Character creation (Fallout 3)



A character build is any one of thousands of possible fallout 3 maxed level (20) characters. Strategic planning on the part of the player to develop a set of traits to their fullest potential, creates a "type" of build. Its hard to quantify a character build as they all have their own merits and sacrifices. In this list the only judgments are playstyles: Diplomat, Sniper, Brawler, Thief, ect.

Character Build Format

 * List your character from lvl 1-20 and give as much detail per level as to which perks and skills to select
 * Please also list your initial, and end-game SPECIAL stats.
 * Users can take advantage of the specialized character template: Template:FO3 user generated character build.

Opinions

 * Note that the character builds listed here are various people's opinions of what makes a good character.
 * Please don't edit them, just add your own.

Character Build: Bloodwars' Non-VATS General-use
Melee/Ranged General-use Notes: This is a purely non-VATS build that works well with mods like Mart's Mutant Mod,
 * In case there are questions about my builds having low intelligence, I've done some research into why 3 Intelligence is a good idea©.
 * Important information on skill point increases
 * Note: the 10 Agility in this build is for alternative AP use mods like Sprint Mod and Bullet Time. Agility also affects Sprint Mod run speed.
 * and alternative AP use mods like Sprint Mod and Bullet Time.

Character Build: Bloodwars' Ninja
Ninja/Unarmed
 * In case there are questions about my builds having low intelligence, I've done some research into why 3 Intelligence is a good idea©.
 * Important information on skill point increases


 * You lose out on Child at Heart, Robotics Expert, and Adamantium Skeleton for Rank 3 Iron Fist...
 * Paralyzing Palm Works best with Plunkett's Valid Points due to the VERY low AP, Unfortunately a
 * perk has to be thrown away to obtain them, but at least you get some caps for your trouble.

Character Build: Bloodwars' Tank
Tank/Demolitions
 * In case there are questions about my builds having low intelligence, I've done some research into why 3 Intelligence is a good idea©.
 * Important information on skill point increases

Character Build: Bloodwars' Sniper
Stealth/Sniper
 * In case there are questions about my builds having low intelligence, I've done some research into why 3 Intelligence is a good idea©.
 * Important information on skill point increases

Notes: You can switch Commando with Gunslinger and use Blackhawk, Dart Gun or unique energy pistols -
 * or stay with commando and use Lincoln's Repeater, The Terrible Shotgun , or a Scoped Gauss Rifle.

Character Build: AshRandom's Rambo
Grenadier, Sniper, & Bruiser


 * 1) --start--
 * 2) Intense Training(2):+1ST
 * 3) Intense Training(2):+1AG
 * 4) Comprehension(4), IN 4
 * 5) Intense Training(2):+1PE
 * 6) Gunslinger(6)
 * 7) Toughness(6), EN 5
 * 8) Commando(8)
 * 9) Demolition Expert-I(6), Explosives 50
 * 10) Demolition Expert-II(6), Explosives 50
 * 11) Demolition Expert-III(6), Explosives 50
 * 12) Silent Running(12), AG 6, Sneak 50
 * 13) Sniper(12), AG 6, PE 6
 * 14) Cyborg(14), Medicine 60, Science 60
 * 15) Finesse(10)
 * 16) Action Boy(16), AG 6
 * 17) Better Criticals(16), PE 6, LK 6
 * 18) Concentrated Fire(18), Small Guns 60%, Energy Weapons 60%
 * 19) Intense Training(2):+1LK
 * 20) Grim Reaper's Sprint(20)
 * Beginning Stats: 6,3,7,1,9,8,6 -- 81AP, 6% crit
 * Final Stats: 8,6,8,2,10,10,10 -- 140AP, 18% crit, +50% crit-dmg, +60% frag-dmg, +31DR
 * bobbleheads:+1ST,+1PE,+1EN,+1CH,+1IN,+1AG,+1LK
 * intense training: +1ST, +1PE, +1AG, +1LK
 * ant sight:+1PE
 * Ranger Battle Armor:+1LK
 * Lucky 8 Ball:+1LK
 * Ledoux's Hockey Mask:+25AP
 * Survival Guru:+3% crit / +6DR
 * Barkskin:+5DR

Character Build: AshRandom's Kenshiro
Ninja Warrior


 * 1) --start--
 * 2) Intense Training(2):+1PE
 * 3) Intense Training(2):+1AG
 * 4) Comprehension(4), IN 4
 * 5) Iron Fist-I(4)
 * 6) Iron Fist-II(4)
 * 7) Iron Fist-III(4)
 * 8) Gunslinger(6)
 * 9) Commando(8)
 * 10) Finesse(10)
 * 11) Toughness(6), EN 5
 * 12) Silent Running(12), AG 6, Sneak 50
 * 13) Sniper(12), AG 6, PE 6
 * 14) Cyborg(14), Medicine 60, Science 60
 * 15) Intense Training(2):+1ST
 * 16) Action Boy(16), AG 6
 * 17) Better Criticals(16), PE 6, LK 6
 * 18) Paralyzing Palm(18), Unarmed 70
 * 19) Intense Training(2):+1LK
 * 20) Ninja(20), Melee Weapons 80, Sneak 80
 * Beginning Stats: 6,3,7,1,9,8,6 -- 81AP, 6% crit
 * Final Stats: 8,6,8,2,10,10,10 -- 140AP, 18% crit, (33% hth-crit), +50% crit-dmg, +15 hth-dmg, +31DR
 * bobbleheads:+1ST,+1PE,+1EN,+1CH,+1IN,+1AG,+1LK
 * intense training: +1ST, +1PE, +1AG, +1LK
 * ant sight:+1PE
 * Ranger Battle Armor:+1LK
 * Lucky 8 Ball:+1LK
 * Ledoux's Hockey Mask:+25AP
 * Survival Guru:+3% crit / +6DR
 * Barkskin:+5DR

Character Build: Riff Raff's Sniper Bitch

 * Gender: Female
 * Karma: Evil - Very Evil
 * SPECIAL | Start | Final
 * Strength | 8 | 10
 * Perception | 7 | 10
 * Endurance | 5 | 6
 * Charisma | 1 | 2 --> She's a bitch, remember.
 * Intelligence | 8 | 9
 * Agility | 6 | 8
 * Luck | 5 | 9

Level. Perk
 * NA
 * 1) Intense Training (+1 ST)
 * 2) Black Widow
 * 3) Educated
 * 4) Comprehension
 * 5) Toughness
 * 6) Intense Training (+1 AG)
 * 7) Strong Back
 * 8) Commando
 * 9) Finesse
 * 10) Intense Training (+1 LK)
 * 11) Silent Running
 * 12) Sniper
 * 13) Bloody Mess
 * 14) Cyborg
 * 15) Action Girl
 * 16) Better Criticals
 * 17) Demolition Expert
 * 18) Pyromaniac
 * 19) Grim Reaper's Sprint
 * Bobbleheads:+1ST,+1PE,+1EN,+1CH,+1IN,+1AG,+1LK
 * Intense Training: +1ST, +1AG, +1LK
 * Ant Sight:+1PE
 * Ranger Battle Armor:+1LK
 * Lucky 8 Ball:+1LK
 * Various Head Gear:+1PE
 * Survival Guru:+3% crit / +6DR OR Dream Crusher if you want to keep in character
 * Barkskin:+5DR

Character Build: Nux's Maximum Build
Maximum SPECIAL/Skills


 * This is my attempt to build a Fallout 3 Character that has maxed out Skills and nearly maxed out SPECIAL based on the research done in Talk:Fallout 3 SPECIAL
 * Once your skills are maxed out, you can play this character in nearly every play style, but the equipment and perks lend itself to rifles or Big Guns. Any "two handed Weapon" used in vats will be phenomenally successful.
 * The crucial thing to remember with this build is that it relies of collecting all the skill books in the game, and read them all after getting the Comprehension perk at level 4
 * If you collect every book and bobblehead in the game, you only need to allocate 45 points to each of your skills.
 * After reading User:Bloodwars I've reduced the builds Intelligence to 4, which is the bare minimum, in favor of some more Endurance
 * I've been debating switching out Scrounger for Bloody Mess. Having extra ammo is always useful, especially if you're playing on a higher difficulty level. Also, the wording behind Bloody Mess is a bit unclear. If it is simply a base 5% damage modifer, then it's worth having, but if it is actually a +5 to all weapon skills (Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Explosives, Melee Weapons, Small Guns and Unarmed), it's not worth taking.
 * In future Fallout 3 downloadable content, the level cap may be raised. In that case, this build will become even more powerful, allowing for more perks, and possible maximization of SPECIAL
 * This build is a work in progress. Any help improving it would be much appreciated.

Here's the boring math behind the build

Skill point Calcucation:

Points Need: 250

Excess Points: 60

Goal Reached by level 14

Character Build: Ashran's Gun Guy
Gun Guy Notes: This build uses higher intelligence to allow for more skill point early on, and makes it so finding ALL the books is unnecessary (Let's be honest, you'd rather be doing something else). You don't need to carry a lot of weapons because you're good at everything (Both rifles and pistols, energy and small guns). By level 14 you are incredibly powerful.

Character Build: Some Sort's Swashbuckler
Swords, stealth, and pistols


 * I love overpowering characters, but despise the tedium of min/maxing and book hunting- this build is designed to achieve the former without resorting the latter. Divide your skills into primary, secondary, and tertiary categories. Your primary skills are your bread and butter- either Small Guns, Energy Weapons, or Melee (pick one of the three), Sneak, Lockpick, and Speech. Your secondary skills are nice skills you use a lot, but not quite as frequently as your primaries- whichever two damage skills you didn't choose for your primary, Big Guns, repair, medicine, explosives. Tertiary skills are the skills you couldn't possibly care less about- Barter, Science, and Unarmed.
 * The goal is to get all of your primary skills to 70 without bobbleheads or books and all of your tertiary skills to 40. This will enable you to max out your primaries with very little effort (1 bobblehead and 10 books), while still allowing you to max out your tertiaries if you decide it's suddenly important to you (1 bobblehead and 25 books).
 * For your secondary skills, season to taste. The more you use it, the closer to 70 you should develop it. The less you use it, the closer to 40 you should leave it.
 * There is a lot of flexibility in perks at levels 2, 3, 8, 9, 18, and 19. There simply aren't any standout perks at those levels that are a must for the class. I posted what my personal preferences are, but there's nothing wrong with getting perks like Ladykiller/Black Widow, Child at Heart, Bloody Mess, Demolition Expert 1-3, Animal Friend, Mr. Sandman, or really anything else that floats your boat.
 * If you're really the impatient type, take Swift Learner at levels 2 and 3 and take Here and Now at level 19.
 * The level 20 perk is also up for discussion. If you're having more fun with the Shishkebab than your guns, go with Ninja. If you prefer your guns, go with Grim Reaper's Sprint.
 * Just because I never take Commando doesn't mean I never use 2-handed guns. I just never use them in VATS. The flamethrower/Burnmaster and Eugene provide awesome crowd control, Xuanlang's Assault Rifle chews through enemies, and The Reservist/Victory Rifle give a crushing advantage on the open plains of the wasteland. And best of all, they all shine outside of VATS as much or more than they shine in VATS.

Final Stats: ST 10 PE 6 EN 10 CH 2 IN 10 AG 6 LK 9 520 HP, 107 AP, 77% DR

Character Build: Dcruze's Pacifist
The point of this character is to get through the game without killing anything except the one Radroach you have to kill at age 10. Look at my userpage for a walkthrough on what I did.

Commentary
The attributes you select are arguably more relevant to your playstyle than your character. If you enjoy using V.A.T.S., for instance, you'll want a high Agility, since Agility provides action points for V.A.T.S. If you like melee, you'll want high Strength to increase your melee damage. If you want to play a stealthy character, you'll probably want a high perception. Also your SPECIAL stats determine which Perks you can choose, so if you want Mysterious Stranger then you must have a high Luck.

It may seem unintuitive based on conventions established in prior Fallout games and other RPGs, but the primary function of attributes (aside from determining perk eligibility) is controlling specific aspects of the game that are not really related to your character, such as the user-interface (V.A.T.S. and compass detection, for instance). To approach the issue from another angle, to improve one's ability to persuade NPCs or avoid detection, one will be much better off improving the relevant skill directly (Speech and Sneak respectively), rather than an the associated attribute.

Considering this, you may find these attributes appropriate (or not) for varying styles of play:

First-Person Shooter Playstyle
If you're a seasoned FPS gamer and you don't use V.A.T.S., you obviously won't want many points in Agility, though you should note that Light Step and Silent Running (which you may find useful for running and gunning) require six Agility. Luck will be the most useful attribute in combat, as it raises your critical effect chance with all weapons. You may want extra points in Strength so you can worry less about inventory management, and more points in Intelligence to raise your skills. You'll want to make sure to pick up Fortune Finder and Scrounger.

Sniper Playstyle
The traditional Fallout sniper will want to make extensive use of V.A.T.S., and should have an appropriately high Agility attribute. However, with the sniper rifles, the percentage to hit is oddly low, so most will make use of manual-aiming coupled with sneak attacks. With the focus on V.A.T.S., you'll want to plan for the following perks: Action Boy/Girl, Mysterious Stranger, Sniper, Concentrated Fire, Commando and/or Gunslinger, and Grim Reaper's Sprint. Make sure to pick up repair to take care of your weapon (see the special notes about V.A.T.S. regarding condition loss).

Extensive Guide:

Recommended S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats (initially):

5 Strength, 8 Perception, 5 Endurance, 1 Charisma, 6 Intelligence, 7 Agility, 8 Luck

Must Have Perks:

Commando and/or Gunslinger (Commando Recommended), Sniper, Finesse, Better Criticals, Silent Running, Action Boy/Girl, Concentrated Fire, Grim Reaper's Spirit, Wired Reflexes

Recommended Perks:

Black Widow/Lady Killer, Comprehension, Toughness, Bloody Mess, Scrounger, Strong Back, Chemist, Robotics Expert, Mysterious Stranger, Intense Training, Educated

Tag:

Small Guns, Repair, Sneak.

Skills:

Small Guns, Sneak

Armor:

Ranger Armor or Recon Armor (Ranger Recommended)

Weapons:

Sniper Rifle (or variants) Scoped Magnum Since Sniper Rifle ammo is hard to find, using the Hunting Rifle and Combat Shotgun is recommended.

Perfect Sniper Build (for VH)
I didnt really agree with the above build so I thought Id post my own. It should be noted that the Sniper rifles are very hard to hit with on long range because they simply dont hit in the middle of the crosshair when you aim manually you should aim at the torso instead to hit the head (maybe only on PS3). Make sure to grab Lucky Shades or Ranger Battle Armor for +1 luck and finally Lucky 8 Ball to raise your luck score to 10, if you know that you will use the Battle armor the whole time then you can put an extra point into strength or something (im not a too big fan of the looks)

S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (initial) Unlike what I thought when the game was new then Intelligence is basically useless, with comprehension perk you can raise sience up to 100 when you reach lvl 5 (read up on Big Book of Science ). I wrote N/A on strength final score in case you wish to use a perk I wouldnt, otherwise I put all left over perk slots in strength.

Strength 2 (N/A), Perception 9 (10), Endurance 9 (10), Charisma 1 (2), Intelligence 4 (5), Agility 9 (10), Luck 6 (10),

Perks (quest perks included) Ant Might, Barkskin, Survival Expert +3% critical chance, Intense Training Luck 1 (and Strength on rest), Educated (ASAP), Comprehension (Save all books until you get this), Bloody mess (optional, i know alot of people dislike it), Toughness, Scrounger (Sniper ammo is hard to come by), Commando, Finesse, Silent Running, Sniper, Cyborg, Better Criticals, Action boy, Grim Reaper's Sprint

Skills Tag Sneak, Small guns and Repair and max them out. Further you will want to get atleast 75 lockpick, 100 sience (only use books), 60 medicine and put any leftovers into speech. Depending on how many books you wish to track down then you can easily max out all of the skills mentioned, even before level 20, but the sience books will be enough to max all relevant skills.

My Weapons of Choice Ol' Painless Unlike Sniper Rifles this rifle fire exactly in the middle of the crosshair, Ive been able to do fatal headshots from twice the range than Sniper Rifle can effectively hit. A hint for aiming on the very max range is to enter V.A.T.S and aim for the head but do not fire, instead exit V.A.T.S and hold the aim button, you now have a perfectly aimed shot to splatter his brain (very hard to use on moving mobs). Victory Rifle A very good rifle once you have learned how to aim with it, but before that its pratically useless tbh. The Terrible Shotgun For finishing off the critters that get a jump on you.

Stealth / Thief Playstyle
Sneaking around new areas can be a usefull tactic.

A stealthy character will want a high Perception score to get the drop on his/her enemies. Relevant skills include Sneak, Lockpick, and Explosives. You can use that explosives skill to disable traps and use them against your enemies! Be sure to look at the Silent Running and Demolition Expert perks.

Brawler Playstyle
The brawler will want high strength and endurance to prevail in melee combat. Tasty perks include Ninja, Iron Fist, and Toughness, to name a few. In addition to high Unarmed and Melee Weapons skills, you'll want a high Medicine skill to get the most benefit from various chems (particularly stimpaks). Really, anything that increases your healing or smashing abilities will be useful.You may also find the Paralyzing Palm perk useful.

Diplomat Playstyle
A diplomatic character will want high Intelligence to give him/her access to extra special dialogue options. You'll want at least 6 points in Charisma to make sure you get access to the Animal Friend and Master Trader perks. And of course you'll want to dump lots of skill points into Speech to make sure your attempts at diplomacy are mostly successful. Be sure to grab Child at Heart and Lady Killer (for the gents) or Black Widow (for the gals) as soon as you can. You can also use Impartial Mediation to raise your speech by 30 if your karma is neutral, which, if you are a diplomat, it should be. Right?

Mix-and-Match Playstyle
Of course, you can combine any of the elements above to create your own unique style of play. You might want to explore some of the more esoteric perks like Cyborg or Cannibal for inspiration. A well-rounded style of play will probably want to focus more on skills, but a highly-specialized style of play (such as a Ninja) will probably want to focus on perk synergies that grant extra abilities. Feel free to explore!

The following guide gives some advice to keep you flexible for the first levels. It is written for novice players who do not want to commit to a specialized stile of play until getting a grip at the game.

Extensive Guide:

Recommended S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats (initially):

4 Strength, 5 Perception, 6 Endurance, 6 Charisma, 7 Intelligence, 6 Agility, 6 Luck

The reasoning behind these stats is the ability to learn as many perks as possible later on. Intelligence stands out a little in order to provide you with a bit of extra skill points to spend on each level up. The only weak spot is the Strength which is needed for carrying stuff and close combat. Additional points in Strength are easily gained early in the game by the Bobblehead: Strength in Megaton and the Ant Might perk.

Tag:

If not recommended by the G.O.A.T. tag the following skills manually (either by talking to the teacher or when leaving the Vault):

Explosives, Repair, Speech.

Additionally take the Bobblehead: Medicine from the Vault, so you will have all requirements to quickly finish the first simple quests in Megaton.

Your First Skill Points:

Feel free to experiment. In order to hack the first computers and pick the first locks try to boost your Science and Lockpick skills to 25 points. Other than that try to specialize on three to four skills that match your playing style. E.g. if you find yourself not repairing stuff don't boost this skill (and pick perks accordingly).

Your First Perks:


 * Level 2&3: Either choose Daddy's Boy, Gun Nut, Little Leaguer or Thief depending on your gut feeling. Gun Nut is a solid choice for starters. If you already know you want to indulge in a lot of talking, invest one of your perks in Black Widdow
 * Level 4: Educated (more skill points)
 * Level 5: Comprehension (even more skill points for each skill book; save them till you have this perk)

These perks will grant you additional skill points so you will be more flexible in your character development.