The advice thread

[The Jack]

Well the wagons did also have magical energy power cells but I'm pretty sure their quality was a lot higher so they would just have to be replaced maybe every month or year, rather then every so often.

True. I think I can use it anyway; after all, they still have to clean the wagons, eh? =D

Just a note; it's rather surprising how much the stat system can help flesh out a character, IMO.
Does anyone know how the system works for distributing skill points? As in, how many you start with and how many you get each level?

Also, would you guys recommend figuring out all the perks before I start writing? Or atleast the first 10 or something. And should I stick to the ones which the character actually has the stats to get, or do you think it's okay to tweak 'em a bit?

EDIT: Nevermind the formula for skillpoints; I found it. However, I'd like some advice on which I should use; the Fallout 3 formula, which is 10+INT, or the NV formula, which is 10+(INT/2).

[Rippedshadow]

There's some simulators out there, just grab a sheet of paper, write a character name, and start plugging away with them. Here's a Fo3 one: http://planetfallout.gamespy.com/articl ... eator-Tool

And for perks, base them on what your character does. I have gun nut R2 on chapter 2, solely because it was the best option for what my character did: repair and use small guns.

And personalize perks based on character, think he/she could make unique weapons? Toss it in! Have a character-based in joke? Whynaut!

[The Jack]

There's some simulators out there, just grab a sheet of paper, write a character name, and start plugging away with them. Here's a Fo3 one: http://planetfallout.gamespy.com/articl ... eator-Tool

And for perks, base them on what your character does. I have gun nut R2 on chapter 2, solely because it was the best option for what my character did: repair and use small guns.

And personalize perks based on character, think he/she could make unique weapons? Toss it in! Have a character-based in joke? Whynaut!

Whynaut indeed! xD
hmm. Gun nut is PERFECT for my character too. A mechanic who uses guns xD
Hurrrr.... I think I can fit in "Educated" as a trait in some form... (my character is fairly well educated per Wasteland standards, due to father being from a Stable)

Also, using that character creating tool made me realize having a former shop-owner (or atleast the son of one) having a low charisma. xD

[The Jack]

Okay, so, I need some help here.
As a starting trait for my character, I'd very much like for him to have something a la the "Educated" thing that Ochre has in Operation: Flankorage. However, the negative effect of the Flankorage version doesn't fit this character; after all, he grew up in the Wasteland.
I still need a negative effect though; any thoughts on how I can do that?
The in-story reason for how he got that educated is because his dad is a former Stable Dweller, but settled down and passed his knowledge onto Gears.

Maybe I can justify using a lack of survival skills with the fact that he grew up in a town, relatively sheltered? Hmm...And maybe add something like "You cannot start with more than 3 (4?) charisma. Due to having studied for so long, you have simply not developed as many social skills as others!"
Hmm, that would work. Especially since I'm planning to have him have low Charisma anyway. Heh, low-charisma shopkeeper. xD

...
That reminds me; I wonder if I'll be able to write the rather suave Silver Tongue.

[Kashin]

Okay, so, I need some help here.
As a starting trait for my character, I'd very much like for him to have something a la the "Educated" thing that Ochre has in Operation: Flankorage. However, the negative effect of the Flankorage version doesn't fit this character; after all, he grew up in the Wasteland.
I still need a negative effect though; any thoughts on how I can do that?
The in-story reason for how he got that educated is because his dad is a former Stable Dweller, but settled down and passed his knowledge onto Gears.

Maybe I can justify using a lack of survival skills with the fact that he grew up in a town, relatively sheltered? Hmm...And maybe add something like "You cannot start with more than 3 (4?) charisma. Due to having studied for so long, you have simply not developed as many social skills as others!"

Shut in: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Skilled
or Anti social: -10 to speach and - 1 cha for educated (opposed to Ochers -10 survival and -1 str)

Hmm, that would work. Especially since I'm planning to have him have low Charisma anyway. Heh, low-charisma shopkeeper. xD

Ocher: "Welcome to the wasteland egghead's small business association."
...

That reminds me; I wonder if I'll be able to write the rather suave Silver Tongue.

My best advice would be to take your time with her and giver her a degree of unnatural insight into the target's psyche, prereaders to bounce ideas off of help as well.

[Quick Study]

Okay, so, I need some help here.
As a starting trait for my character, I'd very much like for him to have something a la the "Educated" thing that Ochre has in Operation: Flankorage. However, the negative effect of the Flankorage version doesn't fit this character; after all, he grew up in the Wasteland.
I still need a negative effect though; any thoughts on how I can do that?
The in-story reason for how he got that educated is because his dad is a former Stable Dweller, but settled down and passed his knowledge onto Gears.

Maybe I can justify using a lack of survival skills with the fact that he grew up in a town, relatively sheltered? Hmm...And maybe add something like "You cannot start with more than 3 (4?) charisma. Due to having studied for so long, you have simply not developed as many social skills as others!"
Hmm, that would work. Especially since I'm planning to have him have low Charisma anyway. Heh, low-charisma shopkeeper. xD

...
That reminds me; I wonder if I'll be able to write the rather suave Silver Tongue.

You could always save getting educated later as a perk and use some version of Daddy's Boy/Girl from Fallout 3. I did that for mine, but I modified it to provided a bonus to Science and Repair rather then Science and Medicine.

[The Jack]

Okay, so, I need some help here.
As a starting trait for my character, I'd very much like for him to have something a la the "Educated" thing that Ochre has in Operation: Flankorage. However, the negative effect of the Flankorage version doesn't fit this character; after all, he grew up in the Wasteland.
I still need a negative effect though; any thoughts on how I can do that?
The in-story reason for how he got that educated is because his dad is a former Stable Dweller, but settled down and passed his knowledge onto Gears.

Maybe I can justify using a lack of survival skills with the fact that he grew up in a town, relatively sheltered? Hmm...And maybe add something like "You cannot start with more than 3 (4?) charisma. Due to having studied for so long, you have simply not developed as many social skills as others!"

Shut in: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Skilled
or Anti social: -10 to speach and - 1 cha for educated (opposed to Ochers -10 survival and -1 str)

That reminds me; I wonder if I'll be able to write the rather suave Silver Tongue.

My best advice would be to take your time with her and giver her a degree of unnatural insight into the target's psyche, prereaders to bounce ideas off of help as well.

*snaps finger due to sudden idea*
Of course! I know a girl who's pretty much reading my mind all the freakin' time. She's also an excellent writer; I'll just have to throw this story at her 'till she reads it xD
-10 speech and -1 cha sounds like a good tradeoff, but then he'd be stuck with 2 charisma. And he's not THAT bad. xD
But I'll work around that, somehow. xD

EDIT: *Whistles* Taking away 10 points in speech will give him a grand total of 1 skill.
I am not sure if that's even possible to do in the game. xD I'm wondering if this isn't such a good idea after all...
I think something experience related will be much better... I won't be tracking the exact exp, so in effect he'll level up once a chapter anyway. Maybe I'll skip one now and then, but I'm not even sure how long this thing will be.
Hmmmm.

[Kashin]

You could substitute the cha for perception to reflect eye strain

[Quick Study]

Another thing you could do is something like Good Natured and pick half the skills to give +5 to then give -5 to the other half.

[The Jack]

Another thing you could do is something like Good Natured and pick half the skills to give +5 to then give -5 to the other half.

...
Ideeaaaa!
You are brilliant. Thanks! =D

Funny to see how ridiculous some of the skills are. Gears starts out with 41 in both Guns, Repairs AND Science, but pretty much sucks in everything else except for a medium Medicine.
....
That's actually a good thing... I can make the Wasteland force Gears to use the skills he sucks at, just to fuck with him. Hehe.

Also, I have realized that it might just take a hint of sadism to write a really good Fo:E story. xD