Mesa Verde design document / 1 This is part 1 of the Mesa Verde design document for " Van Buren " , the canceled " Fallout 3 " by Black Isle Studios . Overview . Hidden away in the shadows of a large cliff , near the top of a mesa rising from the desert floor , is the village of Mesa Verde . It is the home of the Ciphers , a . k . a . the Painted People , thanks to their extensive use of body paint . They ' re one of the smallest tribes in the area , but their hard - to - reach village on the mesa enables them to hold out against superior numbers of aggressors . The Ciphers are unusual for tribal s because they ' re skilled in mathematics and electronics , thanks to the extensive schematics on the walls of their village . They don ' t realize it , but they have the schematic for a chip necessary to release the remaining the rocket at Bloomfield from its docking clamps . If the clamps aren ' t released , the rocket goes nowhere and will most likely explode on the launchpad . Building the docking clamp chip is critical path . This area consists of four maps : Potential Geometry Changes : There is an unstable cliff in the Canyon , near the Viper camp . A character with a good Traps skill ( or just a really lucky one ) can use explosives to cause the cliff to collapse on the Vipers . In addition , there probably should be a big , blackened crate where the Viper camp used to be if the PC fires the Laser Cannon at the Vipers . Area Background . In the weeks following the War , a group of scientists and soldiers based at the atomic laboratory at Los Alamos , New Mexico , wandered north with a band of other survivors ( looking a bit like the group in " The Stand " ) , looking for a place of relative safety . They assumed that they were the only " civilized " people left , since everyone else they encountered attacked them , trying to take their food , water , and clothes . When they discovered one of the ancient pueblos at Mesa Verde , they decided to set up camp there . The group carried only a limited amount of technology with them . The soldiers had pistols and rifles , and the scientists carried one barely working computer , enough parts to build several water makers and a crude wind turbine to power them , several lead - lined boxes containing enriched uranium , and a small supply of medicine . The rest of the band had a variety of miscellaneous gear which most contributed for group use . A decade later , the computer began to fail . Fearing that the technology of the Old World would be forever lost , the scientists began painting and carving electronic schematics into the walls of the pit ( called a " kiva " by the builders of the pueblo ) . At the same time , they insisted that mathematics be emphasized when educating the village children so that their descendants would understand how to use the schematics . Because they were steeped in math from a very early age , the villagers tend to use a lot of math terms to express themselves . This occasionally confusing , cryptic way of speaking caused them to be dubbed " Ciphers " by educated wasteland dwellers who thought they might be speaking in some type of code . The Ciphers merely shrugged and accepted the name . As the years passed , the Ciphers forgot their disciplined , scientific roots and became more concerned with everyday survival rather than meaningless scientific theories . When it comes to electronic devices and weapons , the Ciphers know more about " how " it works than " why " it works : " The symbols say put this and this together , and then this happens . Why ? Who knows ? As long as the numbers are right , who cares ? " The emphasis on mathematics in their culture has led to Ciphers to assign an almost mystical significance to specific numbers . It ' s the closest thing to a religion they have . Each Cipher is believed to have a personal number , determined by the Nemonik at their birth . Ciphers will take their personal number into consideration when doing almost anything , from heading out to hunt on the sixth day of the month to choosing whom to marry . It ' s all very confusing to outsiders . The village at Mesa Verde was tiny to begin with , having barely enough room to house all the scientists , soldiers , and other survivors . Nearly a century later , the descendants of the original settlers had outgrown the space and resources available . Many families chose to adopt a nomadic lifestyle to avoid the perpetual thirst and hunger . Only those families with very young children or those Ciphers too old and feeble to travel remain full - time in the village . Both Cipher men and women are capable fighters , and even the children are taught how to fight as soon as they ' re able as a matter of practicality . A typical Cipher nomad band consists of two to three families traveling together . They usually have at least one type of electronic device like a cattle prod or an ultrasonic generator to ward off wild animals . At the top of the mesa , the Ciphers have an array of water makers which condense moisture from the air and produce drinkable water . They have a wind turbine which generates a small amount of electricity , enough to power the water makers . However , it ' s not a very quick operation , and barely enough water is produced each day to serve the village ' s needs . Emotional Porn . Drama . Cipher - Viper Conflict For refusing to follow Hecate ' s ways , Hecate has sent a band of Vipers to destroy the Ciphers . However , the situation is currently at a stalemate : the Vipers can ' t get into the village , but neither can the Ciphers get out . PC as the Villain If the PC ends up helping the Ciphers out , he ' ll be ruining the relatively stable situation which previously existed between the tribes . Helping the Ciphers against the Vipers will cause Hecate to tighten her grip around the tribes under her sway out of fear that they , too , may start considering resistance . The more passive members of those tribes will not appreciate the PC interfering in private tribal business . NPC Companion Uses . TBD Locations / Maps / Map Key . Village . A small abode pueblo built along the underside of an overhanging cliff . A chasm splits the village into three sections , requiring the Ciphers to use rope suspension bridges to span the gap . The two most apparent features of the village are a large covered pit near the village entrance and a partially complete laser cannon aimed at the Viper camp down on the canyon floor . Mesa Top . A small abode pueblo built along the underside of an overhanging cliff . A chasm splits the village in two , requiring the Ciphers to use rope suspension bridges to span the gap . The two most apparent features of the village are a large covered pit near the village entrance and a partially complete laser cannon aimed at the Viper camp down on the canyon floor . Canyon . Rocky canyons surrounding the base of the mesa . At a junction of several canyons , including the one which leads to the village , is a Viper encampment . They stop anyone who ' s trying to go to or come from the Cipher village . Caves . These short series of caves runs underneath the Mesa Verde canyon . They were once home to a rather hefty population of molerats , but that population has since been decimated by the Vipers ' pet two - headed rattlesnakes . The player can use these caves to bypass the Viper blockade , but he ' ll probably have to deal with the snakes . Art Requirements . Canyon . Mesa tileset . Need props for the Viper camp . Also will need a big pile of rubble to simulate a destroyed cliff which will appear on top of the Viper camp if the player successfully demolishes the nearby cliff . Caves . Cave tileset . Need props for a messy - looking molerat nest . Village . Pueblo tileset for the dwellings , mesa tileset for the environment . Tribal propset mostly , with a few techy - looking items : a mechanics ' workbench covered with wires and parts , and a big metal footlocker for Isaac ' s quarters . The kiva ( a big pit ) needs a cloth covering across the top , and the walls are covered with carvings and paintings of electronic schematics . Mesa Top . Mesa tileset for the environment . Need meta - tiles for the wind turbine and the water maker array ( or just one big meta - tile ) . The wind turbine should be a cross between a low - tech windmill and one of those sleek turbines you see out in the desert – it should look like something the villagers cobbled together using whatever they found lying around . The roofs of the greenhouses are made of plastic , but that may just require a different texture . Crop tiles , and gardening - type tools to use as props in the toolshed . Cast of Characters . NPCs . Azkee ( AZ - kee ) . Intermediate character . Male human . Middle - aged . The Counter , the leader of the Ciphers . Shaved head , wears an old pocket calculator around his neck as the symbol of his office . He ' s progressive , and would like to see the Ciphers start using more and more technology to improve their lot in life . He ' s willing to ally the Ciphers with a technological powerhouse like the Brotherhood , regardless of the consequences . Morning : Wanders around the village area , checking up on people . Afternoon : Wandering around the mesa top , checking up on people . Evening : Back in the village itself . Night : Asleep in his dwelling . The Nemonik ( Nee - MON - ik ) . Intermediate character . Male human . Old guy who looks a little like Obi - Wan ( the old version ) . The " memory keeper " for the Ciphers . He ' s a conservative , believing that the Ciphers will come out much better in the long run by limiting their use of technology . He ' s worried that Azkee will bring trouble to Mesa Verde . He also believes that encouraging Trig ' s inventions is the wrong path for her to take , and won ' t be very happy if the PC helps complete her death cannon . Morning : In the kiva , teaching the village children mathematics and showing them how to build electronics . Afternoon : In the hospital , doing his best to attend to the sick people . Evening : Back in the kiva , studying the schematics . Night : Asleep in his dwelling . Trig . Intermediate character . Female human in her late 20s . Skilled and smart , but tends to overestimate her own abilities . Can build a lot of electronics . She sings the schematics aloud as she works : " ahr 1 , 3 vee resistor , wire sequence 1 dash 29 , 3 dash 103 dash 109 , ahr 2 , 1 point 5 vee resistor . . . " . Trig is a store where the player can buy electronic goodies like infrared goggles and Geiger counters . Morning to Evening : In her workshop , working on stuff . Night : Asleep in one of the dwellings . Denom ( DEE - nom ) . Intermediate character . Male human . Has been walking around lately looking quite pleased with himself thanks to the mysterious prosperity of the crops . The mechanic / gardener responsible for maintaining the wind turbine , water makers , and greenhouses . Morning to Evening : Up at the mesa top , wandering between the turbine and the greenhouses . Night : Asleep in one of the dwellings . Blackjack . Major character ? Male super mutant . Prisoner # 21 . Normally very easy - going and friendly . He ' s currently barricaded inside a cave down in the canyon , cornered by Alexandra . She won ' t go in after him because Blackjack claims he has a minigun : " Of COURSE I have a minigun ! I ' m a super mutant . We always carry big , powerful weapons . So , uh , don ' t come any closer ! " His " minigun " is actually just a bunch of big sticks and pipes tied together in a bundle and smeared with charcoal to dye them black . He ' s also got a big pack of supplies , so he ' ll be able to hang out in the cave for quite some time . Morning to Afternoon : Helping Trig out in her workshop . If the PC helps him escape from Alexandra , he ' ll disappear from Mesa Verde and reappear at the casino in Hoover Dam . If Alexandra captures him , he ' ll disappear from Mesa Verde and reappear as a prisoner of Caesar ' s Legion at Denver . Isaac . Major character . Male human in his 50s . Former BoS Scribe . He humbly serves as Trig ' s assistant and keeps a low profile . He stand outs because he doesn ' t have the body paint like a normal Cipher . He ' s got his old set of power armor stashed in his dwelling , which he might be willing to give to a player who does a lot of good things for the Ciphers . Isaac can give the PC a great deal of information about the Brotherhood . The player will need to be on Isaac ' s good side if he wants to find out the location of Maxson ' s Bunker from him . Isaac ' s goodwill may also be necessary if the player wants to get " all " the runaway Scribes to return to the bunker . Isaac can also offer upgrades to high technology equipment , or even build it for the player , if the player brings him the parts . He wasn ' t an Elder Scribe for nothing . Morning to Afternoon : Helping Trig out in her workshop . Evening : Hanging around the wind turbine , enjoying the view . Night : Asleep in one of the dwellings . Vipers ( 20 ) . Minor characters . Male humans . Part of Hecate ' s personal army . They ' re armed with melee weapons only . Morning to Evening : Most of them will be hanging around the camp , with a few on the outskirts acting as sentries . A few will be asleep in the camp . Night : Many of the Vipers will be asleep , while the guys who were asleep during the day will be awake and acting as sentries now . Drake . Intermediate character . Male human . Tall , muscular guy who looks like a heavily - tattooed Vin Diesel . Leader of the Viper band at Mesa Verde . He ' s not particularly evil , but his unshakeable loyalty to Hecate and the Daughters often requires him to perform cruel deeds . Carries a large machete . Cipher Adult s ( 18 ) . Minor characters . Male and female humans . These generic villagers will be in two places during the day . A small group ( 3 - 4 ) will be in the kitchen . There will be a group on watch ( 4 ) , and the rest of them will be up at the mesa top working in the greenhouses . Lightly armed with spears , knives , and the occasional zip gun . Morning to Evening : Greenhouse workers will be up at the mesa top , diligently taking care of the crops . Kitchen workers will be making soybean paste and other stuff in the kitchen . Night : Asleep in one of the dwellings . Cipher Child ren ( 7 ) . Minor characters . Male and female human children . Morning : Sitting around in the kiva listening to the Nemonik lecture . Afternoon : Running around the village playing . Evening : Sitting around the kitchen . Night : Asleep in the dwellings . Hex . Intermediate character . He ' s the Cipher who seems to be perpetually on duty whenever the PC enters the village . Armed with a pipe rifle and a knife . Radian . Intermediate character . Male human . A Cipher suffering from a nervous disorder . Shakes a lot , especially in his hands . The PC can use medicine to cure him or make him a slave to the PC ' s will . If he becomes the PC ' s puppet , he ' ll eventually get banished from Mesa Verde and appear in the slums of Hoover Dam . Morning to Evening : Up at the greenhouses , " helping " . His float texts will be lots of curses at his clumsiness , but this will change if the PC cures him . If the PC makes him an addict , his floats will reflect that as well . Night : Asleep in the dwellings . Symm . Intermediate character . Male human . This guy shows up in Act 2 , after the PC realizes he needs a docking clamp . If the Ciphers are still alive , then he ' ll be up near the condensors ( Trig will direct the PC to him ) . If the Ciphers are dead , he ' ll be in the main part of the village , pissed and looking for revenge . Companions ! Alexandra . Female human . Potential CNPC . Not a Cipher , just a visitor to Mesa Verde . She ' s a bounty hunter and she ' s trying to take Blackjack alive . Caesar ' s Legion is paying well for live super mutants , and she means to score big with this particular bounty . However , Blackjack is barricaded in a cave with a minigun ( or so he claims ) , so Alexandra is trying to starve him out . If the player manages to get Blackjack to go back to the Big Empty , he ' ll still have to deal with Alexandra . He can compensate her with money , or promise bigger money if she tags along as a CNPC .