The History of Power Armor | Fallout Lore

Power Armor is combat technology designed to protect soldiers on the battlefield. Wearing power armor gives the soldier a significant increase in strength, allowing them to carry heavy weapons to locations deemed inaccessible to battle tanks and other large vehicles. But they weren’t always used for war, they were also used for crowd control and even to resolve competitive disputes between companies. But who designed power armor, what models are there, and how has the great war effected their development?
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[@Synonymous101]

Regarding the need for power armor training and refuelling the suit with later games, is to me, a matter of gameplay balance and not lore and as such will not be discussed…ignorance is bliss, come join me! Correction: The Brotherhood of Steel did not make the chemical treatment for the hardened version of T-51, it was created by a man named Miles at the Boneyard and then by a man named Crockett in San Francisco. Huge thanks to Iron Reed for bringing this to my attention!

[@mcpossum]

To me, PA is OP armor for the earlier games. And ingrained it's self in to the Fallout lore

[@kaidorade1317]

Came for the ignorance, stayed for the bliss! Glad to see a new video

[@mcpossum]

@@kaidorade1317 he did such a great job. That I didn't get my normal Power Armor head ache 😍

[@barbarosbozkurt758]

We need a Fallout Shelter Lore Episode lol

[@mcpossum]

@@barbarosbozkurt758 "Vault Tec took too much Med-X and a prototype prewar Jet. And hence, we have unqualified Overseers. Mass producing possible incest Vault. Cause you know, it just works."

[@jackalairsoft1716]

I've never understood how ghouls or other low level enemies could ever hurt you in power armor. Like shouldn't the armor be able to take on an army of ghouls or mole rats without any damage? They should beat their ghouls hands into bloody stumps on your armor...

[@Synonymous101]

Realistically they would, but it would become quite boring if that was the case wouldn't it

[@joesmith457]

Chad fallout 1 and 2 power armor moment

[@OkurkaBinLadin]

Those literally couldnt touch out in Fallout 1 or 2, because damage was calculated differently.

[@dunkeykung1162]

Because Bethesda used damage resistance calculation(you WILL take damage no matter the enemy type, the resistance will just reduce that damage by a certain percentage. Rough idea since Idk what the actual formula they used is) instead of og/New Vegas' damage threshold calculation (you will only take damage beyond a certain point, you're impervious to getting hurt below that point). I can't think of a single reason Bethesda would implement it like this, because now you don't completely feel like you're conquering your enemies at higher levels. Like everything though, there's a mod to add damage threshold back.

[@onerandomdude4015]

@@dunkeykung1162 they put it in for balence, the t-51 and the hellfire have very high armor ratings of 50 and 10 for the helmet there are very few wepons that do 60 damge pershot in fallout 3

[@cjtheevilghost5711]

I love how the X-01 Power Armor headlamp is the eyes. It looks awesome.

[@StressmanFIN]

And if I remember right, one of the paint jobs you can give it, makes them RED. x) Imagine someone like that coming at you at night. :D

[@s.c.2180]

@@StressmanFIN i think you can just modify the light if you have got the materials

[@williamwinder5011]

But in reality you wouldn't be able to see.

[@ExtremiSS88]

@@williamwinder5011 true, even though red is good at protecting your night vision

[@Geenoi]

The lasting eye damage from it isn't though.

[@nottelling6598]

Jetpacks look pre-war to me, but I think they might have been extremely limited in supply, or had vulnerabilities that stopped their widespread implementation.

[@masonwilliams1345]

@@rmcminiking my guess would be it was conceived pre war and perhaps a handful was made as a proof of concept and all it took was some mentats popping wastelander to find them and and make more.

[@nottelling6598]

@@rmcminiking Yes, but it actually _looks_ shiny and not slapped together. Unless it was Enclave project that the Brotherhood salvaged, then that means it's probably pre-war.

[@upcastimp8758]

They are in a prewar magazine

[@jamesjoros1853]

Given the writing and paint scheme on the in game model of the jet pack I think it may have been developed alongside the X-O1 using pre war schematics

[@GlaDi02]

Pre war thing that was used mostly by airbone in order to allow parachute drop from the planes, and also possesed by some batalions to be used as rapid reaction force,

[@garnitobandito]

I do believe the "bullet through the visor" story is a reference to fallout 2. In that game, when you aim your shots, you get a VATS style menu with hit percentages. Eyes are one of the options, and it was a great strategy to use the Gauss rifle and aim for the eyes of power armor enemies because it would bypass the armor. The more you know...✨

[@Synonymous101]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Thanks! 😁👍

[@garnitobandito]

@@Synonymous101 I never figured you'd read my comment! Haha No sweat. 👍

[@StressmanFIN]

What about groin shots?

[@goolagdabman5661]

I said something to this effect. If the Visor was taken out by a handgun, it was more then likely a high level wanderer. Sounds the like the wanderer was the chosen one's descendant. IE you my friend and all the other OG vets.

[@garnitobandito]

@@StressmanFIN Quite effective when you use the auto shotgun in Fallout 2. Haha

[@JC839]

Fallout lore: oh shit, we are running out of oil. Let’s start massive wars for more oil Also fallout lore: Here are nuclear powered cars

[@DjDolHaus86]

There is more to oil than fuel, plastics and other oil derivatives are hugely important

[@apassionatenerd.3564]

Cannonically the uranium mines were starting to run dry as well. It was a full resource war, not just an oil war.

[@wormwoodbecomedelphinus4131]

Not necessarily depleted oil, just peak oil - meaning, the maximum possible amount of oil that can be gathered in a specific amount of time. Oil cannot be gathered faster even as demand keeps rising, thus creating a shortage unable to meet demand. Their focus on warfare was their undoing. Instead of pushing the technology into market to solve the energy crisis, they couldn't let go of the past. They merely would have had to endure as the fusion technology proliferates - the surplus energy would allow them to out compete China economically.

[@neves5083]

YES XD

[@Anchor-Supreme]

Oil isn’t used only as a form of fuel.

[@oodfty3740]

love how she lost her legs while the vault dweller literally steps on landmines, gets directly hit or withstands rocket explosions, and is just perfectly fine

[@redman7775]

Then you get to the point where even Fatman shells don't even tickle you and laugh at everyone

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

Because the PC is protected by the mightiest armor of all, plot armor!

[@DEMONX62]

He's built different

[@paledawt9683]

Adamantium Skeleton perk + high endurance stat + implants Great build in NV

[@bulletmog]

@@paledawt9683 that’s just every late game build tho

[@averageforzaplayer1048]

*“Power armor can recycle waste, allowing a person to stay hydrated in the inventory of a water shortage or nuclear war”* Fallout 76: *Lets pretend that doesn’t happen.*

[@dirtkicker177]

That means there would be a piss mechanic in 76

[@szymonbollin5074]

@@dirtkicker177 Yes

[@FF-yn7ul]

@@dirtkicker177 epic

[@randomkriegsman8444]

Bruh this feature does not show up in any fallout game despite it being pretty useful, like in fo4 survival mode, feels like a wasted opportunity

[@averageforzaplayer1048]

@@randomkriegsman8444 I agree with you, they could’ve added as a power armor mod (like calibrated shocks or stealth field) and I still would’ve been happy

[@elic1356]

I never knew that the electro-magnetic weapons were mainly intended to eliminate enemies in Power Armour. Guess it would give the laser weapons and gauss-rifle a purpose and would totally make sense, though I never caught on. Very interesting.

[@mrgamerguy9104]

To put it shortly, the armor uses electricity and quite a lot of it. EMP weapons damage the PA's systems, probably locking out the user of exiting or damaging oxygen transfer systems or possibly, making it immobile. To put it shortly, EMP is ten times powerful against a Power Armor user.

[@FlashKillerX]

I thought the armor was super resistant to energy damage though? I get EMP and gauss rifle would do good but laser and plasma weapons are not very effective against power armor I thought

[@_Circus_Clapped_]

in the first fallout, if you manage to make it to The Glow (the hole which was a research lab that got hit by a nuke) there was an entry that mentions something about an energy weapon easily slicing through power armor

[@ZeonicFenrir]

I think he is right on the basic idea that Gauss weapons were made to fight opponents in Power Armor… but by the Chinese. Operation Anchorage has Chinese propaganda posters with their soldiers armed with such Gauss rifle. Also, for what’s worth, in Fallout 2 the best place to recurringly obtain Gauss weapons & their ammo is San Francisco, which is populated by the Shi, descendants of the crew of a Chinese submarine that was left stranded there. I also think it makes more sense that ones fighting troops in Power armor would seek weapons capable of piercing it. The Gauss rifle from FO4 do might be of American design, and likely has a similar background to the stealth boy, which was reversed engineered from Chinese stealth suits.

[@FlashKillerX]

@@_Circus_Clapped_ in fallout 1 there’s also a holotape that explains there’s a micro filament silver coating meant to reflect lasers and radiation? Are lasers in the lore just stronger than power armor’s coating then?

[@paulwolfley7785]

Bullet through the visor is likely a caliber issue, 9mm not going to happen but a 50 cal might do the trick 😉

[@paulwolfley7785]

@@petitponeydu7727 those windows are about 4 inches thick

[@paulwolfley7785]

@@petitponeydu7727 good point, yet the transistor wasn't invented in the fallout time line that's why all the technology is big and bulky

[@Tysandifer]

@@petitponeydu7727 never been in one when it gets hit have you..

[@robertharris6092]

@@petitponeydu7727 theres still 20mms

[@Tysandifer]

It's a video game... Shooting a building with a bike didn't do anything

[@Lordborgoth666]

I'd like to imagine Frank Horgan wears a modified T-65

[@justehgamer4327]

The arms look like t51

[@670Noah]

It’s the same armor that the Enclave wear in F1 and F2…..the enclave don’t use T-65 or T-51

[@Lordborgoth666]

@@670Noah I know that..... keyword was "imagine"

[@briankaka7332]

Yeah that would be awesome. Bcuz hes really a secret service personel.for enclave.

[@mrredacted85]

@@670Noah 1. There was no Enclave in Fallout 1 2. There are literally dozens of Enclave soldiers on that Oil rig in F2 wearing the Xo1 or the T51

[@barbarosbozkurt758]

I guarantee you that someone in the future will drop a fake replica Nuke to celebrate Fallout

[@kazuhiramiller3260]

Using ZEKE as it's launching system.

[@spaghettimkay5795]

@@kazuhiramiller3260 why are we still here....

[@thebeeghoont7888]

@@spaghettimkay5795 just to suffer…

[@DRNGDGMR]

Then we can build around it and call the place Megaton

[@plasmaa352]

Done 🤫

[@tinadunaway2726]

U know I forgot how dark the fallout series really is.

[@SPFLDAngler]

Super mutants that eat people.. raiders that rape and murder, and also eat people. Giant mutated animals that eat people. No food, no water, radiation everywhere... how do you forget that fallout is dark?..

[@astrophel5737]

@@SPFLDAngler sounds like a nice Sunday afternoon

[@zachariahtrench7863]

@@SPFLDAngler FO4. It feels more like a hybrid of Borderlands

[@uc3113]

@@SPFLDAngler i blame bethesda

[@evil_bratwurst]

I forget how dark the lore is because I'm having too much fun picking up junk off the corpses of nuclear zombies

[@ThtSunbreaker]

Considering bulletproof isn't real, only bullet resistant it's likely that over time the power armour has taken some damage to the visor, and weakened the glass enough that someone could shoot through them

[@ajarofmayonnaise3250]

Also there is no bulletproof vest, it’s rather bullet-resistant vest.

[@popinmo]

@@ajarofmayonnaise3250 as someone who makes bodyarmor you can just all it a bulletproof vest you know

[@MrLocurito]

or the visor can just be missing...

[@laupatual7137]

@@MrLocurito How is she able to tell there's a bullet hole in the visor if the visor is missing lmao

[@MrLocurito]

@@laupatual7137 i mean how big is the visor socket? if the bulletproof glass is missing and the mask as a dent close to it, one can just say, ye someone got shooted thru the visor

[@BrievaryZowan]

I'd say the reason for changing from the big hump on the X-01 wasn't to improve the protection of the wearer, but more so to improve mobility and line of sight. If you take a look, that big ass hump also wraps around the head slightly. You don't see it in the game, but in reality that would block your line of sight if you look to your right or left.

[@colddaze6680]

True. Armour versus visibility. They made a compromise.

[@elic1356]

I'm sure there is some lore that will answer this question, but I've always wondered why the Brotherhood of Steel hardly used the Enclave's more advanced power armor, especially after the events of Fallout 3. To my understanding, they happily took Vertibirds, weapons, and schematics from the Enclave, but hardly bothered to use the advanced power armor that was most definitely plentiful to them after fo3.

[@kingdonut8272]

Maybe there wasn't enough found to equip their entire army, or the resources to repair them were too expensive, probably a combination of both.

[@elic1356]

@@kingdonut8272 Looking at how Fallout 3 played out, I'm sure they could scavenge at least one hundred suits of Enclave Power Armour, perhaps not for the entire army, but for a small advanced unit. The lack of resources to repair the suits could definitely be a variable though. Considering that the BoS has a mission the revolves around preserving technology, it doesn't seem really like them to waste perfectly good (and advanced) sets of power armor like that.

[@flotots]

It is Bethesda's poor writing if you ask me...

[@corngamming]

@@elic1356 It could be that they're attempting to reverse engineer it completely before they let it onto the field or something along those lines

[@kingdonut8272]

@@elic1356 Maybe they left it back at the Citadel, so no raiders or anybody would get their hands on such an advanced suit of power armor if they managed to kill a unit.

[@sylvananas7923]

When you realize things were getting so bad in the U.S they had to use power armor against civilians

[@alyctro8158]

You make a point

[@_Circus_Clapped_]

when a civilian gets their hands on Laser Rifles and hits the life support

[@caiorodriguesmonteiro4768]

Laser weapons are so easy to use that even a child can use...and they do

[@kspbro506]

January 6th in the united states be like:

[@ThePostalDude2077]

@@kspbro506 Portland and Minneapolis be like:

[@nakarilexfortaine2897]

On the jetpack: I think the plans are pre-war, there's possibly even a handful of pre-war jet packs out there, but I doubt they were common or deployed in any way en masse. More than likely, they were in testing phases as an equipment piece for future deployments of the T60 PA. The Enclave likely had copies of the blueprints with plans to manufacture as needed, with copies of said plans and possibly working units falling into BoS hands after the Enclaves defeat. While made for the T60, which makes sense given the rapid deployment and expectations of the T60 to be the best-of-the-best, I doubt it would be completely impossible for the BoS to backwards engineer the jetpacks to work with older armor, giving them some more deployment options. Just highly unlikely outside of a test to see if it works, or an absolute desperate move while having to field a mass of units clad in T45 and T51 in an urban environment.

[@thegreatpapyrus2306]

I agree, the brotherhood likely had the capacity to retrofit the jetpacks onto older models. Also, the jetpack appears on a prewar magazine if I remember right. Edit: Just realized he mentions the magazine in the video, so I didn’t really need to point it out.

[@elic1356]

I've always liked the T-65 (if that's what it is) from Fallout 76. The bulky design and pure plates of steel gives it the appearance of a freaking tank.

[@cyriell]

Maybe that was the idea behind it a mobile cover that doesn't endanger the wielder of the PA because of all its added protection but it would be slow moving ofcourse

[@gymboundduelistygo2569]

T-65 is an advance military model that was probably never deployed but the secret service had the schematics for them. Remember the vault dwellers from vault 76 are masters of building from schematics. There’s a lot of parts that make it easy for the vault dwellers to scavenge and make use of since it’s only 25 years after the Great War. By the time fallout 1 happens everything gets harder to scavenge.

[@cyriell]

@Very Sad entirely personal tho played 600-700 hours and im not bored of it :)

[@cyriell]

@@gymboundduelistygo2569 I think we all know that since that was said in the video :p

[@spookyengie735]

@Very Sad I think it a still a fun game,lore wise it a bloody mess but in it current state it alright. i would give it like a 6.5/10 or maybe a 7 because it not a buggy mess anymore

[@justastrider3252]

I'm guessing an anti-materiel rifle or a high velocity bullet would be able to perice the visor of a suit of power armor. I'm guessing the visor could probably resist smaller rounds but it would damage the glass in such a way that it would effectively blind the person wearing it (I recommend looking up tests against real bulletproof glass)

[@spookyengie735]

@juter4397 I think the psycho allow him to kill that BOS paladin in his mind

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

The guy is still a liar and i think he's lieing about the shot ,he's kinda dumb too. So I don't think he did it ,but it's probably possible with the right weapons

[@MaestroJericho]

Anti-material should be able to pierce through the armor itself.

[@baileywooof493]

ricky used a 10mm round (a pistol calibre) whereas sheena could have used a heavier round like 308. or even 50. cal from a rifle of some sort

[@salamilidontfit]

The person in T-51 on the museum of freedom wall is supposed to be depicting the liberation of anchorage

[@Synonymous101]

Thanks, I did say "may be" as it isn't very clear, nor is there much lore surrounding the event 👍

[@user-et6ve5nt8h]

if that is true then why is there a rocket taking off in the background

[@wilberator9608]

Seeing a new Fallout Lore video uploaded always puts me in a good mood. "The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was LIBERATED, and the Chinese forces showed no signs of giving it back." Well that was a sneaky bit of Chinese sympathising right there XD.

[@Synonymous101]

Shhh 😅

[@devinprosise4390]

@@Synonymous101 communist threat detected

[@elnicko4189]

@@Synonymous101 “Communist detected on American soil. Lethal force engaged.”

[@TheWanderer2287]

your boy has been waiting on this one! You explained the X-01 and advanced power armour so well, far better than I did myself nearly 2 years ago. Great job as always mate!

[@Synonymous101]

This video almost killed me, narration alone was rewritten half a dozen times! 😅

[@TheWanderer2287]

@@Synonymous101 that’s power armour for ya, the most complex yet interesting lore in the entire franchise. Your hard work paid off 100%!

[@brodygray744]

"I won't be covering any power armor considered non-canon" Dammit Syn, you tell me why we have horse power armor! Explain this godless creation to me!

[@Lavender_Fox]

a raider went crazier then usual, welded bits of giddyup buttercups to his raider armor, and killed his friends

[@StevenStormcloak-oy6hz]

​@@Lavender_Foxwould not surprise me

[@mcpossum]

I had to pause the video for a moment to say: You explained X0 PA so well. That one would assume you are working for Beth-Microsoft. I really appreciate the time and effort that you put in to this video. You are amazeballs. As always

[@Victor.-.E]

aww, i hope you're not right. watching a plant always makes me feel like i'm watching a commercial. i watch anyway, but still.

[@mcpossum]

@@Victor.-.E If you're inquiring if I'm right in the head, then the answer is: who is?

[@Victor.-.E]

@@mcpossum not i, val. not i.

[@nickbrowning3270]

Nice

[@mcpossum]

@@nickbrowning3270 I always stride to be genuinely nice. There is too much negative in the world

[@dustiespring6591]

I always figured T-60 was a result of T-45 being retrofitted with improvements made based on the improvements found with the T-51. This would explain why the brotherhood has so much T-60 power armor. They would have only needed to find the instructions required to upgrade the T-45 to T-60. This would also mean less spending of resources in general. Since the BoS on the East Coast had large quantities of T-45, and fewer resources would be needed to upgrade a power armor rather than make a new one, it makes sense to me that they would jump at the opportunity to upgrade and it explains why T-45 isn't seen as much amongst their ranks any more... because it was all upgraded to T-60.

[@StevenStormcloak-oy6hz]

That would make a lot of sense

[@inktoxicant]

The change of power armor to a bulkier mobile suit that characters climb into is probably my favorite thing Fallout 4 did. For designs, my favorite power armors have got to be Ashur's armor from The Pitt and the Scorched Sierra armor from Lonesome Road.

[@jh9794]

Finally, someone who gets that multiple suit types can be researched at once. Everyone else who covers PA lore seems to forget that the timeframe between T45 and T51 was surprisingly short. It makes sense they would continue to iterate and improve even after success. Hence the completion of T60 and prototyping of X01. Not familiar with FO76 armors myself but the lore of FO4 armors is not as complicated as a lot of people think. As for Power Armor Training VS frames. It's to taste. Personally think the frames make more sense as a visual representation for PA given its role. But it does destroy the ncr salvaged armor lore wise. Not sure what amount of gutting could trim a frame down to a suit.

[@joaodala549]

well, it's probably what one could call a retcon IG?

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

Also since they already made one model production of others would likely speed up once they know what they were doing they could refine production to be faster and better. So once the T-45 was made they just use similar ideas to increase production time of the t-51 and so on learning from each new armor and applying that to the next.

[@harrisonhurst6480]

Hardly. In Fallout 1 and 2, there was no power Armor Training needed. Anyone could just hop in and use it. But in those games you couldn't get Power Armor until late game. Come Fallout 3, are you can get T-45 within 10 minites in the Base game,(Faster with the Anchorage DLC) so they made Power Armor Training as a Perk to keep Power Armor as a Late Game Reward. In FO4 and 76, there is no need for the Balance of training with Fusion Cores and different armor pieces to balance it out. For the NCR: It doesn't ruin the Lore, by taking out a lot of the systems they can reproduce the Armor for their soldiers far more easily and with less field maintainece.

[@InitialPC]

in nv lore its said the servos were taken out of the suit, this could simply be retconned to say they took the armor off the frame and wore that

[@druid54us]

There’s a Tesla magazine in fallout 4 with T-51’s Flying with jetpacks !

[@karlbush89]

Few things are "bulletproof". Power armour is (ideally) highly bullet resistant but even it would be far from "bulletproof".

[@quinnbaygo2112]

Well it would take damage no matter what, which is not exactly proof..lol

[@shoazdon7000]

Yeah you’re right but pipe ammo, 10mm, 5mm even .45 should just bounce off. It should even be able to take a hit from a 50 caliber round providing it’s not armour piercing. But the pieces can break which makes you very vulnerable to damage. Power armour is a literal walking tank. What’s cool is I’ve noticed that ballistic damage in power armour in fallout 4 is much lower than energy weapon damage. It’s why fighting gunners with laser rifles or synths is especially annoying

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

Ricky is a liar and quiet whimpy i doubt he actually did that but that visor is a small target...

[@harrisonhurst6480]

You can also call him put about shooting through the Visor if you have a high enough Guns skill, stating the same thing about them being bulletproof.

[@theconmantube3449]

@@shoazdon7000a shot from a REAL anti materiel rifle should work. What I mean by “real” is that in the real world, anti materiel rifles use 14mm bullets, in fallout new vegas, they’re incorrectly using .50BMG (which is 12.7mm) and 14mm bullets out of a AMR, are able to pierce tanks

[@bananaspice1967]

*YOU'RE OUT OF UNIFORM SOLDIER!*

[@J0J0Reference]

I’d like to think the jet pack was pre-war, but wasn’t purpose built for powered flight (because that seems like a terrible waste of money and resources), but more likely for slowing the suit down during a fall from a high-altitude insertion vehicle. Because we do know that power armor isn’t totally invulnerable to fall damage given a line from a Brotherhood soldier in Fallout 4 who mentions busting his armor’s legs after jumping from the Mass Fusion tower (don’t remember the specifics, please correct me if I’m wrong) After the war though, what’s stopping you from tinkering a bit and modifying it for powered flight?

[@arx3516]

I don't think that the jetpack can ever allow a PA to fly, a modified version with wings, similar to Mazinger Z's jet scrander, however could.

[@epicwolf6486]

@@arx3516 power armor with wings, you say? Man, you got yourself an awesome idea for the next fallout game lol how cool would it be assaulting an enemy by flying up to their airborne hq with the squad all wearing flying power armor

[@arx3516]

@@epicwolf6486 and integrated weapons, like two wrist mounted 5.56 machineguns, laser gun mounted on tge helmet, and missiles attached to the wings.

[@epicwolf6486]

@@arx3516 the wrist mounted guns sound like a good idea. Power armor is very strong and durable, no matter what model you use. I wouldn't go with 5.56 though. That's assault rifle ammo. I would use a bigger caliber. Like .308 or 44. magnum, but with weapons that are automatic. The laser on the helmet gave me an idea. What if you could customize and use helmet attachments? The missiles on the wings, I feel, are too much though. At that point, you'll just be playing post apocalyptic ace combat lol

[@arx3516]

@@epicwolf6486 IMO p.a. should feel like a mech, with its own dedicated weapons and gameplay. Let's start by making normal guns unusable while wearing p.a.explaning that p.a.'s hands are too big to fit the grip of a normal gun or knife, this makes the arm-integrated machineguns the only weapon available when finding and using p.a. for the first time in the game. At the station the player can modify the armor in many ways, like swapping the machineguns on each arm for blades or flamethrowers, creating the preferred combination, like right flamethrower+left blade, or right machinegun+left flamethrower, and so on. P.a. hand held weapons will be 30mm assault rifles or .50cal pistols, and in order to holster them you have to build hard points on the armor, without them whne pressing the "holster" button the character drops the weapon. You can also use hard points to carry grenades or to attach boxes that increase your carryng capacity. The helmets can be improved with aiming systems that improve accuracy in V.A.T.S. or give you night/thermal vision, and you can also swap the laser pointer for an actual laser that can be used as a weapon. And when mounting winged jetpacks you can build hard points on the wings and use them either to carry missiles or to holster rifles. And obviously p.a. will be almost invulnerable for normal guns, the only way to defeat it is to either use p.a. yourself or used dedicated guns and ammo, like gauss rifles or antimaterial sniper rifles with special ammo. These are just some random ideas, the core is that power armor should feel like a mech, and have a dedicated gameplay, and p.a. wearing enemies should require specialized weapons and tactics if you're not wearing p.a. yourself, and obviously it should be impossible to sneak while wearing p.a. no matter how high is your rank in that skill.

[@revansdad4770]

I hope your channel is seeing a large growth. It deserves it for long standing quality content, that pre dates the TV show.

[@AlindBack]

I appreciate that in the Fallout TV show they narrowed down when the T-60 was introduced. I think it's basically what many of us figured, but it's now solidly stated to be within the window of: after Anchorage, before the bombs dropped.

[@Zelbozo]

My favorite thing with power armor is having a unarmed build and beating everyone with your bare hands.

[@killingfields6599]

If fallout is realistic every punch with a power armor would kill a person instantly lol

[@bourbonisto1721]

The whole idea of needing to fuel power armor in fo4 makes no sense when you realize the 60k watts generated by the core is enough to power ~50 American homes a day

[@jmdesertadventures803]

Until recently I didn't know why you could target the fusion core in power armor while using V.A.T.S. Turns out if you damage it you can force it's wearer out and take the armor. It took me two playthroughs to figure this out.

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

I've played that game ever since it came out and I never knew that lmao I'm gonna start up fallout 4 and go do it to all the paladins lol

[@ncrtrooper5442]

Patrolling the Mojave in a scavenged T-45 suit almost makes me wish for power armor training.

[@Captianmex1C0]

I always liked the Hellfire suit because it was Basically the Post war T-51 suit, the peak of it's time.

[@theconmantube3449]

Until T-65 of course

[@elic1356]

I've never known that some Power-armours have waste recycling technology. Good to know that as long as you take frequent craps, you won't starve any time soon.

[@enderjed2523]

So post war, diseased and irradiated Taco Bell is the end to world hunger?

[@elic1356]

@@enderjed2523 Pretty much.

[@luisrenato4089]

@@enderjed2523 infinite recycled food!!!

[@cyriell]

To be fair you gotta run out sometimes some energy gets used by your body so it will always be a diminishing return (if it's 100% efficient which I highly doubt)

[@spookyengie735]

Primary for water i assume since food aren't exactly something that can use more than twice since our body already consume most of the nutrients in the food already.

[@cjtheevilghost5711]

The Winterized T-51 Power Armor you get as a reward after completing Operation Anchorage doesn't degrade (at least in the 360 Edition).

[@Synonymous101]

It does degrade it just has such a ridiculous amount of durability you likely won't notice it decline 😂

[@mikeyblaze]

And that's why I loved it so much as a kid

[@negativejam2188]

I have a theory about the T-60 power armor. I think it was suppose to be a peacekeeper/national guard armor. One of the major improvements from T-45 to T-51 was the fact that the component frame is fully enclosed, you don’t have exposed joints/hydraulics/electronics. Which helps it be more reliable out on the fronts. It’s also lighter while having better protection than the t-45 due to its composite armor plating. So what does the T-60 do? It goes back to steel, it’s big and bulky meaning heavy and less maneuverable, and it has exposed components again! So where would this large, heavy, intimidating armor be useful? THE HOMEFRONT! You don’t need to worry about the exposed components as much when you’re being deployed into a suburban neighborhood, and it means you can deploy more t-51 to the fronts. That’s just my head canon though. It also makes sense that the T-60 suit never saw much use since it was never widely deployed before the bombs dropped

[@Synonymous101]

That actually makes a lot of sense!

[@LordNexusTheFir]

Wish power armor was real, personally i really want that power armor from the posters the one that has the abs & looks alot less bulky & more agile.

[@scatman786]

I’d want that Chinese stealth armor. Its sleek and lets you go invisible.

[@robertharris6092]

You might want to look into the experiments of the mjolner armor from halo before you get some. Lol

[@foxslt4533]

From what i know the nearest thing yo power armor irl is the us army's exoskeleton that is used to improve the soldiers carrying capacity

[@spookyengie735]

@@foxslt4533 both the US and Russian have several prototype for mechanical exo skeleton or PA frame but both run to the same problem- "How to power this damm thing"

[@joshuakim5240]

Power armor technically does exist and has been in experimental phases for decades. The main issue that stops it from ever being seriously used, however, is the fact that it's crazily battery-draining and there's no practical way to store a power supply without it being an exposed weak point (carry a big, armored backpack holding the battery? Everyone just targets the backpack to depower the suit). Changing the battery itself would require getting out of the suit to do it, and charging stations would be required for long-term operation so it's completely unfit for long operations away from a base. The sad reality is that the existence of armored combat vehicles highly negates any kind of role power armor would have while being much cheaper, easier to field, easier to use, easier to maintain, and able to be fielded for much longer intervals than power armor currently stands. Unless some sort of miracle sci-fi super fuel able to be stored in a small package within the suit is made (basically Iron Man's arc reactor), power armor's energy limitation makes it moot.

[@starbound7774]

I do like how Synonymous clarified the difference between X-01 and Advanced Power Armor Mk1. I remember for a while how many(including me) thought that the two suits were the same, Nuka World and the creation club armor didn't help to clarified. Great job.

[@nerdlegion5362]

Who else finds it kinda impressive that RAIDERS were able to reverse engineer there own power armour

[@ZHBraden13]

Thats Bethesda for ya. They love to fuck the lore over and do whatever the hell they want. As they love to say. "It just works, so fuck lore."

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

Humans are ingenious creatures.

[@ZHBraden13]

@Boogy Realistically they wouldnt even know how to move in it much less have the means maintain it in a state that keeps it operable. Also, 99.9% of them also wouldnt even know how to read if they did somehow come upon a suit of working PA that just happened to include a PA manual.

[@paledawt9683]

I like to think they binged on Mentats

[@nerdlegion5362]

@@paledawt9683 i think pycho tats is more radier energy

[@goodusermaadinternet6774]

I’m not even a huge Fallout fan yet I’ve been binging your stuff because your narrating voice is very well spoken and easy to listen to. These 30 minute videos feel like 10 because of that. The research you put into these are also appreciated, keep it up man!

[@ianperry9899]

Im loving that all these people who made fallout KZbin lore videos are just killing it right now.

[@TheRealGarg]

It's so refreshing to see someone included 76 lore in these theres honestly some great lore and world building in that game

[@elic1356]

Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better, Synonymous posted this video! Thank you!

[@averagesteel9666]

I'd reckon the A-PA was changed so much, because of Resource-Costs. When the Enclave had the Oil-Rig, I'd imagine productions of older versions of PA would've been Costlier over time, so maybe the A-PA was meant to be a cost-effective option?

[@goodtimejoe1325]

Power Armour being one of my favourite aspects of the fallout series, this video really surprised me on how well it put all of the lore of the different games together. Knowing how messy fallout lore between games can get you did an amazing job. All props to you

[@OldFellowSnek]

You are out of uniform soldier, where is your power armor??!!

[@OldFellowSnek]

OMG, I honestly didn’t think i’d get a heart from you :D You made my day🗿🍻

[@Josh-ts3or]

YOU LOST AN EXPENSIVE PEICE OF MILLITARY EQUIPMENT

[@VINTAGE1959]

This is very professional, I like the lore accuracy and the new and creative shots you used for the characters, locations and the various suits of power armor. Thank you for this, great job!

[@qqq386]

New Vegas is such an amazing game that even 12 years later is still enjoyable as hell

[@scrappydoo7887]

Agreed

[@PortalDuper]

I always appreciate the time and effort put into these videos. I love seeing a new one come out and I've been rewatching the last few ones. Thank you for taking the time to produce amazing content like this, there's not many Fallout channels that cover general aspects like this!!

[@extensioncordgaming8266]

Holy crap, I was just scrolling through your videos and I said to myself "Eh, I'll just watch it later." when I saw this one. That was before I saw 59 minutes ago! I love your videos and it is so cool to be here so early!

[@j.t.1280]

I like how in both west coast and east coast lore power armor was primarily military used to tank bullets and and charge through enemy lines whereas in the games (I'm looking at you Fallout 4) it is some of the most troublesome and not worth the effort stuff ever. They could've just made power armor like exceedingly rare and have specific uses instead of just being something I neglect because I don't want to farm for fusion cores when they are literally supposed to last a decade at least

[@absolutelyfookinnobody2843]

No that's stupid, I agree it should have been a little more rare though

[@Diego-lt4wm]

There are mods that fix that issue

[@harrisonhurst6480]

"God I wish I could use this overpowered piece of equipment but the final is so rare!" Yea. That is thr point. They give you a full suit of Armor at the atart of the game, so to balance that, you have to have Fusion cores. I have neve had any problems with getting lots of Fusion Cores in any play through. As for "They should Past a Decade" First, how do you know that? I haven't seen any lore as to how long in Lore they are supposed to last. But if you know some things about Radioactivity, you would know that Half-Lives are a thing. Fallout 4 is over 200 years since the bombs fell, and after that long the fusion cores would starr to.degrade and not be as efficient. It also depends on the amount of power the Suit uses. Just keep lights? The core could run for a long time. Running an advanced military war machine with many extra and advanced systems? Might make the core run out sooner.

[@joshua.h]

This video really gave me a renewed appreciation for the fallout lore and also made me really excited to get back into the franchise. Way back when the game came out, I got fallout 4 with my Xbox One but now that I've moved away from home for university, I don't have access to it. Once the game goes on sale, I'm planning on buying it on my PC because I really want to experience it again.

[@shadehunter]

Very much well-done, sir! I've watched several of your videos today. They're on par with the quality found in Fudgemuppet, TheEpicNate, and Camelworks videos. I'm highly impressed and have learned alot today! I hope your channel grows to a million subs and beyond!

[@jojofanatic3357]

Me: Yo that's pretty dark. Older Fallout Fans: No duh

[@JustDevon1]

Finally! a video on Power Armour lore that isn't outdated and/or only covers one suit, Thank you for this

[@DayLateGamerWill]

Bro, this was a SUPER comprehensive video on power armor, like this actually impressed me with the versions and variants you went over, Kudos !

[@Synonymous101]

Thanks! It was a big undertaking 😅

[@GlitterGothBunny]

I would've thought an armor video would be boring but you did a great job 😊 You're my favorite fallout lore channel. Could you fo a video on the new plague? I've heard it mentioned in comments but have no clue what it is (I've only played fo3 & nv so that might be why) but if there's enough info on it ot sounds interesting.

[@foldervtolvr]

I am doing a modded playthrough of Fallout 4, and I have specifically added a ton of mods to make power armor far more of a “Holy Grail” than it normally is. For one you basically need training to use it or it slows you to a near halt, two the armor itself is rather rare, pretty much all locked behind factions. However, the armor is also buffed to those who are trained. Melee attacks are completely nullified unless it’s a super sledge or some other powerful melee, small caliber rounds do practically no damage, and high caliber rounds hurt, but you can tank a lot. The main thing is armor penetrating weapons, those will tear power armor apart. It’s a really cool collection of mods that makes power armor something you really have to work for, but once you have it you become near unstoppable as long as you have the fusion cores to feed it

[@timetraveler5547]

It should be noted that advanced power armor mk2 was in Fallout 2 as well, only available on the Poseidon oil rig. It's the best armor set in the game.

[@DasioreqDev]

WHERE IS YOUR POWER ARMOR!?

[@heatherobrien3869]

I lost it

[@carloscariasrodriguez]

Medic T45 power armor was so incredible, I still remember how badass I felt when I first put it on and it talked to you

[@Synonymous101]

Scared me to death the first time I heard it speak

[@sauceman2885]

If there’s one thing fallout 4 did right it’s make the power armor feel powerful

[@FoxSenpie]

i'd say Deathclaws also they just look and move like a angry animal

[@annoyingggandiii]

Thank you. I love how clear your videos are. Explaining in detail and in depth without being tedious.

[@Synonymous101]

This topic was certainly a challenge!

[@gavinp5940]

It’s not an AC unit. It is a papr. Powered Air Purification Respirator. Its a real device used to enhance the amount of air you get when using a gas mask so you can do strenuous activities for longer.

[@kaptainkoala8476]

Assuming that the tesla science magazine was from the year or so leading up to the war, it’s likely that the jetpack was a military prototype still in the testing phase, being advertised as the “next big thing” in the military science market.

[@heinrichmuller7974]

its cool you touched on what little there is about the space aspect to fallout simply because i've always felt that with "nuclear batteries" and remarkable power suits space becomes a whole new option for possible exploration. fallout on mars or out in space hunting down resources.

[@MF-R]

Good video yet again! I personally think jetpacks may have been desighned and even perhaps tested pre war, but I think the sheer power consumption and risks involved would have made them unfit for deployment.

[@goodmusic4673]

These videos remind me again and again of what I'm missing out on because I don't own 76. But then I remember what I'm saving myself from and I'm happy again.

[@ashleycalhoun1824]

Regarding the visors, it's most likely that with it being such a small target, that it was only relegated to a certain level of protection (such as smaller rifle rounds). With the referenced possibility of it being penetrated, it could be a simple case of a very heavy, fast moving projectile being used, or the material delaminating and losing its protective edge. More likely than not though, it is to a degree bullet resistant.

[@APOLLYON-IV]

Imagine if West-Tek had more time to refine the power armor design, make it more compact and advanced

[@enclavesoldier1112]

Your an absolute legend, replying to comments,hearting them and making fallout videos, you and Oxhorn in my eyes are keeping fallout alive. Good on you man!

[@thelonesomedrifter5884]

Who wanna bet that there's going to be a brand new power armor in Fallout 5.

[@Synonymous101]

It's been a running theme, except for new vegas, I'd say it's likely

[@negativejam2188]

@@Synonymous101 new Vegas had the veteran ranger armor, and it was the first 3D version of the advanced mk.1.

[@negativejam2188]

If fallout 5 has a new armor, I want it to be postwar. And I hope they go back to an old system of power armor. Or maybe mix the two systems. I’m really not a fan of the fallout 4 power armor style

[@Synonymous101]

@@negativejam2188 so like I said, no new power armor 👍

[@negativejam2188]

@@Synonymous101 I mean yeah, you right. Lol.

[@jonathonworner360]

Is this Harold mentioned the guy that fell into a vat of FEV Virus in the Mariposa base, then turns into a tree found in Fallout 3's Oasis?

[@Synonymous101]

No, Harold who mutated was only five years old at the time of the Great War 👍

[@darthsquid2107]

I love the helmets of the X01 armor types. The design is so cool.

[@Silvahhhhhhhhhh]

Regarding power armor training in Fallout 4: Since Nate is technically meant to be the sole survivor, he already has training, considering his servicing in the army. As for Nora having the ability to, I believe that it's simply due to gameplay balance. And since you can't pick-up frames from raiders, it's reasonable that their power armor frames are also modified (much like the NCR's salvage suits) to require less know-how of handling these suits, in exchange for mobility. Since power armor is a huge advantage, it makes sense that the most tech-savvy amongst them would cut corners in exchange for might and power, especially amongst their own ranks.

[@Ssnake_Eeater]

yea

[@cjtheevilghost5711]

Hellfire Power Armor is my fave Power Armor.

[@candyvampire3393]

it look so sick, has that "pyrotechnician/pyromaniac" vibee

[@Spidey3505]

I’ve been trying to get every lore friendly power armour in fallout 4 and when I was researching the different types of power armour it got really confusing but this video was easy to understand and helped so much

[@stingerjohnny9951]

Isn’t that the point of the game? Fallout 4 is just a sci-fi themed car collecting sim where you collect Power Armor sets and color schemes to give them sick paint jobs.

[@Spidey3505]

This guy gets it

[@BB_Promoter]

Ok, we've been discussing Power Armour as a Weapon of sorts, but which Model is the most *stylish* 'cause nobody wanna be struting around the wastes in a big protective coating of rust

[@hbeardd3448]

Great video man. Deserve a lot more love for how much work you put into these videos.

[@veloraage9154]

Yes we the fans finally got our vote for the power armor video. What we've been waiting for and SYNONYMOUS surely delivers. Thumbs up always for me and interesting to learn more on the lore and background on power armor

[@birdiepitchfeather63]

This is probably the most complete and comprehensive power armor lore video I've seen! You've earned a new subscriber. ^V^

[@Synonymous101]

I'm glad you think so! This video was definitely the most difficult to make so far 😅 welcome aboard! 😁👍

[@ejakeway]

This went so much more in depth then I thought. Loved it!

[@Sl33pySage]

Well considering the writers of fallout new vegas are a part of the OG team from the first fallout you would think that the t51 helmet visor being bulletproof would be canon over the erratic and contradictory Bethesda writing.

[@gabrielchapman5753]

There’s a comment above yours by a Garnet O’Brennan that goes over how it may be a reference to the og fallouts

[@kriz2432]

I'm so happy People are still making Fallout Videos. Bless you Friendo.

[@GinGojira]

i love all of your videos seeing your notification on my lock screen always make me feel good especially now and a few months back cauce I'm sick (not covid) and even if I often already know all stuff you talk about you make it feel new. thank you for helping me feel a little better

[@Synonymous101]

I hope you're feeling better soon! 👊 Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see in a later video 😁👍

[@nathanielturner2577]

I think the brotherhood of steel may have reverse engineered the T-60 power armor or may have acquired the schematic from Paladin Romani’s expedition to Appalachia and/or learned the techniques to create them from the residents of Vault 76.

[@Kirply]

This day just got better! Love the videos, keep up the great work!

[@christophervanoster]

Imagine a courser squad with full x-01 power armor. That’s terrifying

[@klue8578]

It’d be so cool to see some mysterious abilities revealed in the armour. Thanks for sharing.

[@sleazymeezy]

That reminds me, I have fallout 4 to play for the first time. My first game in the franchise

[@theeforgotten6844]

This is so far the best lore video on power armor I've seen and so far hits almost all the theories that I had whether it be X-01 being just a prototype for later advanced power armor to t60 being an evolution of t45 so thanks for hitting the nail on the head

[@Synonymous101]

Happy to help! 😁👍

[@Jack-bv1re]

So far, the video is very interesting! Great work synonymous!

[@terran6686]

I think the biggest advantage of Power Armor is that earlier mentioned intention for moving large weapons around. The protection is a nice bonus, but I think a soldier would be able to be reasonably effective with just the power armor frame to move around emplaced weapons, equipment, ammunition, and support for fighting units. In real life, weapons like a M2HB, TOW2B, or a Mk19 in a heavy weapons company require special considerations to make them portable enough for a crew. Power Armor allows that maximum individual piece weight to be increased to where the need for takedown can be reduced to nothing.

[@staticx2552]

The winterized power armor from operation anchorage is one of my favorites