Fallout Fan Turns Broken Hand into a Creative Tribute

When a devoted Fallout fan recently broke their hand, they chose to turn their misfortune into a creative homage to the beloved series mascot, Vault Boy. Although the injury was unfortunate, the Fallout-themed artwork on their cast is a testament to their passion for the franchise.

Vault Boy, the cheerful cartoon figure introduced by Leonard Boyarsky before Bethesda acquired the Fallout series, has been an iconic part of the franchise since the original game’s release in 1997. Known for his whimsical illustrations of SPECIAL stats and perks, Vault Boy has been a staple of the series, from its top-down RPG beginnings to its modern iterations.

In a stroke of inventive fandom, this particular Fallout enthusiast drew Vault Boy directly on their cast, right across their palm. Remarkably, the illustration they chose is particularly fitting for their situation: it mimics the image displayed in Fallout's health recovery system when a player sustains a debilitating arm injury.

Reddit user Xicole354 shared their story, revealing that they broke their hand in a tumble down a flight of stairs. Despite the accident, they took the opportunity to celebrate their love for the franchise, listing Fallout: New Vegas and Portal 2 as their top two favorite games. Even with their dominant hand injured, they managed to recreate Vault Boy with impressive accuracy.

A Touch of Humor and Creativity Amidst the Injury

The cast art has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among Fallout fans, with commenters playfully referencing Stimpacks and making jokes about turning lemons into lemonade—a nod to Fallout 4’s Mr. Handy and its drink-dispensing feature. While the fan art is widely appreciated, a few tweaks were suggested by the community.

One commenter pointed out that the illustration showed an injury on the wrong hand, to which Xicole354 humorously replied, "I was in pain, Doc!" Another fan suggested that the back of the cast would be an ideal spot for adding a Pip-Boy design, enhancing the Fallout-themed artwork further.

Despite their inventive spirit, Xicole354’s injury has temporarily sidelined them from gaming, as their cast restricts any thumb movement. Nevertheless, they continue to indulge their Fallout passion through the Fallout-themed Magic: The Gathering deck they’re using, keeping their post-apocalyptic enthusiasm alive.