Fallout 76 is getting a huge update soon called "Wastelanders," one that Bethesda has promised will add more weapons, enemies, and locations to the game, along with its first-ever batch of NPCs. Players will actually get to engage in dialogue with characters that aren't controlled by other players, and Bethesda's latest "Inside the Vault" article introduces two of those new NPCs.

In past issues of Inside the Vault, Bethesda has teased fans looking forward to the Wastelanders update by releasing screenshots of the new Fallout 76 additions. A couple of those screenshots also showed off NPCs, and players were eager to get to know a little bit more about them both.

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Early on in the new adventures that come with the Wastelanders update, players will come across Duchess and Mort, two NPCs set up at a resting stop and watering hole called The Wayward - one of the many examples of new inhabited locations popping up as Appalachia's population grows. Duchess is The Wayward's owner and proprietor, while Mort is her most loyal customer (and as his bar tab grows, he lends a hand to her when needed as well); together, they're pretty well-equipped to deal with things around The Wayward.

However, Bethesda hinted that Duchess, Mort, and The Wayward will also likely be one of the first new story missions added by Wastelanders, as they've seen a "string of visitors stop in, asking some very pointed questions and acting aggressively." In that respect, players arriving at The Wayward may be asked to find out who those people are, and what they're up to.

The Wayward, Fallout 76

New Vault Dwellers and seasoned players alike shouldn't have a problem tracking down Duchess and Mort; inside Vault 76, players can meet two other new NPCs called Lacey and Isela, who will lead them right to The Wayward - and Mort, being an expert explorer, can share plenty of insight on the surrounding areas. Bethesda's goal with the Wastelanders update is to make Appalachia feel "more alive," not only through added NPCs to the main story but also to the random encounters, combat, camps, and settlements that players will encounter as part of daily life in Appalachia. To that end, Bethesda has promised that Duchess and Mort are just the first two out of many new faces in Fallout 76.

Considering Fallout 76 has had its share of issues and complaints about the gameplay in the past, it's clear that Bethesda wants its Wastelanders update to make the game as a whole more compelling to existing and potential future players. And hopefully, it will, especially since tons of expansive encounters and missions plus a colorful cast of characters were two things that made Fallout 4 so much fun.

Fallout 76 is available to play now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, while Wastelanders is launching sometime in 2020.

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Source: Bethesda