Keeping it challenging

Cimmerian Nights · Post by **Cimmerian Nights** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:42 pm

It's been a while but I'm doing a run through FO2. Trying to keep it fresh and challenging.

Besides cranking the difficulties all the way up, what are some ways to handicap yourself? (I do play under the influence, but I mean in-game)

With Max. difficulty and Gifted, I started with some damn abyssmal skills (Doctor was -1!). My barter skill was in the single digits and I don't plan on dumping any points into it, so I haven't purchased anything, and don't plan on it - not one bullet, weapon or piece or armor. Basically I'm restricted to what I loot or get rewarded with. I'm now in the Redding/New Reno/Broken Hills stage of the game and my best weapons are Metzger's shotgun, and the Desert Eagle Mr. Smith gave me outside Vault City! Makes combat a hell of a lot tougher, but I'm wondering how long I can go without buying ammo or more powerfull weapons.

So back to my question, how do you keep it challenging?

Fez · Post by **Fez** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:28 pm

Try breaking all the fingers in your hands, it adds a new challenge to playing. You could also go for playing with no monitor, weasels down your pants, playing with the whole set-up and yourself in a slowly filling bath or while sitting in a chair made of cacti.

I'll think of some more later.

Stainless · Post by **Stainless** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:20 am

restrict yourself to the sawn off, leather jackets, crowbar and only dog NPCs.

Fez · Post by **Fez** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:13 pm

You could try one ammo type only (.45 or 9mm), no energy weapons, no gauss guns, melee only, no PA, mostly or all thrown weapons, etc.

Stainless's suggestion would work well too, making you more like one of the raider NPCs.

You could try unusual character builds too.

If you do come up with one try to stick to it.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:59 pm

Pick the most unlikely choices in the game or ways to solve a quest. Never reload a save to get what u want in a certain situation. Keep pounding the ass untill your penis gets bent, basically.

Nerobob · Post by **Nerobob** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:32 pm

Pick a certain character type, i.e ruthless gangster/ camp disco man/ gun toting raider and fight and make descisions as that persona. I found it quite hard anyway.

Or, have an intelligence of 1.

Twigman · Post by **Twigman** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:32 pm

Actually, the 1 intelligence thing is more fun than it is difficult. With all those extra points taken from intel and charisma, because, less face it, if you're about as smart as a potato, you don't have to be charming, you can pump that into strength. Why bother talking to someone if you can just as easily punch them and make their head explode?

Haris · Post by **Haris** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:55 pm

Combine bruiser with 1 in agilty. Oh the horror.

Twigman · Post by **Twigman** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:42 pm

Maybe hobble your int and cha, and still try to make it through the game w/o fighting?

Lazarus Plus · Post by **Lazarus Plus** » Thu May 12, 2005 3:40 am

I maintain that the hardest way to play through the game is to kill everything and everyone outside of Arroyo, no matter where you meet them or how conveninent it would be to let them live. Kill EVERYTHING. It makes the game surprisingly difficult, especially until you get somewhat decent weapons.

Twigman wrote:Maybe hobble your int and cha, and still try to make it through the game w/o fighting?

If you are going to do that, no naughty using the "0" key to escape unpleasent conversations... I know I did that plenty when dealing with Bishop.

Kalea · Post by **Kalea** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:29 pm

Hi

I new here. I love Fallout, and I hope they continue it.

Anyway.... I haven't found all of the little quirks to this game yet. Like ~ Just what kind of specimen is Dr. Henry (I think that's his name) is looking for. You know that Dr. with the dog in NCR. My character always seems to get her teeth inspected, but she's like totally rejected! What's up with that guy anywayz???

A while back I got myself thrown out of Vault City. No biggie there, right? Anyway, I decided to try to get back in. Everyone knows what happens... But during my unpleasant stay at the customs gate. To my amazment I discovered that the gate itself had some kind of hit numbers on it! I never have found out what can open it. And I have tried just about everything! Dynamite, Plastic, grenades...!!! It's driving me insane! Does anyone know just what those hit numbers are for?

It seems like I am always experimenting with different numbers and strategies. My most recent mission, which isn't completed yet poses my 16 yr. old female character with Str = 10(Amazon type), Pe = 3(blind as a bat), End = 10 ( Just wont quit), Chr = 5(Vault City type ~ I thought if you can't beat them.... yuk!!!), Int -1(The most challenging yet! ~ You won't believe what happens!), Ag = 10 ( with these attributes, she has to run away ~ alot!), LK = 1(with the strength she has, who needs luck!)

Her other traits were Sneaking, Lockpick & Steal. And believe you me, She has to use every one of those to survive!!! Most if not all of the "normal" tasks she doesn't get to do! But that's no biggie either! I didn't want to. I'm looking for a different experience! And so far it's been worth it! And no I didn't get to be a porn star, sniff sniff!!! I did however get the pleasurable experience of being a fluffer, oh yeah!!! Like ~ yah right! If you haven't done this. Which I hadn't, it is worth the experience.

With her IQ being so low one simply has to encounter Sulik, I mean like that is so hilarious!!!! His advice to her is a priceless jewel!!!

And last... I know I go on and on... I'm sorry! Anyway... Does anyone know what that book, The Lavender Flower is for? I mean like what's it's purpose in the game? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Kalea

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:01 pm

Haven't played the game for a couple of years, so I could remember wrong.

To my amazment I discovered that the gate itself had some kind of hit numbers on it! I never have found out what can open it. And I have tried just about everything! Dynamite, Plastic, grenades...!!! It's driving me insane! Does anyone know just what those hit numbers are for?

If I recall correctly you can't open the gate yourself. Get yourself a daypass or citizenship. Steal one from the guard, for example.

Does anyone know what that book, The Lavender Flower is for? I mean like what's it's purpose in the game?

If you found a book in the Den, it's a quest item. You have to return it to someone, can't remember who. Although, I'm not sure if you can get the quest playing a low-intelligence character.

Str = 10(Amazon type), Pe = 3(blind as a bat), End = 10 ( Just wont quit), Chr = 5(Vault City type ~ I thought if you can't beat them.... yuk!!!), Int -1(The most challenging yet! ~ You won't believe what happens!), Ag = 10 ( with these attributes, she has to run away ~ alot!), LK = 1(with the strength she has, who needs luck!)

That looks like a difficult character to play with. While playing a low IQ character can be fun, it's more challenging because INT is without doubt the superior attribute in the game. High INT opens more options to solve quests and you gain a lot of skill points each time you level up. Focusing on unarmed/melee instead of firearms is a slightly more difficult path, but yet more enjoyable especially with the Slayer perk. Anyway, beating the game this way is much more interesting than it is playing with an all-around character.

porksoda · Post by **porksoda** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:45 am

VasikkA wrote: If I recall correctly you can't open the gate yourself. Get yourself a daypass or citizenship. Steal one from the guard, for example.

Just recently I tried playing through the games again with a character that possessed the brainpower of a ripened banana. In Vault City I was mistaken for a potential "servant," and was sent up to the Vault to do some sweeping.. They only let me in like that once, though, so I had to go on a killing spree to get back into the city.. And yes, you can open that door once the guards go down.

I really gotta say that going through the game with a really stupid character was a whole lot funner than I had imagined it would be.. some of the conversation response choices are pure comedy gold.

Surlyben · Post by **Surlyben** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:20 am

Don't kill anything. (Well, until you get to the end, then you kind of have to. It's possible to finish with only Horrigan on your kill counter, though. He shows up even if you never fire a shot.)

ApTyp · Post by **ApTyp** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:51 pm

Are there any zero-kill walkthrough guides for FO2?

fallout ranger · Post by **fallout ranger** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:09 am

limit your carry weight to 100 lbs or so, it makes it a bitch to carry shit around.

ApTyp · Post by **ApTyp** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:20 am

Don't play FO2 much.

I once tried playing FO1 with no armor. Visually, it was very cool watching a dude with a blue jumpsuit lugging around RPGs and miniguns and shit, but also reasonably challenging.

Also, one other time I didn't bother with Energy and Big Gun skills.

I tried to play a game through without saving once, but when I died I had no desire to try it again, so that kinda sucked.

fallout ranger · Post by **fallout ranger** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:24 am

the speedrun...

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:49 pm

ApTyp wrote:Are there any zero-kill walkthrough guides for FO2?

As far as I know, no.

There's a kill all walkthrough, a pacifist walkthough for Fallout even if the webpage title says Fallout 2, a Sex FAQ, a Broken Hills walkthrough(what the hell?) but I doubt they fulfill your criteria. It should be possible though, but all sneaky/diplomatic approach doesn't sound like fun.

EDIT: links work from here-> clicky

ApTyp · Post by **ApTyp** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:29 pm

Who the chit is Omkar Namjoshi?