Going to play Fallout: New Vegas for the first time, requesting sage 'dex advice.

[T. Reich]

I think my body is finally ready to immerse myself into this sort of decline.

I'm a big fan of FO1+2 and have never played F3 (and never will).
I'm ok with the whole sort of FPS derp business the FNV offers, I just wanna explore the wasteland since apparently the story in FNV is pretty decent.

I'm gonna get the ultimate edition, and will probably use some vanilla mods/fixes.

Before I start, I have some questions though:
1. Hardcore mode - ok or not? I've read the description, and it sorta mixes the old FO1+2 gameplay things with some new decent additions and some questionable additions. Apart from the whole sleep/eat requirement derp, it doesn't seem that hard-core anyway.
2. Unofficial patches/fixes and vanilla improvement mods I should consider using? I don't want any extra user-generated content, but I'm willing to use stuff that fixes the officially unfixed bugs and also maybe the mods that tweak the retarded gameplay features.
3. Graphix mods of low-key variety? Again, nothing with drastic changes, but something that enhances the existing stuff.

I suppose I'll figure the rest myself, but if you feel like giving me some valuable general advice (inb4 "don't play FNV"), it's welcome.

 

[Somberlain]

Hardcore mode - yes, it's pretty good, unless you are a popamoler who thinks ammo should be weightless. Hardcore mode also adds a nice survivalism aspect to the game, but vanilla is too easy for it to have a big impact. There are some mods that make it so food, drink, sleep and radiation actually matter.

Unofficial patches - you should install this patch, it's the only major bug fix mod that actually just fixes bugs and doesn't add any new features.

However, now matter what you do, no matter how many bug fixes you install, no one can stand against Gamebryo in certain things, like scorpions and ants clipping through ground.

 

[darthaegis]

To whoever reads this thread and knows:
Is Sawyer's mod good with hardcore?

 

[Starwars]

Head north from starting area.

If you're planning on going through all the content, it may be a good idea to have some sort of XP slow-down and level cap. I can't remember the rate I slowed down XP but I had the level cap at 30. It gets pretty stupid otherwise.

 

[Metro]

Yeah, Sawyer's patch that I never bothered with because it required ALL of the DLC. Not sure how that plays but the base 'hardcore' mode is more tedious than challenging. Fresh water is everywhere (and the ultimate version even gives you a canteen), food is everywhere, beds are everywhere, ammo weight is... meh. Only hard to manage if you go with bug guns/missile launchers or some shit. If you stick to regular guns it's rarely an issue. Stimpacks heal over time which is a good change and you need Doctor's Bags to heal crippled limbs but those are pretty plentiful, too.

I think Sawyer's patch slows down xp, too. It's pretty all-encompassing. I would skip mods that emphasize hydration/hunger/sleep. The Mojave 'Wasteland' is fairly civilized and you'll find safe locations everywhere. All those mods would do is slow down the gameplay unless you really like E-LARPing.

 

[Jools]

2. Unofficial patches/fixes and vanilla improvement mods I should consider using? I don't want any extra user-generated content, but I'm willing to use stuff that fixes the officially unfixed bugs and also maybe the mods that tweak the retarded gameplay features.
3. Graphix mods of low-key variety? Again, nothing with drastic changes, but something that enhances the existing stuff.

Just play vanilla. I never felt the need for any graphical/gameplay mod really, in regard to FNV. And there aren't that many gameplay-breaking bugs, not that I know of.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Hardcore mode - slightly less popamole but yeah, it's about as hard-core as a Caramello bear.

Play F03. Just play it so you can appreciate the utter shit (that was also hailed has OMG 10/10 GotY when it came out, all the reviews praised it as a worthy successor to Fallout 1 and 2 lel). Once you have done that you will appreciate New Vegas a lot more.

Don't bother with mods. Codexfags luuuuuuuuurv their mods and love to tell you how a game is "unplayable" without mods but the fact is NV is good enough as it is. Apart from being ridiculously easy even on Hard and Hardcore mode.

Play the vanilla game especially if it's your first time, and then, do the DLC's:

Old World Blues is lulzy on a level FO2 could only dream of, but it's big and there's lots of new content. It's basically Fallout New Vegas Blood Dragon.
Lonesome Road is what it says on the tin, you walk along a road. Alone. But there are some interesting things along it.
Honest Hearts: Meh, some injuns in a canyon. It's OK but the weakest of them all.
Dead Money is a masterpiece of the DLC world. It's unmatched for atmosphere and setting. Also it's a LOT more difficult than the base game and you can actually expect to die a few times.The only negative thing about it is that it's quite linear and you can never go back to the area once you leave.

 

[Gnidrologist]

Hardcore mode - yes, it's pretty good, unless you are a popamoler who thinks ammo should be weightless.

Yeah and feel free to fast travel to store near you every 20 minutes of game time to micro manage the inventory. Unless you start with 9 in ST you'll get encumbered really fast with all the humongous amount of loot you can find. Also, if you're like me and want to test every weapon that can be found in the game before disposing it, you don't want additional weight limitations, more like vice versa.

Other features like mandatory eating, shitting and sleeping are ok if you love Oblibions & CO and all the larping crap. If you rather prefer exploring wastes, kicking ass and doing quests (which there are endless torrent of) like in original games, instead of spending half the game clicking on beds, foodstuff and searching for doctors to cure you from radiation, don't play ''hardcore''. For more challenge there are probably bunch of user made mods that deal with it much better.

I personally use three mods right now.
Vats range and vats accuracy fixer (if you intend to play mostly real time, you don't need it),
the one that removes silly lock picking/hacking mini games and substitutes with the pure skill based check,
and weight reducer, because i hate constant micro management of inventory in muh Fallout. This is not Jagged Alliance.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

How about the difficulty? Does the difficulty setting just lead to HP bloat? In FO3 some enemies such as scorpions could take so many fucking bullets it became really annoying and tiresome. Is Normal difficulty + Hardcore mode the way to go in vanilla FNV?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Dunno about difficulty, the game is easy enough regardless of difficulty if you know what you're doing.

Sawyer's mod is worth it if only because it can make the game somewhat harder. Makes early-game a lot more difficult.

 

[Somberlain]

Hardcore mode - yes, it's pretty good, unless you are a popamoler who thinks ammo should be weightless.

Yeah and feel free to fast travel to store near you every 20 minutes of game time to micro manage the inventory. Unless you start with 9 in ST you'll get encumbered really fast with all the humongous amount of loot you can find. Also, if you're like me and want to test every weapon that can be found in the game before disposing it, you don't want additional weight limitations, more like vice versa.

Other features like mandatory eating, shitting and sleeping are ok if you love Oblibions & CO and all the larping crap. If you rather prefer exploring wastes, kicking ass and doing quests (which there are endless torrent of) like in original games, instead of spending half the game clicking on beds, foodstuff and searching for doctors to cure you from radiation, don't play ''hardcore''. For more challenge there are probably bunch of user made mods that deal with it much better.

You're probably right, if recommending the game to someone new. I've played it quite a lot, with all kinds of mods, so I would find the laughably easy and effortless without hardcore mode and various mods. For a first-time vanilla playthrough, hc would probably be pointless.

 

[Percy]

get that cunt at the t-rex straight away

 

[valcik]

T. Reich
This mod removes some consolitis from FNV, give it a try: http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/40285

Head north from starting area.

I'd suggest heading south in the ultimate edition.

Spoiler

You can explore nuclear silo in The Divide with your level 3 character, exchange armor and weapons looted from dead marked men for Riot Gear, and leave back to the Mojave dressed properly.

 

[Sykar]

My advice? Get a mod which fixes money gain and slows down experience gain. It is far too easy to get to maximum level and even easier to acquire riches. Also keep gambling in check I am not aware of a mod which fixes high Luck characters being able to easily clear casinos amassing massive riches.

 

[Zarniwoop]

get that cunt at the t-rex straight away

Troof. Although, not a good idea if you want to join Caesar's Legion obviously.

 

[Gnidrologist]

My advice? Get a mod which fixes money gain and slows down experience gain. It is far too easy to get to maximum level and even easier to acquire riches. Also keep gambling in check I am not aware of a mod which fixes high Luck characters being able to easily clear casinos amassing massive riches.

It's not like there are hella lot of thing to buy anyway. Most stuff, especially good stuff, is found. Most money i spent was on mods and implants. And what do you mean by ''fixing money gain''. Vendors are already robbing you with their ridiculously unfair prices.

 

[Dr Skeleton]

1. Hardcore mode - ok or not? I've read the description, and it sorta mixes the old FO1+2 gameplay things with some new decent additions and some questionable additions. Apart from the whole sleep/eat requirement derp, it doesn't seem that hard-core anyway.

It's basically impossible to die in normal mode because stimpacks heal instantly and you can use as many as you want while the game is paused, so I'd say yes. You'll probably never even notice the survival stuff if you don't use mods, and if you do, eating and sleeping is just annoying busywork.

2. Unofficial patches/fixes and vanilla improvement mods I should consider using? I don't want any extra user-generated content, but I'm willing to use stuff that fixes the officially unfixed bugs and also maybe the mods that tweak the retarded gameplay features.

Try playing without mods first, but IMO gameplay is shit without mods and can be alright with them. The game is super easy even on hard and hardcore mode, if you want any challenge, you'll need mods. I'm using http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/35015/? it's very configurable and focuses on rebalancing the game without adding new shit.

3. Graphix mods of low-key variety? Again, nothing with drastic changes, but something that enhances the existing stuff.

If you don't want drastic changes don't bother, the game looks bad and switching some textures just makes them stand out from the ugly background. Maybe some of the darker nights/lightning overhaul mods, but I've never found one I was happy with, they all make certain areas look very weird.

 

[naossano]

Dead Money is a masterpiece of the DLC world. It's unmatched for atmosphere and setting. Also it's a LOT more difficult than the base game and you can actually expect to die a few times.The only negative thing about it is that it's quite linear and you can never go back to the area once you leave.

Why would your character want to go back there ?

 

[Cadmus]

my advice would be to play some easy difficulty and just hike around doing fun stuff. There's a horrible HP bloat that annoyed the fuck out of me and since the gunplay is a total shit, I wouldn't want to inflict it upon myself again.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Dead Money is a masterpiece of the DLC world. It's unmatched for atmosphere and setting. Also it's a LOT more difficult than the base game and you can actually expect to die a few times.The only negative thing about it is that it's quite linear and you can never go back to the area once you leave.

Why would your character want to go back there ?

Spoiler

To collect the other 500 tonnes or so of gold you can't take with you of course.

 

[Gnidrologist]

the game looks bad

No.

 

[pippin]

Do Hardcore by all means. Survival skills actually mean something.

I don't really like graphics mods because the game looks fine as it is. The models even look somewhat human.

To whoever reads this thread and knows:
Is Sawyer's mod good with hardcore?

Yes.

 

[Lord Carlos Wafflebum]

Hardcore is the only way to play New Vegas. I regret ever playing without it.

The only mod you should use to begin with is the unofficial patch. Otherwise play through vanilla first. After you've gone through vanilla once, I highly recommend all modules of Project Nevada. I also recommend a pipboy replacer (I use Pipboy 2500), mostly because it's more convenient to use.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Hugh Vagoth]

JSawyer mod is acceptable for a first time playthorugh, wait with everything else until you replay it.