NEW VEGAS!

[Dusty Lens]

After testing the water a little I started over with energy weapons. It's much more challenging than simply running about with normal guns, even with a rather kitted out energy armory ammo and damage are always a concern, as such my laser rifle is pretty much the bread and butter of my current setup. Being able to throw a scope on it and a couple other nifty upgrades is helping.

Oh, for people who're having trouble with armor. Armor is when you haul out that plasma rifle... It sucks down ammo like a thirsty something or rather but it's pretty much your best/only method for breaking tanks. Adding a beam splitter to the rifle, remember, increases damage but actually decreases your effectiveness against armor.

Nice thing about energy weapons though? I can get away with a 3 strength initial build without any real penalties. Which is fantastic as this game actually rewards those of us who want to play old fallout style. Lots of speech, science and so on. Those skills really play an epic role in accomplishing quests and such this time around. No more % BS.

Downsides: Hardcore mode doesn't punish you as much as it could, likely to be something I mod up.

Some companions die way too easily, even on normal. Since they die die on hardcore mode I find myself very often leaving my companions behind.

Even with 10 intelligence I gain skillpoints sloooooooowly. I can't imagine how it creeps along for you meatheads.

Not being able to view perks ahead of time, sans manual, makes it difficult to judge which way would be optimal to shift skill points. Powergamer I know LOL.

Upsides: Companion wheel. Hol-e hell. Brilliant.

Environment is still extremely active. Always finding something new. To sum it up for you TES nerds: This game feels like Morrowind, not Oblivion.

Voice acting. Nice.

Companions lend additional atmosphere to the game.

I think it might be possible for me to revisit my FO1 challenge: Beat the game without firing a shot. Once I finish my initial playthrough I'm going to give it a go. I don't know yet... But, damn, if anygame would be built to handle the kind of playstyle where you can sneak, charm and threaten your way to the end movie it'd be this one.