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Overgrown is a family of creatures found in Atlantic City in Fallout 76, introduced in the Expeditions: Atlantic City update part one, Boardwalk Paradise. Among the locals, they are also known as plantfolk.[1]
Background[]
The Overgrown are the ambulatory, horribly mutated flora from the Pine Barrens near the city, who constantly threaten the settlement's borders,[2] and are only kept at bay by the efforts of the Atlantic City Municipal Government's recently founded Forestry Division.[3] Despite their low intelligence, they are deadly and constantly try to enter the city.[1] Timothy Lane himself treats the Overgrown as a low priority, considering the constant maneuvering and jockeying for power by the other two factions in Atlantic City the real problem.[4]
The Overgrown were not a significant problem at the start and the Munis focused on other priorities, just trimming the hedges so to speak. This lack of understanding and complacency would eventually prove a significant oversight.[5] He delegated the responsibility to Sloane to ensure Acee is protected, but despite his intentions, the Family's aggressive behavior has caused Chief Sloane to treat Casino Quarter as a low priority, leaving gaps in coverage and the occasional perimeter breach that left multiple people wounded.[6] Most Acee civilians considered the very idea of aggressive plants laughable.[7]
Attacks intensify[]
However, the recent breaches of the perimeter and their takeover of the old community center caused him to reconsider, as they spread Munis even thinner than they were before.[8] The incomplete evacuation and multiple casualties have also exposed the failure of his policy thus far, with Lane openly taking responsibility for the decisions that allowed this to happen.[9]
Origins[]
The origins of the Overgrown are unclear, though they all bear an uncanny resemblance to humans, especially where their "faces" are. It's enough to give some pause and even believe that they are the risen dead, coming back to haunt them for their sins.[10]
Frieda Lane came up with three theories to explain them:
- Mutation: Overgrown are simply a mutated species of plant(s), a result of nuclear fallout after the Great War. Their resemblance to humans is purely accidental. While she considered it the most sane theory, it also failed to explain why Overgrown have fundamentally animal cells, not plant cells, and some are capable of manipulating their environment and using tools.[11]
- Zombie: Considered the least sane, it posits that the Overgrown are reanimated corpses of dead humans. It does explain why Overgrown population increases in areas with reports of people going missing, but doesn't explain the floating Tentacles. The mechanism is also unclear, as the ability of whatever zombie factor exists to infect dead bodies would also make it possible for them to infect living humans, but no such incidents were observed in Acee thus far.[12]
- Parasite: The middle ground most supported by Lane's observations, posits that a parasitic bacteria enters the organism and corrupts it into an Overgrown. The parasitic infection would be unable to overcome a living organism, so it would only be possible in the recently deceased. The theory explains why the animal cells are hybrids, the variation between the Overgrown in appearance and intelligence, and perhaps most terrifyingly, opens up the possibility of them infecting species other than humans.[13]
Characteristics[]
Biology[]
Samples analyzed by Frieda Lane show that the cells of the Overgrown are fundamentally animal cells, rather than plant cells: They have no cell wall and lysomes are present. However, the cells also contain chloroplasts found in plants, not animals, and essential for photosynthesis. While this explained their coloration, it has stumped the researcher.[14] They have red blood, and some of them have humanoid ribcages.
Whatever their origins, the Overgrown are extremely durable. Experiments on captive specimens showed that there are three basic types (tentatively called Roadrunner, Hulk, and Tentacles by Mrs. Lane; these correspond to the thorn, elder, and pollinator respectively) existing in a symbiotic relationship and exhibiting varying degrees of intelligence. Roadrunners are mindless attackers with no self-preservation, Hulks are large, capable of using tools, and stupid, though capable of avoiding attacks. Tentacles are floating abominations that follow either type, but have the unique property of triggering rapid tissue regeneration in the other two types, but require the other two types for protection.[15]
Gameplay attributes[]
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Variants[]
Overgrown thorn[]
A blindly aggressive "roadrunner" variant who close distance and attack by flailing, very similar to feral ghouls. Weak individually, but tend to complicate larger battles. They explode on death.
They drop explosives, stimpaks, and contextual ammo. A unique Overgrown Moonflower is encountered during an expedition.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overgrown thorn ???????? |
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Overgrown elder[]
The hulking elder can use weapons, both melee and ranged. It attacks very aggressively and has the unique Hulking Presence perk, which slows enemies.[clarification needed]
Its ranged weapons are Overgrown-specific versions of the assault rifle and missile launcher, called the spine shooter (single and automatic variants) and spore launcher. During an expedition a unique Overgrown Keeper is encountered.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overgrown elder ???????? |
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Overgrown pollinator[]
A levitating Overgrown with tendrils and many eye-like bulbs. It follows and supports the humanoid Overgrown, preferring elders over thorns. Heals Overgrown in its vicinity, and uses a "heal bomb" ability that provides instant healing. Can attack by flailing its tentacles.
They make a strange high-pitched sound, and may flee if threatened individually.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overgrown pollinator ???????? |
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Notes[]
- Thorns use the feral ghoul animation skeleton, but have some original animations.
- Elders use the super mutant animation skeleton. Unarmed elders may be seen raising their empty right hand like a suicider holding a mini nuke.
- Pollinators resemble floaters.
- Humanoid Overgrown somewhat resemble the first mirelurk king design from Fallout 3, particularly their necks and faces. The clawlike feet of elders also resemble the feet of the humanoid crab mirelurks from Fallout 3.
Appearances[]
The Overgrown appear only in Fallout 76, introduced in the Expeditions: Atlantic City update part one, Boardwalk Paradise.
Behind the scenes[]
- Their design appears to have been influenced by the monster from the 1954 movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, which also resembles Adamowicz's original mirelurk king design.
- The Overgrown models may feature fungal growths explicitly identified as Cordyceps,[clarification needed] a real strain of parasitic fungi that targets invertebrate animals, such as ants, and directly influences their behavior.
- Humans being infested with cordyceps is a pre-existing science fiction trope. It was the driving force behind the apocalypse in the 2013 cinematic game The Last of Us.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vault 76 dweller: "What are 'plantfolk'?"
Mayor Timothy Lane: "You met a few of 'em outside today. They're plant people from the Pine Barrens. No one really knows what they are. But they ain't people, that's for damn sure. Most call 'em 'Overgrown.' They may look kinda like us, but they got the brain power of the trees they come from. Still, they're deadly. And that's enough reason for me to want them out."
(Mayor Timothy Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "[Charisma 8+] Help me out, Jeremiah. I'm going to Atlantic City, but not for fun. I need to know what I'm up against."
Jeremiah Hopkins: "Well, if that's the case, then... The mutated flora... We call them the Overgrown. For the most part, folks don't know they're a problem because the municipal workers have been fighting them back. But that's not all. There's something more sinister out there. I'd prefer not to talk about this anymore. Every city's got problems, right? And outside of this little pest problem, there's so much to love in AC!"
(Jeremiah Hopkins' dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "What are the different departments?"
Frieda Lane: "Let's see now. There's my department, the Power Production and Management Division. We produce electricity and distribute it. I also handle the Water Purification and Distribution Division. Same thing, just with clean water instead of power. There's the Internal Revenue Service. Buttercup heads that. They're in charge of...uh, collecting taxes to keep everything running. They're the auditors you've probably seen around town. Then there's the Agricultural and Caravanning Services. Tim oversees that himself. He manages the output of the farms on the outskirts and ensures the farmers and their farmhands are all properly compensated. Additionally, they distribute food in the city so no one goes hungry. They also trade with the caravans 'round here for essentials. There's the Emergency Services Division. Anna runs that. They're the paramedics and firefighters. Dispatchers. She makes sure every emergency is addressed and that the right people are sent to handle it. Finally, there's the Pine Barrens Forestry Division, led by Sloane. They're basically our park rangers. They handle the Overgrown threat. You won't see them around City Hall much as they spend the day usually scouting the perimeter of the city."
(Frieda Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Are you not going to acknowledge the Overgrown that just tried to kill me?"
Mayor Timothy Lane: "Ah, the plantfolk? Nah, don't pay them no mind. The evil in this city ain't coming from the Barrens, if you catch my drift. Regardless, I do need your help."
(Mayor Timothy Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "How has the Overgrown invasion gotten so bad?"
Mayor Timothy Lane: "Through negligence and foolishness on our part. Atlantic City leadership, myself included, underestimated the plantfolk. We lacked understanding. We overlooked them when they first appeared, thinking they'd never be widespread enough to become a major threat. We were wrong. Never underestimate your enemy, even if they've put roots down."
(Mayor Timothy Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Perimeter breach
- ↑ Atlantic City civilian: "All this talk of bogeys crawling out of the Barrens. What's a plant gonna do, grow at me?"
- ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "Why can't the government handle this on their own?"
Mayor Timothy Lane: "Fact of the matter is, keeping this city afloat is like Atlas holding up the sky. Our job is to keep people fed and alive. So far, we've been managing quite well. That is, until those pests from the Barrens took over the Community Center and started attacking folks left and right. We were already spread thin before. Now? Hell, I'm amazed they haven't taken City Hall yet! Think you can help thin out the herd for me?"
(Mayor Timothy Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Vault 76 dweller: "They took over the Community Center?"
Mayor Timothy Lane: "Oh, yeah. 'Bout a few weeks ago I think. Sorry situation, that was. We tried to get as many of our folks out of there as possible. Truth be told, I don't think we got 'em all. We underestimated the plantfolk. More like I underestimated them. Never again."
(Mayor Timothy Lane's dialogue) - ↑ Rot
- ↑ Community center terminal entries; Frieda's Research Terminal, Personal Theories, Mutation Theory
- ↑ Community center terminal entries; Frieda's Research Terminal, Personal Theories, Zombie Theory
- ↑ Community center terminal entries; Frieda's Research Terminal, Personal Theories, Parasite Theory
- ↑ Community center terminal entries; Frieda's Research Terminal, Research Data, [Chloroplasts?!]
- ↑ Community center terminal entries; Frieda's Research Terminal, Research Data, [Regenerative Properties]
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