Deathclaw hunting tips

[Yamu]

Weapon durability shouldn't be a concern after you get back from the Sierra Madre. Even if you don't break the bank at the casino before you leave, you should have all the chips you need to keep Ed-E loaded with a brahminweight of Repair Kits until about half past doomsday.

The longer a weapon can go without needing repairs, the more stuff you can carry without the mountain of repair kits. Seems like an advantage to me.

This is true, but my philosophy has always been "why keep lugging heavy things back and forth across the wasteland when you've already got enough money to buy God, and containers in more than one homestead full of choice crap you're waiting to be able to sell to the merchants on top of that?" which in a typical playthrough happens somewhere between reaching Novac and leaving the 188 for me. By the time I set foot in my first DLC, carry weight has usually stopped being a concern for me because I'm hardly picking up anything I find.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

Weapon durability shouldn't be a concern after you get back from the Sierra Madre. Even if you don't break the bank at the casino before you leave, you should have all the chips you need to keep Ed-E loaded with a brahminweight of Repair Kits until about half past doomsday.

The longer a weapon can go without needing repairs, the more stuff you can carry without the mountain of repair kits. Seems like an advantage to me.

This is true, but my philosophy has always been "why keep lugging heavy things back and forth across the wasteland when you've already got enough money to buy God, and containers in more than one homestead full of choice crap you're waiting to be able to sell to the merchants on top of that?" which in a typical playthrough happens somewhere between reaching Novac and leaving the 188 for me. By the time I set foot in my first DLC, carry weight has usually stopped being a concern for me because I'm hardly picking up anything I find.

I was talking about food and stuff. You know, the items that actually keep you alive.

 

[Yamu]

I might just be lucky, but that's never seemed to be a problem. Apart from my Swedish Chef, I've never had a character that carried more than six pounds of water and five-to-ten pounds of food on them at any one time (with maybe twice the amount of water held in reserve by Ed-E), and I've never, ever had to go hungry or thirsty longer than it took to open the Pip-Boy menu. Consumables aren't hard to come by, and a lot of them weigh a fraction of a pound.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

I might just be lucky, but that's never seemed to be a problem. Apart from my Swedish Chef, I've never had a character that carried more than six pounds of water and five-to-ten pounds of food on them at any one time (with maybe twice the amount of water held in reserve by Ed-E), and I've never, ever had to go hungry or thirsty longer than it took to open the Pip-Boy menu. Consumables aren't hard to come by, and a lot of them weigh a fraction of a pound.

There is also ammunition in Hardcore, not to mention that some people carry a weapon for all occasions (As in, a different weapon for sniping, another for mid-range combat, and a third for CQC, or Close Quarters Combat).

 

[Languorous_Maiar]

I might just be lucky, but that's never seemed to be a problem. Apart from my Swedish Chef, I've never had a character that carried more than six pounds of water and five-to-ten pounds of food on them at any one time (with maybe twice the amount of water held in reserve by Ed-E), and I've never, ever had to go hungry or thirsty longer than it took to open the Pip-Boy menu. Consumables aren't hard to come by, and a lot of them weigh a fraction of a pound.

There is also ammunition in Hardcore, not to mention that some people carry a weapon for all occasions (As in, a different weapon for sniping, another for mid-range combat, and a third for CQC, or Close Quarters Combat).

http://fallout.gamepedia.com/Pack_Rat
It's solving all problems with weight in FNV.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

I might just be lucky, but that's never seemed to be a problem. Apart from my Swedish Chef, I've never had a character that carried more than six pounds of water and five-to-ten pounds of food on them at any one time (with maybe twice the amount of water held in reserve by Ed-E), and I've never, ever had to go hungry or thirsty longer than it took to open the Pip-Boy menu. Consumables aren't hard to come by, and a lot of them weigh a fraction of a pound.

There is also ammunition in Hardcore, not to mention that some people carry a weapon for all occasions (As in, a different weapon for sniping, another for mid-range combat, and a third for CQC, or Close Quarters Combat).

http://fallout.gamepedia.com/Pack_Rat
It's solving all problems with weight in FNV.

except it only works for "useless" junk such as the ingredients for repair kits, which you would not need if you have thousands of caps anyways...

 

[Kalasanty11]

except it only works for "useless" junk such as the ingredients for repair kits, which you would not need if you have thousands of caps anyways...

Is ammo also "useless"? Because it also halves the weight of bullets, IIRC.

 

[Yamu]

It halves the weight of everything under two pounds. That's weapon repair kits, all ammo but large projectile explosives, all food and drink (IIRC), all mines and grenades, most of the "junk" items whose value-to-weight ratios actually make them worth picking up, almost all holdout weapons, and many advanced holdout weapons (including a number of decent sidearms and most of the best one-handed melee weapons in the game). This perk almost makes Barter worth investing in by itself, and Long Haul and the numerous in-game skill checks make for tasty gravy.

Even without Pack Rat, though, it's not tough (or even particularly limiting) to get by with just one or two different types of ammo in your inventory, especially if you make judicious use of melee for dispatching lesser threats. I understand everyone's got their own play style, but whatever weapon you're specializing in plus a good sidearm and/or a light knife/club are usually sufficient for anything the game throws at you, provided you're not the sort that would too sorely miss sniping (and personally, I've always felt like a more skillful sniper when I was doing the job with beam rifles and iron-sighted weapons, anyway, so it works out for me).

 

[EnclaveKnight]

It halves the weight of everything under two pounds. That's weapon repair kits, all ammo but large projectile explosives, all food and drink (IIRC), all mines and grenades, most of the "junk" items whose value-to-weight ratios actually make them worth picking up, almost all holdout weapons, and many advanced holdout weapons (including a number of decent sidearms and most of the best one-handed melee weapons in the game). This perk almost makes Barter worth investing in by itself, and Long Haul and the numerous in-game skill checks make for tasty gravy.

Even without Pack Rat, though, it's not tough (or even particularly limiting) to get by with just one or two different types of ammo in your inventory, especially if you make judicious use of melee for dispatching lesser threats. I understand everyone's got their own play style, but whatever weapon you're specializing in plus a good sidearm and/or a light knife/club are usually sufficient for anything the game throws at you, provided you're not the sort that would too sorely miss sniping (and personally, I've always felt like a more skillful sniper when I was doing the job with beam rifles and iron-sighted weapons, anyway, so it works out for me).

There is also two perks that makes Pack Rat obsolete by simply adding 50 more pounds to the amount you can carry. maybe if all you carry around is scrap metal and 9 mm pistols, I can see the value of the perk, but anything actually USEFUL in taking down a Deathclaw, forget about it, pack rat does nothing to that.

Long Haul has more use than Pack Rat in this game.

 

[SnapSlav]

That's an incredibly close-minded assessment of the Perk. "Obsolete"? Sorry, but every time I play, Pack Rat inreases my net Carry Weight by WELL over 150 lbs, if not 200, so suggesting that Strong Back and Burden to Bear render Pack Rat "obsolete" is both wholly ridiculous and false. For one thing, that's 2 Perks that are only ARGUABLY "better" than 1 Perk, and also the requirements for both Perks are quite limiting, whereas the requirements of Pack Rat are easily accessible.

As quick correction to your description, Yamu, Pack Rat misses a tiny few Food items, like Caravan Lunches and other, bulky meals. Though I typically avoid carrying Food items with a hunger removal stat of over 200, since I compulsively min-max constantly, so I tend to end up eating around the 150-250 FOD level, and I refuse to waste a single point of an item. Needless to say, the vast majority of Food items' weights are halved by Pack Rat. It's only a handful that aren't.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

That's an incredibly close-minded assessment of the Perk. "Obsolete"? Sorry, but every time I play, Pack Rat inreases my net Carry Weight by WELL over 150 lbs, if not 200, so suggesting that Strong Back and Burden to Bear render Pack Rat "obsolete" is both wholly ridiculous and false. For one thing, that's 2 Perks that are only ARGUABLY "better" than 1 Perk, and also the requirements for both Perks are quite limiting, whereas the requirements of Pack Rat are easily accessible.

As quick correction to your description, Yamu, Pack Rat misses a tiny few Food items, like Caravan Lunches and other, bulky meals. Though I typically avoid carrying Food items with a hunger removal stat of over 200, since I compulsively min-max constantly, so I tend to end up eating around the 150-250 FOD level, and I refuse to waste a single point of an item. Needless to say, the vast majority of Food items' weights are halved by Pack Rat. It's only a handful that aren't.

Why carry hundreds of pounds of stuff that only have a use as material for something that is not needed? Drop power armor, use only rifles and or pistols, and carry enough water/food for rainy days (metaphorically) and you lose the necessity for carrying weapon repair kits as you will have thousands of caps left over for repairing via vendors. Plus guns are more common and can be used to repair more often than energy weapons.

Besides, the argument spawned from a discussion about Elijah's Advanced LAER, and whether it is the most powerful gun despite the low health.

Just to tie into the title of the thread, what would be better fighting Deathclaws, a weapon that breaks real easy, or a weapon that lasts a lot longer so you can still kill them as the day goes on (no weapon repair kits or Raul allowed)?

 

[SnapSlav]

Like I said, close-minded. It's not considering the alternatives, and fixating on your own notions as the only option. Sure, your option is a viable one, absolutely, but so are others. Some people don't want to carry 30000 caps just to give away 4000 of them every time something needs a little bit of maintenance in lieu of being prepared and getting the same service ANYWHERE at any time, without the need to visit a specialized NPC, for less than 20 caps. Again, what you suggested implies that spending 2 Perks is somehow a better and more practical idea to alleviate the convenience of 1 Perk because you don't like the method that 1 Perk specifically benefits the most. Your suggestion falls in line with an alternative method that you prefer, and that's fine. But that doesn't make it better, and it does absolutely NOT affect its alternatives, nor does it render them "obsolete".

I play with a robust cornucopia of supplies on my character at all times, simply because that's how I prefer to play. I dump the excess quantities of what I'm not going to put to immediate- or relatively soon -use. The excess stays in cabinets and fridges and boxes in my suite at the Lucky 38, and until I acquire the suite they bounce back and forth between drop boxes. I always have supplies on hand to make the most of practically any situation, as that situation arises. I don't need to go anywhere to address my needs, so wherever I go is wherever I need to. That manner of play is the most convenient and efficient way I find and it suits me best, but that doesn't make other methods "obsolete". They're just methods I don't like. That's the point.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

Like I said, close-minded. It's not considering the alternatives, and fixating on your own notions as the only option. Sure, your option is a viable one, absolutely, but so are others. Some people don't want to carry 30000 caps just to give away 4000 of them every time something needs a little bit of maintenance in lieu of being prepared and getting the same service ANYWHERE at any time, without the need to visit a specialized NPC, for less than 20 caps. Again, what you suggested implies that spending 2 Perks is somehow a better and more practical idea to alleviate the convenience of 1 Perk because you don't like the method that 1 Perk specifically benefits the most. Your suggestion falls in line with an alternative method that you prefer, and that's fine. But that doesn't make it better, and it does absolutely NOT affect its alternatives, nor does it render them "obsolete".

I play with a robust cornucopia of supplies on my character at all times, simply because that's how I prefer to play. I dump the excess quantities of what I'm not going to put to immediate- or relatively soon -use. The excess stays in cabinets and fridges and boxes in my suite at the Lucky 38, and until I acquire the suite they bounce back and forth between drop boxes. I always have supplies on hand to make the most of practically any situation, as that situation arises. I don't need to go anywhere to address my needs, so wherever I go is wherever I need to. That manner of play is the most convenient and efficient way I find and it suits me best, but that doesn't make other methods "obsolete". They're just methods I don't like. That's the point.

I did consider the alternative. I just do not see the reason to carry around several pounds of junk that is near useless when caps are just as easy, if not easier, to come by and you can repair all the gear you want. And carrying around a long lasting rifle, you do not need to carry around as many weapon repair kits, and thus have more room for other stuff, like more weapons for other situations.

also consider that again, this argument spawned from me and them arguing over which is the better weapon: The one that causes the most damage but breaks in around 100 shots or so, or the one that lasts for awhile so you can take down Deathclaw Promontory alone?

 

[SnapSlav]

The origin of the discussion doesn't change the nature of the discussion. The relevancy of where it stemmed from is, ironically, irrelevant. For instance, either of those options doesn't matter, because I could always take on the Deathclaw Promontory alone with my method as described. So the supposed conflict you're describing doesn't exist. It's all a matter of taste and personal interpretations of convenience.

This is the third time I'm telling you, that's been you close-minded. Get that through your head already. Understand what I'm telling you already. Every time you ignore it just furthers the issue. Awareness of alternatives is all that matters, and you think you possess that, but the manner in which you're coming off says otherwise. You "do not see the reason", and that's been my point. You don't, and that lack of awareness colored the value of those alternatives for you. You don't need to prefer someone else's method to be able to see the value in it. To use food as a simple example, I don't like chicken, but I understand that as a matter of taste others do. If I didn't understand that and I left my own personal distaste for it cloud my awareness of other tastes and I believed there's "no reason to eat chicken", that would be close-minded of me. That's what you're doing. You don't see why, but it's staring you in the face. Is this such a terrible crime? No, but neither am I making it out to be one. Do you think I'm calling you a massive bigot, or an elitist, or some such when I say it's close-minded? No, I'm just pointing out your limiting approach to this particular consideration. I took the most issue with your assertion of something besides your preferences being "obsolete" more than anything else, which is somewhat egocentric, but other than that, not terrible. I'm just trying to help you understand the error you're committing. Nothing more.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

The origin of the discussion doesn't change the nature of the discussion. The relevancy of where it stemmed from is, ironically, irrelevant. For instance, either of those options doesn't matter, because I could always take on the Deathclaw Promontory alone with my method as described. So the supposed conflict you're describing doesn't exist. It's all a matter of taste and personal interpretations of convenience.

And one could take on Deathclaw Promontory and Quarry junction without needing to carry around a bunch of stuff that only has one use, and it is not in your inventory, by not getting hit in the first place. Pack Rat is a purely convenience perk, and a waste of a convenience perk when there are thousands of better perks for whatever build you want.

This is the third time I'm telling you, that's been you close-minded. Get that through your head already. Understand what I'm telling you already. Every time you ignore it just furthers the issue.

Pack rat is a purely garbage man/woman perk. I see no reason to HAVE to carry the stuff to make weapon repair kits. If you NEED to have them, let a companion carry them, problem solved. The most USEFUL items, namely WEAPONS and ARMOR are unaffected by pack rat. That is why I consider simply increasing the amount you CAN carry by increasing your maximum weight is better that lowering the weight of items you do not need to carry or simply need.

If you had your companion carrying the stuff for weapon repair kits, are you going to take pack rat to lower the weight of food, or are you going to get more room and use the free room in your pack to carry better, heavier equipment, and more food?

In the end, Pack rat only halves the weight of items that are only a threat to over encumbering you if you gather a whole bunch of them and carry them all the time. do not carry them all the time or carry only what you need to make a set number of Weapon Repair Kits and the perk is not needed. If it reduced the weight of ALL ITEMS, I could potentially see the value, but it does not, so the value/usefulness of the perk is questionable at best. Sure someone who plays a garbage man on hardcore could have it be of use, but for the most part, it is not the perk that makes the most sense when simply adding more to the amount you can carry is enough to sate that problem too.

 

[Languorous_Maiar]

And one could take on Deathclaw Promontory and Quarry junction without needing to carry around a bunch of stuff that only has one use, and it is not in your inventory, by not getting hit in the first place. Pack Rat is a purely convenience perk, and a waste of a convenience perk when there are thousands of better perks for whatever build you want.

What? No matter what you will do, you will have some profit form Pack Rat. It's one of the best perks... and you're saying like it's one of the worst.
You even used more than 1 weapon at time?
After all your post, it seems like your playstyle is boring as hell. Im always using 1 melee, 1 smg/pistol, 1 normal rifle + 1 energy rifle and sniper at the end of the list. While having so much weapons and a lot of ammo for every, pack rat is more useful and profitable than most of your "thousands of perks".

In the end, Pack rat only halves the weight of items that are only a threat to over encumbering you if you gather a whole bunch of them and carry them all the time. do not carry them all the time or carry only what you need to make a set number of Weapon Repair Kits and the perk is not needed.

Not convincing.
I was never using repair kits at mass scale (only used when randomly found them), and still taking Pack Rat at every occasion, benefiting from it a lot.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

And one could take on Deathclaw Promontory and Quarry junction without needing to carry around a bunch of stuff that only has one use, and it is not in your inventory, by not getting hit in the first place. Pack Rat is a purely convenience perk, and a waste of a convenience perk when there are thousands of better perks for whatever build you want.

What? No matter what you will do, you will have some profit form Pack Rat. It's one of the best perks... and you're saying like it's one of the worst.
You even used more than 1 weapon at time?
After all your post, it seems like your playstyle is boring as hell. Im always using 1 melee, 1 smg/pistol, 1 normal rifle + 1 energy rifle and sniper at the end of the list. While having so much weapons and a lot of ammo for every, pack rat is more useful and profitable than most of your "thousands of perks".

In the end, Pack rat only halves the weight of items that are only a threat to over encumbering you if you gather a whole bunch of them and carry them all the time. do not carry them all the time or carry only what you need to make a set number of Weapon Repair Kits and the perk is not needed.

Not convincing.
I was never using repair kits at mass scale (only used when randomly found them), and still taking Pack Rat at every occasion, benefiting from it a lot.

On my current courier, I have a few weapons, and I still feel like pack rat is useless unless I personally carry all the scrap metal, hammers, wrenches and duct tapes I find. I avoid the weapon perks as I see them as useless, just like I fail to see the benefit of Pack Rat for anything but a garbage collector/scavenger build.

For food? Ammo? I hardly play on Hardcore because I despise having my games be "too realistic" Survival is the name of the game, and the wastlander with the best, and most, gear wins. Pack Rat does not change the fact that food and, on hardcore, ammo, barely dents the weight issue with 400 pounds of max carry weight unless you carry 10,000 units of either. Face it, the most important items in the game, besides food, are armor and weapons that are only affected by the amount of garbage you carry (food is important, but does not have that much of an effect unless you carry large quantities of them, and ammo only has weight on hardcore). In the end, taking down the enemy is often better than "how much does my scrap metal weigh?" in my opinion.

 

[Languorous_Maiar]

Oh, so if you're playing without hardcore, now it's clear that pack rat is useless for you, considering you don't need water/food + don't have weight for ammo... but it isn't reason to call it bad perk, 'cause you're playing on some easy mode.

 

[EnclaveKnight]

Oh, so if you're playing without hardcore, now it's clear that pack rat is useless for you, considering you don't need water/food + don't have weight for ammo... but it isn't reason to call it bad perk, 'cause you're playing on some easy mode.

I try to avoid calling it 'easy mode' when it comes to the difficulty. I personally just hate having the game be super realistic. Same reason I avoid true RP of Skyrim (made by Bathesda). I get enough of thirst, hunger and sleep deprivation in real life, I do not need it in my games. I still use food/water for healing, as it is better overall than medicine, so there is that.

to me, hardcore=super realistic, and I want to avoid that, as I like fast travel, and do not like dying to stuff I have to deal with in real life.

 

[Languorous_Maiar]

So why not give yourself infinite carry weight?
Man, it's real life stuff, like organising some things in your backpack or so...
But seriously, if you can't benefit from specific perks because of options you picked, you shouldn't complain about them.