Low level: gameplay experience

[laclongquan]

Conclusion: How to do a low level game run

01. Requirement:
- All DLCs installed. Pcv140525.
- Mods: 1.Slower leveling mod, 3X mode meaning triple exp required to pass each level. Dont worry, it's not that hard to level up. 2.Some fix packs if you really feel like it.

02. Starting condition:

- Skilled trait is a must to slow the leveling rate. Plus it's overpowered. Addperk this sucker after you build character will bring the -10%XP but not the increased Skill level. You can addperk one more to counter the injustice of having that penalty. I recommend Voracious Reader, but selfrestricting by not making magazines until you get to level when you get it normally. VR will transform ten kinds of item into one, reduce your headache when you pour loots into the container.

- Logan's loophole is another overpowered trait. Still, I like this very much, since there's no weakness to tell about, and can get rid of it with Old World Blues's Autodoc in the Sink.

- Recommended starting stat: AGI 6 and PER 6for convenient perk choosing. END 6 for all necessary implants. INT 6 for most of dialogs, reasonable skill and it's the easiest to boost, anyway (mentats and party mentatts). STR can be reduced since it's easy to boost with alcohol. Ditto with CHA. Any spare points put to LUC as this the most difficult to boost.

- Recommend early perk: Intense Training to get +1 to LUC, is best bang for your bucks. You can get INT but skill is not that hard to raise. Comprehension to get one more point from books, and get +20 temp raise from mags.

- Central base for storing loot, the alley between general store and saloon in Goodspring with four portable crates and two workbenches. When you get to Novac (soonest) get a private room so you can get the Well Rested bonus to counter the Skilled. Only until you get the NCR safehouse can you contemplate the idea of moving there, as there is a reloading bench, and water, and bed. Clone Ada Straus there, and a workbench in, and you got yourself a comfy place, though STILL not as good a storeplace as GS.

Good hunting, Wastelander!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
I do a restart with intent for low level. It's to see what the game offer at lvl30-, in combat and gameplay.

Method: All DLCs installed. Logan loophole and Skilled (-10% xp earned). Slower Leveling Mod, Double XP for each level. Very Hard HardCore. The intent is to reach the Sink at level 29 to change Logan Loophole into something else.

The game thus far:

Level 12-: Weapons are powerful, especially grenades and dynamites. Notice a few possible deleveled locks. Use Lucky a bit. Giant Rats in Broc Flower Cave is quite dangerous, unlike the other run. Assassination is also easy with silenced weathered 10mm pistol.

The lack of caps due to continous implanting is a refreshing thing. Not for the lack of things to sell, but due to the lazy shopping. Plus, without jury Rigging, it feel like a waste to fix 10mm pistols with each other to sell.

 

[laclongquan]

Level 15, 33000XP.

WTF??? I dont even play DLC yet. Not yet finish one quarter of side quests. Just play normally and a few (FEW) routine raider hunting circuits. Hit 33K pretty quick. The Well Rested bonus come from Novac motel, as I dont even have any other owned bed yet, compensate for the -10%XP from the Skilled trait. It seem the low level of character make for more xp from killing higher level targets, or at least higher than normal, cause i dont see noticable increase (50xp from a young cazadore in Calvile bay).

Use more low level unique weapons, like La Longue Carabine, Big Boomer, Ratslayer. The two above need Stealthboy expended to steal, since my sneak is at 30-40. And more special ammo instead of the normal rounds.

Anyway, the chem abuse afforded by Logan Loophole helps a great deal. I dread to think of gameplay beyond Old World Blues when LL go away.

 

[laclongquan]

Level 30 reached.

It's too goddamn easy to level up, even with slower leveling mod (tripple xp req for each level). Because at low level you get more xp from killing middle-high level enemy (50xp for a young cazador...). And exp quests are just numerous.

Too easy to get loots. Play normally, you get too many high level weapons, play slower, you get too many low level weapons. The implants are a good caps-sink until we bought them all, then caps just accumulating.

Once you know how to play, it's easy to repair thing economically, like using Ratslayer and repaired with varmint rifles... Perhaps I should add Built-to-Destroy to increase the dependency on repair.

Skill level is a good hurdle, but easy overcome with skill magazines bought from shops, especially Julie Farkas. with Comprehension, that means a +20 for each mag. And the lack of skill mags just lead to spending them in skill check challenges only, not in normal battle.

Failing all else, there's always chems, foods, drinks to fall back to. Do a full list of things, and pass the battle, fuck addictions. Once it's over, revisit a good doctor like Mitchell in Goodspring or Ada in Novac to pay a tiny amount to get rid off ALL addictions.

 

[TorontoReign]

Are you using Sawyers mod?

This mod here made the game quite a bit more difficult for me.

http://newvegas.nexusmods.com/mods/37181/?

I have found that Project Nevada can help a lot when adjusting experience gained, difficulty, item drops, etc...

Interesting thread idea btw.

 

[laclongquan]

I dont agree with a hell of a lot changes in sawyer mod, which is why I dont intend to play it anytime soon. Maybe, in future, when I get totally bored with current tweaks, I will try that.

Annnnnyway, about low level. the quest around Outer Vegas is mostly low level considering the type of loots, and enemies. Greasers armed with pool cues for god's sake. Not that I dont understand the reasoning (they are a gang of squatter thugs) but does it really have to be that weak?

I think, for true low level experience, there should be a way to stretch the spread from l10-20. So that we have more time to play when we get to outer vegas.

Finally, more recommendations for true low level experience:

- It's important to get the Skilled trait. Frankly, it's an overpowered perk, second only to Logan Loophole. 65SP spread over all skills upfront in return for slower leveling? Gimme. So I understand a lot player like to double choose it in Goodspring. However. You could choose other perks and still retain the -10% aspect by addperk that into the character. i know, we dont want to get that penalty without anything return for it. So you could addperk one more to counter it. My strongest recommendation is Voracious Reader. Self-restricting by NOT making magazines until the level you suppose to get it, but add this sucker right from the start. It will make your life oooooooh so much easier by reduce ten kind of items into one type (blank mags), reduce the headaches when you pour your loots into container.