FALLOUT: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game

Readme File - 19 November 1997

Version 1.2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0

Installation
Manual Errata
Troubleshooting & Technical Support
Product License

-----------------(1.0) INSTALLATION
-----------------The reference card included with your Fallout package contains all the
installation instructions necessary to get you up and running. Basic
instructions and more details on disk space are also included below:
The Fallout website will contain the latest patches and fixes. We
recommend that you check there before installing the game for the
absolute latest updates. This version of Fallout incorporates all
the fixes and changes from the 1.1 patch. You should never install
a patch for an earlier version (the lower the version number, the
earlier the version is.) You can tell your version number of Fallout
by looking on the main menu in the lower right hand corner, or by
pressing CTRL-V while playing the game.

(1.1) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

------------------------The Win95 version of Fallout requires:
Pentium(tm) computer
16 megs of RAM
Win95
DirectX 3.0a or higher
Monitor and video card capable of displaying 640x480 256-colors
2x CD-ROM drive
Mouse
5 megs of hard drive space (plus space for save games)
The DOS version of Fallout requires:
Pentium(tm) computer
32 megs of RAM
DOS 5.0 or greater
SVGA (VESA compatible) card and monitor
2x CD-ROM drive
Mouse
5 megs of hard drive space (plus space for save games)
Recommended systems (both DOS and Win95):
32 megs of RAM
4x CD-ROM drive or better

The various installation levels will install larger versions of the

game to your hard drive:
*
*
*
*

Small
(2 megs: executable, config and support files)
Medium
(89 megs: adds music)
Large
(277 megs: adds creature graphics and animations)
Humongous (661 megs: installs everything!)
The install sizes are slightly larger under DOS.

You do not lose features if you pick a smaller install size, but
it will affect the speed of gameplay.
For both versions it is recommended that you use the largest possible
installation option for your hard drive. The more room Fallout has on
your hard drive, the faster the game will play.
In addition, when you run Fallout, you will need around 20 megs of
free hard drive space for files that are created when playing and
a save game. Save games take up more space the longer you have
been playing. Each save game slot starts around 2 megs in size,
and will get larger the more areas you have explored.
(1.2) DOS INSTALLATION
---------------------Run INSTALL.EXE on the Fallout CD-ROM to install Fallout DOS.
Run SOUND.EXE from the installed directory on your hard drive to
configure the sound card (the installer should have done this when
it was run).
DOS machines with the minimal amount of RAM may want to use the
BOOTME program to create a boot disk that will help alleviate
problems. See the BOOTME.TXT file in the BOOTME directory.
(1.3) Win95 INSTALLATION
-----------------------If you are using autoplay, the autoplay menu will appear shortly
after you place the Fallout CD-ROM into your computer CD drive. The
autoplay menu will allow you to install DirectX, view this readme,
install the game, play the game and uninstall the game. Autoplay
will want to install DirectX 6.1 if a lesser version of DirectX is
detected or DirectX does not exist on your system.
If you have autoplay disabled, you will need
DirectX before you can run setup and install
not installed DirectX 6.1 or higher, do that
DirectX off of the Fallout CD-ROM. Open the
run DXSETUP.

to manually install
Fallout. If you have
now. You can install
DirectX6.1 directory and

Run SETUP.EXE on the Fallout CD-ROM to install Fallout Win95.

To uninstall, go to Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs, select Fallout
and click on the Add/Remove button, or use the autoplay menu.
The uninstaller only removes the files installed by the installer.
Any files created after install (config file, save games, etc.) must
be removed by hand.

(1.4) ONLINE MANUAL

------------------There is an online manual on the Fallout CD-ROM. The online Manual
is an Adobe Acrobat 3.0 file. You must have a reader installed to
view the manual. We have included a Win95 and DOS version of the
reader.
Installing the Reader - Win95
To install the Win95 version of the Adobe Acrobat reader, open
the Fallout CD-ROM. Open the Manual directory. Open the Adobe
directory. Double-click on AR32E30.EXE file.
To View the Manual - Win95
Open the CD. Open the Manual directory. Double-click on the
MANUAL.PDF icon.
Installing the Reader - DOS
Change drives to the CD-ROM. Change directories to MANUAL/ADOBE.
Run ACRODOS.EXE.
To View the Manual - DOS
From the installed directory on your hard drive, run the DOS
version of the Adobe Acrobat reader. Open the MANUAL.PDF file
on the Fallout CD-ROM in the Manual directory.

------------------(2.0) MANUAL ERRATA

------------------After the manual went to print, we found the following errors
or made the following changes to Fallout:
(2.1) MOVING MULTIPLE ITEMS
--------------------------When moving multiple items, you can now type the number of items to
move. This is especially useful when trading money for items. Use
the keyboard to enter the number of items to move, use the backspace
key to make corrections. You can enter a maximum of 999. Press
ENTER when done.
(2.2) HIT POINTS PER LEVEL
-------------------------Page 5-21 of the manual is in error. The actual number of hit
points gained per level is 2 + (Endurance / 2). This simple chart
will show the different HPs gained per level for each point of EN:
ENDURANCE HPs GAINED
1
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
5
4

ENDURANCE HPs GAINED

6
5
7
5
8
6
9
6
10
7

(2.3) ITEM HIGHLIGHT PREFERENCE

-------------------------------

When set to the On position, items on the ground that can be picked
up will be highlighted with a yellow outline. If set to Off, the
game will be slightly more difficult since you will have to make the
decision as to whether or not the item can be picked up and placed
into your inventory. This preference defaults to On.
(2.4) LEVEL GAIN NOTICE
----------------------When you gain a new level, you will see a LEVEL icon just above the
interface bar. This is to make sure that you know that your character
has just been promoted in rank. When you enter the character screen,
the notice will disappear.
(2.5) ADDICTION NOTICE
---------------------If your character is suffering from chem addiction, a notice will
appear above the interface bar. As long as your character is
addicted to a chem, this notice will remain. If your character is
addicted to more than one chem, you will only see one ADDICT sign.
Review the KARMA section on the character screen to find out details
of your character's addictions.
(2.6) STARTING COMBAT
--------------------Left-clicking on the weapon button to get the targeting cursor will
automatically freeze movement and start combat. You can also start
combat by pressing the 'A' key. This is very useful if you want to
attack a fast moving enemy, or sneak up behind a target.
(2.7) SKILLS
-----------The base level of Unarmed is 65% plus the average of Strength and
Agility. Starting characters will have a 70% skill.
The Not So Complete Skill List starting on page 3-10 of the manual
is incomplete. The following two skills should have been included:
Melee Weapons. The use of weapons in hand-to-hand combat. Covers
the use of knives, spears, crowbars and other items that are held
in the hand. Initial level: Starting Melee is equal to 55% +
(1% x the average of your Strength and Agility). Average
characters will have a 60% skill.
Throwing. The skill of using muscle-propelled ranged weapons. If
a spear is thrown at someone, it will use this skill instead of
Melee Weapons. This covers the use of throwing knives, grenades,
and rocks. The maximum distance a weapon can be thrown is based
on your Strength and the max range of the weapon. Initial level:
40% + (1% x Agility). Average characters will have a 45% skill.
(2.8) PERKS
----------The following changes have been made to the Perk list starting on
page 5-24 to 5-33 of the manual:

Awareness: This Perk only has one rank. It will give detailed
information about any critter that you Examine. You can see
their exact hit points, and information about any weapon they
are equipped with.
Lifegiver: To clarify, this Perk gives +4 HP per rank everytime
you gain a level. EX: If you have two ranks in Lifegiver, you
will get +8 HP in addition to the HPs from your Endurance, when
you go up a level.
(2.9) THROWN WEAPONS
-------------------If you throw a weapon, an identical weapon will automatically be
replaced from your inventory, until you run out of like weapons.
This applies to grenades, thrown knives, spears and rocks.
(2.10) EXIT GRIDS
----------------The portion of a map that takes you to another area is called
an "exit grid." The green exit grids take you to another map
in that location, while the brown exit grids return you to the
world map.
(2.11) HEALING RATE
------------------Your character will heal a number of hit points equal to your
healing rate every _three_ hours, not every _six_ hours as
stated in the manual. This happens when you rest or travel.
(2.12) BARTER
------------Just to clarify pages 4-31 and 4-32 of the manual regarding
Barter, here are a couple of important notes:
* The total value of the items on the barter tables are
displayed. These are the values after modifiers
based on Barter skills and reaction.
* You can make as many offers as you want without angering
the person you are bartering with.
(2.13) NPCs
----------It is possible to have non-player characters (NPCs) join your
party. You have limited control over their actions. Talk
to them to issue very general commands. You can also:
* Barter or Steal from them to change their inventory.
In this case, Stealing is not a hostile action and you
can swap as much equipment as you want. NPCs cannot
wear additional armor.
* Ask them to use their best weapon. They will then draw
their most favorable weapon in the next combat. Make
sure they have enough ammo of the proper type.

* Give them Stimpaks. If they get seriously hurt, they

will automatically use them.
* If they run away in combat, they have either a low
number of hit points, or they have a crippled limb.

----------------------------------------(3.0) TROUBLESHOOTING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT

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--------------------(4.0) PRODUCT LICENSE
--------------------SOFTWARE USE LIMITATIONS AND LIMITED LICENSE
General Product License. This copy of Fallout (the "Software")
is intended solely for your personal noncommercial home
entertainment use. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, or
disassemble the Software, except as permitted by law. Interplay
Productions retains all right, title and interest in the Software
including all intellectual property rights embodied therein and
derivatives thereof. The Software, including, without limitation,
all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens,
game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software
may not be copied, resold, rented, leased, distributed
(electronically or otherwise), used on pay-per-play, coin-op or other
for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. Any permissions
granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn at any tim
e. All rights not expressly
granted are reserved.
Acceptance of License Terms. By acquiring and retaining this
Software, you assent to the terms and restrictions of this limited
license. If you do not accept the terms of this limited license,
you must return the Software together with all packaging, manuals
and other material contained therein to the store where you
acquired the Software for a full refund.

Win95, Windows 95, Windows NT, DirectX are copyrights of

Microsoft Corporation.