Vaults bring to mind reinforced doors and secrets. They fascinate gamers and story lovers alike. Let’s dive in and explore these intriguing bunkers, in gaming and beyond.
Fallout’s Vaults: More Than Just a Place to Escape Nukes
If you’ve roamed Fallout’s wastelands, you know Vault-Tec. They promised safety from nuclear fallout in their high-tech shelters. But surprise! Vault-Tec was about as trustworthy as a Brahmin in a china shop. These vaults were more about twisted experiments than saving humanity.
Were There Vaults 0, 1, and 2 in Fallout? What About Those Other Numbers?
Let’s look at the numbers. The Fallout universe has many vaults. But are they all numbered? Did Vault-Tec start from zero? The answer is complicated.
Vault 0? Yes, it existed! Vault 0 was not your typical vault. It was the control vault in Cheyenne Mountain Complex. It served as Vault-Tec HQ, designed to survive and rebuild civilization in their image.
Vault 1 and Vault 2? Both are real! Vault 1 is part of Fallout lore, while Vault 2 appears in Fallout 2. Each vault had its unique and often ethically dubious experiments.
Vault 666 and Vault 69? Now it gets fun. Vault 666 appears in Fallout Shelter as a cheeky quest tied to devilish themes. Vault 69? It had a very skewed gender ratio, leading to many jokes.
Vault 101, 111, and 118? Heavy hitters! Vault 101 houses the Lone Wanderer in Fallout 3 and connects with Fallout 4. Vault 111 is the starting point in Fallout 4 where cryo-sleep goes awry. Vault 118, found in Far Harbor DLC, is populated by pre-war elites and confused robots.
Vault 99 and Vault 34? Vault 99 is not canon. It may be lost in the wasteland. Vault 34, in Fallout: New Vegas, aimed to be heavily armed. Spoiler: it didn’t end well. Survivors? Not likely.
Vault-Tec: Evil Corp Excellence
Obvious truth: Vault-Tec won’t win “Company of the Year.” They rank high on lists of evil video game corporations. The Guardian, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer all agree – Vault-Tec is very shady. They’re not just unethical; rumors say they triggered the Great War.
The Twisted Purposes Behind the Vaults
So, what were these vaults *for*? Beyond quests and dilemmas, each vault held a designated experiment. Often it was at the expense of the inhabitants.
Vault 33 (from Fallout TV series): Population control ruled here with strict reproductive rules. Lucy MacLean is the vault dweller protagonist, from this vault beneath sunny Los Angeles.
Vault 31: “Resident exchange programs” sound nice? Nope! Vault 31 was a creepy way for Vault-Tec to ensure loyal employees populated future generations. Staff were frozen, thawed, and sent to vaults disguised as residents.
Vault 92: Super soldiers, anyone? Here, scientists used subliminal messages in white noise to create brainwashed soldiers. The results were mixed—more like super-screwed-up than super-soldier.
Vault 22: Going green went wrong. This self-sustaining vault used plants for food. But mutated plants and killer spores made survival deadly.
Vault 13: The control group! Home to the Vault Dweller, it was meant to stay sealed until needed by the Enclave. Control groups rarely mean good outcomes for the subjects.
Vault Dwellers: From Lone Wanderers to TV Stars
Vaults need people. Fallout’s vaults house memorable characters, many slightly unhinged due to social engineering by Vault-Tec.
Lucy MacLean (Fallout TV Series): Lucy is our vault dweller, seeing the wasteland for the first time after growing up in Vault 33.
James (Fallout 3): Known as “Dad,” he is the Vault 101 doctor. His disappearance sets the game in motion, sending the Lone Wanderer into the Capital Wasteland.
The Lone Wanderer (Fallout 3): This is you, the player! Born in Vault 101, your life changes when Dad goes missing.
Vault Boy: The grinning mascot of Vault-Tec! You see him everywhere in Fallout. In the series, it’s implied his image is based on actor Cooper Howard.
Vault Girl: Vault Boy’s counterpart represents perks, traits, and equipment in the games. She’s an optimistic face of your character’s journey through the wasteland.
Harry Potter’s Gringotts Vaults: Where Wizards Keep Their Galleons (and Secrets)
Now we teleport to Harry Potter’s world. Gringotts Wizarding Bank is where witches and wizards safeguard valuables. No ATMs here; you need a goblin and a rickety ride underground.
Gringotts Security: Beyond Muggle Measures
Gringotts is famous for security. Hagrid calls it “the safest place in the world (except maybe Hogwarts).” He’s correct. Gringotts employs many security measures far beyond Muggle abilities. There are dragons, spells, and goblins who detect dishonesty.
Vault Numbers and Notorious Vaults
Gringotts vaults are numbered like their Fallout counterparts but with fewer sinister secrets. Here are a few notable ones:
Vault 1: What’s inside? High security and unknown contents! It adds to its mystique, possibly housing top-tier wizarding secrets.
Vault 713: Ah, vault 713. Infamous for being broken into! Who was the thief? Professor Quirrell under Voldemort’s influence in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Whose vault was it originally? Still a mystery, adding to its allure.
Vault 687:This one has a known
owner – the Potter family! Vault 687 holds the Potter family wealth. It likely contains galleons, sickles, and maybe some heirlooms.
The Lestrange Vault: It is a dark magic hub! The Lestrange vault is ancient and deep underground. It contains dark artifacts. Heavily protected, the Lestrange family hid risky items for generations. Bellatrix’s vault is not a casual place.
Beyond Fiction: Real-World Vaults and Secret Stashes
Vaults are not only in games and fantasy. The world has secure spots, hopefully with fewer dark wizards.
The Doomsday Vault: Want to see a real-life vault? You can’t “visit” the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway like a tourist, but it exists! Carved into an Arctic mountain, it protects seeds worldwide. It’s a backup for global disasters. Like Noah’s Ark for plants.
Secret Vaults (Digital Edition): In a less dramatic way, “secret vaults” exist digitally too. Software like “Secret Vaults” protects your data from unauthorized access. Not bricks, but bits and bytes. The principle of security stays.
There you go – a quick tour of vaults, from Fallout to Gringotts, and a look at real secure places. Whether real or imagined, vaults fascinate us as mysterious and secure spots. Now, I hear a vault door calling me in the wasteland…
