Showing posts with label Fallout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fallout. Show all posts

2012-10-22

Let's Play Fallout 3

Let's Play Fallout 3, one of my favorite games of all time, on a PC and with a whole lot of mods.







In this slow-paced roleplay, I take the role of Albert, a young Vault Dweller interested in working and tinkering on mechanical things more than anything else, who is forced to leave and enter the Capital Wasteland after spending 19 years - his whole life - in the safety of Vault 101.

Let's Roleplay Fallout 3, Part 1




Watch in HD via YouTube...

Let's Play Fallout 3 [Roleplay], Part 1
Below, you can find all the videos on this LP.

Let's Play Fallout 3 Playlist




Watch in HD via YouTube...

See the full show: Let's Play Fallout 3 [Roleplay]
Playlist (all episodes): Let's Play Fallout 3


Let's Play Fallout 3 [Roleplay] w/ Zemalf [HD] [1080p]

Slow-paced roleplay in the Capital Wasteland.

This series is *not* Dead is Dead. I'm improvising Albert's story as I play. I haven't planned beforehand what kind of man he'll become. Albert's journey and destiny will unfold as the let's play goes on.
I don't know if I'll do DLCs, I don't know if I do the main story, I don't know anything of that yet, because the future's not set.

Played and recorded on PC. Using a lot of mods, including FWE, MMM, EVE, NMCs textures, etc. Maxed out graphics on 1920x1080 resolution with additional tweaks via the ini-files. All videos on the playlist are uploaded with high quality 1080p Full HD.

Fallout 3 is developed and published by Bethesda Softworks / Bethesda Game Studios. It's available on PS3, Xbox 360 & PC 2008. http://fallout.bethsoft.com/

MODS


  • FWE - FO3 Wanderers Edition
  • MMM - Marts Mutant Mod
  • EVE - Energy Visuals Enhanced
  • DarNified UI F3
  • Immersive HUD - iHUD
  • Fellout
  • Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow
  • IMCN - Imps More Complex Needs
  • The D.C. Interiors Project
  • A World Of Pain for Fallout 3 AWOP4FO3 Megaton Tweaks
  • Crowded Cities v2
  • Ambient Wasteland 2
  • NMCs Texture Pack for FO3
  • Fallout 3 Redesigned - Formerly Project Beauty HD
  • CINEMATECH - Film Grains and Styles
  • IMAGINATOR - Visual Control Device
  • DYNAVISION - Dynamic Depth of Field
  • and many more!

All the mods I use are listed in Zemalf's Fallout 3 Mod List

2012-08-16

Zemalf's Fallout 3 Mod List

Here's a list of Fallout 3 mods I'm using at the moment. This is also the mod setup I'm using on my Let's Play Fallout 3 on YouTube. Check the 'Fallout 3 LP' playlist out if you want to see these mods in action as I roleplay through F3.

Fallout 3 Mods I Use

The are many Fallout 3 mod lists. This one is mine.

I use mods to make F3 look better, make the game more challenging with the focus on roleplaying, realism and immersion, and to add new things to the game for me to use, discover and explore.

The list is quite long, so check out the short "must-have Fallout 3 mod list" at the end of the post for what I think are the best Fallout 3 mods (and thus, would always install when playing).

Are you new to modding, modding Fallout 3 for the first time or otherwise need some advice on installing mods? Click here to read some instructions first.

Latest Update: May 2013.

BASE AND UTILITY MODS

Nexus Mod Manager
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/modmanager/
- OK, not a mod, but this is the one I use to manage and install mods.

BOSS
- BOSS = A plugin load order optimiser for Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and some other games too. - Sorts your mod load order (to make the mods work as intended). Use it. - 97% of the time, BOSS will handle your load order and you don't have to do anything.

Fallout Script Extender (FOSE)
http://fose.silverlock.org/

ArchiveInvalidation Invalidated
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/944
- Must for many mods/textures to work

CASM (Cipscis' Automatic Save Manager)
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/3729
- Replaces Fallout 3's saving system so that you no longer have to rely on only a single autosave or quicksave to fall back on

Fallout Stutter Remover
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8886
- Smoother gameplay and FPS

Large Address Aware Enabler for FO3
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/6510
- helps with crashing and performance issues with Fallout 3, particularly when using my larger texture packs.

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MAJOR MODS

FWE - FO3 Wanderers Edition
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/2761
http://sites.google.com/site/fo3wanderersedition/home
- Major overhaul mod that tweaks most of the underlying game mechanics, character development, combat, etc and adds new features to the game.

MMM - Marts Mutant Mod - RC 62
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/3211
- Adds a huge range of diversity to creatures and NPCs in the Fallout 3 world as well as adding new and unique creatures and NPCs to encounter.

EVE - Energy Visuals Enhanced
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8340
- Overhaul of energy weapons and explosions
- Assets from EVE itself, the rest from the Paradox Ignition merge version of EVE (a must if you choose Blackened over FOIP below)

WMK - Weapon Mod Kits
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/3388
- Weapon Modification Kits - or 'Weapon Mod Kits' - allow you to use standard Workbenches to modify your favourite firearms with a range of handy attachments like laser sights, scopes, silencers and extended magazines.
- Installing both RMK and RH_Ironsights is not for the faint-hearted. Tricky to get working with RH_Ironsights, with FWE and EVE in the mix. I used this in my LP for parts 1-50, and again from part 144 onward.

Blackened
- Blackened is a compilation of patches meant to improve compatibility between many of the bigger and/or more popular overhaul mods available for Fallout 3. Sadly, Blackened doesn't have a patch for WMK with FWE+MMM+EVE combo.
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/18173
- I use the 'Fallout Wanderers Edition + Martigen’s Mutant Mod + Energy Visuals Enhanced (Paradox Ignition merge) + Project Beauty' combo patch (one file vs 4-5 of FOIP, plus Blackened is more up-to-date)
- Compatible with Fallout Remastered (FOIP is not)
- NOT compatible with IMCN. Either create/find a patch (I created my own), or tweak load order and have IMCN load after this.

FOIP - Fallout Interoperability Program - FOIP
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/4968
- The Fallout Interoperability Program (FOIP) is a collective effort by a number of modders to improve compatibility between many of Fallout's major mods. (e.g. FWE, MMM, EVE, WMK, Project Beauty)
- After I started using Blackened, I continued to use FOIP's FWE+WMK patch, but nothing else. Not sure if it's good or required, or will it cause more problems than not, but it seemed to help with some issues when running WMK and RH_Ironsights.

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FIXES

FireLightFix
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/3660
- Adds light effects of some fires, which Bethesda skipped.

Fallout Remastered
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16928
- Using almost everything = The Master Package and the patches for FWE, MMM, EVE, RH_Ironsights, Realistic Interior Lighting, Fellout and Project Beauty.
- I stopped using Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch and Error Corrections - Reduce CTD when I installed Fallout Remastered, around Part 64 of my LP, because the same fixes, plus better and newer ones are in the Remastered.
- Note 1: I did run into some problems with Fallout Remastered, so it is not perfect. This is not necessarily Fallout Remastered problem, but in combination with others mods I used / on the list, be mindful and accept the fact that you might run into problems, e.g. with quests.
- Note 2: Fallout Remastered is currently removed from Nexus, because authors got fed up with morons and their arguments: "Arguments were getting out of hand and Remastered is no platform for that. It was a mod meant for you to use, not for others to abuse.".

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HUD / USER INTERFACE

How to Install Fallout 3 HUD mods: Install Darnified UI first. Then all non-HUD mods (because some might add their own tweaks to Darnified, e.g. FWE has some). After everything else is installed, install iHUD, then aHUD and the Unified HUD Project last, because it combines everything (it detects how many, if any of the mods it supports are installed). If you add any mods, re-install Unified HUD Project.

If you're having problems, follow along Gopher's FO3 User Interface Mod Tutorial and the Unified HUD Tutorial.

DarNified UI F3
http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1121454-wipzbeta-darnified-ui-f3/
- Configurable UI, absolute MUST, perhaps my favorite mod if I'd need to choose one (because the default UI is so big for PC and higher resolutions).

Dynamic Crosshair
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15724
- Dynamic Crosshair adds a dynamically resizing crosshair to Fallout 3, which grows and shrinks in real time to show your current weapon's accuracy.

RH_IronSights - FOSE
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/6938
- Iron sights to weapons. Awesome, but very tricky to get working with so many other mods (FWE+EVE+WMK) + it takes a while to get used to it and combat is very challenging, especially early on.
- I started using this from Part 51 onwards in my LP.

Adjustable HUD - aHUD
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15886
- For adjusting HUD on the fly.

Immersive HUD - iHUD
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15790
- HUD when you need. HIDE when you don't. Really nice addition to DarnUI

Unified HUD Project
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15771
- Makes different UI mods work together, adding all the different HUD elements to the UI.

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LIGHTING AND COLORING

Fellout
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/2672
- Removes green tint, adjusts coloring. Makes the nights a lot darker than vanilla.
- Very good alternative for Fellout is F3ProjectRealityMkI. If you use that, you'll have weather system in the same one mod. Both Fellout and F3ProjectRealityMkI remove the green tint and adjust coloring, but the game looks very different depending on which mod you use, so check both out if you want and use the one you like.

Fallout Street Lights
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8069
- Adds lights and FX beams (some flickering ones too) to most of the street lights and signs in the DC ruins.
- With dark nights, lights are awesome.

Realistic Interior Lighting
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/9250
- Now rooms without windows are no longer bright as day. All in all, much better looking lighting in interiors.
- Less .esp files: The Paradox Ignition merge version of Realistic Interior Lighting

Megaton Lighting Overhaul
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7875
- Makes Megaton look awesome at night (if you using night adjusting mod like Fellout/F3ProjectRealityMkI).

SmoothLight - Pip-Boy Light Enhancer
- Changes the Pip-Boy Light: Increases magnitude, decreases fade (brightness) and changes color for a warmer, more natural lighting effect.

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FOR CINEMATICS / SCREENSHOTS / INTROS

I only activate these when I need some cool effects on video, e.g. film grain.

CINEMATECH - Film Grains and Styles
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15745
- Adds user configurable film grains, grits, damages and dirts.

The IMAGINATOR for FO3 - Visual Control Device
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16875
- A stand-alone, in-game, image modification tool

DYNAVISION - Dynamic Depth of Field
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17876
- DYNAVISION provides a dynamic depth-of-field and auto-focus effect similar to a camera. In other words, when you're close to something and looking right at it, the subject stays in focus while the background blurs.
- Might cause issues with invisible NPCs and/or enemies. If you have this active and run into invisible NPC bug, try disabling DYNAVISION first and see if it helps.

Directors Chair - Total Visual Control
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17899
- Takes control of DYNAVISION, IMAGINATOR and CINEMATECH with a nice HUD menu

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REALISM AND IMMERSION

Ambient Temperature
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/13430
- This mod creates an ambient air temperature global based on month, time of day, location, and some randomness. Works together with compatible mods like Imp's More Complex Needs and Powered Power Armor.
- If you're not using IMCN or PPA, you don't need this for anything, unless you just want to see the temperature :)

Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/6170
- Using the weather inside module as well.
- The radiated rain is pretty brutal with FWE defaults. I enable it for extra challenge and disable when it's more of an annoyance, depending on how I feel. It'll work better, when configing FWE to vanilla rad damage. And make sure to have the Radioactive Rain Fix: http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/11723
- If you use F3ProjectRealityMkI you can replace this and Fellout with one mod (different look than Fellout, so pick the one you like). As far was weather goes, both mods are awesome.

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TEXTURES AND STUFF

NMCs_Texture_Pack_for_FO3
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/12056
- HD textures for main game.
- I use the heaviest version (FULL, PLUS MAX BUMPMAPS)
- I recommend using the Performance pack, or even the Lite (+ Reduced Bumpmaps) if you have less powerful machine. Don't get greedy and go for max unless you're willing to install/uninstall to test how it runs and tolerate the possible crashes you'll get for running the heaviest version. Even you have a powerhouse computer with a great graphics card, you might decrease crashing by picking a less heavy version. Even the lightest version of NMCs pack makes game look A LOT better than vanilla.

Fallout 3 Redesigned - Formerly Project Beauty HD
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/6341
- Makes NPCs in Fallout 3 look better. Very nicely done, note the rename to "redesigned", because people thought "project beauty" would make NPCs more beautiful, while this mod just makes them more real.

Enhanced Blood Textures
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/101
- Increases the resolution size from 256 to 1024 and created new textures for screen, world, wounds and static blood decals.
- Less .esp files: The Paradox Ignition merge version of Enhanced Blood Textures

Fallout 3 Re-Animated
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7670
- ~80 animations fine-tuned and improved. Can't say for sure how much this really "improves" stuff, and this might cause some of the skeleton glitches, not sure, but I'm running it anyway :)

Camo Combat Armor Redux
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7386
- A replacement, more detailed texture set for all five Combat Armors in the game.
- Note the minor tweaks to the stats as well, these are not just textures, but I listed it here.

Improved LOD Noise Texture
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17743
- Better looking terrain texture to the distance with zero performance cost.

HDR Pipboy
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/590
- HDR in this mod stands for Hi-res, Darker and Rusted Pipboy. I like it.

Clear_worldmap
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/998
- Clearer World Map on the Pip-Boy. It's a subtle change, but it makes the water and the roads a lot more visible. Adds coordinates to the edges, which might be useful if you use an online map or map that comes with the strategy guide or something.

Better clutter and furniture pack
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8498
- Base pack of improved textures. Mostly overwritten by MG's Neat Clutter and selected textures below.

MGs Neat Clutter
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/18101/
- Hi-res textures for for more than 100 objects. Better clutter and furniture pack got mostly overwritten by this.
- Published on 25th of August, 2012. In my let's play Fallout 3, Part 17 and onward.

FO3-WRP - Weapon Retexture Project
- Very nice HD textures for selected weapons (e.g. 10mm, sniper rifle and hunting rifle)

Hi-Res Weapons v3
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/481

+ Some selected Hi-Res textures for certain items.
- These are mostly overwritten by the stuff above, but I had these installed and didn't uninstall when adding more stuff on top):
- And for that reason, I wouldn't bother downloading and installing these, unless you want some specific look for books or cigarettes for example.

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QUESTS AND QUEST TWEAKS

Power of the Atom Reworked - FOOK2 and FWE compatable
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/12813
- Changes the way the Power of the Atom quest works, e.g. follower of Atom will get angry if bomb is disarmed, disarming/triggering is a lot harder, the bomb has a chance to explode when you work on it, etc.
- If you want to deal with the bomb right out of the Vault, this might make it too difficult (for me, that was the point).
- I uninstalled this after finishing the quest.

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PLAYER HOUSING

Owned
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/1516
(The mod seems to have disappeared from the Nexus. It can still be found in Planet Fallout, here: Owned!.)
- When you kill the owner(s) of a property, you will get full privilege to everything in the house including the beds, the items and storage without any negative effects (beside a dose of bad karma of course).

The Maintenance Shed
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7115
- Very nice, simple player "home" right next to Megaton. Not companion friendly I think, so put companions on wait before entering.

The Dockside Inn and Resort from g62 Housing Compilation http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16201.

Real Megaton House V3
- Nice, not over the top modification of the Megaton house. Compatible with Moira's upgrades, like Workbench, etc.

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LOCATIONS AND LOCATION TWEAKS

The D.C. Interiors Project
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/5573
- D.C. opened up, a LOT of new buildings to enter. One of THE BEST mods for Fallout 3, absolute must! You don't believe how many new places you can go to and how well they've been done.

A World Of Pain for Fallout 3 AWOP4FO3
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17965
- New locations to go and fight in. Very minor story/plot, but mostly just for places to fight in. Some of the locations are designed to be very, very hard.

Crowded Cities v2
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/11035
- More NPCs in the settlements. Try the "Less_NPCs" version, it's better for performance, plus it doesn't add extra people to Big Town.

Megaton Tweaks http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/1556
- Adds several tweaks to Megaton while attempting to be unobtrusive with the preexisting flow.
- I was first using Megaton Tweaks -- Snipers Edition (early parts of the LP), but it kept causing occasional FPS issues outside Megaton, probably because of pathfinding/AI of the mercenaries, so I dropped it.

Moriarty's Saloon enhanced
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16651
- Reworks the lights, and puts some stuff in to make Moriarty'Saloon a more living place.

Animated Slot Machine at Moriartys
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/13143
- To make Moriarty's look even nicer.

Rivet City Merchants
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16743
- Makes Rivet City market a whole lot better and bigger.

GNR Building Redux
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16938
- Only using GNRBuilding_Studio.esp, which slightly modifies Three Dogs' studio, adding a little player room to have a place to crash and store some stuff.
- Not using the GNRBuilding_BoS.esm. The place is really nice, but I had some white texture flashing issues, probably because of the lighting, so I just disabled it for now.

A Clean Museum
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/6417
- Lets Fawkes actually preserve the Museum of History.

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AUDIO

CRL9000 Sound Modification V046 - DLC Edition
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/613
- Improved quality of weapon audio.

Ambient Wasteland 2
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/12602
- 200+ ambient noises to the wasteland. Fantastic.

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NEW ITEMS, TWEAKS, ETC

Only install the ones you will use.

Merc Adventurer Armor
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/13155
- Very nice looking armor for great post-apocalyptic look. Tweak stats in FO3EDIT if you like, but it's fairly well balanced.

Leather backpack
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15639
- Absolutely fantastic looking backpack, goes particularly well with the Merc Adventurer Armor above. You might want to FO3EDIT the DR down thou (e.g. to 1-5), it's very high by default (24 I think) and thus, out of balance.

Dragonskin Tactical Outfit
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/10183
- The Dragonskin Tactical Outfit mod actually adds a selection of outfits in different colours and camo patterns to the Wasteland, and matching color combat backpacks.
- Loosely based on the real Dragon Skin body armour apparently in use today by SWAT teams, Secret Service and other elite military personnel. During testing this armour withstood multiple assault rifle bullet impacts and even point-blank hand grenade blasts.

Gopher's Advanced Recon Series
- Several sets of Stealth Armor and Gear
- I only use Range Finder and Thermal Nightvision, not the armors or the trap detection system.
Advanced Recon Range Finder FO3 http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15744
Advanced Recon Thermal Nightvision http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15653
Advanced Recon Stealth Armor http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/2654
Advanced Recon Trap Detection http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/15641

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COMPANIONS

Only install the ones you will use.

Companion Share And Recruit
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/12106
- Generic companion mod. If you want more companions than the ones normally in the game, use this mod. If you don't, don't bother.
- Companion Share & Recruit adds a perk that lets you befriend almost anyone in the wasteland, with a skill challenge. You can then swap gear with them, find out what they're skilled at, and even recruit them to join you on your adventures. Up to half your Charisma +1 people can follow you at once. (FWE rules still apply I think, which does the same thing)

Jessi Companion
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/2732

Kelsey Companion
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/4473

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Non-Active Companion Mods

RobCo Certified
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/712
- If you want robot companions, use this mod. If you don't, don't bother.
- Adds a three-step perk that allows you to repair and control busted robots
- Uses the same Companion System as the Companion Share And Recruit above
- RobCo Certified (Alternative) Textures: http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/13428
- Mr Smiths Scrapyard works well with RobCo Certified (I decided not to use it for my LP thou): http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/14075.

Wasteland Whisperer v2
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/1610
- If you want animal companions, use this mod. If you don't, don't bother.
- adds three new perks, allowing you to interact with animals (by ordering them around)
- Uses the same Companion System as the Companion Share And Recruit & RobCo Certified above

Lucy West Companion
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/5696

Sydney Follower
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/9320

Brianna Companion
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7408

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OTHER MODS I HAVE USED, JUST NOT RIGHT NOW

Here are the mods I've had active, but have disabled or uninstalled. These are all awesome mods, but situational or just something I didn't need in the long run.

IMCN - Imps More Complex Needs
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/11418
- This is a hunger/thirst/sleep simulator that independently tracks blood alcohol content, hydration, calories, protein, nutrients, and the degree of fullness.
- Not necessary with FWE, because FWE includes the 'Realistic Needs' mod. If you want simpler mod, and not all the protein/nutrients stuff, don't use this and just go with FWE's option.
- Note: After playing through the LP, I wouldn't use IMCN if I started again. The Realistic Needs in FWE is good enough, or - better. The proteins and nutrients make it overly complex and the bodily changes (while optional) are too significant (stat changes, etc.).

Powered Power Armor
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/13361
- Not much use if you don't use Power Armor.
- Fantastic mod, works particularly well with Imps More Complex Needs.
- Makes power armor require occasional recharging to keep it fully functional, and adds a number of power armor upgrades available from various vendors throughout the wastes + upgrades to power armor.

Intro Street Bus and Dupont Alignment
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16924
- This adds in the street and bus from the intro movie. The street is added to the Chevy Chase area.
- If you've ever wanted to walk in the scene of the intro movie, this is a mod for you.
- (I uninstalled this after seeing and recording it, it's very cool, but kinda wasted .esp after visiting)

Washington Monument BoS Outpost
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7831
- Turns the washington monument into a true BoS outpost, with some computers, radio equipment and basic bedding and equipment for two Brotherhood soldiers or yourself.
- I wouldn't install this, unless you plan to use a lot of time in the Mall and nearby.

Better Rivet City Church
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/11020
- Makes Rivet City Church actually look like Church. Little minor details, but nice if you want to (role)play more in Rivet City. If you don't spend much time there, don't bother with this.

Wearable Backpack - BlackWolf Backpack
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/2553
- Adds a backpack with new model that you can wear. It increases your carry weight to 15/25/35/45/50/70.
- I opted to use the leather backpack and the combat backpacks from Dragonskin Tactical Outfit pack.

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MODS *NOT* IN USE, BUT MIGHT SEE USE IN THE FUTURE

Mods I haven't activated, but I might at some point of the LP (or not).

Various Housing Mods by Gary62, including Hunter's Ridge http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17444,
Ranger's Shack from g62 Housing Compilation http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16201, and
Megaton Return (which might just be the ultimate Megaton Home): http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/18055/

RTS - Real Time Settler
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/7070

Alton IL - Huge World and Quest Mod
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/16949

Animated NV Goggles
- http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/12841
- A real working night vision goggles with animations and sounds. The version for helmets is particularly nice, and fits in well with the DTO (above).

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Fallout 3 Quad Core Fix / Fallout.ini

I have Win7 x64 & quad core processor (Zemalf's PC Specs) and Fallout 3 just crashed every time as soon as I made played the Escape quest part a bit (usually around the part where Andy the Robot and Officer Lopez are fighting the radroaches) and this was with 0 mods.

To fix this, I added and edited these lines in fallout.ini -file:

bUseThreadedAI=1
iNumHWThreads=2

With this fix the game doesn't crash. (with as many mods as I have now, the game will crash at random, but with this the regular crash goes away)

^ Back to the Top

MODS *NOT* TO USE

I've encountered too big glitches or bugs with these, so I can't recommend them. Use/test at your own risk.

Sunglasses Merchant Upgraded
http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/17474
- UPDATE: Don't use this mod. It seems to bug out navmesh ("pathfinding") in Rivet City market and the front doors.
- Rivet City Merchants compatible version of Sunglasses Collection. Adds one more merchant to Rivet City (this version compatible with Rivet City Merchants above).
- NOTE: If not running Rivet City Merchants, use the original: Sunglasses Collection.

OTHER TWEAKS

+ load order with BOSS http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/10193/
+ tweaking of the UI via DarnUI config
+ tweaking of the game via Fallout.ini and FalloutPrefs.ini
+ manually tweaking the mods via FO3Edit: http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/637
+ custom patch to tweak some added items; armors and backpacks
+ custom patch to make IMCN work with Blackened (easier option: don't use IMCN, FWE's Realistic Needs is just as good.)
+ merged patch with FO3Edit (Merged Patch without FO Remastered and Blackened)
+ master update with FO3Edit (without FO Remastered, Blackened, Merged Patch and my custom IMCN patch)
+ hours of testing how the mods work together and even more hours on "forgetting myself" into the game when I was just going to check one little thing...

^ Back to the Top

LOAD ORDER

Just use BOSS - that's what I did - zero manual ordering. If a mod is not in BOSS, put together with similar mods using userlist.txt - or use FWE Load Order guidelines.

In case you're interested, you can find my load order from pastebin: Zemalf's Fallout 3 Load Order (but really, just use BOSS.)

^ Back to the Top

"Must-Have Fallout 3 Mods" aka the Short list


This post and the big list above is up-to-date on what I'm using now, but if I'd need to pick a short list out of everything I have, it would be (as in, "I wouldn't play F3 on PC without these"):

All of the 'Base and Utility Mods':


+
FWE - FO3 Wanderers Edition
MMM - Marts Mutant Mod
FOIP - Fallout Interoperability Program - FOIP
(or Blackened)
Darnified UI F3
Immersive HUD
Unified HUD
(Adjustable HUD - aHUD for easy customization)
DCInteriors Project
Ambient Wasteland 2
Fellout + Enhanced Weather (or replace both with F3ProjectRealityMkI)

To the above, I'd personally add ironsights via RH_IronSights - FOSE (+ The Paradox Ignition merge version of RH_IS) and Dynamic Crosshair, but some prefer the normal crosshair aiming over ironsights.

Everything else is optional and nice to have. For visual improvements, I'd take at least (in the order of "must-haveness"):

Fallout 3 Redesigned - Formerly Project Beauty HD
NMCs_Texture_Pack_for_FO3
MGs Neat Clutter
Fallout Street Lights
The Paradox Ignition merge version of Realistic Interior Lighting
Megaton Lighting Overhaul

^ Back to the Top

NEW TO MODDING?

Firstly - when you're modding a game, accept the fact that you WILL run into problems. The more mods you install, the more problems you will have - and the more you need to understand and know.

You MUST read the documentation and learn to understand how the mods work. This page and the numerous tutorials will help you, but DO NOT expect modding Fallout 3 to be easy. With that said, it's not hard (to learn) either, but it will take time.

  1. ALWAYS use a mod manager like Nexus Mod Manager to install mods, NEVER ever install manually.
  2. Read the installation instructions for EACH MOD when installing them. Check if mod author has listed compatibility and/or known conflicts or such.
  3. Use BOSS to sort load order. Read the reports BOSS outputs when you use it.
  4. Make sure you have Archive Invalidation installed or active via Mod Manager.
  5. If you still have problems after using BOSS + have Archive Invalidated active, learn to use FO3EDIT to check mod conflicts & see what's the problem. Learn to understand load order without BOSS.
  6. If all else fails, uninstall some mods & use less mods. Install them one by one.

Lastly - Make sure to Read the Resources and Fallout 3 Modding Tutorials -part below and watch tutorial videos for more information.

^ Back to the Top

Fallout 3 Modding Tutorials and Other Resources

If you're new to modding and installing mods for the first time: start with only a few mods. Always read the documentation and follow instructions. To get everything working I have listed here, you will need to do manual checking and tweaking via FO3EDIT, which can be daunting for a beginner.

To get a really good set of mods up and running (most, if not all, are featured in my list too), you can follow Gopher's Fallout 3 Modding Tutorial Videos. Gopher is the author of the iHUD, aHUD, Unified HUD, and many other mods, and has excellent modding tutorials on his YouTube channel.

Other Notes

When you mod a game, it can get unstable and crash a lot more than the un-modded game. Also, mod problems might break the gameplay or some quests. The more mods you install, the more problems you'll probably have. Some mods, especially textures, can and will affect your FPS (Frames Per Second), so choose mods based on the power of your machine.

^ Back to the Top

Links



Edits & Updates:

  • Minor tweaks, some added mods, added the "must-have list" to the end.
  • 2013-01-31: Load order now in pastebin: http://pastebin.com/ZYpXryUa
  • Added short installation instructions for the HUD mods, and the links to the tutorial videos.
  • 2013-05-08: Added 'New to Modding?' instructions to avoid common pitfalls.

2010-10-18

Fallout: New Vegas Release Date is Here!

Fallout: New Vegas is released in the US on October 19th 2010. The EU release will follow couple of days later, on 22nd of October (damnit, it'll be a long week for me!).

The Fallout: New Vegas Collector's Editions have been sold out long ago, as a lot of people pre-ordeded F:NW after June. The ones that are left are going as high as $150. There has not been announcements that there would be more collector's editions available, but you never know. The bonuses in the CE are great, but not so great that it'd be worth it to pay 100 bucks more for it.


Fallout: New Vegas is available for XBox 360, PS3 and PC DVD

Anyway, as said, Fallout: New Vegas has been released this week, and I'm getting mine on Friday 22nd. You lucky US bastards better buy the Fallout: New Vegas as soon as you can, so you can brag about it for couple of days :)

p.s. My free Fallout 3 Perfect Character -guide has been read over 85 thousand times, and if the character creation, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and skills remain the same, the guide will be golden for F:NW as well!

2010-06-30

Pre-order Fallout: New Vegas NOW and Get a Cool In-Game Bonus from Amazon!

If you like my Fallout 3 Perfect Character guide (or the PDF version of the Fallout perfect character guide on Scridb) and the other useful information on this site AND you want to make sure you get your Fallout: New Vegas game delivered to you when it's released, pre-order Fallout: New Vegas via the links below...

If you pre-order Fallout New Vegas via the links on this post, you support the work of good-will I've been doing on this blog and with my guides since 2005 and I thank you for the coffee if you do :)

Since we're past the Fallout: New Vegas Release Date, you can't pre-order anymore (Duh!). Sometimes stores still ship the "pre-order bonuses", but not sure if that's the case with F:NW.

Pre-order Fallout: New Vegas NOW


Release date: October 19th 2010!

Pre-order the Fallout: New Vegas Collector's Edition

Pre-order the Fallout New Vegas.

Checkout the pre-order bonus below and order the edition of your choice (personally, I'll go for the Collector's Edition, just I did for Fallout 3). The game is available for XBox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.

Pre-order Bonus Offer


Pre-order Fallout New Vegas and get in-game exclusives, Tribal Raiding Armor and Broad Machete. Access codes will be packaged inside the game box. Offer valid when shipped and sold by Amazon.com...

Here's an image of the Fallout: New Vegas Tribal Raiding Armor and Broad Machete via Amazon.com, you'll get if you pre-order the game now:


Pre-order the Fallout: New Vegas Collector's Edition


Click here to pre-order the Fallout: New Vegas Collector's Edition
  • Fallout: New Vegas the game (XBOX 360, PS3 or PC)
  • "Lucky 7" poker chips. Each of the seven poker chips was designed to represent chips from the major casinos found on the New Vegas strip and throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
  • A fully customized Fallout: New Vegas deck of cards. Each card in the pack has been uniquely illustrated to depict characters and factions found within the game.
  • A recreation of the game's highly coveted "Lucky 38" platinum chip.
  • A hardcover graphic novel "All Roads", that tells the story of some of the characters and events that lead up to Fallout: New Vegas. "All Roads" was written by Chris Avellone and created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics
  • The Making of Fallout: New Vegas' DVD. This documentary DVD will contain exclusive video content, including interviews with the developers in which they take you from concept to creation.

Pre-order the Fallout: New Vegas


Click here to pre-order Fallout New Vegas ("standard" edition).


Watch the video on YouTube: Fallout: New Vegas Trailer - E3 2010
p.s. Check this Fallout: New Vegas Squidoo lens for screenshots, trailers and news about the game.

2009-08-16

How To Create a Perfect Character in Fallout 3

Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide


This is the TXT VERSION of this guide, created by me. Scroll down, go straight to the start or skip to the Table of Contents.

Since this blog post is LOOOOOOOOOOONG, and in case you want to print it out, I've made a PDF version of it to Scribd. That version of the guide has been quite popular, as the Scribd version has been viewed over 40000 times already!

You can read the guide right here on the blog, or you can go and get the FREE 32-page (YES, this is one MASSIVE guide) PDF version of the Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide from Scribd (same guide, different better format).

Formatting is a lot better on the Scribd document - plus you can view, print, download and share the document freely according to Scribd terms and copyright rules.





Get the free PDF version of the guide:





Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide PDF Version




Fallout Guides on Amazon





Buy the game





The Fallout Perfect Character Guide


But now, on with the guide -- here's what this guide is all about...

  • The purpose of this guide is a perfect character for Fallout 3 at level 20.
  • "Powerplay" in this guide refers to creating the ultimate all-around character with maxed-out skills and fine-tuned S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats.
  • There's room for customization, so you will end up with *your* Fallout 3 Perfect Character.
  • "Powerlevel as fast as possible" is not in the nature of Fallout 3. So for that, look for other games.
  • How Much You Need To Increase Each Skill To Reach 100 on All Skills
  • How To Maximize the Benefit of the skill books and bobbleheads
  • The Optimal Starting Stats

Warning! If you choose to follow the recommendations in this guide, you will not have the most optimal character for leveling. However, you can do most things with ease while at it. This because, we want to have the best possible character in the end, not at level 7.

For those not familiar with Fallout 3 the game, check out the Vault Fallout Wiki for introduction:
"Fallout 3 is a post-apocalyptic computer and console action role-playing game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks as the third installment in the Fallout series and a sequel to Interplay's Fallout and Fallout 2. It was released on October 28 in North America, on October 31 in Europe and on December 4 in Japan. It is available on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The game takes place in the year 2277 on the East Coast of what used to be the United States of America, mostly in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. The gameplay features include real-time combat and first or third person perspective, in contrast to the previous games, which were turn-based and isometric. "

If you do know the game and have played it:

Enjoy this Free Fallout 3 Perfect Character and Powerplay Guide, create *your* Perfect Character in Fallout 3, leave a comment and tell me and others how you liked it..

Quick Links (Jump Straight into the Guide)


The start of the guide

Table of Contents

Fallout 3 Perfect Character S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats

Perfect Beginner's Fallout 3 Character

Fallout 3 Perfect Character - Beginning Walkthrough

Read the full guide below...


Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide


a.k.a. The Fallout 3 Powerplay Guide

=============================================================================

"Document Copyright (Zemalf) 2009"
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|__|      |__| |__| |_____| |_____| |_____| |_______|    |__|    |___ |

FALLOUT 3 POWERPLAY GUIDE: WRITTEN BY ZEMALF

Game: Fallout 3
System: XBOX360 (Also available for PS3 and PC)
Guide Written By: Zemalf
Feedback, questions, discussion? leave a comment
Version: 1.00

About this guide/FAQ


The info in this guide/FAQ is mostly from the other FAQs at gamefaqs. I don't take any credit for the most of the hints&tips, I simply started putting everything I found useful to one file, thus, this guide was born. So I tried to give the credit where it belongs. Also see CREDITS at the end I did however, do extensive calculations to find the amount of each skill must be raised to reach 100 for each skill, utilizing the available skill books and bobblehead, in addition to the optimum starting stats.

The purpose of this guide is "perfect" character at level 20. What you think is perfect may be very different from what I think so use your judgement on creating the character and playing. There's plenty of hints and tips for all levels of play, so you can get a lot out of this, even if you're not shooting for the Fallout 3 Perfect Character.

SPOILER WARNING. There are spoilers in this guide and the guide is definitely not for anyone who hasn't played Fallout 3 by themselves first. So go buy the game, enjoy it, and then if you feel like pushing your character and yourself to the limit, come back here.

T.O.C - Table of Contents



  • For quick browsing, click the links above in the Table of Contents (and get back here with T.O.C. ^ links)
  • NOTE: To search, hit Ctrl + F and type in what your looking for.
  • If you have any submissions to the guide, please leave a comment

T.O.C. ^

[00] FAQ DETAILS


  • This FAQ is for the XBOX360 version (similar to PS3 and PC)
  • It is not allowed to publish the guide elsewhere, but please put a link up on your site if you like
  • To share this guide, please link to the guide as guided below
  • If you have any questions, leave a comment on the blog
  • Use CTRL + F to search for something in the document
  • This guide was created by: Zemalf (Zemalf's Haven)

This document Copyright 2009 (Zemalf). This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.

However, you can and you should link to this guide, and share it with your friends!

  • Use this URL to link directly to the guide:

http://zemalf.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-create-perfect-character-in.html
  • The most recent version of this FAQ can be found from:

http://zemalf.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-create-perfect-character-in.html
  • Copy one of these to your website or blog to share the guide with your readers:

<a href="http://zemalf.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-create-perfect-character-in.html" >How To Create a Perfect Character in Fallout 3</a>
<a href="http://zemalf.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-create-perfect-character-in.html" >Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide</a>

  • The links will look like this on your blog:

How To Create a Perfect Character in Fallout 3
Fallout 3 Perfect Character Guide
  • Or use these "share" buttons at the end of this post to post the guide on facebook, twitter, digg, etc.

Versions


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 1.01 ~ Guide Re-Published at zemalf.blogspot.com
2009/08/16 Size: ~1262 lines (~48.5 KB)
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Version 1.0 ~ Guide Published
2009/05/25 Size: ~1262 lines (~48.5 KB)
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Version 0.2 ~ Content started to take shape
2009/02/13 Size: ~1100 lines (~44 KB)
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Version 0.1 ~ Initial version of the guide
2009/02/11
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T.O.C. ^

[01] GAME CONTROLS (XBOX360)


If you really need game controls listed in a guide, look for some other guide than this :) Or just read the game manual.

T.O.C. ^

[02] FALLOUT 3 THE GAME - INTRODUCTION


"War. War never changes."

If you're reading this and haven't played Fallout 3 yet, do so as soon as possible. Everything else will fade.
"Endless possibilities"

Wasteland is the big unknown. Explore it as you like. Feel it. Love it. This is but a guide to you, take the tips as recommendations, not what you must do to succeed. Making it on your own will give you more.

T.O.C. ^

[03] THE FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER


[03.1] FOREWORD


The purpose of this guide is "perfect" character at level 20. As mentioned, what you consider Fallout perfect character, might be different from my views, but don't worry, there's plenty of room for customization and choices, so you'll end with your kind of Fallout 3 perfect character.

"Powerplay" in this guide refers to creating the ultimate all-around character with maxed-out skills and fine-tuned S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats.
  • NOTE: If you don't like collecting all the possible Bobbleheads and many Skill Books, just decide what skills you want to max, and raise them as you level For 100 at all skills, however, you need to collect a lot of Skill books.

"Powerlevel as fast as possible" is not in the nature of Fallout 3. So for that, look for other games.

If you choose to follow the recommendations in this guide, you will not have the most optimal character for leveling. However, you can do most things with ease while at it. This because, we want to have the best possible character in the end, not at level 7.
  • NOTE: The best character for leveling would mean increasing certain key skills high at the beginning, leaving some skills lower in the end.

Here are some generic notes. Check the individual sections for details. And for even more detailed info on something spesific, read the other excellent guides out there.

S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

It is not possible to get all S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats to maximum (10), but it is possible to get all the relevant ones to 10, with help from perks, items and stat increasing bobbleheads.

Detailed stat guide in [04] POWERPLAY STATS. I present three different builds

1) the "true powerplay" build
  • [04.2] PERFECT S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
  • The Fallout 3 Perfect Character Build
  • This is the one you want for "perfect" stats in the end. Going with minimum Intelligence, and neglecting the most useless one, Charisma, we pump the others to max or close to it.

2) the FPS build (no VATS)
  • [04.3] PERFECT S.P.E.C.I.A.L. FOR FPS-MODE ONLY
  • If you want to play Fallout 3 as First-Person Shooter, this is for you, although I recommend to take the benefit of the VATS as it is very effective and fun.

3) great beginner build with high-INT
  • [04.4] ALTERNATIVE HIGH-INT S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
  • The Best Character for Fallout 3 Beginner!
  • This is for someone looking for "easy-mode" build for fun gameplay without too much stress for finding a lot of Skill books and bobbleheads

  • NOTE: If you don't care about maxed out character in the end, but want to enjoy the game while you level and quest, don't go into extremes like the recommendations in this guide. Like said, this is mostly guide for those who want the best possible character in the end.

SKILLS

There is no need to raise all the skills to 100, as there are plenty of items in the game that you can put on to help with non-combat tasks: bartering, speech, repairing, hacking and lockpicking.

If you don't like to carry couple extra items, increase those skills more if you like, but you will have less "extra" Skill Points, which you can distribute as you like like while at it

More about skills in [05] POWERPLAY SKILLS.

Also see the [03.2] Skill books section.

PERKS

For Perks, I list the most essential ones.

QUESTS

For Quests, I only list the ones with essential/excellent rewards, e.g. skill/stat increases, unique items, etc.

[03.2] Skill books


This is about getting *all* skills to 100, not just couple of them. and for that, you need Skill books, lots and lots of Skill books.

Important note! To reach 100 for every skill you're looking at collecting 7 + 13 Bobbleheads, and something between 180 and 320+ Skill books. This is not for everyone, as if you don't enjoy scavenging and looting, exploring your heart out and basically doing everything possible in the game, just don't. Do what you find fun, not what some stupid guide tells you to :)

If you are not ready to collect almost every skill book in the game, you cannot get all skills to 100, plain and simple.

With minimum INT (3), you must collect at least 260-300 Skill books to reach 100 in *all* the skills. If you want all skills at 100 in the end, with INT 9 you have to collect about 205 Skill books (~40 more if you want skill at 100 without any items).

The difference between INT 3 and INT 9 at start is 114 Skill points. So you can avoid collecting 57 out of ~320 Skill books by going with high INT. Doing so, you'll neglect the other stats, as shown in the next section.

The Educated perk at level 4 (which adds 48 more skill points ~ 24 Skill books) makes the minimum skill books to collect: 181 w/ INT 9 & 233 w/ INT 3
  • NOTE: all calculations assume that +INT Bobblehead is collected as soon as the player exits Vault 101 and starts out, which typical player does not do

If you don't want to collect a lot of them, feel free to take tips from this guide and settle for having excellent character overall, but leaving some skills at lower levels (Barter and combat skills you don't use that much for example)

You can very easily get the most essential skills to 100, just ignoring the ones you don't use, as even with as low as Intelligence of 3, you get 265 Skill points, which is plenty to take couple of skills close to max and finish it strong with just a couple Skill books you happen to come across.

T.O.C. ^

[04] POWERPLAY STATS


[04.1] S.P.E.C.I.A.L. STATS IN GENERAL


Firstly, all S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats increase the skills, but this is not very important as we can raise skills by other means, with the Skill points from Intelligence (and possibly Educated perk) and for the biggeet gains, Skill Books, the most essential part of maxing all the skills.

Secondly, certain level of stat/stats are needed for some perks.

Thirdly, most stats effect derived stats, like how much you can carry or how much action points you have for VATS action.

So, we balance the stats to max out the most important derived stats and to get the perks we want. Skills we get by other means.

[04.2] PERFECT S.P.E.C.I.A.L.


The stats for the Fallout 3 perfect character, starting stats, what stats you will end up with and what perks and items you need to achieve this..

STARTING STATS (Character creation):
  • STR 8
  • PER 6
  • END 8
  • CHR 1
  • INT 3
  • AGL 7
  • LCK 7

END STATS
  • STR 10
  • PER 8-10
  • END 10
  • CHR 2
  • INT 4
  • AGL 8-10
  • LCK 10

Intense Training +1 STR level 2, +1 END level 3 and +1 AGL level 5. +1 PER from Quest:Those! and all Bobbleheads + the relevant LCK items.

PER and AGL end values depends on using more than 3 Intense Trainings, in expense of other perks you don't necessary need if you don't use certain types of weaponry for example. Using 3 will result with PER 8 and AGL 9 (or the other way around if you add +1 PER instead of +1 AGL)

For Luck, end value of 10 requires to do the Big Town quest, save the town from the Super Mutants and get the Lucky 8 Ball as reward (+1 LCK) and wear Ranger Battle Armor (+1 LCK in addition to the other stats) or use Lucky Shades or other such LCK boosting items.

[04.3] PERFECT S.P.E.C.I.A.L. FOR FPS-MODE ONLY


This means always fighting in real time, and never ever using VATS.

I've understood that some players like to play the game this way, I don't, but here's the best possible values if you do :)
  • NOTE :You will deal a lot more dmg using VATS because of added critical chance and dmg/accuracy boosting perks for VATS

  • COMMENT As far as I know Agility doesn't effect attack/shooting speed outside VATS, but if it does, I'd advice against to use these values then.

STARTING STATS for NON-VATS (Character creation):
  • STR 8
  • PER 7
  • END 8
  • CHR 1
  • INT 5
  • AGL 5
  • LCK 7

END STATS for NON-VATS
  • STR 10
  • PER 10
  • END 10
  • CHR 2
  • INT 6
  • AGL 6
  • LCK 10

Intense Training +1 STR level 2, +1 END level 3 and +1 PER level 5. +1 PER from Quest:Those! and all Bobbleheads + the relevant LCK items.
  • NOTE: The rest of the guide is not done with these values in mind, as you will have a lot more Skill Points to "waste" and
  • the recommendations in the guide are made with the VATS route in mind.


[04.4] ALTERNATIVE HIGH-INT S.P.E.C.I.A.L.


This might be a good build for a beginner, with the high INT you don't have to collect skill books that much and still have great balanced character.

STARTING STATS (Character creation):
  • STR 8
  • PER 5
  • END 7
  • CHR 1
  • INT 9
  • AGL 5
  • LCK 5

END STATS
  • STR 10
  • PER 7
  • END 9
  • CHR 2
  • INT 10
  • AGL 7
  • LCK 8

Intense Training +1 STR level 2, +1 END level 3 and +1 PER level 5. +1 PER from Quest:Those! and all Bobbleheads + the relevant LCK items.

You'll end up at 7-10 in all but CHR with this build with Bobbleheads and items. If you insist on having higher charisma, you'll have to make a choice to have less health or less carry weight power or something. But you're on your own with that tweaking.

This INT build is just shown for reference in case someone wants to go with higher INT as it makes skill training easier. But this is guide is not for the easy route, as we want to max the relevant stats, so choose the earlier options if you want to push it to the max (again, it won't be easy, but you will have the most powerful stats in the end).

[04.5] RATIONALIZATION FOR THE CHOICES


Charisma (CHR) only effects certain skills (Speech and Barter), which we can max otherwise, and certain perks, which are not that great. If you insist on having higher CHR, go for 3-5. Even if you went to speak through challenges, you don't need more that 5. And most enemies in the wasteland don't waste time babbling anyway.

There is absolutely NO REASON to go over 5 with Charisma. If someone says otherwise, I don't know what they're thinking, as Charisma *only* effects a couple of speech/barter (more and less useless) perks and speech and barter skills directly.

Intelligence (INT) effects the amount of Skill Points per level and there are certain perks that we want, which require INT to be high enough. So we balance INT as low as possible, because we have other means to raise skills, but high enough to get the perks we really need (namely, Comprehension to get the full benefit from Skill Books).

INT *must* be at least 3 because comprehension perk requires INT 4 or higher (which we can get with the bobblehead from River City).

VERY IMPORTANT! When starting with INT of 3, you MUST RUN into River City right after you exit Vault 101 or reloaded/created new character

All-in-all, higher INT makes it easier to create powerful, versatile character, but that's about it. Every point added to INT at start nets you 19 Skill Points in total, one Skill Point per level, so think if you really need those extra points. INT 6 or 7 is plenty, even for beginning players. As you can always take Educated perk, worth of 3 INT at level 4 if you want.

However, if you don't want to stress about collecting skill books, but still want to have at least the key skills at high level, INT 7-9 is probably the best way to go + taking Educated perk at level 4 (= as soon as possible).

Strength (STR). How much you can carry and Melee damage. Carrying more is just convenient, so start at 8, max to 10 with Intense Training and Bobblehead from Lucas Simms' House in Megaton.

If you plan on using Power Armor in the end, you could in theory go with 6, as you'll get the last +2 you need from the armor itself (just remember to take bit more AGL to compensate the -2. Personally I just love Ranger Battle Armor too much to ever wear the Power Armor :)

If you set STR very low, like 1-5, you'll probably regret it if you like to scavenge/loot at all (which I assume you do, as that's a big part of fallout, at least for me). It will be a pain to travel and back and sell stuff all the time and only run around with one weapon and only loot ammo. Trust me, you want it at max, it's just that much more fun to be able to loot everything you want, not what you can carry.

Endurance (END). Your Health and Poison & Radiation Resistance. Max to get the most HP and resistances. On the other hand, if you play it safe and fight carefully, you can manage with less health. Resistances are not that important as they can be healed easily. Have at least 5-6 at start, 8 if you want to max it.

Perception (PER). Spotting enemies (how early you see those red marks in the compass). High Perception is great to spot enemies early, but 10 might be overkill. You don't want to go too low, as you'll end running into enemies and miss good opportunities to damage the foes before they dmg you. So take something between 5-7 at start.

Agility (AGL) = Actions Points (AP). More VATS action = more damage. If you blast mostly in FPS mode, AGL is almost irrelevant. Although, there are a lot of perks to benefit VATS action, but no perk to benefit only real-time action. So ignoring VATS totally is giving up on max damage. All-in-all, high agility is nice, but max is not needed as the benefit of just a couple more AP is questionable. Set to 5-7 at the start.

Luck (LCK). Every non-even point in Luck adds 1 Skill Point to all skills = 13 Skill Points. That's ~6.5 Skill Points per point in Luck. Every point in Luck also adds +1% Critical hit chance. Also one of the best perks, Better Criticals, needs 6 LCK.

More criticals means more damage, which is great, and those criticals do A LOT MORE damage if you take the Better Criticals perk, so I recommend maxing this with help from some items, so take something between 5-7 at start (under or over these values is just not good).

T.O.C. ^

[05] POWERPLAY SKILLS


Fallout 3 Perfect Character will have all skills at max in the end, here I'll show you how you get'em there..

[05.1] Total Skill Points Available


If you chose the stats recommended in [04.2], and make the run to River City at start for +1 INT Bobble head, you'll have 265 Skill Points in levels 2-20

The total Skill Points you have depends on:
  1. Intelligence at start
  2. How early you get +1 INT Bobblehead from River City
  3. whether or not you take the Educated Perk.
  4. whether of not you use Intense Training for +1 INT (DONT)

[05.2] Total Skill Points for Each Skill


To get all the skills to 100 in the end, the amount you need to train each skill depends on these factors:
  1. your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats -- including how you raise them with perks, items and bobbleheads
  2. skills you tag
  3. whether you utilize items to reach 100 (e.g. Vault Utility Suit)
  4. whether you choose Silent Running Perk
  5. whether you choose Cyborg Perk (you should)
  6. whether you buy the DLC Anchorage and gain the Covert Ops Perk
  7. whether you save Megaton or blow it up, as Science Theme for your House at Megaton or Suite in Tenpenny Tower have different book
  8. amount of skill books and bobbleheads you're willing to collect. this guide assumes you go for most, if not all.
  9. whether or not you WASTE perks for skill-point-only perks (DONT!)

  • NOTE: Some are minor effects, but tuning it to the point, all matter.

[05.3] Extra Skill Points


Free Skill Points are extra points you can freely distribute without fear of finishing short of 100 in some other skill.

The amount of Extra Skill Points depends on the total amount of Skill points available and the total number you need to train each skill.

Any excess points are freely distributable to any skill, and you still have 100 in all skills in the end. Freely distributable points can be saved to the end and raise skills to decrease the need of items and skill books, or you can use them while leveling to essential skills to ease gameplay.

For example, raise lockpicking and/or science for access to locked computers and doors or some combat skill like small guns to give help you survive at lower levels.

Or, you can use the extra/free Skill points to make sure you have high enough a skill to take the perk you want at certain level. Here are the most relevant ones you want/might want to take...

[05.4] Skills needed for the perks


  • Explosives 50+ before level 11 (Demolition Expert)
  • Sneak 60+ before level 13 (Silent Running)
  • Explosives 60+ before level 15 (Pyromaniac)
  • Science 60+ before level 14 (Cyborg)
  • Medicine 60+ before level 14 (Cyborg)
  • Unarmed 70+ before level 18 (Paralyzing Palm)
  • Sneak 80+ before level 20 (Ninja)
  • Melee 80+ before level 20 (Ninja)

  • This is not "recommended perks" list, but a list of needed skills for at least somewhat useful perks
  • (although most of the skills in the list are what we most likely want in the end)

At minimum, you should definately go for the corresponding Bobblehead before the mentioned level. And use the extra Skill points to reach requirements before the level you want to take the perk. The other way is to go for enough skill books in the early levels to reach the level you want before it's the time to take the perk.

[05.4] Skill Point calculations


Calculating all the above "by hand" is not simple, but it's simple to do in spreadsheet, so that's what I did. I will only present the result values, as listing out formulas won't benefit this guide :)

Example set 1
(scroll down a bit, there might be some white space here)
STAT START END
STR 8 10
PER 6 8
END 8 10
CHR 1 2
INT 3 4
AGL 7 8
LCK 7 10

  • using recommended starting stats above, from [04.2]
  • TAG! Science, Repair and Medicine at start (because of low INT)
  • running for +1 INT Bobblehead at level 2 (right at the beginning)
  • taking Silent Running and Cyborg (because both are great)
  • choosing Ant Sight for +1 PER from Quest: Those!
  • choosing to disarm the bomb (good karma) and have house in Megaton
  • using intense training 3 times (levels 2, 3 and 5) for +1 STR/END/AGL
  • collecting all bobbleheads and skill books if needed
  • using items to bump up repair, lockpick, science, barter and speech.
  • using Ranger Battle Armor and Lucky 8 Ball for 2x +1 LCK

The items needed are:
  • Button's Wig and Roving Barter Suit (Barter +10 total)
  • Vault Utility Suit (+5 Lockpick, +5 Repair)
  • Lesko's Lab Coat (+10 Science)
  • Ranger Battle Armor (+1 LCK, +10 Small Guns)
  • Lucky 8 Ball (+1 LCK)
  • Button's Wig and Naughty Nightwear (Speech +20 total)

TOTAL Skill Points : 265
SKILLS TO TRAIN : 132
EXTRA Skill Points : 133

Amount of training needed for each skill:
(scroll down a bit, there might be some white space here)
Barter 21
Big Guns 13
Energy Weapons 7
Explosives 17
Lockpick 12
Medicine 10
Melee Weapons 13
Repair 5
Science 2
Small Guns 5
Sneak 5
Speech 9
Unarmed 13

putting more Skill Points to a skill than on the list, will go from the "extra Skill Points pool", which starts at 139 and you can keep track of.

Example set 2

Using the same set as above, but take all skills to 100 without using any items (even that some items you will most likely have on all the time, like +1 LCK from Lucky 8 Ball).

TOTAL Skill Points : 265
SKILLS TO TRAIN : 205
EXTRA Skill Points : 60

Amount of training needed for each skill:
(scroll down a bit, there might be some white space here)
Barter 32
Big Guns 14
Energy Weapons 8
Explosives 18
Lockpick 18
Medicine 11
Melee Weapons 14
Repair 11
Science 13
Small Guns 16
Sneak 6
Speech 30
Unarmed 14

putting more Skill Points to a skill than on the list, will go from the "extra Skill Points pool", which starts at 66 and you can keep track of.

T.O.C. ^

[06] POWERPLAY PERKS


Perks this guide concentrates on give benefits to combat or skills in a way that we cannot get by other means. Feel free to choose fun and dialogue centric perks if you like, but in the end the ones listed here are the best overall choices, mainly for combat as non-combat ones are not very good (Fallout 3 is quite a bit about combat after all).

All perks that raise *only* some skill should be avoided, as we get skills to max without these perks, so they are a waste. However, if a perk gives the skill increase in addition to the other, very beneficial boost, we of course take that in.

I don't list all the perks, as other guides/faqs and websites have done it so many times, I just list the relevant ones.

[06.1] LEVEL BY LEVEL LIST FOR THE LAZY


Perks for the Fallout 3 Perfect Character by Absolute Steve (with minor edits by me)

Level 2: Intense Training -> STR +1
Level 3: Intense Training -> END +1
Level 4: Comprehension (Now you can read Skill Books for +2 Points)
Level 5: Intense Training -> AGL +1
Level 6: Toughness
Level 7: Bloody Mess / Intense Training -> AGL or PER +1 **1*
Level 8: Strong Back / Int.Training -> AGL or PER +1 **2*
Level 9: Commando
Level 10: Finesse
Level 11: Demolition Expert / Int.Training -> AGL or PER +1 **3*
Level 12: Sniper
Level 13: Silent Running
Level 14: Cyborg
Level 15: Pyromaniac **4*
Level 16: Action Boy
Level 17: Better Criticals
Level 18: Paralyzing Palm
Level 19: [choice]
Level 20: Grim Reaper's Sprint

**1* 5% more damage from Bloody Mess is great, but if you get bored for the
bloody explosions, skip. If you love/tolerate'em, take :)

**2* If you feel Carry Weight from STR 10 is enough, skip Strong Back. Also
note that you can take Commando at level 8 if you want.

**3* Can take AGL/PER +1 here, it's just +20% dmg to explosives anyway.

**4* If you don't use firebased weapons (e.g. Flamer, Shiskebab), this is
useless. Go for something else instead.

[06.2] IN DETAIL EXPLANATIONS OF THE PERKS


[06.2.1] THE MOST IMPORTANT PERK

You must take this perk. I repeat, you must take this perk.

You will not have Fallout 3 Perfect Character if you don't take this. And even if you don't want to "perfect it", take this as any player will run into 6-7 skill books without even looking and that alone makes this perk worth it.
  • Comprehension: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: INT >= 4
  • 2 Skill Point instead of 1 when reading a skill book
  • If you don't want to take this, stop reading this guide!
  • just kidding, but seriously, it is the most beneficial perk in the game. period.
  • If you know you won't be running around finding skill books, maybe, just maybe you can consider not taking this (you will run into so many skill books even if you're not looking that this perk raises your skills more than any other)

[06.2.2] ESSENTIAL PERKS

These are the perks you need too for perfect character in Fallout 3.
  • Intense Training: 10 Ranks
  • Requirements: ---
  • +1 to any STAT
  • At least 3 should be used for STR, END and AGL.
  • Possibly 4 & 5 to PER and AGL.

  • Toughness
  • Requirements: END >= 5
  • +10 Damage Resistance

  • Cyborg: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: Science >= 60, Medicine >= 60
  • Like Toughness, but with added benefits.
  • +10 Damage Resistance (DR), Poison & Radiation Resistance
  • +10 to Energy Weapons skill as a bonus!

  • Better Criticals: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: PER >= 6, LCK >= 6
  • +50% damage of Critical Hits!
  • Take this for insane damage, especially with Finesse + 10 LCK

  • Finesse: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: ---
  • Critical Chance +5%.
  • More criticals, more damage = sweet.

  • Silent Running: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: AGL 6+, Sneak 60+
  • Running no longer factors into a successful sneak attempt
  • Sneak in your Power Armor and Fat Man like a ninja!
  • +10 Sneak skill to boot!

[06.2.3] VATS PERKS

If you don't ever use VATS, but go with more of a FPS route, you are missing a lot of damage and accuracy because of these perks. However, skip these if you always blast in real-time.
  • Commando: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: ---
  • +25% VATS Accuracy for Rifles.
  • Assault Rifle, Chinese Assault Rifle, Hunting Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Laser Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Railway Rifle.

  • Sniper: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: PER >= 6, AGL >= 6
  • +25% VATS Accuracy for headshots
  • Sneak attack to head is very lethal, with this, it's easier.

  • Action Boy/ Action Girl: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: AGL >= 6
  • +25 VATS Action Points ~ additional shot in VATS

  • Paralyzing Palm: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: Unarmed 70+
  • VATS palm strike that paralyzes foe for 30 secs.
  • If you insist on holding on to you gun and refuse to switch to unarmed and back (which might take some time to get used to), skip this.

If you use pistols and such a lot (for some reason), take Gunslinger. If you don't use them all the time, don't. Commando & Rifles = better
  • Gunslinger: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: ---
  • +25% VATS Accuracy for a Small Gun.
  • .32 Pistol, Scoped .44 Magnum, (Silenced) 10mm Pistol, 10mm Submachine Gun, Chinese Pistol, Sawed-Off Shotgun, Dart Gun, Laser Pistol, Plasma Pistol, Alien Blaster, Mesmetron.

[06.2.4] PERKS TO CONSIDER

  • Educated.
  • +3 Skill Points / level, ~ 48 Skill Points in total
  • By collecting the skill books, you don't need this
  • For beginner/first game, this is highly recommended!
  • If you don't feel like running around for books, must take!
  • If you do take it, take this right away at level 4 (and take comprehension on level 5)

  • Bloody Mess
  • Requirements: ---
  • +5% dmg with any weapon
  • Sometimes blows up the target with blood and limbs all over +dmg is always great, so take it and see how you like it.

  • Strong Back
  • STR >= 5, END >= 5
  • +50 Carry Weight
  • More gear, more loot. Take this.
  • Skip if you don't carry lot of gear, store things in your house and don't mind travel to sell more often.

  • Demolition Expert: 3 Ranks
  • Requirements: Explosives = 50+
  • +20% dmg / rank for Grenades, Mines and Missiles.
  • Good, do you use grenades and lay down mines all the time?

  • Pyromaniac: 1 Rank
  • Requirements: Explosives = 60+
  • +50% fire-based weapon damage
  • Flamer, Nuka-Grenade, Shiskebab, 'Firelance' Alien Blaster and Zhu-Rong v418 Chinese Pistol.
  • If you don't use any of these, this is useless, but if you do melee with Shiskebab, this perk makes it the best weapon in game.

  • Level 20. Ninja or Grim Reaper's Sprint.
  • Ninja makes you melee/unarmed slaughter machine with uber-crits
  • Grim Reaper's Sprint restores your AP on a VATS kill, so you can clear multiple enemies without any sweat.

  • If you don't use VATS, take Ninja.
  • If you only use Melee or Unarmed, take Ninja.
  • If you don't Melee or Unarmed, take Grim Reaper's Sprint.
  • If you use VATS, take Grim Reaper's Sprint.

[06.2.5] PERKS NOT TO TAKE, EVER.

There are many perks that you can take and try for run, but these should be avoided, as they don't provide anything we get anyway.

Some of the "look good on paper", but remember to consider hard it you really need these. Remember that it is your game, so you're in the control and can do whatever you want :)
  • Daddy's Boy/Girl. +5 Science and +5 Medicine per rank
  • Gun Nut. +5 Small Guns and +5 Repair per rank
  • Little Leager. +5 Melee and +5 Explosives per rank.
  • Thief. +5 Sneak and +5 Lockpick per rank
  • Swift Learner. +10 EXP, no rush to level really
  • Scrounger. More ammo from containers, not so great
  • Size Matters. +15 Big Guns skill per rank.
  • Scoundrel. +5 Speech and +5 Barter per rank.
  • Fortune Finder. More Bottle Caps, sounds good, but isn't
  • Here and Now. Instant level-up, no need
  • Contract Killer/Lawbringer. 5 Caps for killing good/evil. So Bad.
  • Master Trader, items 25% cheaper. Unnecessary
  • Tag! +15 Skill at level 16! No good.
  • Computer Whiz. Reload or re-try hack attempt instead.
  • Infiltrator. Reload or re-try lockpick attempt instead.
  • Explorer. Every Location pinpointed. Only take to save this level 20 to separate save file to load and look at map if you need.

T.O.C. ^

[07] POWERPLAY QUESTS


For detailed walkthrough of the quests, check the other guides from Fallout 3 at Gamefaqs.com or such.

[07.1] QUEST PERKS


Quest: Wasteland Survival Guide
  • Tough: +6 Damage Resistance

  • Do the optional requirements for all 9 parts
  • Always choose END or STR option from answers on turn-in.
  • Boost stats if needed with chems.
  • >>> leads to Tough: +6 Damage Resistance

Other possibilities (avoid Smart or Sly):

Standard: +15 HP
Smart: +6 Medicine, +6 Science
Sly: +6 Sneak, +6 Speech
Snide: +3 Critical Chance

Quest: Those!
  • Ant Might: 1 Rank
  • 25% resistance to fire, +1 in STR.

-or-
  • Ant Sight: 1 Rank
  • 25% resistance to fire, +1 in PER

>>> If you choose to follow the stat recommendations on this guide, choose Ant Sight for +1 PER.

QUEST: The Replicated Man
  • Wired Reflexes: 1 Rank
  • Increases VATS accuracy by 10%
  • To get both this, and the weapon. See Vault Fallout Wiki for info.

QUEST: Oasis
  • Barkskin: 1 Rank
  • Damage Resistance is increased by +10
  • No longer has the +1 END as in early Fallout3 build, but Damage Resistance alone makes it worthwhile to this one.

[07.2] QUEST ITEMS


QUEST: The Replicated Man

QUEST: Reilly's Rangers
  • Ranger Battle Armor and/or Eugene the Minigun
  • Choose Ranger Battle Armor,
  • but do note that, if Brick happens to die during the retreat from the hotel, you can loot both Eugene and Ranger Battle Armor, and get one more of the two as quest reward.

T.O.C. ^

[08] POWERPLAY ITEMS


These don't weight too much, so can carry these around and switch when needed, e.g. selling stuff, repairing, hacking/lockpicking, etc.

[08.0] Utility Items Summary


  • Button's Wig and Roving Barter Suit (Barter +10 total)
  • Vault Utility Suit (+5 Lockpick, +5 Repair)
  • Lesko's Lab Coat (+10 Science)
  • Ranger Battle Armor (+1 LCK, +10 Small Guns)
  • Lucky 8 Ball (+1 LCK)
  • Button's Wig and Naughty Nightwear (Speech +20 total)

[08.1] Utility Items for +Skill boost when needed


Vault Utility Suit (you get it at childhood part)
+5 Repair and +5 Lockpick.

Vault Lab Uniform (you get it at childhood part)
+5 Science
>>> replace later by Lesko's Lab Coat +10 Science

Dirty Pre-War Businesswear (get from Burke by telling Sheriff about Burke, and killing Burke while at it. Good Karma route only)
+5 Speech
>>> replace later by Naughty Nightwear +10 Speech
>>> add Button's Wig later for +10 Speech more

Roving Trader Outfit +5 Barter
Roving Trader Hat +5 Barter
>>> Button's Wig replaces the hat as duplicate +5 Barter

Any Hat with +1 PER
e.g. Pre-War Baseball Cap, Stormchaser Hat, Pre-War Hat, etc
>>> Use when wandering in Wasteland to spot enemies sooner.

[08.2] Weapons


There are weapon listings in the other guides, and info about how to get the unique ones. So I'll just say what I use: Hunter Rifle for long range, Combat Shotgun for short. Combat Shotgun is my favorite, when enemies get near, they don't live very long, even at start with low small guns skill.

[08.3] Armor


At start, the Armored Vault 101 Jumpsuit is great (get it from Moira by wearing some Vault 101 gear, like the Vault 101 Security Armor, when you talk to her start)

Go with whatever armor you come across, mostly Raider or Talon Armor I'd guess. Probably no need to waste caps on anything at this point.

In the end, Ranger Battle Armor, no question about it. Sick DR/weight ratio, AP+5, LCK+1 and Small Guns +10 on top. Get it, love it. Save all Talon Combat Armors and Combat Armors from your journeys to keep it fixed.

T.O.C. ^

[09] THINGS TO COLLECT


Bobbleheads, Skill Books, Custom Weapon materials, Quest items, etc.

Store them at your House/Suite before you need them.

See [96] FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER CHECKLIST.

T.O.C. ^

[10] FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER - BEGINNING WALKTHROUGH


SPOILER WARNING! If you haven't played Fallout 3 yet, and want to experience it on your own, as I recommend, skip this section.

[10.1] FALLOUT 3 CHILDHOOD WALKTHROUGH


1) Go through childhood and collect everything you can - Absolute Steve's main FAQ or the Enhanced Fallout 3 Guide is great for this
2) Never ever delete the save file created automatically when you exit, you can always reload it, edit everything and still have all the stuff you collected. And you don't have to go though childhood again.
3) Extra: Check that the time is around 6-8am before you click the door. Wait if needed - this way you'll have daylight at start without waiting on every new start (easier to see where you're going if nothing else).

[10.2] OUT OF THE VAULT, THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER


1) Run to Springvale (to the left road from Vault 101), loot the mailboxes to the left, especially the second mailbox, and lockpick the safe in the ruin where the 2nd mailbox is.
2) Run to Megaton (there might be caravan trader outside, sell unneeded stuff and buy something if you like)
3) Enter Megaton
4) Talk with Sheriff, but don't talk about the bomb yet. Exit dialoque.
5) Put on your 101 Vault Suit for +2 Speech, SAVE to a new save file
6) Talk to Sheriff about the Bomb, pump up the price with speech
RELOAD until succesful (this might take a while with our low speech)
7) SAVE to a new save-file (this is your start point with this char)
8) EXIT (you'll reload this autosave if run to River City goes bad)
9) RUN to River City (You got the location from Sheriff)

[10.3] THE RIVER CITY RUN - FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER


You want to run to River City and avoid all fights / take minimal dmg.
We're going for the +1 INT Bobblehead while still at level 2.
  • Equip any +1 PER hat/item you have
  • You should have the baseball cap if nothing else
  • Run more and less directly to South from Megaton (set marker)
  • Stay out of buildings mostly, but feel free to try and get some locations pinned while running (the little green triangles)
  • While running, if you see "reds", hit crouch, stop and/or try to sneak bit to the side, we want to avoid battles or at least getting hit too much.
  • Make a "temporary run save file", and save after a bit if still safe
  • When you reach the border of game area (or close to it),
  • Run east, while staying mostly to south.

If you want to look at a map, like this Fallout 3 Map: For relatively safe route, you can pick up locations like Nuka-Cola Plant and Arlington Library. Flooded Metro has enemies, so go around that from South.
  • When you reach the water, swim to River City (don't mind the rad, we can clear it for free with Wasteland Survival Guide quest when back at Megaton)
  • When you reach River City, make a NEW save file again.
  • Go to the Science Lab (enter the door on left after bridge, take the door on left when in the stairwell, run to the end of the corridor / follow the signs to Science Lab.
  • Get the INT+1 Bobblehead on the table.
  • Don't talk to Dr.Li too much about Dad, as that will skip parts of the main quest (unless you want to for some reason)
  • If the run goes bad, reload and avoid the bad areas.

Now that you have the +1 INT Bobblehead, you can do whatever you want. It's probably an good idea to go back to Megaton thou. But you can do some stuff in River City, like start The Replicated Man quest or such. When done, fast travel to Megaton. SAVE.

[10.4] MEGATON


Do these things in Megaton:
  • Start Wasteland Survival Guide (WSG) quest, do the radiation part (and get cleaned of the rad from swim to River City while at it)
  • Get the STR+1 Bobblehead from Sheriff's house (it's open at times)
  • Talk to Walter about pipe leaks, fix'em, talk to Walter again
  • Talk to Ghoul in the saloon (Speech challenge)
  • Talk to Mr.Burke about the Bomb, get info about Lee's chem stash.

  • If going for good karma, tell Sheriff about Mr.Burke, and then either save Sheriff when things go bad,
  • or let the Sheriff take it, for a nice early weapon.. but not that great, so save the man :)
  • Either way kill Burke while at it (Sneak Attack VATS headshot is good and fast if you want to save the Sheriff)
  • Loot Burke for +5 speech suit and other stuff
  • Get the chem stash key from Lee, speech challenge and help him.
  • Go get the chems
  • Repair bomb (boost explosives to 25 with Mentats if needed) for your own House and nice 500 caps.
  • If Sheriff is dead, his son will give you the reward.
  • Talk to Moriarty
  • get info about Silver, go collect (Speech challenge for 400 caps)
  • hack into Moriarty's computer (pump Science with Vault Lab Uniform and chems if needed. Get info about Dad.

You'll have plenty of caps from the quests alone, so this is a good way to start. Not that you'll run out of caps anyway, but in case you don't want to loot stuff and sell, these early caps will come in handy buying ammo or stimpacks for example.

If you like, go and run a bit Southwest of Tenpenny Tower to "Lucky's" and get Lucky Shades for +1 LCK from mannequin inside.

Now go do whatever you want, continue with the WSG, do the Blood Ties, continue the Main Quest and go after your Dad or whatever. Just remember to follow the Fallout 3 Perfect Character guidelines on perks, items and stat increases and you'll end up good..

Getting Dogmeat!


When you do the Minefield part of the WSG quest, go and get Dogmeat from Scrapyard. As the Scrapyard is right next to Minefield (just need to run couple of steps to South), this is the best time to get the dog.

You'll find some raiders getting whooped by a dog there, be nice to the doggie and it'll will follow you forever, or you can send him to Vault 101
and get it back at any point if you want.

Dogmeat eats Super Mutants and everything else for breakfast and will help you a lot. If nothing else, make it fetch you things from locked containers.

[10.5] EXPLORE, MAIN STORY, ETC.


Even that this is a guide for the Fallout 3 Perfect Character, Fallout is about exploring and freedom, so go your way, enjoy the game, play your own Fallout 3 Perfect Game..

You are "on your own" now, go do whatever you please. Have fun in with the Main Story, explore the Wasteland, gather all kinds of items and equipment, etc. Fallout 3 is a great game, so you should enjoy it like you want. Don't forget to take a look at the downloadable contect if you run out of things to do. Just remember to keep a separate save files, so you can start again without doing all things again if you don't want to.

T.O.C. ^

[96] FALLOUT 3 PERFECT CHARACTER CHECKLIST


BOBBLEHEADS
[ ] Strength (Megaton - Lucas Simms' House)
[ ] Perception (Republic of Dave - Museum of Dave)
[ ] Endurance (Deathclaw Sanctuary)
[ ] Charisma (Vault 108 - Cloning Lab)
[ ] Intelligence (Rivet City - Science Lab)
[ ] Agility (Greener Pastures Disposal Site - Office)
[ ] Luck (Arlington House)

[ ] Barter (Evergreen Mills - Market Bazaar)
[ ] Big Guns (Fort Constantine - CO Quarters)
[ ] Energy Weapons (Raven Rock - Sector 2)
[ ] Explosives (WKML Broadcast Station - Sealed Cistern)
[ ] Lockpick (Bethesda Ruins - Bethesda Offices East)
[ ] Medicine (Vault 101 - Living Quarters)
[ ] Melee Weapons (Dunwich Building - Virulent Underchamber)
[ ] Repair (Arefu - Evan King's House)
[ ] Science (Vault 106 - Living Quarters)
[ ] Small Guns (National Guard Depot - National Guard Armory)
[ ] Sneak (Yao Guai Tunnels - Yao Guai De)
[ ] Speech (Paradise Falls - Eulogy's Pad)
[ ] Unarmed (Rockopolis)

LEVELUPS
[ ] Level 2: Intense Training -> STR +1
[ ] Level 3: Intense Training -> END +1
[ ] Level 4: Comprehension (Now you can read Skill Books for +2 Points)
[ ] Level 5: Intense Training -> AGL +1
[ ] Level 6: Toughness
[ ] Level 7: Bloody Mess / Intense Training -> AGL or PER +1
[ ] Level 8: Strong Back / Int.Training -> AGL or PER +1
[ ] Level 9: Commando
[ ] Level 10: Finesse
[ ] Level 11: Demolition Expert / Int.Training -> AGL or PER +1
[ ] Level 12: Sniper
[ ] Level 13: Silent Running
[ ] Level 14: Cyborg
[ ] Level 15: Pyromaniac **4*
[ ] Level 16: Action Boy
[ ] Level 17: Better Criticals
[ ] Level 18: Paralyzing Palm
[ ] Level 19: [choice]
[ ] Level 20: Grim Reaper's Sprint

PERK PRE-REQUISITES
[ ] Explosives 50+ before level 11 (Demolition Expert)
[ ] Sneak 60+ before level 13
[ ] Explosives 60+ before level 15 (Pyromaniac)
[ ] Science 60+ before level 14 (Cyborg)
[ ] Medicine 60+ before level 14 (Cyborg)
[ ] Unarmed 70+ before level 18 (Paralyzing Palm)
[ ] Sneak 80+ before level 20 (Ninja)
[ ] Melee 80+ before level 20 (Ninja)

COLLECT AND SAVE/ (To sell for Freeform Quests)
[ ] Scrap Metal
[ ] Pre-War Books
[ ] Fire And Nectar
[ ] Sugar Bombs

SAVE FOR LATER (Custom Weapons)
[ ] Lunchbox
[ ] Cherry Bomb
[ ] Sensor Module
[ ] Paint Gun
[ ] Toy Car
[ ] Surgical Tubing
[ ] Radscorpion Poison Gland
[ ] Wonderglue
[ ] Leather Belt
[ ] Medical Brace
[ ] Deathclaw Hand
[ ] Fission Battery
[ ] Pressure Cooker
[ ] Steam Gauge Assembly

T.O.C. ^

[97] MISCELLANEOUS


THE OFFICIAL FALLOUT SITE

Other Fallout 3 FAQ's (at GameFAQ's)

Other Fallout 3 Fan Websites


The Vault Fallout Wiki

T.O.C. ^

[98] OUTRO


The end of my FAQ

If you enjoyed the guide, please leave a comment and share this guide with your friends by linking to this guide or using the buttons below to bookmark and share the guide in Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc.

For any Contributions, Compliments, Complaints, Thanks, please leave a comment

If you think level 20 is not enough, buy the Broken Steel downloadable content (or the GOTY edition of the game) and go for the 30!

For more advice, tips, maps and walkthroughs for this wonderful game, I recommend the Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition: Prima Official Game Guide

The Game of the Year (GOTY) Edition of the guide includes the information not only about the original Fallout 3 game, but also about the 5 add-on games that can come with the Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition or can be downloaded separately.

Those links above (the guide and the game) are affiliate links to Amazon.com so I'll get a small commission from Amazon if you decide to buy'em. You can always find them gaming stores near you or in other online stores as well, if you don't feel like buying it from Amazon or through that link of mine. I haven't bought the Prima Guide myself, as I like to explore things on my own and then write a guide like this to help others out, but if you want a cool book to your shelf and all the information about the game you need and then some, the guide is definitely for you.

T.O.C. ^

[99] CONTRIBUTORS AND CREDITS


+++ The Vault Fallout Wiki
+++ gamefaqs.com
+++ Absolute Steve for great guides and FAQs
+ CrionLord for the Skill Book Guide
+ everyone else in the gamefaqs community

+++ Bethesda Softworks for the greatest game and for resurrecting Fallout back into glory!

+++ Fallout 4 ... pretty please (UPDATE: It's not named "4", but it's coming here!!! - Fallout: New Vegas was released on October 19th 2010)

Document Copyright Zemalf

Fallout 3 Powerplay Guide Copyright (C) 2009-2010

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