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Fallout 3 locations project
Fallout 3 locations project
This article is within the scope of the Fallout 3 locations project. This project is dedicated to standardizing Fallout 3 location articles. If you want to participate, please check the project page.
Fort Independence
Fo3 Fort Independence Full Frontal
Icon military
Site
Fort Independence loc
Map MarkerFort Independence
People
FactionsUnited States Army (formerly)
Brotherhood Outcasts
LeadersProtector Henry Casdin
Other
QuestsThe Outcast Collection Agent
Technical
Cell NameFortIndependencExterior (ext.)
Wilderness -6, -12 (marker)
FortIndependence01 (ground floor)
FortIndependence02 (lower level)
ref id00001167 (exterior)
00001166 (marker)
0003d445 (ground floor)
0003d444 (lower level)
TerminalsTurret Control System
Field Reports
Broken Terminal
Door Terminal
Broken Terminal
Research Terminal (Laser Rifle/Pistol)
Research Terminal (Plasma Rifle)
Research Terminal (Minigun)
Research Terminal (Missile Launcher)
Research Terminal (Enclave Armor)
Research Terminal (Pulse Grenade)
 
Gametitle-FO3
Gametitle-FO3

Fort Independence is a former United States Army scientific military base[1] and since 2276, the headquarters of the Brotherhood Outcasts in the Capital Wasteland. It is located west of Fairfax Ruins and north of Andale.

Background[]

Fort Independence was a scientific base before the War.[1] It fell into ruin after the Great War, particularly when the local Raider tribes moved into Fairfax.

When the Outcasts split from Owyn Lyons's chapter in 2276, they have removed the Raider presence from around the Fort and adapted the old installation to their needs.[2] Having restored much of its internal facilities, it is used as a hub for all Outcast activity in the area. All of the technology they gather is stored within the fort, as are their research findings.

The Fort comes under constant attacks by Raiders, possibly as a result of an internal intelligence leak, or so Protector Casdin suspects.[2]

Layout[]

Outside[]

The Fort is located next to an overpass, with a fenced-in area in front of the entrance. The overpass itself is fortified with sandbags and manned by Defender Rockfowl. The road under is secured by Defender Morgan and an Outcast turret. After the player speaks with Defender Morgan about a job, Protector Casdin will open the perimeter fence's gate and encourage the Lone Wanderer to bring scavenged technology to them in exchange for supplies.

Topside[]

Once the player is cleared for entry (or kills his way in), the Fort Independence is divided into two areas inside. The topside contains the administrative section, mess hall and sleeping quarters with little in the way of loot.

Lower level[]

The underground contains the science labs, including a workshop, biomedical laboratory and the armory. The Outcasts typically use the exterior entrance, with the security door connecting the interior of the Fort with the underground lying in disuse.

Notable loot[]

Down the stairs in the room left of the exit door is the entrance to the basement. Inside the desk within the first room is the password to the locked (hard) wall terminal which opens the door; continue down until you reach the Western Laboratory (the room full of research terminals). Activating them adds notes on various weapons, namely the missile launcher, minigun, Enclave power armor, plasma rifle, pulse grenade, and laser rifle. In this room there is a locked (hard) door, a key to this is available in the barracks room nearby within an locked (easy) footlocker. Through these door is the unique Miss Launcher and various other loot.

  • The Miss Launcher in the basement, along with a minigun, laser rifle, plasma rifle, 6 boxes of ammunition which include quite a number of alien power cells, as well as 2 mini nukes.
  • There is a Nuka-Cola Quantum and a Stealth Boy in the central room on the main floor, next to some bunk beds.
  • A Nuka-Cola Quantum can also sometimes be found in the Nuka-Cola vending machine near the entrance to the lower levels.
  • Alien power cells can be obtained from the locked storage room, next to the room with the research terminals.
  • A rare Rake is found in the lower level of the fort. After descending the first staircase you encounter, there will be a room halfway down. It is located to the right of some piping, leaning against a bookshelf.
  • Two unusually large empty syringes and one forceps are located in the medical room of the lower level.

Notes[]

  • If any of the named Brotherhood Outcasts are killed all other Brotherhood Outcasts will become hostile. This does not include Outcasts appearing in Operation: Anchorage.
  • Up the highway there is an Enclave outpost. It is possible that Enclave patrols may attack and kill the Outcasts.
  • The Fort's unnamed Brotherhood Outcasts will yield fingers if killed by a player who has acquired the Lawbringer perk. Named ones such as Protector Henry Casdin, in contrast, will have ears if they are slain by a player with the perk Contract Killer.
  • Under the bridge at Fort Independence, there is a unique turret that seems to be able to communicate. The turret will only say "Casdin says you're clear", and will only say it after the player earned Casdin's trust. This can be observed by jumping into the turret from the sandbags next to it. The voice is similar to that of a robobrain.
  • If the player is seen coming in or out of Fort Independence without Protector Casdin giving permission to enter, as a reward for collected tech, all Outcasts will become hostile.
  • Sometimes if the character attempts to pickpocket an Outcast soldier inside Fort Independence and gets caught, they will become hostile while all the other Outcast soldiers will remain friendly.
  • The player can enter the fort before gaining permission without any Outcasts becoming hostile by pickpocketing the key from Defender Morgan and disabling the turret using robotics expert. To do so, use the door near the computer and the Outcasts will not be hostile, even though no technology was given.
  • Sometimes an Enclave Vertibird will perform a bombing run and most likely kill Protector Casdin and the other Outcasts guarding Fort Independence, allowing the player to loot the bodies without karma loss. Several large explosions can be heard while traveling near Fort Independence when this happens.
  • The name of this location is thematic since Outcasts are liberated from the original Brotherhood.

Appearances[]

Fort Independence appears only in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes[]

  • The name Fort Independence was also the name of a real fort in California, used during conflicts such as the Owens valley Indian war.

Bugs[]

  • PCIcon pc PlayStation 3Icon ps3 Xbox 360Icon xbox360 In the lower level of Fort Independence, the turret in the main chamber will be stuck in the ceiling. It will not attack you and cannot be destroyed easily (The turret can only be destroyed by the Mysterious Stranger in V.A.T.S, a flamer or deactivating it by hacking the locked (average) terminal in front of it). This can result in a follower staying and continually attacking the turret with no effect. This can be fixed by leaving the fort.
  • Xbox 360Icon xbox360 PlayStation 3Icon ps3 After hacking the turret controls under the bridge to remove its targeting system and then disable it, sometimes the turret under the bridge will at first look stretched into the ground and allow you to walk through it, and then if reactivated will appear high above the bridge and be hard to see, even if aiming through a sniper scope.
  • Xbox 360Icon xbox360 Defenders Morgan and Rockfowl will respawn right next to their corpses after you've killed them. This glitch applies to several of the unnamed Outcasts.
  • PCIcon pc PlayStation 3Icon ps3 When initially discovering the Fort, the Brotherhood Outcasts outside may shoot at the player if the player attempts to attack the approaching raiders with melee/unarmed weapons.
    • PCIcon pc PlayStation 3Icon ps3 Sometimes upon discovery of the Fort, the Brotherhood Outcasts may be hostile for no apparent reason.

Gallery[]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Lone Wanderer: "What sort of disagreements did they have?"
    Bowditch: "Where Elder Lyons has fought to protect the people of the Capital Wasteland, the Outcasts demanded we move on and leave them to their fates. They insisted there was more important technology to be recovered in a scientific base in the ruins of Fort Independence, to the West. As callous as their decision may be, it's more in line with our original mission. Elder Lyons is an inspiration to us, but to them he's a traitor."
    (Bowditch's dialogue)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Fort Independence field report#Fort Independence Field Report 1: "We've secured the building and are currently implementing our orders for the occupation of Fairfax. Raider activity in town has increased since we first took up positions in and around the fort. We've killed a lot of them and scared off others. But they just keep coming back. Their numbers seem limitless, while requests for our own reinforcements are repeatedly denied. That the Raiders take such continued risks to invade our facility appears to confirm suspicions that we've had an intelligence leak."
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