By Phil Hornshaw on Nov 11, 2018 03:56 am
Fallout 76 Gets Some New Customization Options
You can't spend money on the Fallout 76 beta yet, but its premium currency shop is open.
The Fallout 76 beta is now open to players on PlayStation 4 and PC, in addition to those who were previously playing on Xbox One. With a recent beta session came a new addition: the Atomic Shop, Fallout 76's premium currency store. In it, you can purchase new threads for your Wastelander, emotes to communicate with other players, different skins for your Pip-Boy, and a lot more. Players in the beta right now should have some Atoms in their stock to try on the shop. There's a lot to choose from: You can snag clothes for your Wastelander, unlock tattoos, change the skin of your Pip-Boy, and even add emotes to your bag of communication tricks, or poses to Photo Mode. There also are extra skins you can buy for your CAMP structures, to make your wasteland home look a little less wasted. The 500 or so Atoms we started with (and which should come with pre-orders of Fallout 76) won't get you far on the store, though. You can't currently buy Atoms, the premium currency of Fallout 76, so it's not clear how much any of the stuff in the shop will cost in real money. The idea of tattooing an eagle across your Vault-Dweller's face is pretty tempting, regardless. Here's everything that's currently available for purchase in the Atomic Shop in Fallout 76, along with the prices in Atoms they sport.
Featured Shop
For checking out the beta, players have access to a couple of specific items for purchase.
Vault 76 Hat
That's a pretty slick hat.
Beta Photo Frame
The future is now!
The Apparel Section
Decked out with new duds.
Pajamas
Nice jam-jams.
Red Rocket Suit
Time to go to work.
Fisherman's Overalls
Show the fish you mean business.
Shirt And Slacks Outfit
Dad of the Wasteland.
Sun Hat
Really, you're probably spending too much time in the sun.
Skin Shop
In case your wrist-mounted personal computer needs an upgrade.
Blue Pip-Boy Skin
Get all your gear on the same color scheme.
CAMP Shop
Upgrade your Wasteland lifestyle with some interior decorating.
Nuka Cola Stash Box
For the serious Nuka collector.
Starburst Flooring
For when you want your floors to say something other than "I never clean in here"
Country Door
Be the envy of all the other Wasteland houses on your patch of irradiated dirt.
Potted Plants
Liven the place up a bit.
Clean Water Purifier
Dirty machines don't really instill a lot of confidence.
Clean Generator
Good as new.
Styles Shop
Get some weird stuff on your face in the Styles section.
Gridiron Face Paint
Put your game face on.
Throat Stitch Face Paint
For when you want to be scary.
Anchor Tattoo
Anchors aweigh!
Eagle Tattoo
Rock, flag, and eagle.
Photomode Shop
All the things you need to make the Wasteland more photogenic.
Heroic Pose
Save the Wasteland, or something.
Heart Pose
Posing for the camera.
Mountain Photo Frame
Add some character to your selfies.
Thirst Emote
Nobody can survive the Wasteland alone. Probably.
Hungry Emote
Need food badly!
Icons Shop
There is a huge amount of icons to purchase.
More Icons
Icons for days.
Still More Icons
Characters, items, and even clothes are represented in icons.
Yet More Icons
A few of these get a little weird.
Also--Icons
Finally, the end of the icons.
By Phil Hornshaw on Nov 11, 2018 03:53 am
Get The Right Tool For The Job
Matching the right weapon to the situation will often save your life in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Blackout mode.
It's tough to be ready for all the scenarios you'll see in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's battle royale mode, Blackout. The total unpredictability of how you might encounter other players is part of the draw of the battle royal genre, after all. Will you catch them out in the open, in perfect position for an easy sniper headshot? Or will you open a door to discover someone camping in a corner, listening for your arrival? Having the right gun for the task at hand can mean the difference between getting a kill and getting killed in Blackout, but you can only carry so much. You're afforded two weapons slots, plus inventory space for a host of gadgets, grenades, and perks. More often than not, though, Blackout engagements will come down to a combination of skill, luck of the draw, and having a weapon you know and trust in your holster. You can't always have the perfect gun for the job, but you can try to plan for what's likely, adjust based on your own playstyle preferences, and try to be prepared. If you expect to be up close and personal inside structures, close-range weapons such as SMGs and shotguns are super-effective. Likewise, you can get away with some long-range engagements with the right rifles and optics, even if you're not much of a sniper or marksman. But Blackout is full of weapons options, and when you've got time to have your pick, it can be tough to choose which guns to grab and which to leave behind. Here's a smattering of guns we've come to enjoy for different types of scenarios that might help you make some informed choices.
For Close Encounters: Spitfire SMG
The Spitfire is a great SMG to keep handy when you're clearing interiors and fighting at close ranges.
The Spitfire brings death to your enemies in a hail of bullets, especially at close range. Among Blackout's SMGs, it has the highest rate of fire, so it's great for those interior engagements when you might be a bit panicked and spraying ammo through a doorway after unexpectedly encountering a player. Up close in general, the Spitfire is a great choice: its recoil is low and manageable, so it's deadly aiming down the sites or firing from the hip in an emergency. The Spitfire's accuracy suffers quite a bit as range increases, so you don't want to use it in situations where your opponent is too far off, but in those early-game or late-game close encounters, or if you're spending a lot of time indoors, it's a great option--especially if you can slap a suppressor on it.
For Close Encounters: Spitfire SMG
The Spitfire's high rate of fire makes it great for close-quarters battles.
The Spitfire sprays death on your enemies in a hail of bullets, especially at close range. Among Blackout's SMGs, it has the highest rate of fire, so it's great for those interior engagements when you might be a bit panicked and spraying ammo through a doorway after unexpectedly encountering a player. Up close in general, the Spitfire is a great choice: its recoil is low and manageable, so it's deadly aiming down the sites or firing from the hip in an emergency. The Spitfire's accuracy suffers quite a bit as range increases, so you don't want to use it in situations where your opponent is too far off, but in those early-game or late-game close encounters, or if you're spending a lot of time indoors, it's a great option--especially if you can slap a suppressor on it.
For More Close Encounters: SG12 Shotgun
Unload powerful shotgun blasts in a hurry with the SG12.
The shotguns of Blackout can be something of a tough sell. Both the SG12 and MOG 12-gauges fire fairly slowly compared to other guns, and while they do massive damage, they rely on your ability to hit a (definitely moving, possibly flailing) target with most or all of the blast. The thing is, the shotguns are extremely deadly close up. The MOG packs more of a punch, but sacrifices in the areas of both ammo count (it loads four shells at a time) and firing speed (you have to cock it) as compared to the SG12. The upshot of the SG12 is that it packs six shells and is semi-automatic--you can't hold the trigger down to fire it, but you can tap it for a very fast firing rate. That allows you to dump a ton of damage on a player in a short span of time, often killing them before they can even really react, and making up for only half-connecting with your initial salvo. If you know you're likely to face people at very close ranges, the SG12 is a reliable tool for your arsenal.
For All-Around Reliability: ICR-7 Assault Rifle
The ICR is a versatile weapon you can use in a variety of situations.
The ICR-7 is the kind of gun that gets things done. It's not best-in-class for anything in particular, but it's a reliable, low-recoil assault rifle you can use in a ton of situations effectively--if you're going to be stuck with something, it's a good gun to be stuck with. The ICR fires 5.57 bullets, so you shouldn't have trouble keeping it stocked with ammo, and it's a good choice at both close and mid-range. It can also be made extra effective with just about any attachments you find, especially optics or an extended barrel. The ICR probably won't be your favorite gun, but it will be one you can rely on to get you out of a few scrapes.
For Tactical Takedowns: ABR 223 Burst Rifle
The ABR's burst fire means you're at a disadvantage close up, but it's great for those mid-range engagements where aim beats magazine size.
In lots of Blackout situations, playing smart trumps twitch reaction, and for those moments, the ABR 223 is often the superior choice. The rifle fires three-round bursts, rather than the usual stream of bullets from other, more standard assault rifles. That means you less damage from blasting away at enemies, but the gun automatically stops you from spraying ammo all over the place. The added precision of controlled bursts means that in mid-range battles, you're more likely to actually hit what you're aiming at, and the controlled recoil of the burst can help you connect body and headshots. The ABR's burst fire isn't great in scenarios where you're either very close to your enemy or very far away, but in those mid-range engagements and places where you can find good cover, its accuracy and tendency for headshots can make the difference.
For Out-Lasting At Mid-Range: Maddox RFB Assault Rifle
The Maddox's large magazine and high fire rate make it a devastating assault rifle.
Blackout offers a lot of assault rifle options, between fully automatic guns and burst-fire options like the ARB and Swordfish, so the designation of "best assault rifle" really comes down to personal preference. That said, lots of players have chosen the Maddox as their go-to AR, and for good reason. The Maddox is great for the mid-range encounters you're likely to have in most any Blackout match, and it can dish out the punishment: It has both the fastest fire rate of any AR, and a magazine to help you keep the rounds flying. Our experience with the Maddox is that it often is victorious thanks to just having more bullets than the other guy, allowing you to get in a few extra hits when you'd normally have to reload. Throw an extended magazine on there and some range attachments like scopes and an extended barrel, and the Maddox becomes a killing machine.
For Long-Distance Calls: Paladin HB50 Sniper Rifle
If you've got the skills to use it, you won't find a more powerful sniper rifle than the Paladin.
Just about any sniper rifle is better than no sniper rifle in Blackout, especially if you're sneaky and cautious. The Paladin is a favorite because it deals a ton of damage. Two body hits from the Paladin should do the job, and a clean headshot will take another player down in one. Its bolt action means Paladin fires slowly, so it requires some definitive sniper skills, but it compensates with damage and less bullet drop than other rifles, which should make aiming a bit easier. If you can sit tight and catch players unawares, the Paladin will serve you well--especially if you can build your skills so you only need a couple of shots.
For When You've Absolutely, Positively Got To Kill Everybody In The Room: Titan LMG
When you need overwhelming firepower, the Titan is the right choice.
You probably won't come across the Titan super often, but when you do, it can be pretty exciting. The gun is a full-auto monster, kicking out the high damage of an LMG with the class's biggest magazine to go with it. The Titan is a bit unwieldy, but it's great in two scenarios: closer ranges and tight interior encounters where you can just pour punishment on anyone unlucky enough to be there, and suppressing fire at longer ranges. The Titan is reliably powerful and lets you dump a ton of ammo on a target, which makes it a great weapon to carry around with a squad, where other players can pack weapons that might be more effective at longer ranges. When you want to knock out a lot of people fast, accept no substitutes.
For When Something Just Needs To Blow Up: Hellion Salvo Rocket Launcher
It's a rocket launcher, and it's pretty awesome.
Right now, Blackout only has the one rocket launcher. That said, it's a rocket launcher. It turns regular objects into piles of flaming twisted metal. The Helion is specifically designed as an anti-vehicle weapon, and it'll lock onto vehicles like helicopters and trucks if you've got the time to really line up a shot. Trashing a squad's means of getting around is fun, especially while they're inside it. You can also use rockets to flush enemies out of cover, or just give somebody a surprise in the final circle they definitely won't expect. As goes without saying, hit someone with a rocket, or get the explosion close enough to them, and they're done.
By Phil Hornshaw on Nov 11, 2018 03:47 am
When You Play the Game of Thrones, You Win or You Die
Reigns: Game of Thrones is tightly tied in with the show going into Season 8, but it's not canon.
(Note: This post is full of spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 7 and Reigns: Game of Thrones, so read on at your own risk.) The newly released Reigns: Game of Thrones on PC and mobile is in an interesting position. Ahead of the final season of HBO's hit show, it toes a precarious line by bringing players into the story as it stands at the end of Season 7, without spoiling anything of the upcoming final season. Reigns' developer Nerial, in partnership with HBO, handles that proposition by turning Reigns: Game of Thrones' entire experience into a hypothetical exercise. The whole game is about working through potential conclusions to the Long Night, the super-long winter in which the White Walkers will try to take over the world, by seeing how various rulers might successfully repel the undead invasion. Reigns: Game of Thrones isn't canon for the show, but it definitely has a strong handle on the state of the story. When last we left Westeros in Game of Thrones in Season 7, Cersei Lannister sat the Iron Throne, while Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, and Tyrion Lannister were all hoping to convince her to join an alliance against the White Walkers. Cersei seemed poised to stab everyone in the back--and then the Night King brought down the Wall. Where the story goes from here is anybody's guess, but fans have been guessing a lot. There are fan theories that dig deep into Westerosi lore, both from the TV show and George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels on which it's based, to try to anticipate how the story will unfold when the war with the White Walkers begins in earnest. What's interesting about Reigns is that it's fully aware of all these possibilities, and the game is basically a series of fan theories playing themselves out through the choices you make as you play. Can Daenerys's dragons repel the White Walkers? Will Arya complete her list? Is Tyrion destined to be a dragon rider? Is Jaime the brother from Cersei's prophecy, destined to kill her? What's interesting about Reigns is that it's so fully aware of all the show's plot threads, it feels like it might contain some real hints about what might actually happen. They're largely hypothetical, of course, but the story ideas in the game are right in line with where the show seems to be headed. A few of the plot elements in Reigns even hit on things the show hasn't mentioned, but that have appeared in the novels, raising the question of whether the game might be teasing where Season 8 is headed. Here are a few of the interesting elements that show up in Reigns that could be very important to the final season of Game of Thrones.
1. The Identity of Azor Ahai
There's a huge amount of speculation among fans as to who will turn out to the the Prince That Was Promised.
The Red Witch Melisandre is at the center of Reigns: Game of Thrones, as she searches for the prophesied Prince Who Was Promised, the legendary Azor Ahai. In the faith of the Lord of Light, Azor Ahai was a hero who fought back the darkness using Lightbringer, a flaming sword created from stabbing it into the heart of his beloved. Melisandre thinks Azor Ahai will be reborn as a hero in the current Westeros, who will lead the battle against the White Walkers--she previously thought that person was Stannis Baratheon, until his death. The show has also thrown some wrenches into the prophecy, noting that the Valyrian word for "Prince" could also mean "Princess." What's more, fans of the books also theorize that the prophecy could be a mistranslation, because the words for "lord" and "light" are almost identical to the words for "gold" and "hand." Jaime Lannister, of course, sports a gold hand, which suggests the ambiguity in the language in the books was intentional. Reigns goes with that idea, too; if you play as Jaime Lannister on the Iron Throne, the people of Westeros will come to believe you're Azor Ahai. Varys plays up the idea, providing Jaime with a gold hand attached to a glowing sword, and Jaime leads the united kingdom against the White Walkers, to victory. While Reigns has a different solution for every character, it's interesting that the ending that specifically mentions Azor Ahai and Lightbringer is the one for Jaime. At the very least, HBO and Nerial seem to have provided a little more credence to the idea that Jaime really could be the Prince Who Was Promised.
2. The Dragon Riders
The cryptic message "the dragon has three heads" is often taken to mean that three characters we know will ride Daenerys' dragons.
Another prophecy-style bit of information that's been kicking around the books and show is "the dragon has three heads," a portent going back all the way to the second book, A Clash of Kings, and Daenerys' visit to the House of the Undying. In the books, Daenerys has a vision of her brother Rhaegar and his son, Aegon. In the vision, Rhaegar says that Aegon is the Prince Who Was Promised--we now know that baby was Jon Snow--and then adds, "There must be one more. The dragon has three heads." That part didn't make it into the show, but the idea of the three dragon riders has been floating around the show for quite a while anyway. Things have changed in Season 7, though, with the Night King killing the third dragon, Viserion, and turning him into a wight. The show still needs a rider for Daenerys's other dragon, Rhaegal, though, and Reigns has a suggestion for that possibility. When working through the game as Daenerys, players can get tasked with choosing a rider for Rhaegal. Significantly, Jon Snow isn't on the docket because he's missing beyond the Wall. The remaining candidates are Tyrion, Jaime Lannister, Gendry, and Sansa Stark. While the show might default Rhaegal to be ridden by Jon, since he's also a Targaryen, fans have theorized about who that third rider could have been, and Reigns is playing into those fan theories. Of the choices, Rhaegal rejects Tyrion, Gendry doesn't go for it, and Jaime freaks out and tries to kill the dragon. The right choice for Rhaegal's rider is Sansa. It might be a moot point since there are two Targaryens and only two dragons remaining in the show, but then again, Sansa turning out to be the other dragon rider would be a fascinating twist for the show.
3. The Horn of Winter
The Horn of Winter wasn't just a weapon against the Wall--it also is supposed to summon giants, but it hasn't been mentioned in the show.
Probably the biggest question mark when it comes to things left out of the show in adapting the books for TV is the Horn of Winter, a mythical, magical object that supposedly had the power to bring down the Wall. Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, was searching for the horn to use it as a bargaining chip to get the wildlings through the Wall and away from the White Walkers, but in the books, Tormund told Jon Snow that Mance never found it. The horn hasn't even been mentioned in the show--although it may have been glimpsed at least once--and since the Night King destroyed the Wall with the undead Viserion, the horn wasn't necessary. The Horn of Winter isn't just for destroying the Wall, though. In the books, it also has the power to raise giants from the earth that could stop the White Walkers, which would make it very useful in the final battle during the Long Night. While the show hasn't mentioned the Horn of Winter, it does come up in Reigns, as one of the means of defeating the White Walkers. When playing the scenario in which Gendry, Robert Baratheon's bastard, sits the Iron Throne, the horn is discovered in Qarth by Arya Stark. She brings it back to Westeros, where Gendry can use it to beat the White Walkers. The horn summons metal giants from the earth that manage to destroy the White Walkers. While it seems very unlikely that Season 8 will see Gendry leading, uh, anybody, the fact that the Horn of Winter shows up in the game at all seems significant.
4. Uniting the Seven Kingdoms
Putting aside old rivalries is the only way anyone's going to survive the Long Winter, but that means dealing with Cersei.
The big drama of Seasons 7 and 8 is the continuing hostilities between Cersei Lannister in King's Landing and, more or less, the rest of Westeros, who are much more concerned with the looming White Walker threat. Just about everyone is convinced that only a united Westeros could survive the Long Night, but of course, Cersei doesn't really care. Reigns poses one interesting, and plausible-sounding, way in which the hatchet could be buried between the Lannisters and the Starks for the good of the realm, though: Sansa marries Jaime. That story idea requires Cersei being removed from power, of course, and most of the storylines in Reigns start with the idea that Cersei has been deposed and some other person has taken the Iron Throne--already a big leap from the show. But Sansa becoming such a practical leader that she makes that alliance, and Jaime becoming honorable enough to go along with it, rings true for the arcs of both characters. It might be a later development in the show, perhaps popping up after Cersei has finally been dealt with, but it seems like a solution to the show's animosities in line with the way Martin's story has been unfolding.
5. The "Fire" Part of "A Song of Ice and Fire"
Wildfire has come up enough in the show that it seems like a keystone in the fight against the White Walkers.
More than once, wildfire has been a major part of the story in Game of Thrones, which doesn't seem like an accident. Fire is the only way to dispose of the wights in the Night King's army, after all, and dragon fire is the current plan for stopping them from wiping out Westeros. The Pyromancers of King's Landing would be pretty useful in the fight against the undead, one assumes, and Reigns has the same idea. In Tyrion's story in the game, players can commission the Pyromancers to create a whole bunch of wildfire to use against the White Walkers. What's interesting is how Tyrion uses the wildfire to defeat the undead. He plants all the kingdom's wildfire under the God's Eye, the largest inland lake in Westeros, and then lures the White Walkers there for a final battle. When the walkers are in place, Tyrion has the wildfire detonated, destroying the entire army. While there are way more moving pieces in the show, the idea that wildfire would have come up in two major moments in the show--the Battle of the Blackwater and the destruction of the Sept of Baelor--but not against the White Walkers doesn't make a ton of sense. The God's Eye plot line definitely have the feel of a Tyrion plot that could actually make its way into the show, even if it doesn't singlehandedly end the war.
6. Arya the Faceless Queen
Arya Stark's list is getting is shorter, but Cersei Lannister's name still waits to be crossed off.
Watching Arya become a Faceless assassin and take out the people on her kill list has been one of the most fun and deadliest arcs in Game of Thrones. There's one name that looms larger than all the others on Arya's list, and it's still there: Cersei Lannister. Reigns has an idea for how their conflict could play out that would be an interesting twist on what we've seen in the show. When players take on the role of Arya, they start by sneaking into the Red Keep and assassinating Cersei, before claiming her face. Arya then impersonates Cersei for the rest of the game, leading Westeros and uniting with Jon, Sansa, and Daenerys in the battle against the White Walkers. Arya specifically makes the whole ruse work by revealing her true identity to her siblings and allies, creating a pact that allows them to unite the warring houses without anyone actually knowing what's up. That's probably a big leap--even Melisandre comments that the idea Arya could pretend to be Cersei basically for years and not get caught is pretty far-fetched--but allowing Arya to assassinate and impersonate Cersei would be a fun and bloody way for her to get her revenge, wrap up the war, and get Westeros on track to fight the army of the dead.
7. The Secrets of Valyrian Steel
Valyrian steel is one of the few things that can kill White Walkers, but there's only so much of it in Westeros.
Game of Thrones has made it pretty clear that Samwell Tarly's brain is going to be essential to stopping the White Walkers. Reigns has a suggestion for what it is Sam is going to discover, and how his contribution to the war effort plays out. When playing Reigns as Jon, you can discover some information about how Valyrian steel is forged. Valyrian steel is a very big deal--it's a special metal that's supposedly imbued with magic that can kill White Walkers. It's also super rare, and very few people in the world know how to make it. When players learn something about Valyrian steel, it causes Sam to remember some things he read in a book (as usual). Sam discovers the real secret to forging Valyrian steel, and that information allows Jon to outfit the armies of Westeros with weapons for killing White Walkers. With Valyrian steel weapons, the armies of the dead fall before the living. It's not the most glamorous or dramatic of secrets for Sam to discover, but that makes it feel even more possible.
8. What About Jon Snow?
There's surprisingly little about Jon in Reigns: Game of Thrones, which might be telling.
One major character who's story is pretty thin in Reigns is Jon Snow. In the last few seasons of the show, we've learned his true Targaryen parentage and seen him come back from the dead. Jon Snow has had the most success so far in fighting White Walkers, and he seems like the most likely candidate to be Azor Ahai. The other details in Reigns feel like they could be hinting at possible story elements in the future of Game of Thrones; in the case of Jon, it's the lack of details that seems significant. If Game of Thrones has more planned for Jon in Season 8, it would make sense for Reigns to actually hold back a lot of that information, and keep Jon's story a bit more sparse. That would help the show keep potential spoilers away from viewers. Where other ideas, like Tyrion's wildfire plan or Jaime bearing Lightbringer, could be hints at the direction of the show that might or might not be true, anything specific about Jon would probably wind up being right in line with the show's actual plot points. Reigns is keeping away from fan theories and speculation about Jon in order to avoid actually accidentally confirming anything. Or, of course, all of this idle speculation could be just that, and Reigns could be a very clever but ultimately inconsequential addition to the Game of Thrones story that's nothing like Season 8. The game is so in line with the details of the show that that seems unlikely, though. We're stuck waiting until 2019 to find out for sure.
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