The radio crackled, breaking the silence of the thick summer air. The faint voices of the Ink Spots, singing a tune on the open radio channel, as the DJ came in loud and clear:

“Hello chiiiillllldren! This is Moondoooog of Fallout Radio, coming at you with the neeeews. The game is afoot. Words gotten round that a pre-war supplies have been found around the town of Boonton and this has brought a whole mess of trouble.

The Iron Legion out of the east and Liberty Militia from the south have come to take what they can from the local Wastelanders. But the Wastelanders have taken the inititive, striking first. They’ve already pushed their way to the Enclave Hill and taken the lead in retrieving ammo and boxes.

Well that’s what’s going on in the Wasteland from Fallout Radio, bringin you the news, no matter how baaaad it hurts.”

This was the first of many in-game FRS radio broadcasts, one of many unique game experiences found in Fallout: Escape from New Jersey (EFNJ). EFNJ is an airsoft game created my Moondog, inspired by the video game series “Fallout” and the 1980’s sci-fi film “Escape from New York.” Players could join one of three rival teams: the Liberty Militia (in tan camo), the Iron Legion (green camo) the Wastelanders (in black tops and camo pants like Snake Plisskeen).

Each of the teams started the game as if they emerged from a Fallout vault, limited in weapons and ammunition. Players could only use Game Manager (GM) supplied BBs. Each team started with only1000 rounds, that they had to split with their teammates. They would have to scavange bags of BB’s hidden in the field or looted from dead players.

Players were also limited to starting the game with only foam melee weapons, airsoft pistols, shotguns or bolt-action rifles. Players could not use their AEG’s until they could traded up for them. Players could barter with the GM caravan or the Trading Post, turning in BB bags or Item Boxes for their AEG magazines, allowing them use of their AEGs.

Hidden in the field were over 30 shipping boxes. The team that held the most boxes at the end of the game would win. As an added incentive, inside the boxes were random game prizes supplied by Airsplat.com and Moondog Industries.

Moondog, created a PIPBoy style map for the game, though many were unfamiliar with the field or confused by the changes in landscape due to new buildings built by Cookie and his team NEST. The Wastelanders were assigned the police station as their HQ, the Militia the church rectory and the Iron legion the delta barracks. 

Cookie, leading the Wastelanders, organized his men into a large assault squad that quickly took the center of the field, looking for boxes, and pushing up to Enclave Hill before retreating to the lone power suited Enclave soldier (Sinner) and by vanguards of the late arriving Iron Legion, attempting to reach their HQ after overshooting it at the start. 

Wulf, the Iron Legion’s commander found himself hamstrung by the noobs he had personally invited to the game. Though the Legion’s HQ was the most defensible, ringed by muddy terrain, the inexperience defenders were often surprised and quickly overwhelmed by repeated attacks by the Wastelanders.

The Liberty Militia, lead by Filforce’s Paltik, had a fair number of veteran ET players but their close proximity to the Wastlanders and the Enclave made them play defensively throughout most of the day. They missed many boxes and BB’s that other teams found in the Militia’s ‘backyard.’ They later established a non-aggression pact with Liberty Militia which allowed them some measure of security to go on the attack.

A few players—accustomed to using their tuned up AEGs—found the start of the game frustrating. But the vast majority of players found using pistols and shotguns, both challenging and exhilarating. As the game progressed, more and more players recovered their AEG mags, so full auto fire was the norm by the end of the day.

Moondog (in the role of the Trade Caravan) would travel between each team HQ, playing Fallout style music out of powered speaker in his duffle bag, a highlight of the day. Players could trade with the Caravan for game BB’s and boxes, though most simply asked for a complimentary spray of his goggled defog.

All the teams were required to store their looted boxes inside or next to a blue IKEA bag supplied by the GM. But all the teams (some to less degrees) hid their boxes outside of their HQ or in the case of the Militia, moved their bags location. To address this, Moondog assigned a referee to each team’s HQ to make sure all the teams were storing their boxes in their bags and the bags were in a fixed and visible location.  

Wastelanders were able to make a final raid on the Legions HQ hauling back 5 boxes before the end of game whistle. The Militia who had failed to heed the GM’s instructions, and were hiding their boxes in a building and only had 1 box in the bag, so in the end of the game had to forfeit their other 6 boxes. The Legion captured 10 boxes from the Enclave base but weren’t able to get them back to their HQ’s bag before the whistle blew, and they too were forfeit.

At 4:30pm, all the teams returned to staging for the results. The Legion had no boxes, the Militia had 1 box and the Wastelander team had over a dozen, making them the game winners by a huge margin. The remaining 20 boxes at the trading post or uncaptured, were raffled out to the players. 

Players opened boxes to find prizes ranging from a gas pistol, tactical hoodies and green gas thanks to Airsplat.com, to random Fallout loot like old books, a Hawaiian leisure shirt, holsters, pouches, tactical gear, speed loaders, patches, barrel condoms, and even a bottle of Nuka Cola and Nuka Quantum.

Moondog closed the day thanking players for supporting the New York Zoo and the Wounded Warrior project by their attendance and Airspalt.com for the prizes. While a Fallout 3 themed airsoft games aren’t everybody’s cup-o-tea, for those that had an open mind a positive attitude, thoroughly enjoyed them selves and looked forward to the next ‘Fallout’ game.

ENCLAVE OPERATIONS REPORT BY "SINNER"
Operation: Boomerang
Location: Boonton, NJ
Date: June 4, 2069

In the early morning hours of June 4, our VTOL transport crashed outside Boonton, NJ on approach to commence Operation: Boomerang. Despite being the only survivor the mission to recover pre-war materials was crucial. Leaving the wreckage I made my way toward Booton. I first ran across members of the Iron Legion. I laid down a hail of suppressive fire and advanced on the ill-equipped paramilitary soldiers. They refused to submit to the rightful authority of the Enclave and were driven back. Wastelanders like the scavenging vermin they are were drawn to the sounds of battle. Pinned between the two forces I was disabled and the Wastelanders made off with some of my supplies.

After recovering from my injuries my mission resumed. Throughout the day I battled increasingly better equipped denizens of the Wasteland. I listened for the sounds of combat and monitored the communicaitons networks for clues where to find opponents to the Enclave. Many of the irradiated curs were cut down like wheat before the scythe. Each time I was injured or disabled they would scramble over me like carrion birds eager for the ammunition and supplies I carried. They did not notice that I yet breathed and so I survived to continue my mission.

The Wastelanders in particular must have found many pre-war supplies. Their superior numbers and well-equipped soldiers made them a force to be cautious of. They established dominance in the area surrounding Boonton. I spent much of my time in the surrounding area looking for an opportunity to explore the town. That chance finally came when the Liberty Militia had taken control of the town. Their defense was primarily focused on keeping the Wastelanders out and not watching for other threats. I passed the town perimeter unopposed and quickly eliminated the entire militia. A quick search of the town located no supplies however. After eliminating a couple advancing Wastelanders I withdrew leaving the town to them.

Finally I located the stores deep within a bunker on what is now known as Enclave Hill. Just as I was ready to claim success a pesky, local caravan trader announced the location of my cache over the radio. The first to attempt to take the supplies from the rightful hands of the Enclave were the Iron Legion. After I annihilated their forces attempting to scale the cliff on the east side of the hill, they again assaulted this time from the southwest. Despite their determined assault the superior equipment of the Enclave combined with my tenacious defense, the Iron Legion assault broke upon Enclave Hill like waves upon the rocks. The Liberty Militia also attempted to take the hill without success. The Wastelanders never made an appearance; either not hearing the Trader’s call or to busy greedily hoarding their day’s take.

Finally after thousands of rounds fired, my armor pocked by numerous hits, it was the Iron Legion was cresting the top of the hill. I dashed from the cover of the bunker to try to flank the approaching forces. My weapon’s power pack failed, and I couldn’t keep their heads down anymore. The first round impacted my upper chest, the second bouncing off my helmet. The final shot punched through my belly armor and I fell to my knees. Through dimming vision I could see the victorious Legion rushing forward. Then the air hummed with the sound of approaching VTOLs and the Enclave radio chatter picked up. My life forfeit but the denizens of the Wasteland would not recover the supplies I fought to protect!