Fallout 3 Playstyle

[DazZ.]

Im playing stealth at the moment and really enjoying it.
Kill something then its not long before your hidden again and get another sneak crit. (cannibalizing anything i killed whilst the cautions going away)
[small]Sidenote: Anyone else think cannibalizing is underpowered? Dont get enough health from it in my opinion. Still fun.[/small]

If theres lots of things around either hide and grenade or just whip out my shotgun and kamakazi at them. My stealths full, as is lockpick and science (i hate not being able to hack into something or unlock a door) and my small guns is gettin up now its at 80 and im level 15. (Off the top of my head.)

But I love playing stealth and can see why people would prefer to just run in and nuke the place. (Quite litrally with the Fat Man)

Ive also found even with my big guns skill at about 20, I can still use rocket launchers ok, still one shotting everything, but cant compare as ive not had a character into big guns yet.

 

[Lopunny]

The Rock-It launcher is pretty good but it's only really worth it if you like the sound of killing people with high powered dinner plates and stuff.

Thats what I liked, as soon as it was my 10th Birthday I went round stealing all the cups, party hats and plates

I wouldn't worry about paying a particular style, just get out there and have fun doing what comes naturally. I have tried doing what other's recommend to me, like stealth more than open engagements, and found it to be uncomfortable. Just try to have fun with it and see where it takes you!

about the exploration bit....how do the monster levels scale? with level or areas? eg, If I was to emerge fresh-faced from the vault, could i walk to Oasis without much hindrance?

Spoiler: My character build that I wrote down since I misunderstood OP somehow...

Spoiler: Starting S.P.E.C.I.A.L. build and tagged skills

Strength - 7
Perception - 6 (or 7)
Endurance - 5
Charisma - 5
Intelligence - 8
Agility - 7 (or 8)
Luck - 1
I think that works out point-wise...

I tag Explosives, Small guns and Speech

I focus on Speech, Small guns, Repair, Science and Lockpick until they're full, and when I get 100 in Small guns, I start to fill Energy weapons to 100, while putting a couple of points in Big guns.
I also put a couple of points in Medicine whenever I get the chance.

Anyhoo:
a) Stealth isn't really worth to spend points in, since you can always just use a Stealth Boy if you want to steal something, and there's not much point to try to start every fight with a sneak critical. But you should focus on the Small guns skill though, since that's the one you'll use most, especially before you get to the higher levels.
b) The Rock-It Launcher uses almost every form of random junk as ammo. While that means that you'll practically never run out of ammo, that also means that all that junk will weigh you down, so you can't carry quite as much other stuff.
And most Power Armour weighs a lot and reduces your Agility (and thus your AP points, meaning you can't use V.A.T.S. quite as much), while it increases your Strength and gives alot of Damage Reduction (armor points].

But then again, those are just my opinions and you should play Fallout 3 with several different characters to get the biggest amount of fun out of it. Just do what you feel like and I'm sure it'll work out somehow ^.^

And lastly, no, no, you sorta had the right idea, shall we move into starting stat spreads? you suggested one for small arms, can anyone suggest one for big-guns? I know that would be high in endurance, but what else? Also, you can get the Rock-It Launcher fairly early right? I've read the schematics AND the mats are available from a shop in Megaton

 

[lacktheknack]

I like breaking stereotypes. I'm playing a schoolmarm type woman with a bun in her hair who chucks grenades everywhere and carries a minigun.

When I'm bored of that, I've got an eloquent speaker who can knock you down in one hit. OK, I guess that's not a rulebreaker, but it's still fun to play with...

 

[fenrizz]

I focused on :
Security
Small Guns
Repair
Speech

Works great. I steal and kill, and I'm getting bloody rich.

 

[sam13lfc]

I just explore and upgrade all of my skills together so I'm level on all of them. Sometimes I go to a random place and just walk in a random direction until I find something. I recommend that, I found Railway Rifle Schematics doing this

 

[Yooz]

TF2 Style. I pick a weapon set similar to a class: Baseball bat and combat shottie for example. Then I cause havok until I get bored. Then I pick another set.

"CRY SOME MORE!" -Me, shredding a raider camp to bits with Eugene.

Combat Shotty breaks too quickly. I suppose thats the con of that awesome gun.

 

[MrGFunk]

I tend to go with a charecter with good Lockpicking skills and a good repair and small arms skil and it works well for me and maybe some medicine along the way

This sounds like my character too. This has meant I have no worries. I've got more money than I'll ever need. Loads of stuff. I can kill everything because I've got so many 100% weapons.

If only I could get back to the main quest. I still haven't met Three Dog.

EDIT: I reckon if you read loads of books with the two points perk you can get up to 100 on everything.

 

[kemosabi4]

I'm pretty balanced. I tried to get skills like lockpick, science, etc., the ones with tiers, so to speak, up to about 75. I have different strategies for different enemies. Raiders and such I tend to go with a full frontal assault. Tougher enemies I use stealth with, and if I can't use stealth, I just use my heavy weapons. I'm very organized. I juggle my useful weapons and items and sort everything else out at my house in Megaton. I also like to stockpile junk and fingers and things like that to sell for huge profits.

 

[wolfshrimp]

I began with small arms and melee in the early levels and once I got to about level 9 I began beefing up energy weapons and big guns...couldn't resist the FatMan launcher after collecting so many mini nukes. Also put plenty points into explosives and repair because it meant that all those traps could be dealt with and put to good use. I tried to put at least 5 points into medicine with each level gain so that stimpacks were worth it. I try to steal/scavange/loot ammunition types I don't use and sell large numbers of them because you can carry tonnes without a weight penalty.

Careful use of the Gun Nut and Size Matters perks also were a help. Apart from that, steal every piece of junk that aint nailed down and sell it on!

 

[GoldenRaz]

*snip*

And lastly, no, no, you sorta had the right idea, shall we move into starting stat spreads? you suggested one for small arms, can anyone suggest one for big-guns? I know that would be high in endurance, but what else? Also, you can get the Rock-It Launcher fairly early right? I've read the schematics AND the mats are available from a shop in Megaton

Actually, you don't have to have high points in Endurance, since SPECIAL doesn't that big of an impact on your skills, and Endurance only makes your "natural" Damage Reduction slightly higher.
The reasons that I used that build is that:
a) The more Intelligence, the more skill points with each new lvl.
b)I like to carry stuff, and after 1 Strength Bobblehead and a certain quest, all I need is some alcohol to have maximum carrying potential.
c) I can choose pretty much any perk as long as I find the matching Bobblehead.
d) Grim Reaper makes it pretty much a waste of SPECIAL points to have more than 7 or 8 in Agility.

What to do if you just wanna run around with Rock-It Launcher and Big guns in general, you ask?
Put all your points in Big guns and Repair: Big guns so that you can aim and injure appropriatly, and Repair so that you can build the best possible custom weapon and so that you can repair it (well, duh!). Then get a piece of armour with a high amount of DR and also get a lot of Med-X's (becomes unnecessary at higher levels) and Stimpaks.
Come to think of it, a couple of points in Medicine won't hurt as it makes those Stimpaks more efficient.

Also, try to get more than one schematic before you build your Launcher, since it makes a better weapon.

 

[Kraze]

I pretty much go around 100% of the time sneaking up on people and exploding them with the super sledge.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

Go stealth, have a high small arms, sneak, lock pick, explosives (disarm traps) and repair. Wear armor, but have strong, accurate weapons that you can find plenty of ammo for.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Whatever you do, don't spend points in Barter.

 

[Lordmarkus]

I play my character so that I'm too good (karmawise)for my own good. Well, none of that matters since I've beefed up big guns, small guns, energy guns, repair, lockpick and science til' max.

Now I just trod around for the remaining quests with medic power armor, Dogmeat, Reservist rifle and silenced 10mm.

 

[SsilverR]

Stealth wont last long, just upgrade lockpick at the very least for now all the way and whatever eles you think is important.

EDIT: let me edit that, Stealth wont last long if you dont spend all your time DUCKING to travel from place to place.

Because if you stand, EVERYONE gets a boner at once and knows where YOU are.

that's why my perception levels are maxed .. you can freely run around untin you spot something on the radar ... then go ninja the freaks

anyway ... i'm stealth (obviously) if you do go stealth remember, perception and agility are your most important S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats ... remember to put top priorities on lock picking and sneak ... and keep small arms on the bronze since sneak attack criticals ARE THE SHIT!!! (i say that everytime i get one haha) **EDIT** keep repair decent too

 

[CmdrGoob]

My advice:

The attribute points you allocate as a baby don't make that much difference, except for two things. First, there's intelligence, which is much more important that the other stats because having more skill points allows you to develop a wider range of skills. Second, attributes are needed as a prerequisites for perks. I'd say you need at least Str 5 End 5 Per 6 Ag 6 and Lk 6 to unlock the best variety of good perks.

With high int, you can easily have skillpoints for say sneak, small guns and big guns. And lockpick and repair, of course, and even good skills in a few others. In fact, that's pretty much what I did, used small guns for sneak attacks but whipped out the big stuff if things went bad.

 

[etherlance]

You know, couldn't we all just get together and settle our differences like mature adults?

I mean the last thing the wasteland needs is another gunslinging hooligan blasting everyone in sight...is it really too much to sit down with each other and talk out our differences over a nuka-cola and some mirelurk cakes instead of playing "who's body explodes first"?

I somehow get the feeling that your characters daddy brought you up better than that.

Aaahhh the problems that arise when a decent mother is not around.....When will the insanity end??

 

[kuroneko43]

If you want to go stealth prepare to go ALL the way stealth. If you half-ass it you're going to spend a lot of time crouching and find that it doesn't really help all that much unless you're crawling .5 mph in the pitchest black of night.
As for guns, each class has pretty much the same pros and cons as they always do: big guns are slow but do more damage, small guns are faster but not as damaging. It's really just up to your style, but there tends to be more "small guns" ammo out in the wastes.
About perks, try to pick ones with more consistency or solid numbers. Perks like "Mysterious Stranger" are cool but tend to be not as helpful (i.e. he'll leave you to your death when you're surrounded by super mutants, then conveniently show up to save you from a fucking mole rat or something). Ones like Educated or Swift Learner are not as instantly gratifying but those extra points certainly do add up over time.
I don't know if this helped much but good luck. I hope you're enjoying the game!

 

[Lopunny]

Sorry to sort of necromance a dead thread, but I have one more question...stealth related...Big Guns ovbviously make a lot of noise, and some people have said that Small Guns are they way to go, but what about energy weapons?

 

[Biek]

I tried making a melee based character once. But I kept getting tempted for small guns every time.

But now I got power armor at the start thanks to the glitch. Combined with a specialization in energy weapons. Its working out pretty well. If things get too tough for my laser pistol ill just whip out the plasma rifle you also get in the citadel.

Oh and details on the glitch:

Spoiler

The power armor glitch allows you to learn wearing power armor anytime you like by falling through a piece of landscape and entering the citadel early by walking under the map. When you enter the citadel, the game thinks your at the chapter where your going to attack the purifyer with Liberty Prime, so everyone is friendly to you. Even though outside they will treat you like an outsider.

Just talk to the guy that teaches it, and he will tell you to ask Elder Lyons etc. You can also find a suit of power armor and a plasma rifle in the armory and lab. When you leave the citadel, the game continues as usual. only the main gate is still closed, but you can fast travel to bypass that.

Look for detailed videos on youtube.