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[Like the hat?]

I'll bite.

I find it far more rewarding to play a good character in games like Fable II, Fallout, Oblivion etc. I'm not an evil person in real life, and when playing a 'Role Playing Game' it's difficult for me to step into the shoes of a repugnant murderer. Whenever playing these sorts of games, my character is good, within reason. As in, I'll be polite and help you out, but if you try and trick me, or stab me in the back then my fury will be unrelenting, and you will die.

I can't get into the mindset of playing as a wanker. Who want's to be in a game for 30-40 hours where all the characters think you are an asshole, except for a few other child murdering asshole NPC's ? If I want back stabbing, double talk, snide comments, lies and trickery, I have real life for that shit.

put it better than i did. i'm the same way. i am not a jerk to characters, unless they fuck me over or hurt someone that doesn't deserve it. for example, i beat the overseer to death with a baseball bat because he hurt my friend/his daughter. or i saved butch's mom because she did nothing bad to me, but i made sure i made butch beg for it first.

 

[Hunter D]

I don't think bethseda has the heart to replace them. They spent a ton of money on this game yet the animation looks like something from deus ex. I agree with the animation complaints.

 

[Dark Octave]

Yeah its weird. I really wanted to be an asshole in the game but couldn't bring myself to do it. I guess i'm conditioned to thinking that picking "bad" responses will result in bad things.

I think another huge reason is that at the start of every game of this type, you are set up in a position to do good. Once the training wheels are off, the developers are like "ok now you can be evil or do whatever you like". But your side is really already chosen for you. Your still a good guy, just maybe not as good as other good guys. The story always revolves around the good guys and most people just do what makes sense to them.

My first playthrough I like to act as if it's really me in the situation and do what I normally would do. If I play through a second time, I like to do everything the other way and go against all of my natural instincs and teachings.

 

[Darklord]

Any word on different endings yet? I haven't heard anyone talk about them.

 

[~Kinggi~]

Just going off the vids, the 3rd person animations and character models are laughably bad. It was the same thing in Oblivion, totally kills the atmosphere for me. They need to really hire some good animators and character modelers bad.

Characters models are somewhat understandable considering they are based on a system of complete customization, so they all come from the same template. But yeah animations definitely need work and are really bad. Not quite sure why they cant get that up to par. Bethesda is in a position now to require top talent working for them, and i imagine they get a lot of entrees from people wanting to work there.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Characters models are somewhat understandable considering they are based on a system of complete customization, so they all come from the same template. But yeah animations definitely need work and are really bad. Not quite sure why they cant get that up to par. Bethesda is in a position now to require top talent working for them, and i imagine they get a lot of entrees from people wanting to work there.

Could be a system resources thing? How much does that sort of thing take up? I mean, usually in game characters don't have the subtlety of animation in their cutscene counterparts.

Obviously it could be improved, but maybe it's because there's too much going on? Not defending it, of course, just postulating.

 

[Burger]

put it better than i did. i'm the same way. i am not a jerk to characters, unless they fuck me over or hurt someone that doesn't deserve it. for example, i beat the overseer to death with a baseball bat because he hurt my friend/his daughter. or i saved butch's mom because she did nothing bad to me, but i made sure i made butch beg for it first.

I didn't consider that killing the Overseer was an option, I just avoided everyone during my escape, but I did EXACTLY the same thing with Butch

 

[Burger]

Characters models are somewhat understandable considering they are based on a system of complete customization, so they all come from the same template. But yeah animations definitely need work and are really bad. Not quite sure why they cant get that up to par. Bethesda is in a position now to require top talent working for them, and i imagine they get a lot of entrees from people wanting to work there.

It could also be an engine thing couldn't it ? They are still using Gamebryo aren't they ?

The worst thing in 3rd person is not the animation, it's the level of disconnect your player has with the world.

 

[Vangellis]

I'll bite.

I find it far more rewarding to play a good character in games like Fable II, Fallout, Oblivion etc. I'm not an evil person in real life, and when playing a 'Role Playing Game' it's difficult for me to step into the shoes of a repugnant murderer. Whenever playing these sorts of games, my character is good, within reason. As in, I'll be polite and help you out, but if you try and trick me, or stab me in the back then my fury will be unrelenting, and you will die.

I can't get into the mindset of playing as a wanker. Who want's to be in a game for 30-40 hours where all the characters think you are an asshole, except for a few other child murdering asshole NPC's ? If I want back stabbing, double talk, snide comments, lies and trickery, I have real life for that shit.

I play the same way. I cant be evil, it makes me feel like shit. I always choose the nice stuff to say. Im vengeful though. Like at the start I made Butch beg to the last sec till I helped him.

 

[Like the hat?]

I apologize if it's been mentioned before, but this thread is huge

how do you get to the second floor in the first school you come across (with the cage near the entrance)?

 

[garath]

Holy shit thanks! Luck is most definitely worth it in that case. I'll probably start it off at 8 or 9.

edit: oh wait, it's +5 to skills and not SPECIAL. hmmmm. The crit chance is still a pretty big bonus though.

Yeah.. I'm kinda torn on it.. I made some screwy perk choices (2 perks into bonus xp %.. ugh dumb) so I'm going to reroll tonight but I can't decide on a focus. Almost thinking a stealth melee weapon guy with emphasis on crit percentage.

 

[Cornballer]

I apologize if it's been mentioned before, but this thread is huge

how do you get to the second floor in the first school you come across (with the cage near the entrance)?

Should be a stairwell in there somewhere that heads upstairs. The map for that area is confusing - took me a while last night to figure it all out.

 

[Zeliard]

Should be a stairwell in there somewhere that heads upstairs. The map for that area is confusing - took me a while last night to figure it all out.

Fallout 3 could have used Dead Space's 3D map.

 

[Cornballer]

Fallout 3 could have used Dead Space's 3D map.

Definitely agree with that. Map has been fine in flat terrain, but I had problems with the school.

 

[Gumby04]

weak.. i just found out i missed the bobblehead in vault 101.. can i go back ever?

 

[Gumby04]

Fallout 3 could have used Dead Space's 3D map.

ya.. that would have been sweet.

 

[Rei_Toei]

I've clocked over 20 hours in two days in this game and loving the hell out of it. I've always been a big fan of JRPGs but lately I seem to have more fun with RPGs developed in the West (Mass Effect, now Fallout 3). One of my biggest complains is presentation of story though. Fallout 3 handles this absolutely shitty. Bethesda should've looked at BioWare and ME to see how it's done. If I can't see my character's face, if the camera doesn't do some cinematic shit, if there is no voice whatsoever for my man man/girl - then I'm not half as immersed as could've been possible. ME did that shit right: good voices, emotions and body language in place, and cinematic camera angles. It's one of my biggest gripes with a game that on most other fronts blows me away.

Question about Dogmeat: is it possible to make him less aggressive? He's always running straight for enemies and gets his canine ass kicked all the time. I feel kinda bad about him dying so I'm super careful with him. Most of the time now I'm dumping him in my home in Megaton. Can you go out hunting Molerats with him for a day and teach him to be more like a defence player, sticking around you and be less KILL KILL KILL?

 

[Solo]

Jesus christ, reading this last page or two, Im struggling not to laugh at morality-GAF with respect to gaming. Its just a game, no? I too consider myself to be a pretty decent human being IRL, but I dont really bring my morality/character into the equation when gaming. To me, gaming is escapism, and the chance to do things you wouldnt do in reality. Would I murder someone in real life? Of course not. Would I blow them to pieces in a game for shits and giggles? Of course! As a result, I too am one of those people who ALWAYS play these types of games on the evil/dark side. Its just so much more fun to play that way. You spend your life being a "good" person, and gaming offers a consequence-free way to let out your inner asshole.

I mean, do you guys only read books/watch movies centered around "good" people, too?

 

[mileS]

anyone have troubles with setting the brightness on the 360 version? Maybe its just the lighting in the game but I find some things WAY to bright and other things WAY to dark.

 

[SteveMeister]

weak.. i just found out i missed the bobblehead in vault 101.. can i go back ever?

Spoiler

only if you left Amata and the Overseer alive.

 

[Nose Master]

Megaton Spoilers

Spoiler

BTW, not everyone dies from the nuke. That weird ass chick that's writing the book is turned into a ghoul, I found her wandering around the wreckage :X. You can still do her quests and the VA doesn't even change, haha. She goes to Rivet City. So, I'm kinda glad I didn't murder and loot everyone first? Okay, no, I'm not.

 

[bdouble]

But what's the fun in that? I'm not much of an "RP" kind of guy, but it still sucks me into the world a little more to have to go upstairs and rummage through my desk for those pilot lights I put in there a while back.

haha this is what I'm doing right now as well. Only 4 or so hours in and I find myself role playing in this game more than in any other I've played. I'm running around being a goody two shoes specializing in small arms running around looking like a cowboy

Spoiler

Simms died so I had to take over

. I'm usually the guy who kills everyone but here I have barely even stealing items. Although I do lockpick my way into everything.

I just wish that you could change your position in the world. Seems like everyone just thinks of you as the outsider from the Vault. Still having a lot of fun with this game and I love the combat. I just think of it as any other rpg with non random encounters. I have so much agility I can use Vats all the time. I need to with my shitty armor haha.

I can't wait to play it a second time and go with a very dumb and melee focused character.

 

[Gumby04]

Jesus christ, reading this last page or two, Im struggling not to laugh at morality-GAF with respect to gaming. Its just a game, no? I too consider myself to be a pretty decent human being IRL, but I dont really bring my morality/character into the equation when gaming. To me, gaming is escapism, and the chance to do things you wouldnt do in reality. Would I murder someone in real life? Of course not. Would I blow them to pieces in a game for shits and giggles? Of course! As a result, I too am one of those people who ALWAYS play these types of games on the evil/dark side. Its just so much more fun to play that way. You spend your life being a "good" person, and gaming offers a consequence-free way to let out your inner asshole.

I mean, do you guys only read books/watch movies centered around "good" people, too?

i know what you mean.. but i always tend to play the "good" way first then the bad after.. but i think i'm going to start killing people and throw it all off and beat the game as a "neutral"

 

[Gumby04]

anyone have troubles with setting the brightness on the 360 version? Maybe its just the lighting in the game but I find some things WAY to bright and other things WAY to dark.

i put on the dark(game) setting on my tv.. and the bright setting on the game.. seems to look pretty good

 

[Giganticus]

Incidentally, it's crazy how I've been creating my own fun by "nesting" within my house. Even though there's no logical reason to do this, I store different items in different lockers/containers :lol :lol :lol Weapons in one, apparel in another, schematic supplies in a third (surgical tubing, pilot light, etc.), and excess food and nuka cola in the fridge.

I bought the Love Nest theme for the house in Megaton and collected all the Pre-War money I could and piled it on top of the heart shaped bed you get in the main room. I also got hold of some silky nightwear stuff and some sunglass, then take 20 Jet. I'm a playa.

 

[Gumby04]

Megaton Spoilers

Spoiler

BTW, not everyone dies from the nuke. That weird ass chick that's writing the book is turned into a ghoul, I found her wandering around the wreckage :X. You can still do her quests and the VA doesn't even change, haha. She goes to Rivet City. So, I'm kinda glad I didn't murder and loot everyone first? Okay, no, I'm not.

god dammit..

Spoiler

i kept her alive but kick the shit outta him..

 

[Gumby04]

haha this is what I'm doing right now as well. Only 4 or so hours in and I find myself role playing in this game more than in any other I've played. I'm running around being a goody two shoes specializing in small arms running around looking like a cowboy

Spoiler

Simms died so I had to take over

. I'm usually the guy who kills everyone but here I have barely even stealing items. Although I do lockpick my way into everything.

I just wish that you could change your position in the world. Seems like everyone just thinks of you as the outsider from the Vault. Still having a lot of fun with this game and I love the combat. I just think of it as any other rpg with non random encounters. I have so much agility I can use Vats all the time. I need to with my shitty armor haha.

I can't wait to play it a second time and go with a very dumb and melee focused character.

when does

Spoiler

he get shot.. cause i want the bobblehead in his house

 

[beelzebozo]

i just have an inborn aversion to acting like a cocksucker. it doesn't even set well with me in games.

 

[Haunted]

I'll be honest, this game is basically Oblivion + post-apocalyptic wasteland

Spoiler

- the biggest change is probably VATS, which gives more options in combat situations.

I'm loving it. This is totally making my GOTY list.

i just have an inborn aversion to acting like a cocksucker. it doesn't even set well with me in games.

You and me both.

Spoiler

Well, I did just blow up Megaton, but only because it was a quest! And I'm still being nice and polite in conversations and everything.

*cough*

 

[Cornballer]

when does

Spoiler

he get shot.. cause i want the bobblehead in his house

Megaton spoilers:

Spoiler

If you talk to Burke, then explain to Simms what Burke said, the two of them get in an argument and Burke shoots Simms. You can then loot his corpse and grab the bobblehead from his house.

 

[GDJustin]

I play a good character in games like this because I'm projecting myself onto my in-game avatar, I think. Not consciously, certainly. It just... happens. I even made my character look like me, just with a completely badass beard (I'm assuming everyone in the post-apocalyptic future is rocking badass facial hair).

When I play Fallout 3 - when I make dialogue decisions, or am otherwise presented with true "choice" - I chose the option that I would choose if I were actually in that situation. I'm not making a conscious decision to play the game as "myself." It just never crosses my mind to think "How would my character handle this situation?" - instead, I just handle it in the manner that I think I would handle it.

I'm dropping myself into the game world - I'm not playing as someone else, with different priorities or morals than I have.

 

[Solo]

i just have an inborn aversion to acting like a cocksucker. it doesn't even set well with me in games.

As far as Im concerned, anyone who hasnt experienced KotOR 1 and Mass Effect on the "dark" side, hasnt really experienced either of those game to their fullest.

 

[Gumby04]

I play a good character in games like this because I'm projecting myself onto my in-game avatar, I think. Not consciously, certainly. It just... happens. I even made my character look like me, just with a completely badass beard (I'm assuming everyone in the post-apocalyptic future is rocking badass facial hair).

When I play Fallout 3 - when I make dialogue decisions, or am otherwise presented with true "choice" - I chose the option that I would choose if I were actually in that situation. I'm not making a conscious decision to play the game as "myself." It just never crosses my mind to think "How would my character handle this situation?" - instead, I just handle it in the manner that I think I would handle it.

I'm dropping myself into the game world - I'm not playing as someone else, with different priorities or morals than I have.

i usually do the same... just think how i would handle it

 

[Nose Master]

Playing bad is more fun because you can't or don't want to do them in real life. You wouldn't want to

Spoiler

nuke an entire town

in real life, but it sure was fun in game.

I need to get to the main quest. I've been just dicking off in the wastelands. You run into such cool random events:

Spoiler

I was wandering around and these two NPCs ran by me at full speed, and wouldn't acknowledge me when I tried chasing them down and talking to them. Eventually she ran into a mini-dungeon shop and I cornered her... then I noticed the giant fucking mutant chasing them. It was the biggest enemy I've seen so far... looked like a demon, I forget the name. I killed it with half of my assault rifle ammo, and got some loot that's worth a shitton. The girl finally opened a dialogue tree, thanking me. Then I put a grenade in her pocket.

 

[Gumby04]

Megaton spoilers:

Spoiler

If you talk to Burke, then explain to Simms what Burke said, the two of them get in an argument and Burke shoots Simms. You can then loot his corpse and grab the bobblehead from his house.

Spoiler

and where is burke located so i can start them fighting.. are there any advantages to keeping the sheriff alive?

 

[Cornballer]

Spoiler

and where is burke located so i can start them fighting.. are there any advantages to keeping the sheriff alive?

Spoiler

He's in the bar and he'll flag you down when you walk in to make his proposal. Not sure if there are advantages to keeping Simms alive because he was dead pretty quickly in my play through. (I wanted his items.)

 

[Hunter D]

Has anyone been able to set keys to their mice? I have a 5 button mouse and can't set anything to the 3 extra buttons. I would love to have duck and vats set to work on my mouse.

 

[Juice]

Trying to decide on a

Spoiler

theme

to buy for my

Spoiler

house

. Anyone got screens of the different ones?

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

Quick question: Friend of mine wants Fallout 3 on the 360 for the achievement whoring goodness, does the PC version have achievements too?

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

As far as Im concerned, anyone who hasnt experienced KotOR 1 and Mass Effect on the "dark" side, hasnt really experienced either of those game to their fullest.

That's next for me. Completed KoTOR 1&2 recently as a goodie two-shoes and i'm going back into them soon to be a right evil git. Especially after seeing Vestas and Kreia going all out with Force Lightning, i want some of that!
I'll end up playing this as a good guy first time through. Unless it's scripted as such i just can't quite get my head around how to be really evil in a game. I always drift back towards doing good things but if Fallout 3 is as good as it sounds then i think i'll be going back into it afterwards to cause grief and distress in the world. With gusto

sionyboy, yes. The PC has acheivements, it says on the back of the box and it's multicore friendly.

 

[GDJustin]

Quick question: Friend of mine wants Fallout 3 on the 360 for the achievement whoring goodness, does the PC version have achievements too?

Yes.

 

[Burger]

I play a good character in games like this because I'm projecting myself onto my in-game avatar, I think. Not consciously, certainly. It just... happens. I even made my character look like me, just with a completely badass beard (I'm assuming everyone in the post-apocalyptic future is rocking badass facial hair).

When I play Fallout 3 - when I make dialogue decisions, or am otherwise presented with true "choice" - I chose the option that I would choose if I were actually in that situation. I'm not making a conscious decision to play the game as "myself." It just never crosses my mind to think "How would my character handle this situation?" - instead, I just handle it in the manner that I think I would handle it.

I'm dropping myself into the game world - I'm not playing as someone else, with different priorities or morals than I have.

That's exactly it, I'm playing like I would be myself, if I was in the game, and not a total pussy. That's more fun for me than playing like a dickhead. Maybe on a second play through I could be an asshole to see what it's like

 

[bdouble]

Has anyone been able to set keys to their mice? I have a 5 button mouse and can't set anything to the 3 extra buttons. I would love to have duck and vats set to work on my mouse.

ahaha I had the same problem and couldn't figure it out. On the lower right you can pick the input "device" It goes through mappings for keyboard, mouse and joystick.

 

[Hunter D]

ahaha I had the same problem. Wanted my VATS, reload and use put on my mouse but for the life of me couldn't figure it out. I was like wtf kind of PC port is this or is it my Razer drivers. Its easy. On the lower right you can pick the input "device" It goes through mappings for keyboard, mouse and joystick.

Nice and inefficient.

 

[GDJustin]

Although my first playthrough is going to be a projection of myself as I outlined earlier, Fallout 3 might just be the first game I replay, with the intention of actually roleplaying. I never replay games... ever. There's just too many new releases. But I'm genuinely curious so see if any/all of the following builds could make it, in Capital Wasteland.

I don't even care if the build turns out to be impossible - in some ways, that might sort of be the point. These guys won't be me, after all. I just want to see whether these individuals could survive, out in the wild:

- A complete and total meathead. A muscle-bound idiot. No speech or intelligence, but maxed Endurance and Strength. No guns (his fingers are too fat and slow to work them), no stealth, no lockpicking or science. Always selecting the most direct dialogue options "Hey shut the fuck up and tell me what you want me to do." Hopefully he'd get his hands on the sledgehammer ASAP.

- A Ninja. Maxed agility and stealth. Pickpockets for what he needs. Lockpick expert. SILENT WEAPONS ONLY. That means melee, until he can get his hands on Burke's silenced pistols.

- Rico Suave. Is it possible to talk your way through the WHOLE game? Combat-free? Or at least running from the combat the game forces on you? Max Charisma & Speech. Lie to complete as many missions as you can. Perks in Lady's Man, the one that opens up new children's dialogue, etc. I like the idea of him running away from every Molerat, Radscorpion, Super Mutant, and Raider he ever encounters :lol

 

[Darklord]

If the combat is disc rolled does that mean you can run up to a guy with a shotgun, fire and still miss?

 

[Hunter D]

How can I screen shot?

 

[GDJustin]

If the combat is disc rolled does that mean you can run up to a guy with a shotgun, fire and still miss?

I'm not positive, but it seems to be trajectory-based. I've aimed at someone's head in VATS before when it was like a 50% chance to hit. The shot missed his head, but hit his torso. Other times it would indeed miss completely. I've had several experiences like that. A lot percent chance to hit a Mutants arm actually ended up hitting them in the head.

In non-VATS combat, your skill level with that weapon determines how wildly your shots vary. With a very high skill, they'll land right where the reticle is. With a low skill, they'll land anywhere within a wide radius around the reticle.

So, a point-blank shotgun blast could conceivably miss, but that isn't very likely. Much more likely is that it's going to fuck up that enemy pretty badly, one way or another. Pretty much like real life, come to think of it.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Although my first playthrough is going to be a projection of myself as I outlined earlier, Fallout 3 might just be the first game I replay, with the intention of actually roleplaying. I never replay games... ever. There's just too many new releases. But I'm genuinely curious so see if any/all of the following builds could make it, in Capital Wasteland.

I don't even care if the build turns out to be impossible - in some ways, that might sort of be the point. These guys won't be me, after all. I just want to see whether these individuals could survive, out in the wild:

- A complete and total meathead. A muscle-bound idiot. No speech or intelligence, but maxed Endurance and Strength. No guns (his fingers are too fat and slow to work them), no stealth, no lockpicking or science. Always selecting the most direct dialogue options "Hey shut the fuck up and tell me what you want me to do." Hopefully he'd get his hands on the sledgehammer ASAP.

- A Ninja. Maxed agility and stealth. Pickpockets for what he needs. Lockpick expert. SILENT WEAPONS ONLY. That means melee, until he can get his hands on Burke's silenced pistols.

- Rico Suave. Is it possible to talk your way through the WHOLE game? Combat-free? Or at least running from the combat the game forces on you? Max Charisma & Speech. Lie to complete as many missions as you can. Perks in Lady's Man, the one that opens up new children's dialogue, etc. I like the idea of him running away from every Molerat, Radscorpion, Super Mutant, and Raider he ever encounters :lol

awesome, awesome ideas!

 

[Gumby04]

Spoiler

He's in the bar and he'll flag you down when you walk in to make his proposal. Not sure if there are advantages to keeping Simms alive because he was dead pretty quickly in my play through. (I wanted his items.)

wait.. we ARE talking about megaton right.. cause i've been in the bar a few times

Spoiler

and nobody flagged me down