Fallout 76 Lore - What Happened to the Responders - Part 1

This video covers the story of the original Responders, from their founding in the aftermath of the bombs, to their destruction 19 years later.
Corrections:
1. When speaking about the length of the winter of 2077-2078, I mistakenly say the snow lasted into the summer of 2076. The proper year is 2078.
Twitter: / gamingwithmaps
Patreon: / icartographer

[@ZephyrusAsmodeus]

Honestly, 76 has to have one of the most depressing settings, a lot of players complained about there being no npcs but.. that feeling of leaving the pristine vault only to find bodies, blood, sickness, desperate holdouts overrun, remnants of so many people, families, groups, entire factions, even the a Brotherhood just.. mowed over.. not a single living soul left. That was a harrowing experience once the hype for a new Fallout game and complaints about the game took a back seat to really taking in the horrific surroundings between the beautiful, perpetual autumn forests of Appalachia. I'm glad to have people back now, not only for things to do but just to build back over the bones of a civilisation so swiftly and hopelessly extinguished a second time over, but for a series like Fallout to take such a serious, bleak outlook on a wasteland, even on the whim of trying a game where the players are all the people there are left, that's going to stick with me, much the same way as the first original Fallout did.

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

The first year of Fallout 76 had an eerie feeling like I’ve never experienced in any other Fallout. We were alone together, walking through the graveyard of a civilization that had been utterly destroyed twice - first in terms of infrastructure, then in terms of population.

[@ZephyrusAsmodeus]

@@IrresoluteCartographer Made even more poignant by how beautiful the map is, at least most of it, just a expanding paradise from the steps of Vault 76, but a hellish graveyard once you dive beneath the trees.

[@Kazmirl]

@@ZephyrusAsmodeus I know I'm necroposting your comment, but THIS is what I wish my buddies who just picked it up could feel. I fell in love with the Responders and Fire Breathers... Only to be met with dispair at every turn. It really made the story hit home learning about the events of The Dam Break

[@WohnTohn]

im playing throught my first fallout game 4 rn but i you just convinced me to give 76 the chance everyone has told me not to

[@FreezeFrameYT]

God... Every faction in this game ended with them either making a last stand against the endless assault of scorched literally at their strongholds where they had defensive positions and fortifications, or hiding somewhere until they died of starvation or sickness. If only all the factions put a treaty, and taggerdy launched that nuke...

[@BoJangles42]

Bro, you deserve WAYYYYY more likes and subs, this is a fantastic video on what I consider some of the most interesting Fallout lore in the entire canon.

[@sawyermarkd76]

Totally agree. His whole series has helped me understand the lore so much. If Bethesda had any sense they’d promote great content creators like him.

[@niallhart8744]

For real

[@TomTom-ym2bh]

Absolutely incredible work. Fallout 76 has some of the best lore in the series despite the appareances.

[@AlphaGator9]

I am with you, and will stand on that hill with you TomTom8490.

[@SecretlySeven]

100% Truth.

[@BoJangles42]

I have some major gripes with the game, but I 100% agree with you that 76 has fantastic lore, and the way you can discover it and piece it together in the game through environmental storytelling is compelling and praiseworthy. I’m doing a solo play through that I started from scratch with a new character just to explore and find all the lore and clues left behind from the events prior to the opening of the vault.

[@Slop_Dogg]

No.

[@adarus9941]

@@Slop_DoggYes

[@ariabalsgamingchannel]

YES! The Responders are my favaouite new faction to the game, I'm ready to learn their tragic story :)

[@BoJangles42]

I can imagine this video but done in the style of a Ken Burns historical documentary :-)

[@anthonym6160]

I love your work. While other creators play up the story more.. if that makes any sense? You come across like a history professor.. educating the masses.. and I dig it. I think it's your delivery. I could see myself sitting in a classroom while you narrated this over slides.

[@SLDFMechWarrior]

That must had been one epic last stand at the airport

[@THoten]

Criminally undersubbed channel, thanks for all your work

[@brianrmc1963]

This is your Opus work. It covers the majority of Fallout 76. Furthermore, it shows the Responders were the best faction, displaying the best in humanity. Thank you for all your efforts.

[@SecretlySeven]

Impressive amount of time and research. Brilliant.

[@discountcoffee5820]

Fantastic video I love fallout but after the launch of 76 I dropped the game but heard of the responders and was extremely curious of them n this video definitely satisfied my curiosity thanks man

[@spookieboogi6161]

The fact every responder died fighting and none retreated or ran away speaks volumes of them they were heroes human but dedicated tho they fell they all fell heroes

[@hauntinghouse]

Your vids have changed how I view the lore, the locations, and even the soundtrack in some ways. Well done!

[@ConettaF]

Fantastic. FO76 more than any other Fallout games lore is scattered about and hidden. Especially its early versions when there were no people. Playing you only get snippets. Hearing it all like you have done really paints a solid story. Also, it makes me really like the Responders.

[@deadbonetheskeleton3157]

Incredibly good I've been waiting for this

[@Reaverzreapz]

Thank you soooo much. I’m not really the type to read all the lore but I still want to know the story behind locations and I finally stumbled across your video and it’s everything I ever wanted. I can’t wait to check out the rest of them! Keep up the great work!

[@CurlyJefferson666]

I simply don't understand why people say there wasn't good storytelling at launch. Personally I really enjoyed the pre wastelanders game, playing detective to uncovers all the stories of the dead was an interesting enjoyable experience.

[@morphine2332]

All these stories are amazing! The research and narration are A+++

[@Reverend-Matty]

Man I love your videos, awesome work as always, thank you!

[@Spartan412]

Personal bookmark, videos so long and well made too! 42:00

[@TheXeroLink]

Very underrated channel. I’ve been looking for something like this!! I appreciate your work here!!

[@BL00DYME55]

Just discovered your channel and I'm blown away by the quality of your Fallout lore videos. I like that you cover your topics in great detail, but without all the filler content. Unlike some other Fallout lore youtubers, you don't waste your (and our) time checking every corner and every container in every room, and don't catalogue every mob you kill and every piece of scrap you loot. You don't pretend like you're solving some sort of mystery, and don't come up with some far fetched theories. Just pure straight to the point facts. Your channel is criminally under subbed, and I hope more people discover you soon, cause you deserve it.

[@panthervoodoo]

Very thorough and engaging lore. Super grateful for this fantastic and entertaining back story. Great job and thank you🤘🏾❤️

[@anderstonfeldt]

This is some absolutely extraordinary detective work. Many thanks for detailing how you came to your conclusions. Outstanding video.

[@jasonbirk7103]

Well done, sir. Well done. Very informative and engaging.

[@imnotsayingmyfullname4904]

This can’t be, so far your the most in depth and informative fallout lore KZbinr I’ve seen, and you’ve only got 2k subs!, how!!

[@Bandit-co9xc]

Wow!!!! Your videos are amazing. Keep up the great work!

[@nsimmonds]

So glad I found this channel.

[@UraniumFever76]

Excellent video 👏👏👏

[@senseiseanx]

Subscribed! You’re doing great!

[@Hxrmes11]

Love your videos. Excited to see what you have to say about skyline valley

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

Looking forward to getting into it more. I haven’t had much time in the past week to spend on Skyline Valley, but I like what I have seen, and will definitely make some videos on it

[@havoksaar7905]

Just amazing! I love that someone is doing this! I actually enjoy fallout 76 it is a fun game.

[@VaciliNikoMavich]

Excellent story and narration ^^

[@marktaylor314]

Awesome video 😎

[@Darkspiderdash]

Jesus can you imagine watching this on a live series. There has always been two scenarios that have stuck me to my core throughout playing this game hell i've even had nightmares about it. imagine watching the responder in the radio tower at morgantown airport hearing the broadcrest defiance has fallen with the knowledge that we know and seeing that live my god how amazing yet terrifying would that be. Watching the fortification for Morgantown Airport while cutting to the Fire breathers in their last stand at big bend tunnel. The last scene showing a single scorched taking it's first step out of Big Ben. The camera zooming in on the face while it says it is us,we are it then in the darkness of the tunnel you see thousands of glowing eyes. They start to pour out as a scorched beast lands on top of the entrance roaring. The angle pans up into the sky and you see a radiation storm and a flood of scorched beast in the air. I think of the last scene of Lord of the rings the two towers when imagining this with that music, that background and everything is just chilling. God that last stand at the Airport.The only thing I could think of that would be even come close to a battle like that is Game of Thrones the last battle with the white walkers but in this scenario we lose. God if only....

[@SteveWV]

So I wonder did David ever find Roslyn was not killed? I know when rounding up the keys one of the mission is to kill David who became a scorched if I had my way I'd leave him that way.

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

I don’t think David ever found her. He created a memorial to her, I have to think if he had found her body he would have buried her. If there was anybody in Appalachia that deserved scorching, it was David Thorpe. Only Thomas Eckhart deserved it more, but as far as we know he went out in the coup.

[@JivinJoe1984]

Since they brought npcs and the responders back, it would be cool to have them where the responders signs at on the map

[@MadFace83]

How the heck did you put all this info together? Fantastic video.

[@YoureNotThatGuyPa1]

Underrated content creator

[@magostaldren9312]

I was waiting fro someone to make an in depth love on the responders thankyou

[@shawnleek4970]

Well Brother, if the Tates of Appalachia are anything like the Tates of Illinois, I would say R. Tate is related to Sylvester Tate. Damn good video. Ive watched your videos in Boston, also. Great job there too. Drive on Brother and Godspeed.

[@ArenzanaBuhl]

This is unreal. 1200 hours in and I couldn’t have put 1/10 of that together.

[@BillGilbert427]

Dude, I think you would be a great Sci-fi author. I would buy your books in a heart beat!!!

[@america8706]

The Responders, specifically the Firebreathers are my favorite faction in 76. An absolutely tragic story revolving around the unquenchable human spirit. I hope to see their ranks renewed in the future, I'm doing my part.

[@jvazacas]

They turned to scorched or where killed by scorched...probably both Great video

[@wanderthecosmos]

Good shit man

[@spookieboogi6161]

Oh no they had a choice they chose the easy route they chose to kill and take when they could have chose to hunt and farm the fact they had guns,ammo and alcohol meant 1. They had the ability to shoot a deer and it’s not super far away from where they live that they have plenty of places to scavenge and hunt for animals, 2.they mad a functional market which means they traded among themselves thus could have traded alcohol and excess supplies for vegetables and seeds allowing them grow food 3. David was a lazy sack who couldn’t be bothered to get his hands dirty with anything other than blood

[@ashton-ryantaylor5297]

I have one question that’s been bugging me about the Responders lore. What route do you think the cross mountain caravans took to reach Harpers Ferry from Charleston (and later Morgantown)? I understand that the BOS eventually were escorting these caravans, but the main roads through the Savage Divide go right through the heart of raider and super mutant country. Yet in the lore they make it seem like an easy trip people can make across the mountain (Hank Madigan and Derek Castle both crossed alone without any fuss or reference to the danger that the entire region poses). I know that we don’t have an exact answer to my question. But I wanted to see if you maybe have some ideas of what route they took. Edit: typo

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

It’s never explicitly stated, of course, but the best in-game option I think there is for the Harpers Ferry to Charleston route is (from east to west) past the NIRA, West-Tek, north of Huntersville, Emmett Mountain Disposal, the Middle Mountain Cabins, and the Whitespring. Other possibilities are really hard to see, but I think we have to keep a couple things in mind. 1. When Hank Madigan and Derek Castle went on solo trips, it’s not necessarily the case that they had to follow the roads. It seems likely that the farther you got from the road, the more likely you would run into creatures, but the less likely you were to run into raiders. 2. The map is truncated. What we see in game is not a 1:1 scale of the world in the Fallout Universe. It becomes obvious when you think about how many things that are mentioned can’t be found (a weigh station in Morgantown, a university in Watoga, etc.). The world would be boring if it was a 1:1 scale. Morgantown and Flatwoods are 70 miles apart IRL. Keeping this in mind, we have to assume there are more mountain passes, and in all likelihood, more than 1 ridge of mountains, as is the case IRL.

[@ashton-ryantaylor5297]

@@IrresoluteCartographer Thanks for the reply! When it comes to the 1:1 scale, I never thought of it that way. But that makes a lot more sense now that you’ve brought it up :-)

[@DragonBourne]

FalloutHammer 4076 Bethesda went full grim dark with the 76 storylines. They're right up my alley. In fact, 76 is the only Bethesda storyline I've ever really found compelling other than the DB storyline from Oblivion.

[@charlotterandall8738]

Subscribed.

[@spookieboogi6161]

Rest in peace colonel you died a hero it’s a shame I hope your valiant sacrifice meant your charges endured.

[@GMG455]

But if you think about it, firebreathers got their flamethrowers stolen, because people knew vault tec was the issue. and what if they had plasma throwers that got reworked in solidarity to what even a singular surviving eyebot saw in the hopes smart people might figure it out.....Hornwright is a dark path, especially when you see the strikebreaker sentry has unique equipment. and one shouldn't trust Penelope too much which sucks because to my Knowledge foundation is cool. Especially since Garrahan excavators and the likes are gonna be real important at Monogah and looking real expensive for a free item if it can be screened how it deserves to be. Because realistically a lot of good folks of any kind went lying low to take that monster out. They were chasing the gourmands/ blood eagles/ug cults or corrupted mothman for a longer time than we anticipated. and that scream at that abandoned camp I forget the name of scares me still to this day but you never find her, You find a piece to that puzzle from an ally quest.

[@LexIconLS]

I've never hated a Fallout raider gang more than the raiders in Appalachia.

[@inzyniertv9305]

Todd Howard: Oh you like those factions? Well too bad their dead now

[@timwashigh]

Responders 4 Life! Too Sweet!!!

[@mannamoth918]

The Responders are the Prototype Minutemen

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

Definitely similar groups

[@rambokills2750]

17:38 haha 😂😂

[@JuniorGoat1017]

What exactly is the difference between minutemen and Responders?

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

There are similar in some ways: Volunteers Helping those in need Fighting dangers to the general public But there are differences too. Responders: Primarily focused on medical and humanitarian aide. Strong science and engineering team. Minutemen: Primarily focused on military action - defending farms, attacking raider strongholds, and rescuing kidnap victims.

[@ryan1258]

Each story I learn about, I just end up hating the raiders more & more.

[@rick-dy7mt]

So the respondrs are surviving police fire and ems people?

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

That and volunteers that joined up after the bombs

[@justinfrazier9555]

I can't stand Fallout 76. But the lore is good. Great job bringing something to me that I couldn't bring myself to explore personally.

[@xtinctx8557]

Im ready to wear the uniform. Swing my axe and respond if help is needed.

[@about10ninjas]

I've always found it strange that nobody in the game has a WV accent.

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

I’d love to put this off as the death of regional dialects in the Fallout Universe, as seems to be occurring generation by generation in the real world, but there are still many other regional dialects in game

[@about10ninjas]

@@IrresoluteCartographer The overseer isn't bad. There are some that can be explained away, like the Brotherhood for example. Those who came from The Pitt, etc. Though there was more than one instance of people saying they were born there and they sound like they're from California. It doesn't bother me, but it's funny.

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

With regards to the “born there” but sounding like they’re from California thing, I have some personal experience with that. Though I was born in Texas, to one Texan and one non-Texan, and was raised in Texas, I don’t have much of a Texas accent, nor Texan speech tendencies, aside from the use of “howdy,” and “y’all,” the former of which was drilled into me by my first university, the latter which is simple practicality.

[@sir.phillip2697]

What about the responders in white springs?

[@IrresoluteCartographer]

I’m going to make a video covering the new arrivals to the Whitespring before too long. They weren’t in the game yet when I made this.

[@johnpenguinthe3rd13]

From what I remember, the Responders in the Whitesprings were added in as part of the PITT add-on which was released later in 2022. In other words, they weren't in the game yet during the making of this video. From what I remember, 2018 is the original Fallout 76 (no human NPCs, but it had a very indepth story told through recordings, holotapes, robots, etc). 2020 is when they added the Wastanders content with the Wayward characters and the Foundation and Crater characters and a few other NPCs in other locations. Late 2020 they introduce the Brotherhood NPCs, but during 2021 they greatly expand upon the Brotherhood NPCs and their missions. 2022 they eventually release the PITT (along with the new Responders at the Whitesprings, along with characters like Orlando, etc, etc) and very late 2022 they release the Nuka World update with the NPCs at Nuka World. I think that's all of it. Late 2023 they are suppose to release an Atlantic City add-on (assuming it doesn't get delayed, it should be out Fall of 2023).

[@sir.phillip2697]

@@johnpenguinthe3rd13 ah i see

[@sir.phillip2697]

@@IrresoluteCartographer epic sorry i did not realize that

[@jarrodreaves243]

Dp

[@xz569]

I should add, I loved the early F76 play, IE before all the "humans" came. A dead world, where only an echo of a world long gone, and you had to figure out what happened. It was grimdark, and it was depressing, but it was Fallout! it was about finding hope in the embers of a dying world. And now we have a MMO circus with just farming gear and the usual pvp crap. Yeah, F76 did have a good fallout story, but as mmo, it kinda just sucked. TLDR, they be dead mon... They, BOS, raiders and all the rest that survived the flash that broke the world, was wiped clean, by the shadows of the old world, shadows that have a long and dark reach, even into current age fallout.

[@aleksanderg3606]

Do you know the names of writers in Bethesda who wrote this story? It is pretty..... naive and watered down compared to first Fallouts.

[@devriestown]

Pay for play THIS GAME SUCK ED

[@mattd8484]

Definitely deserves more views and subs