Interview Another Fallout: New Vegas Fan Interview

[Jason]

Tags: Fallout: New Vegas; Obsidian Entertainment

<p><strong>Fallout: New Vegas</strong>, the latest cog in Steam's worldwide porn deletion machine, is the subject of a <a href="http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1098302-fallout-new-vegas-fan-interview/" target="_blank">new fan interview</a> courtesy of Bethesda.</p>
<blockquote>In Fallout 3, it was easy to max out most, if not all, of your skills. Is anything being done to prevent this?<br />From Ryan via Facebook<br /><br />JS: We have done several things to adjust the skill point economy. First and foremost, the formula for calculating skill points per level has changed. We are still experimenting with what formula to use, but a 10 IN will likely not boost a character's skills as much as it did in F3.<br /><br />Most of the skill boosting perks have been removed, which means that method of advancing skills no longer exists. Skill books now give +3 skill points, +4 with Comprehension, but there are far fewer skill books in the world. This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability). Our "Bobblehead equivalent" does not give SPECIAL or skill bonuses, so those are also removed from the skill point economy.</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://bethblog.com/index.php/2010/06/15/e3-week-more-answers-to-your-new-vegas-questions/">BethBlog</a></p>

 

[Sulimo]

MY GOD THEY TOOK OUT THE BOBBLEHEADS!

FNV, ruined forever tbh.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

JS: Yes. During character creation, you will have the option to select one or two traits. Traits include some of the classics, like Small Frame (in F:NV it gives a bonus to AG but you break limbs more easily), and new ones, like Four Eyes (bonus to PE while wearing glasses, penalty while not).

good to hear.

JS: Yes, there will be something similar to bobbleheads in the game, and you'll receive an in-game reward for finding them. That said, they do not give you SPECIAL or skill bonuses when found.

that perked my ears. i groaned after the "yes" and groaned again after "in-game reward" and then did a "whaaaa?" after the last sentence. every time i see something that says "this game will look like shit" i read something that tips the hand toward a much better RPG experience than Bethesda is capable of giving the franchise.

Most of the skill boosting perks have been removed, which means that method of advancing skills no longer exists. Skill books now give +3 skill points, +4 with Comprehension, but there are far fewer skill books in the world. This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability). Our "Bobblehead equivalent" does not give SPECIAL or skill bonuses, so those are also removed from the skill point economy.

i hate to be hopeful at this point, but he can sure talk a good game.

 

[Overweight Manatee]

First and foremost, the formula for calculating skill points per level has changed. We are still experimenting with what formula to use, but a 10 IN will likely not boost a character's skills as much as it did in F3.

We need some more clarification on this. Will intelligence be nerfed or the base stat gain be nerfed? Because intelligence was already nerfed from Fallout 1/2. Though perhaps done for good reason as it doesn't need to be nerfed again.

The real problem in Fallout 3 wasn't that intelligence was too powerful, but everything else was pretty much useless. Strength gave like 3 damage to only melee attacks (unarmed attacks didn't even gain anything). Perception let your radar be better. Endurance meant nothing since you could stim instantly from menu. Charisma and Agility were a joke. Luck was the only real combat stat since it gave criticals. lol luck being the most important combat stat.

So what they really need to be doing is making everything else better. Make VATS completely useless unless you have high agility, and maybe make it decrease gun sway a bit (was gun sway in fallout 3? I can't recall). Give more hard stat checks for things like charisma, instead of letting 1 charisma characters use speech through everything because skill points are everywhere and you can reload until your 30% chance check eventually works. Make strength a large part of melee and unarmed damage, both higher damage bonuses and make the heavier equipment require high strength. Indirectly nerf luck by not making every weapon in the game have a 2x-5x critical hit multiplier. There, the stats are no balanced

Most of the skill boosting perks have been removed, which means that method of advancing skills no longer exists. Skill books now give +3 skill points, +4 with Comprehension, but there are far fewer skill books in the world.

Sounds like the perfect change. Comprehension is nerfed, skill points in general are nerfed. Finding a book can actually be closer to a real prize instead of just another notch on the stat scale.

This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability).

Skill magazines? Wait what? So do skill magazines also improve skill just the same as books do? If so then everything is fucked up again. I can't imagine they just renamed half of the skill 'books' to 'magazines' just to trick us though, so I'm guessing its different.

Our "Bobblehead equivalent" does not give SPECIAL or skill bonuses, so those are also removed from the skill point economy.

Good. So does this mean they are thinking of adding back +1 stat implants, to be installed at the user's expense? I'm guessing there is still some kind of way to improve your stats in the game.

We have a varied cast of companions ranging from Raul the ghoul mechanic to Boone the ex-NCR sniper to some more unusual fellows. Each of the companions has their own personal conflict the player can help resolve. These conflicts can be relatively simple to address or they can involve major quests that span the Mojave Wasteland.

Following in the footsteps of Bioware, I see.

Will I be able to play, and complete, F:NV without killing anyone or anything, except perhaps in self-defense?
From Billy Ocean via Bethesda Blog

JS: Yes. There are ways to win the main plot by killing no one and by killing everyone. It was one of our initial design tenets. You will find it difficult to get by as a pacifist, and you will miss a great deal of content by killing everyone you meet, but it can be done.

Lovely.

 

[FeelTheRads]

Well, it's good to hear there won't be any magically invincible NPCs.

 

[Shannow]

We have a varied cast of companions ranging from Raul the ghoul mechanic to Boone the ex-NCR sniper to some more unusual fellows. Each of the companions has their own personal conflict the player can help resolve. These conflicts can be relatively simple to address or they can involve major quests that span the Mojave Wasteland.

Following in the footsteps of Bioware, I see.

At long last they are learning. Just imagine how awesome KotOR2, NWN2 and MotB could have been with that kind of stuff in them.

 

[Jaedar]

Oh Obsidian, you charmer. You always say just the right things to make me happy.

Too bad you don't walk the talk.

 

[PlanHex]

This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability).

Skill magazines? Wait what? So do skill magazines also improve skill just the same as books do? If so then everything is fucked up again. I can't imagine they just renamed half of the skill 'books' to 'magazines' just to trick us though, so I'm guessing its different.

Pretty sure magazines are just temporary. Too lazy to look for a source though.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability).

Skill magazines? Wait what? So do skill magazines also improve skill just the same as books do? If so then everything is fucked up again. I can't imagine they just renamed half of the skill 'books' to 'magazines' just to trick us though, so I'm guessing its different.

I guess he just didn't want to say "skill books" twice, and is using it as a synonym.

 

[Azrael the cat]

This both reduces how much of a boost skill books will give overall and reduces the impact of Comprehension on that value (don't worry, Comprehension also gives a bonus to skill magazines, so it has more broad applicability).

Skill magazines? Wait what? So do skill magazines also improve skill just the same as books do? If so then everything is fucked up again. I can't imagine they just renamed half of the skill 'books' to 'magazines' just to trick us though, so I'm guessing its different.

I guess he just didn't want to say "skill books" twice, and is using it as a synonym.

Nah, I remember them saying specifically that magazines will only give temporary bonuses. Too lazy to find the link though.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

...so, we'll be hoarding magazines and reading a pile of them before tough battles.

...may god have mercy on us

 

[Mister Arkham]

Goddamn but Obsidian is fantastic at foreplay. Too bad they're usually a shitty lay.

 

[Micmu]

...well, they HAD to use the "Alchemy" tab in ES Construction Set for something.

 

[bhlaab]

Magazines are like Skill-Chems

 

[Crispy]

Will I be able to play, and complete, F:NV without killing anyone or anything, except perhaps in self-defense?
From Billy Ocean via Bethesda Blog

JS: Yes. There are ways to win the main plot by killing no one and by killing everyone. It was one of our initial design tenets. You will find it difficult to get by as a pacifist, and you will miss a great deal of content by killing everyone you meet, but it can be done.

---

IT IS POSSIBLE TO AVOID LETHAL COMBAT IN F:NV

 

[Brotherman Bill]

...so, we'll be hoarding magazines and reading a pile of them before tough battles.

...may god have mercy on us

To be fair, if the effects are non-cumulative this might only be slightly retarded. I'd be more like a potion in d&d, although that doesn't really fit the setting.

 

[circ]

Will I be able to play, and complete, F:NV without killing anyone or anything, except perhaps in self-defense?
From Billy Ocean via Bethesda Blog

JS: Yes. There are ways to win the main plot by killing no one and by killing everyone. It was one of our initial design tenets. You will find it difficult to get by as a pacifist, and you will miss a great deal of content by killing everyone you meet, but it can be done.

---

IT IS POSSIBLE TO AVOID LETHAL COMBAT IN F:NV

Like in AP? Oh wait.

 

[Crispy]

It might be interesting to at least try the pacifist role. Just sayin'.

 

[Xor]

every time i see something that says "this game will look like shit" i read something that tips the hand toward a much better RPG experience than Bethesda is capable of giving the franchise.

To be fair, a team of retarded cats could create a better RPG experience than Bethseda.

 

[Lexx]

Will I be able to play, and complete, F:NV without killing anyone or anything, except perhaps in self-defense?
From Billy Ocean via Bethesda Blog

JS: Yes. There are ways to win the main plot by killing no one and by killing everyone. It was one of our initial design tenets. You will find it difficult to get by as a pacifist, and you will miss a great deal of content by killing everyone you meet, but it can be done.

---

IT IS POSSIBLE TO AVOID LETHAL COMBAT IN F:NV

Keep in mind, he wrote about the main plot only, nothing else.

 

[AlaCarcuss]

every time i see something that says "this game will look like shit" i read something that tips the hand toward a much better RPG experience than Bethesda is capable of giving the franchise.

To be fair, a team of retarded cats could create a better RPG experience than Bethseda.

You mean like Bioware?

 

[bhlaab]

There are also things like boxing gloves and beanbag rounds which are kind of pacifist-ish

 

[poocolator]

You will find it difficult to get by as a pacifist.

This is what they said for FO3. Look at how that game turned out.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

To be fair, a team of retarded cats could create a better RPG experience than Bethseda.

wait. who are you being fair to? retards? cats?

 

[poocolator]

He's being fair to logic.