The Ticking Clock: Pregnancy and Birth in Fallout Shelter
So, you’ve got a burgeoning vault in Fallout Shelter, and love (or at least assigned procreation) is in the air. Congratulations are in order! But now you’re probably wondering: how long does it take a pregnant woman to have a baby in Fallout Shelter? The answer is a straightforward 3 hours. After the deed is done in the living quarters, you’ll see that little belly start to swell, and three real-time hours later, a new dweller will enter your vault, ready to contribute (eventually) to its prosperity.
However, knowing the gestation period is just the beginning. The mechanics of pregnancy and childbirth in Fallout Shelter have nuances that are crucial to optimizing your vault’s population and resource management. Let’s delve deeper into the process, answering some common questions and unveiling tips for breeding the best dwellers possible.
Pregnancy Mechanics: What to Expect
Pregnancy in Fallout Shelter is a simple, time-gated event. Once a male and female dweller are assigned to a living quarter, they will begin to dance and chat (hinting at their increasing happiness). Soon enough, the female dweller will become pregnant. During this time, she continues to roam and work as normal (although she cannot fight or tend to disasters), and after the three-hour wait, she will deliver a baby. Ensure you have enough space in your vault for the new arrival, or the birth will be delayed.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the pregnancy process and babies in Fallout Shelter, each providing valuable insight into optimizing your vault’s breeding program:
Q1: Can pregnant dwellers still work?
Yes, pregnant dwellers can still work in their assigned rooms. However, and this is important, they cannot participate in defending the vault from raider attacks or other disasters. Therefore, when selecting a pregnant dweller, it is better to assign her into a room with 1-2 male dwellers for protection.
Q2: Do I need to assign male dwellers to work with pregnant dwellers?
The article suggests assigning 1-2 male dwellers to protect pregnant women but does not give a direct explanation as to why. Assigning male dwellers to work alongside pregnant dwellers can provide the needed protection from raiders.
Q3: How do I get “super babies” in Fallout Shelter?
To increase your chances of getting dwellers with high stats, you must make sure that both parents have high SPECIAL.
Q4: How long are the people pregnant in Fallout Shelter on PC?
The duration of pregnancy is consistent across platforms. It takes about 3 hours for a pregnant dweller to give birth, whether you’re playing on PC or mobile.
Q5: Do dwellers age in Fallout Shelter?
Yes, dwellers do age in Fallout Shelter, however, babies will mature into adults after approximately three hours. After intercourse, a dweller will give birth after three hours, then a child grows into an adult after three hours.
Q6: Can vault dwellers have twins?
Yes, vault dwellers can have twins if you have the 75% chance of twins pet on the Mom.
Q7: Do babies inherit SPECIAL stats from their parents in Fallout Shelter?
Yes, babies do inherit SPECIAL stats from their parents. The higher the parents’ SPECIAL stats and levels, the better the starting SPECIAL stats of the child.
Q8: Why is my female not giving birth in Fallout Shelter?
Pregnant dwellers will only give birth if they are happy and if you have enough space in the Vault. If there is not enough room, either upgrade or build additional Living Quarters. In short, you must make sure there is enough room in the vault.
Q9: How do I speed up the pregnancy process?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to speed up the pregnancy process. It always takes three hours. If you have sped up the time on your personal device, the three hours may take a slightly longer time.
Q10: Does Fallout Shelter have an ending?
No, Fallout Shelter does not have a definitive ending. It’s an ongoing simulation focused on building and managing a thriving vault.
Q11: Can siblings have babies in Fallout Shelter?
No, the game recognizes siblings and prevents them from reproducing. You’ll receive a “nice to spend time with family” message if you try to pair them up in the living quarters.
Q12: Where is the Mysterious Stranger in Fallout Shelter?
The Mysterious Stranger appears randomly in vault rooms or elevators. Listen for a distinct sound cue, and tap him quickly to receive a reward.
Q13: Can I reject dwellers who appear at my vault door?
Yes, you can reject dwellers. You can do this by kicking the dwellers out of your vault.
Q14: Why aren’t new dwellers coming to my vault?
Several factors can affect the arrival of new dwellers. The more dwellers your vault has, the more unlikely it is that new dwellers will show up. If the player’s Vault has no room for a new dweller (either because insufficient living rooms have been built, or the Vault has a maximum of 200 dwellers), pregnant women will not give birth and new arrivals will not enter the Vault.
Q15: What happens if a dweller dies on a quest?
You can revive the dweller once you complete the quest.
Crafting the Perfect Dweller
Beyond the basic mechanics, veteran players know that careful breeding can significantly enhance the quality of their vault dwellers. It all comes down to SPECIAL stats.
Maximizing SPECIAL
Each dweller has seven SPECIAL attributes (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) that determine their effectiveness in various vault rooms and wasteland activities. By strategically pairing dwellers with high SPECIAL stats, you can influence the SPECIAL stats of their offspring. This is crucial for creating dwellers specialized in specific tasks.
“Super” Child Formula
The article mentions a “Super” Child Formula, where parents’ combined SPECIAL stats must be 122 or higher to increase the chance of a “rare” child. Two fully maxed-out parents (SPECIAL 140) have an even higher chance (around 6.6%) of producing a “legendary” child, and a 13.3% chance of a “rare” child.
Training is Key
Even if your dwellers don’t start with exceptional stats, you can use training rooms (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck training rooms) to improve their SPECIAL attributes over time. Consistent training, combined with careful breeding, will produce the most capable vault dwellers.
Optimizing Vault Life Beyond Babies
While babies are important for vault growth, remember that a thriving vault needs more than just population increase.
Resource Management
Balancing power, food, and water is essential. Assign dwellers to rooms that match their highest SPECIAL stat for maximum efficiency.
Defense
A well-defended vault is a happy vault. Equip your dwellers with the best weapons and outfits you can find, and strategically position them to defend against attacks.
Exploration
Send dwellers out into the wasteland to gather resources, find new items, and complete quests. Remember to equip them with stimpaks and RadAway for survival.
The Long Game
Fallout Shelter is a game of long-term strategy. There is no endpoint to the game but you are able to build a vault for generations of dwellers.
End-Game Goals
While there’s no official ending, many players set their own end-game goals, such as:
- Reaching the maximum population of 200 dwellers.
- Maxing out the SPECIAL stats of all dwellers.
- Completing all quests.
- Building and fully upgrading all rooms.
- Having a fully upgraded vault that can sustain a community for the foreseeable future.
By focusing on these goals, you can create a thriving and sustainable vault that can withstand the challenges of the post-apocalyptic world.
Learning Through Games
Fallout Shelter, like many simulation games, offers opportunities for learning about resource management, population dynamics, and strategic decision-making. Games like these can be engaging tools for education, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To learn more about the educational potential of games, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society explores the intersection of games and learning, providing resources and research on how games can be used to enhance education.