Before we set foot in the Appalachian Wasteland, several factions roamed the lands. The first group we stumble across are the Responders, a faction formed from the remains of the Emergency Services eager to help the little man. We also find remnants of Raiders, ghouls, and simple farmers, and all of which had fallen victim to the Scorched, the main protagonists in Fallout 76. A little later in the game, we stumble across the remains of the Brotherhood of Steel, corpses strewn about former asylum-come-fortress, Fort Defiance.

Like many people, I was disappointed to find no living NPCs in Fallout 76 and instead, we have to rely on holotape recordings and terminal entries to piece together what horrible tragedy had beset Appalachia.

When Bethesda released The Wastelanders update the countryside felt more alive as living NPCs finally made their way back, building settlements and offering new stories and daily quests, but it was still missing something. Something that has been a huge part of the Fallout franchise. Something bedecked in heavy armour and toting heavy, indiscriminate firepower.

Steel Dawn brings the tech-hoarding Brotherhood of Steel back to Appalachia, offering players the chance to work with the Brotherhood as they search for lost technologies and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. You’ll meet new characters, explore new locations, and revisit others, all of which will permanently change the landscape. Players will also have a chance to build their very own shelter; a much more compact vault attached to your C.A.M.P.

With its own build limit, and certain snapping mechanics removed, players will be able to build insanely complicated and heavily decorated buildings, surpassing the limits set by normal C.A.M.Ps. To make this even more appealing, players will potentially have access to three of these shelters and even the smallest of these (which you get for free, mind you) has more floor space than your camp has to offer.

The newly added story features nine quests for players to complete, starting with players following a radio broadcast to locate the newest faction, all the way to fighting off waves of Super Mutants as you defend your newly obtained allies. These quests are really quite fun to take part in, but if you have explored most of Appalachia and have caps to spare, you’ll find they don’t take all that long to complete, and once things start to get really tasty, the story is over and you’re back to the daily grind in the hopes of finding plans for the new weapons and armour that have been added to the game.

Just like the Wastelanders update, players will also be able to purchase optional content in the form of The Brotherhood Recruitment Bundle. This will set you back about $45 and gives you access to some sweet Brotherhood themed items, like the enormous Scouting Tower for your settlement or the Brotherhood Tactical Field Pack, but ultimately these are just cosmetic items that are more bragging rights than anything. If you’re not too keen on spending real money, there is also some sweet swag in the Atomic Shop, perfectly suited to decorating your own mini-vault or adding a bit more flair to your C.A.M.P.

It’s also worth noting that a couple of changes have been made for quality of life in-game, such as completely removing the negatives effects of hunger and replacing them with positive effects for when you’ve had enough to eat and drink. I’ve also noticed that enemies seem to stay on the ground in the event you cripple their legs, something I hadn’t really paid attention to until I stood over a knife-wielding raider laughing maniacally as he desperately slashed at me, mere moments before I put an explosive .50cal into his head.

As yet another free update, Steel Dawn offers players more of a reason to come back to the franchise than ever before. The new story really drags you in and re-visiting existing locations to see how they have changed is a whole lot of fun. I just wish the story went further than it does, but this is just the first chapter.

Written by: Mathew Lindner