Editing Fallout (franchise) (section)

=== Postwar conditions ===

[[File:Flag of the New California Republic.svg|thumb|Flag of the New California Republic|200px]]
[[File:Enclave symbol.svg|thumb|Symbol of the Enclave|200px]]
In the years after the Great War, the United States has devolved into a post-apocalyptic environment commonly dubbed "the Wasteland." The Great War and subsequent nuclear Armageddon had severely depopulated the country, leaving large expanses of property decaying from neglect. In addition, virtually all food and water is irradiated and most lifeforms have mutated due to high radiation combined with mutagens of varied origins. Despite the large-scale devastation, some areas were fortunate enough to survive the nuclear apocalypse relatively unscathed, even possessing non-irradiated water, flora, and fauna. However, these areas are exceedingly rare. With a large portion of the country's infrastructure in ruins, basic necessities are scarce. Barter is the common method of exchange, with bottle caps providing a more conventional form of currency. Most cities and towns are empty, having been looted or deserted in favor of smaller, makeshift communities scattered around the Wasteland.

Many humans who could not get into the Vaults survived the atomic blasts, but many of these, affected by the radiation, turned into so-called "[[Ghoul (Fallout)|ghouls]]." While their lifespans are greatly extended, their bodies develop widespread [[necrosis]] or rot; many lose their hair, their voices take on a raspy tone, and otherwise have permanently deformed physical features. Ghouls often resent normal human beings, either out of jealousy or in response to discrimination. Ghouls typically resent any comparison to zombies, and being called a zombie is viewed as a great insult. If ghouls continue to be exposed to high radiation levels, their brains experience irreversible damage, which can cause them to become "feral" and attack almost anything on sight, having lost their minds.

Creatures known as "Deathclaws" roam the wilderness. They were deliberately created by humans as [[biological weapons]] prior to the Great War. Escaping into the wild afterwards, they went on to thrive in the nuclear wasteland, becoming [[apex predator]]s. Known as one of the ''Fallout'' series' most recognizable and iconic elements, Deathclaws were praised by critics for their design and the fear they induce in the player due to their immense power. As a result of their popularity, numerous [[Mod (video games)|mods]] were created for ''Fallout'' series games with the Deathclaw as a central theme, either to tame the creatures as a pet or use them in combat, concepts which were later added as an official feature.

Various factions of humans would later form in the Wasteland, with four of the most prominent being the [[Brotherhood of Steel]], the [[New California Republic]] (NCR), the Enclave, and the Institute. The Brotherhood came together when a group of soldiers led by [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Captain Roger Maxson started a mutiny after finding out about the Forced Evolutionary Virus experiments. Declaring themselves independent from the U.S. government, their rebellion never got off the ground due to the Great War beginning. The defectors, safe in the underground confines of the base, survived and came to the surface and reconnected with other survivors, then headed to the Lost Hills bunker to start anew. The NCR was formed by a group of Vault 15 dwellers who would go on to found the town of Shady Sands. Over time under the leadership of their elder Aradesh and his daughter Tandi, Shady Sands became a major economic power in the [[Southwest United States|southwest]] and united with other major hubs of civilization in the area to found the New California Republic. The Enclave was a secret cabal of wealthy industrialists, members of the military, and influential politicians who operated in the shadows and held a great degree of control over the United States' government. This enigmatic alliance of private interests eventually subverted and developed from the [[continuity of government]] protocol to ensure its survival as the real United States, laying claim to the North American mainland. The Institute is a reclusive scientific society comprising various intellectuals and mechanists descended from the staff of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. Emerging as a major post-war power in the 2200s, the Institute considers itself a bastion of knowledge and prosperity amid a dying world, developing numerous revolutionary and advanced technologies. The Synths, androids resembling humans almost exactly, stand at the forefront of the Institute's scientific achievements, and work to benefit the organization's goals by inserting themselves in major post-war factions.