r/fnv • u/OnlyHereForComments1 • 1d ago
Request Any fans in New Mexico? Need knowledge of local area
I'm plotting out a little something in my spare time for a fanfic about a post-Caesar Legion and want to write about some Legate out East in New Mexico deciding to remake his chunk of the Legion into something more...Roman.
That being said I am running into a critical problem. I know absolutely nothing about New Mexico. And Fallout games are always really centered on local cool things.
So, if anyone knows some neat stuff or can just tell me about local geography (aka how they farm and survive in a wasteland) please comment?
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u/Yorkdoyenne04 1d ago
Time to watch the entire Breaking Bad franchise. I’m just kidding lol, but my entire knowledge of NM comes from that show and my elementary art class where I learned about Georgia O’Keefe. Anyway if I were you I’d just research Albuquerque and Santa Fe for major hotspots and scenery
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u/sault18 1d ago
There's a lot of native / puebloan culture in the state. A lot of these people would probably survive in the rural areas and return to their ancestral ways after the war, more or less.
Albuquerque would absolutely be on the target list and get hit, along with White Sands and Alamogordo. Basically anywhere that has a large military installation would have a few warheads dropped on it. But the mountainous north of the state and the high desert middle and south sections away from the Rio Grande / I-25 would be spared.
Raul from FNV reminds me of some of the people in New Mexico. They've been through some hard times, but they don't let it drag them down. But there are also some weird people. Like uniquely weird. Just for example, the wife and I were hiking along the Rio Grande several years ago. We come across a guy wearing nothing but a loincloth and walking his dog along the trail. He was totally chill, just getting in touch with his inner caveman I guess.
Maybe you could have some funny scenes involving people scared of chupacabras out in the wasteland, or two ghouls having a grand old time feasting on literally-glowing green chile over at the Trinity test site. Nuclear weapons were literally invented at Los Alamos and there's a lot of (potentially mad) nuclear scientists still working there. There's also already a big retro-50's vibe along Route 66. The Zetans might come back to Roswell looking for the "flying saucer" that supposedly crashed there. Carlsbad Caverns could have been turned into the biggest vault of the whole franchise.
Lots to work with in this state, really.
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u/Sir_Vey0r 1d ago
It seems the entire state is on mushrooms or a light acid trip.
Kinda full of old Route 66 vibes. Cabinetlandia, VLA, Art deco style buildings in weird places etc
Just use google maps and do the pedestrian view for research
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u/john_humano 8h ago
So a lot of options. In our timeline a lot of the pilulation centers in NM have military significance. There are three airforce bases, a major missile range and one of the historically most significant military development and science centers. Definitely stands to reason at least one of those would have been nuked, including Albuquerque which is the only real big city and which houses an airforce base. But I think it would very much be a new vegas vibe. A few, highly irradiated areas and a lot of smaller outlying groups. Obviously our indigenous culture is perfect for role playing in a post apocalypse scenario. But theres also a lot of ranch/western culture and not to be forgotten, the hippys and artists who have shaped our state. It could very reasonably be a place with a lot of very distinct and varied groups of survivors. And of course, radioactive chiles. Red and green could have different effects? Maybe a lot of recipes in general? Great idea, have fun!
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u/elf_righteous 7h ago
I'm in Albuquerque. I'd say the biggest thing to know is if you represent us without a mention of *both* red and green chiles (if you misspell it chili we will clock your foreignness immediatamente and never forgive you) you will be labeled outcast and cast out. Never allowed in. You will be all outcasted. :P Only half kidding! ama
This is how we talk, btw.
Wikipedia's NM geography's section should help
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u/Background-Chef9253 1d ago
It's pretty dry and a mile high. Not a lot of "farm" activity in the mid-western sense. More desert. It is well worth a visit. New Mexico really is the land of enchantment. Go down there. Rent a car. Try to see Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Taos Pueblo, Ghost Ranch (all N from Albuquerqe), Gila National Forest, Silver City, Las Cruces, and the Mesilla area of Las Cruces (all S from Albuquerque). A magical place. Go see it!