Fallout 4 - it's official! Coming Nov 10, '15

[Mai72]

How does this game play on an onboard Intel based video card. 🙁

 

[werepossum]

Eight hours in I am not that impressed. At least on survival, enemies are bullet sponges. I hate emptying two rounds of twelve gauge into a raider's face at point blank range and finding out that he is merely staggered - usually for less time than it take me to reload. It took me five hours to clean out the Corvega factory - I must have died a hundred times - and I am almost out of fusion cores which I realized too late that they fuel my laser musket as well as my armor as well as stimpacks. The settlement I am defending has literally two people - why would a hundred raiders bother extorting them? I fought a stunted Yao guai for twenty minutes - had a place on a bridge where I could fire my shotgun at point blank but was out of claw range - and had barely damaged it with my whole stash of twelve gauge, almost fifty rounds. I restored a save game and went far, far around it. All those soldiers and no real guns?

Graphics look great from a distance, not so great up close even on Ultra. Faces look particularly horrific. I applaud Bethesda's loyalty, but Todd Howard seriously needs to hire some modders to actually build character models and do animations. Let the existing employees "supervise". While we are at it, it really isn't that difficult to do high res textures and downgrade the consoles - although that might be partially a strategic decision, other games have much better graphics and work just fine on consoles. I also do not like the control changes, although I can probably remap around that.

So far I like the voiced protagonist. However, the supposed reason for that seems to have been ignored. My beloved wife was murdered in front of me, yet my reaction was meh. I am supposedly looking for my son, but with (laughably bad) cryostasis before and after - and why on Earth would I be thawed along with my wife - for all I know, my great great grandchildren have died of old age. The logs I read (food for only six months) support that.

I like the game and look forward to what the modders will make of it. And I do not regret paying full price. But so far, I don't see it as Game of the Year. I am seriously considering stopping until I have played Far Cry 4 now that I have my new video card.

 

[werepossum]

Apparently you can be referred to by name:

http://stevivor.com/2015/11/fallout-4-here-are-the-924-names-codsworth-can-call-you/


Strangely Travis is not on the list even though there is a Travis in-game.

:hmm:

I selected Jacob more or less at random and found that's not on the list either. Luckily I don't care. I also noticed that the couple in front of me were the Whitfields. They had no dialogue, and I am not sure if that is an Easter egg taking my name or pure coincidence.

 

[Mem]

Eight hours in I am not that impressed. At least on survival, enemies are bullet sponges. I hate emptying two rounds of twelve gauge into a raider's face at point blank range and finding out that he is merely staggered - usually for less time than it take me to reload. It took me five hours to clean out the Corvega factory - I must have died a hundred times - and I am almost out of fusion cores which I realized too late that they fuel my laser musket as well as my armor as well as stimpacks. The settlement I am defending has literally two people - why would a hundred raiders bother extorting them? I fought a stunted Yao guai for twenty minutes - had a place on a bridge where I could fire my shotgun at point blank but was out of claw range - and had barely damaged it with my whole stash of twelve gauge, almost fifty rounds. I restored a save game and went far, far around it. All those soldiers and no real guns?

You can change game difficulty, personally I try to keep my distance and snipe or use my 10mm pistol for head shots.
Also remember some mobs are for higher levels, yes some missions and mobs I find too hard, but at level 16 I know I can't beat them all until later when I'm higher up and have better gear etc....



As to power suit I never bother with that, don't need it to be honest.

 

[Face2Face]

How does this game play on an onboard Intel based video card. 🙁

I can't get it too load on my Surface Pro 3, but I think there is a work around.

 

[zinfamous]

Level 7

yeah, that annoyed me as well. I finally started finding more and more 10mm and 45mm stashes once I hit level ~13 or 15, maybe. Depending on the 38 is just terrible, and 308 is far too infrequent. I modified a nice 308 hunting rifle with a pistol grip that gives solid damage, range, and accuracy for low levels, but I was almost always out of ammo to use it.

the 10mm pistol is solid and I'm happy to finally be able to use it. Not sure if the loot scales to your level throughout the world, or if it is simply based on the map area (I assume the former), but ammo is less and less of a problem for me now.

I now have something like 1.2k .38 that I will start selling.

 

[GusSmed]

It took me five hours to clean out the Corvega factory - I must have died a hundred times

There's a trick to the Corvega factory. If you go in any of the major, obvious entrances, you're going to die, because you'll engage 6-7 raiders with no real cover. There's another entrance which is much, much easier, because you'll only deal with groups of 2-3, and you'll have plenty of places to duck back and heal.

That said, I didn't figure that out until after I cleared it the hard way. I found the easier entry point from inside the factory while exploring.

This is actually fairly typical of many of the bigger buildings. Quite a lot of them have alternate entries that are easier than the obvious main entrance.

The double-barreled shotgun is an unfortunate weapon. Leaving aside "realism," the correct way to balance a weapon like that is that it's all about alpha strike. It should be set up so it does a ton of damage in a short amount of time, enough to kill most enemies you meet when you find it, but requires enough time to reload that it's poor against multiple enemies because it doesn't have the sustained firepower of a semi-auto pistol with a decent sized magazine.

That's not how it works, though. Even upgraded it frequently doesn't kill low-level targets if you hit them with both barrels, so you pretty much have to gun-bash after using it or switch to a melee weapon. Sticking around for the reload animation is not a good idea.

Of course, it may be that it's because I'm playing on Hard, and that it works as intended only in Normal difficulty or below.

Aside from plot reasons, it's probable that you got thawed because the people who took your wife used a remote access method that unfroze all the pods, not a specific one. There are lots of references to this in the computers in the Vault.

 

[GusSmed]

I found a suit of Power Armor this morning that was only the frame, no pieces. I didn't realize that for quite a while, though, I just thought it was a particularly funky looking alternate suit until I walked it back to base and discovered I needed to add pieces.

 

[Childs]

When I did the police station mission I got a laser rifle, and its pretty damn good. It seems like the mission weapons are better than anything you can craft so I'm not going to bother with that anymore. Just save the scrap for upgrading the mission weapons. Dont know how many times I'm a screw or two away from something I want, and I dont have it because I upgraded a found weapon.

Whats kinda annoying is when you tag something it doesnt take into account other stuff thats tagged for other parts. So if I had 4 mods tagged I dont know how many screws I actually need. And why the hell are screws so hard to come by? Tons of things are made with screws, and I know I used screws to make mods, but if I scrap it why cant I get those screws back!?! I ran into a traveling merchant and saw that she had a shipment of screws. They're like 60 caps a piece, and she wouldnt piece them out. So the whole shipment was like 1400 caps. WTF! lol

 

[zinfamous]

no dialogue option allows me to request them to gtfo--believe me, I've searched all over.

I've also looked around for a core in their inventory, no dice.

I tried transferring all of the armor pieces to myself, but that doesn't work (it's really a frame, anyway)

I tried telling the jerk to go inspect or hopefully park it at a power armor station, no dice.

All of the armor is shot, so it is basically unequipped in their inventory, anyway. I wonder if it is bugged?

By the way, this issue was "solved" after sending the offending companion back to the drive in when I first picked up

Spoiler

the Super mutant Strong

.

I had initially commanded Preston to enter the suit, but then in the command menu, there was never an option to tell him to leave, though maybe I needed to try the "Activate companion" then back up so that pulsing trigger thingy pops up that allows you to order different types of commands?

I dunno, anyway, I could never access the core when he was in the armor. but when I sent him back, then returned some time later, I found that he had parked the suit outside the gate and then went to take a nap. I could then pull the core. Now, all of the pieces are missing, as they had long-been damaged by a deathclaw. I need to look back over warcrow's video--I thought they could be repaired, but they don't even show up as items when you put the armor in the crafting station.

 

[zinfamous]

I found a suit of Power Armor this morning that was only the frame, no pieces. I didn't realize that for quite a while, though, I just thought it was a particularly funky looking alternate suit until I walked it back to base and discovered I needed to add pieces.

OK, yeah I think that is the same one that I found and put on Preston. It appears to be the default frame, and then the quality of armor (the serial numbers) is determined by each individual piece type--which can then be mixed between suits.

so maybe those pieces were never destroyed/damaged because they were never there?

 

[GusSmed]

I ran into a traveling merchant and saw that she had a shipment of screws. They're like 60 caps a piece, and she wouldnt piece them out. So the whole shipment was like 1400 caps. WTF! lol

Thus you discover the penalty for using Charisma as a dump stat. With Charisma 6, some Grape Mentats, and a couple of Charisma boosting clothing items, I was paying 420 caps for the 25 screw shipment, or 16 caps each.

Which is still high. Generally speaking, you're better off buying globes and typewriters. I'm typically paying 9-10 caps per screw that way even without making an effort to boost my Charisma. The big shipment of screws is for when you really, really need more screws, there isn't any relevant junk for sale, and you've got a lot of extra caps.

Given that in earlier games you were swimming in caps and there was no point in pumping up Barter or taking trading-related perks, this is a good change. Sure, it may feel a little ridiculous, but it means improving your bartering ability actually matters.

Also, it's worth pointing out that you can scrap pipe guns and get a screw and some steel. You have to manually do it at the weapon workbench, since they're not junk. Whether this makes economic sense depends on how bad your Charisma is - I'm better off selling the pistol and then buying junk.

 

[Childs]

Which is still high. Generally speaking, you're better off buying globes and typewriters. I'm typically paying 9-10 caps per screw that way even without making an effort to boost my Charisma. The big shipment of screws is for when you really, really need more screws, there isn't any relevant junk for sale, and you've got a lot of extra caps.

Yeah, I ended up buying the stuff that was tagged with screws. I dont know if I put anything in charisma, maybe a point or two at most. I wasnt sure how to set things up, I just knew in previous games weight was always an issue, so I put like 8 points in strength and 5 or 6 in intelligence, then randomly put a point here or there. This game would be fun without all this RPG crap. :biggrin:

 

[Face2Face]

I killed a Legendary Raider last night and acquired a Rare Never Ending Shotgun. It's basically a shotgun that never has to reload... and it's amazing. The loot is sooo much better than SKYRIM's loot.

 

[shortylickens]

When you start to get better weapons that have mods in them, you can scrap the whole thing at a weapons workstation and get the screws & other stuff. In some cases this is better than selling then hoping you find a trader with good junk.

 

[zinfamous]

I killed a Legendary Raider last night and acquired a Rare Never Ending Shotgun. It's basically a shotgun that never has to reload... and it's amazing. The loot is sooo much better than SKYRIM's loot.

I acquired a never-ending 10mm pistol that way. And now you have reminded me to drag that back out; now that I have the ammo to finally use it.

 

[Dahak]

I thought they could be repaired, but they don't even show up as items when you put the armor in the crafting station.

They can but you need to activate it on the Power Armor Frame and needed I think it is Blacksmithing or Amourer perk to allow the repair. I do not believe you can do it right away

At least I did not notice it until I had a few perks seleceted

.....get the screws & other stuff

Only if you have the required perk, scavenging i believe, otherwise you will only get the base items (steel or what have you)

 

[Tweak155]

I'm only level 10 and I have like 1400 .38 rounds. All I do right now is hoard everything I possibly can. I should probably start setting certain junk aside to sell instead of scrap, but at this point I don't even see a need to do any buying.

That said, I thought one of the advantages of this new crafting style is that work benches share materials between locations. From my experience, this is not the case. It seems like each settlement has its own set of materials and I have to transport stuff to get some junk from one place to another. Is there a way to change this?

Also for the guys that are higher levels, how did you get most your XP? Crafting, questing, etc?

 

[Markbnj]

That said, I thought one of the advantages of this new crafting style is that work benches share materials between locations. From my experience, this is not the case. It seems like each settlement has its own set of materials and I have to transport stuff to get some junk from one place to another. Is there a way to change this?

I think it might be one of the perks you get, Local Leader or something like that, but yeah at least in the beginning the settlements are separate.

 

[Markbnj]

I acquired a never-ending 10mm pistol that way. And now you have reminded me to drag that back out; now that I have the ammo to finally use it.

That seems a little over the top, actually.

 

[sswingle]

I'm only level 10 and I have like 1400 .38 rounds. All I do right now is hoard everything I possibly can. I should probably start setting certain junk aside to sell instead of scrap, but at this point I don't even see a need to do any buying.

That said, I thought one of the advantages of this new crafting style is that work benches share materials between locations. From my experience, this is not the case. It seems like each settlement has its own set of materials and I have to transport stuff to get some junk from one place to another. Is there a way to change this?

Also for the guys that are higher levels, how did you get most your XP? Crafting, questing, etc?

Need the Local Leader Perk, and then you can assign people to trade routes to share resources. Its not perfect, but helps.

 

[Markbnj]

Of course, it may be that it's because I'm playing on Hard, and that it works as intended only in Normal difficulty or below.

I'm playing on Normal and it one-shots most of the low level mobs at level 9. Things like Mole Rats and Mongrel Dogs, Bloatflies, Radroaches, etc.

Also, you're right about the Corvega plant, and I also didn't find that out until forcing a very bloody entrance through the front.

 

[GusSmed]

It seems like each settlement has its own set of materials and I have to transport stuff to get some junk from one place to another. Is there a way to change this?

Local Leader 1 Perk - requires Charisma 6 - lets you set up supply routes. In Workshop mode you select a settler and have them "form supply route," and designate the target. All settlements in a chain share junk, mods, constructs, and aid inventory in the workshop. They don't share weapons or armor, and I wish they did, because it would simplify outfitting remote settlements with equipment.

It's hard to say where the majority of my XP came from at level 26. I think it's mostly quests, but I've leveled up a few times while building housing for settlements.

 

[Mem]

yeah, that annoyed me as well. I finally started finding more and more 10mm and 45mm stashes once I hit level ~13 or 15, maybe. Depending on the 38 is just terrible, and 308 is far too infrequent. I modified a nice 308 hunting rifle with a pistol grip that gives solid damage, range, and accuracy for low levels, but I was almost always out of ammo to use it.

the 10mm pistol is solid and I'm happy to finally be able to use it. Not sure if the loot scales to your level throughout the world, or if it is simply based on the map area (I assume the former), but ammo is less and less of a problem for me now.

I now have something like 1.2k .38 that I will start selling.

You know what I did with my sniper rifle .38mm?..It got modded to a .45mm, so now I've increase damaged and more ammo(almost 1k for .45mm ammo in my inventory).

I just need to test it out now on a suitable target :biggrin: .

 

[Mopetar]

Finding i am running out of 10mm ammo very quickbut have over 500 38 ammo. Guess i gotta start using crappy guns now? I seem so weak as it is, now ill deal less damage?

I was having the same issues, but here are some things I've found that were helpful:

1) Make a .38 automatic weapon with upgrades for low recoil and good at short range, either from the hip or down iron sights. The individual bullets don't do much, but when you can spray out 20 of them and they all connect, you can do some serious damage.

2) Pick up every enemy weapon that drops, especially if it's one with a high clip capacity. I was ignoring weapons for the most part if I already had a similar one with mods, but later discovered that picking up the enemy's gun gives you as many bullets as fit in the clip. For some weapons that's an extra ~40 bullets and adds up quick.

3) Keep something with a lot of power around to start fights off. I was using a sniper weapon to initiate from long range and then switching to something else as enemies got closer. Taking out a huge chunk of life with a sneak attack at the start saves several bullets from your smaller caliber weapons.