New Vegas builds

[flushfire]

AFAIK Four Eyes actually lowers your Per (regardless of eyewear) when trying to qualify for perks, so no. Commando doesn't have stat requirements while Sniper requires just 6 Per, although both are quite worthless as the bonus is multiplicative.

 

[RK47]

Hey do i have to wait till im mid to high lvl to do the DLCs or are they OK to take on at abt lvl 1-5s.

 

[Logic_error]

Pump INT and endurance early. 8/9 in each should do. Everything else is useless.

 

[Turisas]

Hey do i have to wait till im mid to high lvl to do the DLCs or are they OK to take on at abt lvl 1-5s.

Level 15+ for first three and 25+ for Lonesome Road were the recommended levels iirc, but shouldn't need to wait quite that long. I wouldn't bother at lvl 1, though.

 

[2house2fly]

It's certainly possible to get through them at low levels; given the horrendous difficulty scaling it might even be better than doing them at level 30+. I always do them at a high level, but just so I can pass as many skill checks as possible.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

AFAIK Four Eyes actually lowers your Per (regardless of eyewear) when trying to qualify for perks, so no. Commando doesn't have stat requirements while Sniper requires just 6 Per, although both are quite worthless as the bonus is multiplicative.

fast shot has -20% multiplicative, so commando and sniper kinda balance it out imo. ahh i thought sniper/commando was per 7

 

[DragoFireheart]

AFAIK Four Eyes actually lowers your Per (regardless of eyewear) when trying to qualify for perks, so no. Commando doesn't have stat requirements while Sniper requires just 6 Per, although both are quite worthless as the bonus is multiplicative.

fast shot has -20% multiplicative, so commando and sniper kinda balance it out imo. ahh i thought sniper/commando was per 7

Don't use Fast Shot with full auto weapons though: they don't fire any faster.

 

[Gurkog]

If you plan on using the minigun don't even bother with fast shot or trigger discipline. It fires accurately enough for mid range combat with base spread value. I also learned the hard way that jury rigging is worthless for miniguns... for shame.

 

[Azrael the cat]

Start with higher endurance and lower other attributes by 1 each (except maybe int, not sure you can max all skills even with expansions, but even if you can't you don't actually need to). As long as you get the implants for the requirements before you need them you'll get more out of your character in the long run.

Depends on your priorities. There isn't a 'dump stat' as such, but I did perfectly fine with low Endurance combined with a long-rage/diplomat build. You need to steer clear of anywhere that contains deathstalkers or caza-whatever-those-fucking-superwasps-are-called, and be rather wary about giant scorpions, for some time but once you've got a good sniper rifle (scoped guns let you shoot accurately for a much longer distance than you can in VATs) and decent armour-piercing options you're okay. I find that low-endurance high-perception/agility builds essentially trade off lower survivability vs giant wasteland creatures against higher combat effectiveness vs human enemies.

Brah, you're trading off lower survivability for nothing, because I can make a high perception/high endurance/high agility build instead at no real expense to myself. All I'm saying is to start with all attributes (except maybe int, though I got the caps and hit vegas without gaining any levels once, and I snuck through deathclaw territory at level 1 once) 1 point lower than you would otherwise and put all those points in endurance because you'll get those points back later through implants (which are limited by endurance).

Yeah but I like to play diplomat/scientist builds - which encourage combat specialisation.

 

[Mastermind]

Start with higher endurance and lower other attributes by 1 each (except maybe int, not sure you can max all skills even with expansions, but even if you can't you don't actually need to). As long as you get the implants for the requirements before you need them you'll get more out of your character in the long run.

Depends on your priorities. There isn't a 'dump stat' as such, but I did perfectly fine with low Endurance combined with a long-rage/diplomat build. You need to steer clear of anywhere that contains deathstalkers or caza-whatever-those-fucking-superwasps-are-called, and be rather wary about giant scorpions, for some time but once you've got a good sniper rifle (scoped guns let you shoot accurately for a much longer distance than you can in VATs) and decent armour-piercing options you're okay. I find that low-endurance high-perception/agility builds essentially trade off lower survivability vs giant wasteland creatures against higher combat effectiveness vs human enemies.

Brah, you're trading off lower survivability for nothing, because I can make a high perception/high endurance/high agility build instead at no real expense to myself. All I'm saying is to start with all attributes (except maybe int, though I got the caps and hit vegas without gaining any levels once, and I snuck through deathclaw territory at level 1 once) 1 point lower than you would otherwise and put all those points in endurance because you'll get those points back later through implants (which are limited by endurance).

Yeah but I like to play diplomat/scientist builds - which encourage combat specialisation.

It doesn't matter what your build is. Doing what I told you will gain you free stats.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

Nah not miniguns, shotguns and some guns to swap around when bored, maybe a couple of low end scoped rifles for sniping occasionally.

isn't Trigger Discipline more valuable for full auto builds?

 

[DramaticPopcorn]

Hey do i have to wait till im mid to high lvl to do the DLCs or are they OK to take on at abt lvl 1-5s.

Level 15+ for first three and 25+ for Lonesome Road were the recommended levels iirc, but shouldn't need to wait quite that long. I wouldn't bother at lvl 1, though.

I'd suggest putting them off till later because first the skill checks, second, there's quite a bit of loot in them which is overpowered in comparison to early-mid vanilla campaing. (Old World Blues in particular. Goddamn.)

 

[RK47]

Depends on your priorities. There isn't a 'dump stat' as such.

Not really. Dropping CHA to 1 has minimal impact to diplomats as long as they tag the Barter & Speech skills, going for the Skilled Perk - they can easily hit 50 Speech right after Goodsprings. There's really nothing that promotes having high CHA other than wanting a higher starting diplomacy skills. Heck, you can even go Skilled + Good Natured for even better deals. You won't ever miss the missing 4 CHA.

There's a clear Speech check scaling at some points, but as long as you hit the 25-50-75-100 marks in 10 levels, you're in the clear.
But honestly, 75% of the game is combat, so it'd be foolish not to try raising a combat skill to 50. I recommend laser really, so you don't have to bother with ammo selections.

 

[Steelworker]

It's also really easy to go from 1 CH to 10 temporarily, by using drugs and clothing. Which is nice because then you get +18 in speech points, temporarily, without having to invest in it. Magazines for another +10 or 20 and clothing for +10. DLC might have added even more to beef up speech.

The only thing it's good for is making your followers stronger, but the game is easy enough as it is, why would you want to make it totally broken by using followers, never mind making them do even more damage?

 

[Dreaad]

Some of those followers have pretty kewl stories which affect the last battle on the bridge. Like that ex enclave gay guy.

 

[DragoFireheart]

isn't Trigger Discipline more valuable for full auto builds?

Yes for a few reasons:

#1: Trigger does not make them fire any slower.
#2: They gain the accuracy bonus (Vats and non-vats) with #1 in mind.
#3: If you use Vats (inb4VatsisShit), auto-weapons tend to have a low enough AP cost to not care about the 20% increase. However, the accuracy increase in Vats makes them USABLE outside of point blank range.

So, using Trigger Discipline with auto weapons gives you all of the advantages while only having the AP cost disadvantage. It's pretty awesome actually.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

isn't Trigger Discipline more valuable for full auto builds?

Yes for a few reasons:

#1: Trigger does not make them fire any slower.
#2: They gain the accuracy bonus (Vats and non-vats) with #1 in mind.
#3: If you use Vats (inb4VatsisShit), auto-weapons tend to have a low enough AP cost to not care about the 20% increase. However, the accuracy increase in Vats makes them USABLE outside of point blank range.

So, using Trigger Discipline with auto weapons gives you all of the advantages while only having the AP cost disadvantage. It's pretty awesome actually.

Hmm, might try trigger discipline full auto build sometime. My only concern is the buttloads of ammo in hardcore mode.

Vats is the only reason I can actually tolerate the horrid abomination of an engine they used to make FNV.

I just replayed Fallout 1 with the FIXIT 5.3 alpha, and had a blast. Also trying with killap's unofficial patch (a new version released this month IIRC) for fallout 2. Have to say, NV seems like shit now, finished all the DLC campaigns, and derping around with factions now but lost motivation to play. Specially since riot shotgun made the cadazors and deathclaws lol at around level 20+. And commando/sniper/fully moded hunting rifle, makes mid range sniping feasible in VATS.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Start with higher endurance and lower other attributes by 1 each (except maybe int, not sure you can max all skills even with expansions, but even if you can't you don't actually need to). As long as you get the implants for the requirements before you need them you'll get more out of your character in the long run.

Depends on your priorities. There isn't a 'dump stat' as such, but I did perfectly fine with low Endurance combined with a long-rage/diplomat build. You need to steer clear of anywhere that contains deathstalkers or caza-whatever-those-fucking-superwasps-are-called, and be rather wary about giant scorpions, for some time but once you've got a good sniper rifle (scoped guns let you shoot accurately for a much longer distance than you can in VATs) and decent armour-piercing options you're okay. I find that low-endurance high-perception/agility builds essentially trade off lower survivability vs giant wasteland creatures against higher combat effectiveness vs human enemies.

Death claws can be dealt easily using positions on rock edges they don't fly only jump. Cazadores are less of problem when you get weapons with high Crits like Patientia and all sniper perks. Which is OK since they're intended to be fought for high level players as sort of movement control same way as Enclave patrols around Navarro in F2. FNV doesn't scale to your level the way Oblivion or F3 did.

Good thing for a sniper is to have all special Ammo perks.

 

[RK47]

I got the sniper and That Gun.
There's really not much else you need actually.

I know Energy weapons has a nice steady Laser Rifle that has no recoil and Scope Mod, but still - I like the Sniper's reliability. Heck, even in VATs you can pull off 2 aimed shots.

 

[DramaticPopcorn]

I used Christine's Silenced Rifle from Old World's Blues.

Was killing legendary creatures with 1 headshot in sneak mode.

 

[DragoFireheart]

Hmm, might try trigger discipline full auto build sometime. My only concern is the buttloads of ammo in hardcore mode.

-Gun Runners.

Vats is the only reason I can actually tolerate the horrid abomination of an engine they used to make FNV.

I just replayed Fallout 1 with the FIXIT 5.3 alpha, and had a blast. Also trying with killap's unofficial patch (a new version released this month IIRC) for fallout 2. Have to say, NV seems like shit now, finished all the DLC campaigns, and derping around with factions now but lost motivation to play. Specially since riot shotgun made the cadazors and deathclaws lol at around level 20+. And commando/sniper/fully moded hunting rifle, makes mid range sniping feasible in VATS.

I still like New Vegas more. I feel that its story and dialog is superior to the previous games.

 

[DragoFireheart]

Cazadores are less of problem when you get weapons with high Crits like Patientia and all sniper perks.

I can kill Cazadores easily with full auto weapons. Slow firing crit weapons are terrible for Cazadore slaying.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

Hmm, might try trigger discipline full auto build sometime. My only concern is the buttloads of ammo in hardcore mode.

-Gun Runners.

Vats is the only reason I can actually tolerate the horrid abomination of an engine they used to make FNV.

I just replayed Fallout 1 with the FIXIT 5.3 alpha, and had a blast. Also trying with killap's unofficial patch (a new version released this month IIRC) for fallout 2. Have to say, NV seems like shit now, finished all the DLC campaigns, and derping around with factions now but lost motivation to play. Specially since riot shotgun made the cadazors and deathclaws lol at around level 20+. And commando/sniper/fully moded hunting rifle, makes mid range sniping feasible in VATS.

I still like New Vegas more. I feel that its story and dialog is superior to the previous games.

The dialogues are superior in NV. And I really like the faction butthurt management. But rose tinted TB combat vs FPS abomination...

 

[DragoFireheart]

But rose tinted TB combat vs FPS abomination...

Combat is shit in all games.

F1: Aim for the eyes with Plasma gun.
F2: Aim for the eyes with Gauss Rifle / Plasma Gun.
Fallout New Vegas: Aim for the head with the best weapon of your choice.

At least New Vegas has a larger weapon variety.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

But rose tinted TB combat vs FPS abomination...

Combat is shit in all games.

F1: Aim for the eyes with Plasma gun.
F2: Aim for the eyes with Gauss Rifle / Plasma Gun.
Fallout New Vegas: Aim for the head with the best weapon of your choice.

At least New Vegas has a larger weapon variety.

Also, a couple of other aspects I loved about F:NV was the sheer variety of ammo (specially with GRA) and how using ammo appropriate to the situation made some encounters cakewalk. And the hardcore mode, weighty ammo, sleep,h20,hunger meters are awesome... actually gives meaning to the risk/reward of exploration in an open world game.
AP ammo in both the earlier fallouts is largely shit.
hence I said rose tinted TB combat. Also, solo unarmed jinxed with spiked knuckles and HtH evade is a blast (high luck agi per). Once you save scumm your way upto 130% unarmed, the real fun begins. I had lot of lulz with this build. Not an iwin button like the riot shotgun in FNV, cause even with 8 luck a couple of critical misses with unarmed actually crippled my PC's limbs and just barely managed to get out alive without save-scumming.