't look all that good and quite honestly, I'm not all that certain that I'd want to read something writen by someone who is too lazy to use the writen english language properly. I do hope though that this is just a one off, a simple belt out a quick post and bugger grammar etc but I'd ditch that way of thinking real quick if I were you. People judge on first impressions, they really do and obviously you want to be taken seriously so if you want to be, then write properly please. Just think carefully on that for a bit. Also, do your research on your subject matter thoroughly and plan you story arc well before anything else. Don't ask for advice straight away as it shows you haven't thought this through enough. Do character profiles on the main people who you intend to feature in your story. You have to know your characters almost intimately. If you don't then how is a reader going to empathise or understand what they're all about? What is the conflict/crisis/problem your characters are forced to confront and how will they deal with it? How will they change over the course of the story [if at all?] and what is their reasons for being involved in the plot? Why is there a domed city in the Fallout universe when all the canon essentially says the earth is a wasteland with very little survivng civilisation left? Who built this structure and how did it miss getting nuked like almost everything else? If it doesn't sound credible or fit in with the Fallout world themes, it just won't work. That's the harsh truth. My advice is this [ingore it or heed it, its up to you] write a simple short story about one character and LIMIT it to 2500 words. Once you have those perameters, start your story. Good luck. Captain Taipan 18:49, December 25, 2010 (UTC)

Good luck. Publishing mainstream's a bitch, trust me, I'm in the business, and in fact I had to actually make a publishing company in order to publish, true story. So, yeah. But yeah, steer clear of grammar errors, try to be original, and always take your time, never rush through something no matter how trivial it is. If you can't find a publisher, send me a copy, I'll totally take a look at it.

Thanks, I just wrote this little request quickly at around 4am. The idea came to me to actually make an attempt at this and I was drawing a blank for conflict ideas, I think I am just going to have this a struggle to survive, not to actually have a greater goal. I did reread this post after it was up for a day or 2. I certainly didn't overlook the humongous problem a city like that would be once I was awake. But now a few questions, 1. Is there any way I could have him come in contact with non-ghouls without messing with the canon? 2. How much water do ghouls need? How much sleep do they need? 3. What are the symptoms of a ghoul approaching the level of brain degrading to become a feral? 4. Where could I go to find more information on the canon of the early(pre-Fallout 1) post-war world? 5. When did the first towns start cropping up, could I have him go into a town without messing with the canon? 6.(This last one is a legal issue) If I want to distribute this, would I have to get permission from Bethesda before or after the writing(after the writing would mean when its ready to publish pretty much, right after i would get permission from them I would send it to a publishing company) User:Blakebutters 12/30/10 16:17

For the last three issues, canon can be kept as is if you avoid already used areas, such as DC and LA. You could go to some unused city, such as Atlanta, and thus would be avoiding canon areas, but you might want to tread carefully and touch up on your fallout history. You should definitely contact Bethesda for legal issues on publishing and distributions. Hell, I'd send them a copy. Perhaps if they think it is good enough, they may treat it as canon and use it. But DO NOT PUBLISH WITHOUT CONSULTING THEM. I love Beth, but their dealings with Interplay is giving them notoriety, and you could easily be sued.

Of course, no one in their right mind would ever actually try to publish without going through Bethesda, what I was asking is, would merely writing it without letting them know, get me in hot water legally, I wouldn't assume so but you never know. But still before I could get to writing I need those questions answered because they will all play a part in the story.User:Blakebutters 1/2/11 11:30pm

You can write whatever you want without telling them, but you just can't publish. You can't sue just because someone had an idea based off of your work, only if they try to market it.

Wow, a Fallout based novel! I am very pleased by that idea, though there are some things that need to be concerned, like FEV virus started leaking - that way there weren't many Deathclaws created.