Summary
The newFallout 4modFallout: Londondoesn’t just introduce anew location to theFalloutuniversebut also some new factions. MostFalloutgames introduce some regional factions, likeFallout 4’s Minutemen, but they also usually include at least one of the franchise’s established factions, like theBrotherhood of Steel.Fallout: Londonbreaks this tradition by including only original factionsand not bringing back any of the old favorites from other games.
This approach to factions inFallout: Londonis a refreshing change of pace. While The Brotherhood is a classicFalloutfaction, they have also played major roles in most of the modernFalloutfranchise. It’s nice to learn about a new corner of the world that is completely original. Just like otherFalloutgames,London’s factions are not all equal. Some are more palatable, while others are downright dangerous. They also all have themes that feel appropriate for the UK setting of the game, which is another nice bit of world-building on the part ofFallout: London’s Team FOLON.
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7The 5th Column Are Totalitarian Fanatics
The Faction Is Based On A Real Life Hate Group
The 5th Column is a populist movement that is dedicated to tearing downFallout: London’s current establishment, the Gentry. While the Gentry aren’t perfect, and London may actually be better off without them in charge,that doesn’t mean The 5th Column is the right answer. In fact, they would likely be a much worse choice to put in charge of the city than the current government.
Members of the 5th Column are blindly devoted to their leader, Eve Varney, and it is no secret that their goal is to create an empire with Eve at its head. Eve is very much the type of “strong” figurehead that is often held up by authoritarian movements looking to instill a dictator. While the Gentry’s distribution is far from equitable, they at least don’t give the power to a single autocrat who would be able to do whatever they please the way The 5th Column would.
The 5th Column’s name is a reference to a turn of phrase, meaning someone within a country that sympathizes with an outside force during a war. This is likely a hint that the group isinspired by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists,who sympathized with the Nazis despite being from the UK and formed their own fifth column during the war. Eve also dresses in all black, and BUF members were referred to as Blackshirts.
With the faction being inspired by historical Nazi-sympathizing fascists, it’s pretty clear that the 5th Column is the least attractive option when choosing who to side with inFallout: London. It is possible that some players who already dislike the Gentry may initially be swayed by the group’s rhetoric if they aren’t aware of the historical inspiration for the 5th Column. However, this likely won’t last once they see how fanatical the group’s members are.
6The Gentry Rule London With Strict Rules
The Gentry Are An Aristocratic Class That Controls London
The Gentry arethe current ruling faction inFallout: London. They have walled themselves off from the rest of the city, taking up residence in Westminster. Although the Gentry fancy themselves to be an official governing body, their rule in the city is somewhat tenuous. They aren’t popular with the city’s other factions, and their strict rules and taxes haven’t made them many allies. Their exchange of payment for protection is not all that different from an organized crime family’s protection racket.
Ultimately, the Gentry would like to rule over the entire UK. If their current progress with London is any indication of how they would do, players will likely want to help one of the factions opposing them. Though they aren’t as iron-fisted as the 5th Column, the Gentry is far from egalitarian in their distribution of power. They very much seem to look down on the people of London and believe they have the right to rule due to their relative wealth.
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5The Isle Of Dogs Syndicate Are A Violent Criminal Gang
The Syndicate Is One Of The First Factions The Player Fights
The Isle of Dogs Syndicate isa large and dangerous criminal organization.At first glance, they seem far worse than the Gentry. They’re more openly violent and they are the direct rivals of the first allies many players will make inFallout: London:the Vagabonds. The only reason the Gentry is worse is because they are not-so-subtly supportive of the work the Isle of Dogs Syndicate does.
The Gentry takes a cut of the Syndicate’s profits. In fact, they take so much that the Isle of Dogs Syndicatewouldn’t be too unhappy if someone took out the Gentryand allowed them to operate more independently. The Gentry also send some of their prisoners to labor in the Syndicate’s workhouses. This means all the bad the Syndicate does is directly supported by London’s ruling class.
On a more personal level, players are very likely to hate the Syndicate because of their relationship with the Vagabonds. Players meet the Vagabonds almost immediately after finishing the tutorial. The group’s leader gives the player one of the best weapons they’ll have for a little while, and takes them under his wing. This immediately ingratiates the players to the Vagabonds, and makes them more likely to dislike the Isle of Dogs Syndicate when they learn the Syndicate killed the previous Vagabond leader.
4Tommies Try To Protect London But Aren’t Always Successful
The Tommies Have Become Controlled By The Gentry
The Tommies are a sort of city watch for the city of London inFallout. They’re easy to spot, as they wear the same uniforms and wide-brimmed helmets as British soldiers from World War I. The group was started asa militia with the goal of protecting London, which makes them one of the factions with the most altruistic goals. However, despite these good intentions, the Tommies have unfortunately let themselves be used by the Gentry.
The Gentry has exploited the Tommies’ goodwill, and basically turned them into the Gentry’s own personal fighting force. This makes Team FOLON’s choice to dress the Tommies like World War I soldiers actually a brilliant visual metaphor for their current position. Like the young men who fought in World War I, the Tommies are sent by the UK’s ruling class to fight and die on their behalf. Though the Tommies fight to protect their home and its people, their leaders in the Gentry seem far less concerned about the safety and lives of the Tommies.
3Angel Is Fallout: London’s Most Mysterious Faction
The Mystery Surrounding Its Leader Smythe Drives The Plot
Very little is actually known about the Angel, and some in London don’t even believe the group exists. They are said towatch and secretly rule Londonfrom the shadows through their extensive network of spies. They are also said to have ties to a group of government scientists from before the war.
Angel is led by the mysterious figure, Ms. or Mr. Smythe. The character’s gender is determined based on what players choose for themselves. Smythe is reluctant to meet with the character in person, instead relying on video calls for most of their early interactions with the player. This only fuels the sense of mystery that surrounds Angel and its leader.
Unraveling the mystery of Angel is a big part ofFallout: London’s story,so saying too much about them would spoil some of the fun of discovering for oneself. This mystery is presented to the player right at the beginning of the game and provides some good incentive for the player to start poking around and asking questions. Regardless of how players feel about the faction itself, its inclusion inFallout: Londonis a welcome one since it does such a good job driving the narrative.
2The Vagabonds Are An Early Ally
The Vagabonds Are Likely The First Faction Players Meet
The Vagabonds are a reflection of their rivals, The Isle of Dogs Syndicate, but they are a much nicer version. The Vagabonds are a gang that was formed with the hope of giving people a way to protect themselves instead of being a way to intimidate or control them. However, this initial altruism has been somewhat dampened by the Vagabonds’ recent conflict with the Syndicate.
After the Isle of Dogs Syndicate killed the Vagabonds’ leader, theVagabonds swore revenge against the rival gang. This has narrowed their focus from being a force for good to simply being out for revenge. Still, the Vagabonds seem to mainly restrict their violence to the Dogs or raiders who threaten their allies.
Players also have a strong reason to like the Vagabonds. They are the easiest faction to join and likely the first one players meet. One of their members, Yvette, can also cure the player’s Railway Spine debuff. This early aid will likely make the player feel some sense of affection or loyalty to the Vagabonds, allowing them to overlook some of the group’s shortcomings.
1Camelot Is The Most Altruistic Faction In Fallout: London
Camelot Is One Of The Only Factions Fighting For Good
Camelot are the closest thing to paragons that one will find inFallout: London. The groupstyles itself after the King Arthur’s legendary court, the Round Table, and similarly believes that all Britons are equal. As such, Camelot seeks to create a London where all citizens have a seat at the metaphorical table.
Before the events of the game, Camelot was a group that tried to change London peacefully. However, the Gentry did not take kindly to their message of equality and attacked its members. Camelot was then driven underground where it now fights for the rights of everyone in London.
Camelot is easily the most morally good faction inFallout: London. They are similar toFallout 4’s Minutemen, just with a uniquely UK flair to their theming. The combination of their fun theme and their noble goals make Camelot the easiest faction to like inFallout: London.
