Summary
Despite belonging to a primarily single-player franchise,Fallout 76is stacked in favor of playing together with multiple other people, rather than playing it alone. PlayingFallout 76in co-op can offer players a staggering amount of stackable buffs, while playing solo provides significantly fewer benefits in comparison. Specifically, solo players only have one buff to utilize inFallout 76. Since the game still has a few years left in its continued support and development,Fallout 76should give solo players a much-needed set of buffs at some point in the future.
Being on a Public Team can offer players various different experience boosts and SPECIAL skill points that increase for every teammate present, up to a total of four players. While joining Public Teams with random players can be intimidating for new, low-level players, the community has generally made it anunwritten rule forFallout 76to be on a Public Team as much as possible. Despite sounding like an intimate situation, most players who are on the same Public Teams never end up playing together or even interacting with each other.
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Fallout 76 is Best Played in a Group
Depending on the type, Public Teams can grant players up to four points in Endurance, Intelligence, or Charisma, and up to a 100% experience point boost for completing Public Events, Daily Ops, or Expeditions. Ultimately, it’s in every player’s interest to be on a Public Team at all times since even a public team with one individual player will grant a Public Team bonus. Not to mention, teammates and their CAMPs can be used as free fast-travel points aroundFallout 76’s Appalachian wasteland.
Another reason to play on public teams besides the team bonuses is for the Perks andMutations inFallout 76that synergize with Public Teams. The Herd Mentality perk is great for playing on Public Teams since it gives players two points to every SPECIAL skill for being on any Public Team, and it also works on teams with only one player.
Aside from the Mutations that rely on players being a member of a Public Team, Strange In Numbers and other Perk cards can also provide additional buffs. As long as at least one other Public Team member has a Mutation equipped, the Strange In Numbers Perk will provide a 25% boost to the positive effects of every Mutation. Between some of the Public Team boosts, the Herd Mentality Mutation, and the Strange In Numbers Perk, players can earn up to eight extra SPECIAL points for one skill.
Players can alsoshare perks inFallout 76with others in their Public Team depending on their Charisma skill level. Not every player has high enough Charisma to share a worthwhile perk, but for those who do it can be a huge boon for their teammates.
With all of these benefits available for being on a Public Team, solo players only have access to the buffs from a singlePerk card inFallout 76. The Lone Wanderer Perk from the previous games makes a comeback again inFallout 76, except it’s one of the most underwhelming Perks this time around. This Perk gives players up to a 20% incoming damage reduction and a 30% increase in AP regeneration. Overall though, this perk pales in comparison to the buffs that co-op players have access to.
While solo players are left to make the most of a poor situation, co-op players have an abundance of benefits, most of which never actually encourage players to cooperate. Future updates forFallout 76should strongly consider how solo players can be at a severe disadvantage in the game and step up to the challenge of making a change.
Fallout 76is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
