Poll: Hardcore/New Game on Fallout: New Vegas

[RuralGamer]

So I've been considering a new game on New Vegas for a while doing hardcore because, well I haven't achieved it yet; I tried once before and it was ok, except for the incessant companion deaths, which made me give up around the time I reached the strip. Basically, I have decided to do another run and was wonder what builds people would recommend; I've been using High Intelligence builds basically since I started Fallout 3, but I've been curious what else works.

Last time I did it, my build was something like this;
S - 5
P - 2
E - 5
C - 5
I - 10
A - 8
L - 5

I was going for a VATS heavy character and using Trigger Discipline and Good Natured.

What would you recommend for a Hardcore playthrough.

Oh and who should I work for?

 

[RuralGamer]

Anyone?

 

[Gauntes]

I found it easier to work for NCR

I also would recommend that you don't dump one of your stats for the sake of another one

 

[JemothSkarii]

Trigger Discipline...Gun wielding character...with a Perception of 2? I guess you could even it out with ED-E and some other things, but still.
Played through Hardcore in my first playthrough, worked for Caesar's Legion, I just found them...useful, and the Dam with them at the end just felt easier than going AGAINST the Legion.
Though admittedly I talked the final guy out of it.

If you want to use a guns character, put some Perception into him, if you're going for a heavy guns character, put some into Endurance and Strength, probably about 6 or 7.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Well for starters you should never make one of your SPECIAl 10 at the start, there are ways in the game to increase it so it's a bit of a waste.

Also if you plan on making a guns/speech heavy character, take some points out of strength, endurance and intelligence and put them in perception.

While playing I advise you increase your survival skill too as it will help with dehydration and huner, and allow you to make some nice food. Also you'll want to stock up on stimpaks, when your companions get poisoned by a cazador, keep giving them stimpaks until the poison subsides.

 

[JochemDude]

Well you should decide what weapons your going to use, which is kinda determined by wether you use the Cowboy or Grunt perk (cowboy is revolvers, lever action rifles and machetes and Grunt is pretty much anything NCR soldiers can spawn with Service rifle etc) I would take Grunt since you aim at getting the Survivalist Rifle (from the Honest Hearts dlc) which does some insane damage and is remarkably accurate with the Grunt perk (25% extra damage) it becomes a death machine.

Just do some research on what you want at the Wiki: The Vault, there isn't a thing Fallout related that you can't find there.

I normally hang with the NCR, my moral would hang more towards Yes Man, but that ending is very bad (I hate robots).

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I can't be sure, but I'm thinking Charisma isn't really up to much, if you've got a high speech, most people will bend over backwards for you with 1 Charisma. So I'd drop the points in that and bring Perception up to at least 5.

Also I'd drop Int to 9, and buy the implant later on for 4000 caps.

From what I've heard, however, hardcore mode is more irritating than actually difficult, but each to their own

 

[Aetera]

The Legion, definitely. Personally, I'm a sucker for proper Latin pronunciation. The second that I heard "Aa-wey. True to Kai-sar." I knew who I was siding with. Do iiiitttt. I mean, if nothing else, the uniforms are snazzy. And Vulpes has the best voice ever.

If I remember correctly, the last time I played on hardcore mode I made a 9 strength(then implant to 10) 9 endurance(also later got an implant to make it 10) character that specialized in sneaking and melee. As soon as I finished the kind-of-tutorial, I snuck up to Chance's grave and got that god-mode knife. I dumped my points into sneak, melee, speech, repair, and lockpicking. That was really fun. Hm, I might make a character like that again tomorrow.

I highly recommend trying a melee run-through at least once. It's a lot of fun.
EDIT: Right, I forgot the main reason I chose melee for hardcore mode. Ammo has weight.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I think caesars legion has the most benefit if you look at things purely from the power gamers perspective.

The caesars favor gives you a bunch of free drugs and doctors packs and other shit every game week. Which I think is the best 'benefit' from picking a side.

Oh and go energy weapons, you can nick stuff from the van graffs shop rather easily by dragging the items into the bathroom before you steal them. Your allowed to drag items new vegas without being declared a thief for some reason. Which means FREE PLASMA CASTER!!

edit: Luck is a very important stat considering how much money you can make with it and it increases your chance for crits. I would reccomend at least luck 7. which can be made 8 with the implant and then you can get another +1 from the lucky shades which you get from caesars legion in their safehouse if your favor is high enough and somewhere in the game is special naughty nightwear that increases your luck+1 as well although i have never found it. Take the points from charisma. Id go for charisma 1 to get your luck higher. If your worried about speech checks it doesnt really affect the speech skill aside from it having a low starting value, and nerve aint that amazing. Endurance should probably be a bit higher too since thats going to affect how many implants you can get from the doctor. I think at least 7 endurance would be good.

 

[Kapol]

Do NOT start out with any slot at 10. It's better to have them all where you can increase them with the various methods, such as the augmentations you can buy to increase each special by 1.

Other then that... Hardcore isn't that hard. Keep a lot of water on you, and make sure to use other healing items and such before you're too low. I just gave up on taking companions with me. Though I was on hard, so the difficulty would likely make them alright if it's lower.

Anyways, I normally stick with NCR. But that's just me.

EDIT: Also, you're going to want a decent Strength level. It may not seem like much, but ammo adds up QUICKLY in hard core mode. Especially if you use energy weapons at all. Most of the time when I'm going out after taking care of my inventory, my ammo weighs more then half of the weight I'm carrying.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, since you've played the game before, you'd know where to buy those implants.

It's possible to run to vegas at level 1 to grab that intelligence implant (after gambling a bit), so at the least reduce intelligence to 9.

Other than that, hardcore isn't a big deal .. just store all your extra stuff (such as ammo) in your house.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I like your SPECIAL build, although I would drop Intelligence to 9.

For faction, NCR is easiest as they control most of the Mojave anyway.

For weapons, just use guns. Also, keep your companions back and they can be a HUGE help.

Once you get to McCarran, go to the Mess Hall and stock up on Maize. Best. Food. Ever.

Also, if you find your ammo and food weighing you down too much, get a companion and use them as a pack animal.

 

[putowtin]

True to Ceasar!
if going hard core make sure your intelligence is 8 or 9 (the implant is a great optional extra once you get to vegas) keep yourself stocked up on water and don't try and hoard anything (I know we all start hoarding in New Vegas but you won't have the space and you don't need those rusty tin cans!)

 

[Zeema]

S - 5
P - 2
E - 5
C - 5
I - 10
A - 8
L - 5

NO [slaps him] NEVER PUT 10 INTO A SPECIAL

ill explain you can Buy Implants so save that point for something else. if you use guns put some into Agility about 7 will do then grab the Trait 'Small Frame' gives you +1 agility at the expense of easily crippled limb.

use points for Luck [the left over ones] so shud be about 7 taking 1 away from Intelligence and Agility. now get to Idolised rep with Legion best way is to use a silenced gun and kill NCR troppers and take there dogtags. then at Cottonwood Cove there is a guy callled something Phoenix he will take your dog tags.

when your at the fort talk to lucius he will give you a key to safe house [ONLY IF Idolised] go to the safe house [SE of Nipton] and grab whatever u want and there shud be some Glasses 'Lucky Shades' on the bed GRAB IT.

then go to Mick and Ralphs and buy 'naughty Nightwear'. Then go to Camp Maccaren and take the monorail [use stealth if needed].

then go to any Casino and equip Lucky shades and the Night wear they give u 1 plus to luck

so you luck would be 9 with that stuff equipped then go Gambling u will win lots of money

the go to the Gun Runners and buy Guns and implants make sure to go to ALL casinos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR

buy the Silenced pistol in good springs [or steal it] buy ammo for it and kill people that are not named eg NCR Trooper or Good Springs Settler. More EXP for you also NEVER BUY Swift Learner its a waste and the same with 'Here and Now'. when u get the 10mm pistol talk to Alexander at the 115 trading post and he will give u a 10mm pistol silencer attachment. USE IT WELL

then continue to kill people without names. DONT kill people that have names 'Trudy, The King, Canyon Runner' examples. you will have alot of ammo and caps this way and dogtags

thats just stuff i do

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

ill explain you can Buy Implants so save that point for something else. if you use guns put some into Agility about 7 will do then grab the Trait 'Small Frame' gives you +1 agility at the expense of easily crippled limb.

Small frame on hardcore? No way. The crippled limbs are bad enough as it is. Its not worth it when you can simply take a perk to boost your agility as high as you need and drugs for the other specials to cover your weaknesses.

Also yeah, I missed the I-10. Dont put any stat on 10.