Pulowski Preservation shelters are coin-operated, one-person fallout shelters found on street corners throughout the more urban areas of the Capital Wasteland, provided by Pulowski Preservation Services. They act as sources of loot, potential hiding spots against enemies, and even quest starters.
Background[]
These shelters were created by Pulowski Preservation Services, advertised as "an affordable line of personal protection products to make sure no one gets left behind," and a viable alternative to Vaults available to the common man when they're "actually needed." Taking exact change[Non-game 1] (¢25, with no dimes or nickels accepted),[1] they were a fallout shelter to be used during a nuclear strike to protect against radiation, rather than the blast wave or heat. Occupants were instructed to remain inside until radiation clears and "enjoy their stay."[2] Extended stay was impossible, as the shelter contained no provisions and no amenities beyond ventilation, a suction hose for bodily waste,[3] lights, and breathing masks at most.[4] When occupied, some models would display a lit "Occupied" signal.[5]
Pulowski heavily marketed their shelters, also partnering with companies for cross-promotions. In the Boston area partners included Slocum's Joe, the "Bostoner's choice,"[6] Yawk Brats,[7] and Fallon's.[8] Celebrities like Dick Shale were also hired to promote the shelters through competitions such as the Pulowski Preservation Shelter Squat contest.[9]
Effectiveness[]
The actual effectiveness of the shelters is dubious. A large number of shelters found after the Great War contain the corpses of their occupants, and seem to have become defunct, as they no longer require any change to function. However, they do protect against wild animals and non-nuclear weapons, as Bryan Wilks in 2277 was able to hide from the fire ants besieging Grayditch in one.[10] Some have found unorthodox uses for Pulowski shelters, such as the slavers of Paradise Falls: A Pulowski unit installed in the old strip mall was repurposed for solitary confinement of rebellious slaves, known as "The Box," used since the days of Herbert Dashwood,[11] and lockable from the outside.
They're also synonymous with confined spaces in general. Something is considered brief, if it ends "faster than a knife fight in a Pulowski."[12]
Gameplay[]
In Fallout 3, a Pulowski shelter is used by Bryan Wilks as shelter from fire ants ravaging Grayditch during Those!, while the aforementioned Box at Paradise Falls is part of the Rescue from Paradise side quest, where the player has to save Rory Maclaren) after taking the key to it from Forty. The door cannot be operated by non-player characters, allowing the player to safely hide from enemies until they stop searching and leave. They also protect any outside attacks, including explosions. The interior in this version of the shelter is very sparse and contains no visible Geiger counter to confirm outside radiation levels or other amenities, though Bryan does reference a suction hose for disposing of bodily waste.
Locations[]
There are a total of 18 Pulowski Preservation shelters in accessible locations, including "the Box" at Paradise Falls. Two more are present: One in the cell used to render the game's intro, and another in the Point Lookout add-on, to house Calvert's brain.
- Arlington Cemetery south - Contains a mannequin, two shot glasses, sexy sleepwear and wine.
- Arlington Library - Contains a skeleton with a 10mm pistol, two boxes of 10mm rounds, and a copy of Guns and Bullets.
- The Capitol Building - Outside the east exit, contains a briefcase, a Lying, Congressional Style and four stacks of pre-War money.
- Chevy Chase - Contains one skeleton.
- Chevy Chase Metro - One frag mine in front of the hatch. It contains three bottles of purified water, a lead pipe, and a teddy bear.
- Dupont East - South of the Metro Junction entrance, west of the dry sewer. Contains two skeletons, a stimpak, a Vault-Tec lunchbox, and a .32 pistol.
- Falls Church - At the Falls Church Metro marker. Contains a box of .32 caliber rounds, a box of 5mm rounds and two bottles of dirty water.
- Flooded metro - Contains one skeleton, a copy of Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual, a pulse grenade and two stimpaks.
- Georgetown parking lot - Empty.
- Georgetown West - Contains five beers, three cherry bombs, a box of Fancy Lads Snack Cakes, a Nuka-Cola Quantum, some Railway spikes and a box of Sugar Bombs.
- Grayditch - Contains Bryan Wilks during the quest Those!
- Hubris Comics HQ - Contains a conductor, a Dean's Electronics, a hammer, a motorcycle gas tank and two wrenches.
- L'Enfant West - Contains a skeleton, a Big Book of Science, a bottle of wine and a pair of eyeglasses.
- Paradise Falls - Converted into "the Box" by slavers for solitary confinement. Contains Rory Maclaren.
- Pennsylvania Avenue - East of Metro, contains a deactivated Protectron and a locked (Very Easy) ammunition box of small energy cells, as well as two Stealth Boys.
- South of Rivet City - Empty.
- Takoma Park - East of Nifty Thrifty's. Contains a recently deceased wastelander with random chems and bobby pins, and an ammunition box with random ammunition.
- Vernon Square - At the Vernon Square station map marker. Contains a skeleton, a radiation suit and Rad-X.
- One unreachable shelter glimpsed from the intro movie, the set for which is actually built in-game, has a pair of skeleton legs.
Pilgrim's Landing - On a rooftop in the boardwalk area. It is not meant to be encountered during normal play and can only be reached with console commands or through strategic jumping. Additionally, it cannot be opened and was placed there for technical reasons, as it houses the non-player character the Brain. The Brain is an NPC that serves as the dialogue source for Professor Calvert.
Appearances[]
Pulowski Preservation shelters appear in Fallout 3 and its add-on Point Lookout.
Gallery[]
Video[]
References[]
- ↑ Fallout 3 shelter concept art.
- ↑ Fallout 3 shelter interior texture.
- ↑ Bryan Wilks: "What's this funny suction hose for?"
(Bryan Wilks' dialogue) - ↑ Fallout 4 shelter interior shot.
- ↑ Fallout 3 shelter behavior.
- ↑ Pulowski advertisement: "Boy, I sure could go for a cup about now. Stop in at Slocum's Joe, the Bostoner's choice."
- ↑ Pulowski advertisement: "Getting hungry? Try a Yawk Brat once this whole thing blows over."
- ↑ Pulowski advertisement: "Need a fresh start? Try a fresh suit from Fallon's. Tell 'em Pulowski sent ya!"
- ↑ The Golden Holotape
- ↑ The events of the quest Those! in Fallout 3.
- ↑ Galaxy News Radio; The Adventures of Herbert "Daring" Dashwood and his Ghoul Manservant Argyle; Escape from Paradise Falls!: "All right. She's locked in there. They call it... "the box." First, we need to remove that guard..."
- ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Because we're a team, and we need to stick together."
Cait: "I don't know. I feel like I've heard all this before, but you still let me down."
The Sole Survivor: "Because I don't want to be alone."
Cait: "I don't know. You're the one that got us here in the first place."
The Sole Survivor: "Because I have feelings for you."
Cait: "I... I don't know... Half of me wants to hug you, the other half of me wants to rip out your throat."
Cait: "Sigh. Look, I'll cut you a deal. If you start makin' things right with me, I'll stick around. But if you're fuckin' with me, our little partnership is goin' to end faster than a knife fight in a Pulowski. Now let's get movin'."
(Cait's dialogue) Note: These are the lines spoken should the player's affinity with Cait go from Distain to Hatred and she is convinced to stay with the player with a Red Charisma check.
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout 3 Advert: Pulowski Preservation Services: "Before we begin this episode of The Adventures of Captain cosmos we've got a message from the fine folks at Pulowski Preservation Services, purveyors of products there when you actually need them. It seems there's been a lot of talk these days about Vault life but not all of us have the luxury to spend so much on something that, frankly, we may not actually need. Unlike those other guys, the sensible folks in Pulowski Preservation Services have created an affordable line of personal protection products to make sure no one gets left behind. Personal protection there when you actually need it. Remember, that's Pulowski preservation shelters, simply there when you actually need them. Exact change only. And now on to our show The Adventures of Captain Cosmos, co-starring Jangles the moon monkey."