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The Northwest Commonwealth was one of the thirteen areas of the pre-War United States.

Background

Created in 1969, it was comprised of the former states of Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.[1] The commonwealth bordered the Southwest Commonwealth, the Northern Commonwealth, the Four States Commonwealth, and the country of Canada.

Former Alaska

Operation: Anchorage (add-on) Alaska was one of the major sites of fighting during the war with China, notably around the Anchorage Front Line. In 2059, the United States established a significant military force to protect its oil interests in Alaska, in light of the ever-dwindling oil reserves in the world, as well as increasing tensions with China. In the winter of 2066, the Americans' fears became reality as the Chinese military invaded Alaska and took over a significant portion of the land. Alaska became a war zone between the United States and China, furthering fears of nuclear apocalypse around the world. On January 10, 2077, the United States finally reclaimed Alaska from the Chinese. The war between the two remained intense, ultimately leading to the Great War on October 23rd of the same year.

Fallout Extreme The Brotherhood expanded and stopped through Alaska. They thought it was a great place to settle down due to the intact military infrastructure left over from the war, going so far as to move their headquarters to the region. They formed a dictatorial reign over their territory, shooting any mutants on sight, and enslaving the locals as canon fodder, or to work camps along the Alaskan Pipeline. They would eventually be overthrown by the Cause about a century following the Great War.

Former Washington

Fallout Extreme Unleashed viruses and irradiation have done strange things to the flora and fauna in the wastelands of Washington and northern Oregon. Blackened devastation is interspersed with wild, exotic, almost prehistoric vegetation and pockets of decaying urban ruins. Refugees from the major populations banded into smaller settlements and medieval-like townships. Isolated survivalists that are encountered remind one of Grizzly Adams. The Issaquah Nation controls the inland landscape.

Fallout 76 An organization known as the Rockwell Clearing House was based out of the Washington city of Wallah Wallah. The company sent junk mail to Appalachian residents claiming they were eligible for a cash prize of $100,000,000.[2]

Former Idaho

Fallout 2 A monastery known as the Abbey is in southern Idaho. They seek to preserve technology and knowledge, but share it openly with any who come, so long as they don't damage anything.

Fallout: New Vegas In 2281, the Great Khans could have abandoned the Mojave to try and rebuild their tribe in the wilderness of Idaho.[3]

Former Oregon

Fallout Extreme The Cause, a revolutionary band of survivalists that would eventually overthrow the Brotherhood of Steel in the Northwest, has its origins in Oregon.

Fallout 2 Oregon's cannibals roam around the region, searching for victims to kill and eat. There are a few settlements in the area, including Klamath and Arroyo.

Fallout 2 Arroyo was founded by the Vault Dweller alone with a number of residents from Vault 13 in 2167, turning into a small tribe. In 2242, the Chosen One, the grandchild of the Vault Dweller, went on a quest to find a G.E.C.K. to help their village which was suffering from drought and famine. During these events, the Enclave abducted the villagers of Arroyo for use in FEV experiments.

Fallout 2 The Chosen One successfully rescued their fellow tribesmen alongside the rest of Vault 13's population (who had also been taken prisoner), destroying the Enclave's oil rig in the process. The Chosen One, the villagers, and the Vault 13 survivors all returned to Arroyo together. With the use of the G.E.C.K. recovered by the Chosen One, Arroyo prospered, evolving from a tribe to a full-fledged settlement. By 2281, the New California Republic held influence over Arroyo.

Former Northern California

Fallout 2 During the Great War, San Francisco was hit by nuclear weapons. Humanity has clung to life in and around the bay area. The Shi have a large presence around the San Francisco area in 2242, although there are varying claims for their fate beyond that year. The New California Republic sought to expand into northern California, influencing independent settlements. By 2281 they have a foothold in the area, as shown by the presence of Sac-Town and Redding.

J.E The 80s would control the I-80 in Northern California, and could often be found Northeast of Sac-Town.

Major factions

Known locations

Name of location Former state Game(s)
Alaskan Pipeline Alaska Fallout Fallout 2 Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage (add-on) Fallout Extreme
Aleutian research station Alaska Fallout Extreme
Anchorage Alaska Operation: Anchorage (add-on) Fallout Extreme
Chugach Overlook Air Force station Alaska Operation: Anchorage (add-on)
Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska Operation: Anchorage (add-on)
Fire Island Air Force Station Alaska Operation: Anchorage (add-on)
Brotherhood North American Forward Operations Base Alaska Fallout Extreme
Juneau Alaska Fallout 3
Kodiak base Alaska Fallout 3
Libertyville Alaska Fallout 3
Port Liberty Alaska Fallout 3
Satellite relay station Tango-Echo Alaska Fallout 3
Brotherhood re-education camps Alaska Fallout Extreme
Wallah Wallah Washington Fallout 76
Issaquah Nation Washington Fallout Extreme
Seattle Washington Fallout Extreme Project V13
Mount St. Helens Washington Fallout Extreme
The Sound Washington Fallout Extreme
Arroyo Oregon Fallout 2 Fallout: New Vegas
Humboldt Oregon Mothership Zeta (add-on)
Fort Williamette Oregon Fallout Extreme
Banfield College Oregon Mothership Zeta (add-on)
Klamath Oregon Fallout 2 Fallout: New Vegas
Toxic caves Oregon Fallout 2
Mount Hood Oregon Fallout Extreme
Abbey Idaho Fallout 2 Cut content
The Den Northern California Fallout 2
Ghost Farm Northern California Fallout 2
Modoc Northern California Fallout 2 Fallout: New Vegas
Navarro Northern California Fallout 2 Fallout: New Vegas
Redding Northern California Fallout 2 Fallout: New Vegas
Sac-Town Northern California Honest Hearts
San Francisco Northern California Fallout 2 Fallout 4 Fallout 76
Sierra Army Depot Northern California Fallout 2
Sunnyvale Northern California Fallout: New Vegas
EPA Northern California Fallout 2 Cut content
Primitive Tribe Northern California Fallout 2 Cut content

Appearances

The Northwest Commonwealth appears in Fallout 2 and the Fallout 3 add-on Operation: Anchorage. It is also mentioned in Fallout, the Fallout 3 add-on Mothership Zeta, Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Honest Hearts, Fallout 4, in the Fallout 76 update Wild Appalachia, the Fallout Bible, and Van Buren. It was also to appear in Jason Mical's Fallout Pen and Paper d20, Project V13, J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game, and Fallout Extreme.

Gallery

References

  1. Plaque on the Massachusetts State House in Fallout 4 gives 1969 as the formation date of the "Thirteen commonwealths."
  2. Junk mail
  3. "After generations of being beaten down, the Great Khans were finally broken by the Courier. Those few who avoided the Courier's wrath moved north, into the wilderness of Idaho, where they tried once more to rebuild."
    (Fallout: New Vegas Great Khans ending slides)
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