What are NPCs really good for?

B

Bullseye

First time out of the vault
I've played Fallout 1 so much that I know it by heart, but even though I always got Ian, Tycho, Dogmeat and (to a lesser amount) Katya, I came to think if they were really that useful. Most of the time I was the one who was doing the real killing and I might even think that they would put me more offguard because I had to watch their asses as well as my own. The amount of Stimpacks I used on those guys is even unspeakable, not to mention the ammo and weapons I had to barter them.

So I would like to hear what everyone else thinks about their precious NPCs.
 
The NPCs in Fallout 1? Pretty much useless. The AI scripting totally sucked in FO1, and that's been known for years now. And was in fact vastly improved (though still with problems) in Fallout 2. One assumes that the AI would've been even further improved with the Van Buren project/"true" Fallout 3.

Early in my Fallout gaming experiences, I'd often get killed, or nearly so, by my angry followers if I accidentally shot them. That whole issue was one of the biggest gaffes in FO1, really. Which actually goes to show that Fallout overall was a pretty well-put-together game. If the worst of your worries are kind of crummy AI scripting, you're probably at least on the right track.
 
*Picks up Status Quo Guitar*
NPCs! HUH! What are they good for!
Absolutely NOTHING!
*Puts down Status Quo Guitar*
Katja can lockpick the military base for you.
Ian will carry things.
That will be all :P
 
Katya? Is that the chick with the throwing knives?
Most pointless weapon in the whole game, no pun intended. They cost 100 chips per unit, and cause 1-3 damage or so. A wooping 5, on a crit. Amazing.
 
Bah. Throwing Knives? Give her an SMG! (Then paint a big red bullseye on your back, as it's pretty much doing the same thing. Or be smart and give her a 14mm. Remember. Friends don't let friends use burstfire :wink: )
 
I like to use them to carry my stuff, so I can steal it off them later.

But then again, that's just me.
 
They're mules who like to block narrow doorways. You'll have to hold their hands most of the time or they'll fry. Feed them stimpaks and whatnot. And to show their gratitude they shoot you in your back. Fuckin' tamagotchis secretly workin' for the Master that's what they are...
 
Giving an NPC weapons witha burst option is like shooting yourself in the eyes with an AP rocket in close quarters.
 
Puokki said:
All of them (exept Dogmeat, of course) are completely useless and stupid.
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Dogmeats awesome, but I liked him even more because I love the Mad Max series.
 
both fo games are better played solo. very subjective, but thats the way i see it. even fo:t makes more fun when doing it solo.

its either they burst me or (especially in fo2) i burst them... ive come to rely a lot on the bozar, i admit that ><

a great plus on soloing is how a normal skirmish becomes a nearly epic battle sometimes. the eliens at the tanker for example. it really improves gameplay imho.
 
I recently started another replay of Fallout 2 with RP v1.2 and FWR v1.2. I hooked up with Sulik and Cassidy (on Rough difficulty) and now we are a wreckage party, leaving a trail of destruction through the Wasteland. I use handguns mostly, since now they give a serious punch to all non\lightly armored enemies, so I don't have to worry about hitting my allies. Sulik bashes the bad guys with his favorite hammer and Cassidy finishes off those who manage to survive me and Sulik. So in F2 NPC's are good to have around, providing you know how to use them.

They can carry stuff, too x]
 
I actually find both Tycho and Dogmeat useful. Dogmeat for obvious reasons and coolness factor, but Tycho can make himself useful with rifles and shotguns, as well as being a mule. Ian? Meh, mule. Katja? Mule.

Quite a bit different in Fallout 2 though, where you have Cassidy. He's plain awesome. I don't mind Marcus with a plasma rifle either.
 
Marcus is pretty awesome with a Minigun or a Bozar. You only need to make it so that Marcus is the spearhead of any atack while others cover him. For you, you need to have Bonus Move. That's one hell of a perk, specially if you need to get away from Marcus' patch of blood.
 
Slaughter Manslaught said:
Marcus is pretty awesome with a Minigun or a Bozar. You only need to make it so that Marcus is the spearhead of any atack while others cover him. For you, you need to have Bonus Move. That's one hell of a perk, specially if you need to get away from Marcus' patch of blood.
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I don't know why people keep suggesting that with Marucs because it's the worst idea ever. Not only is giving him any burst weaponry suicidal, but his armor sucks so badly that he gets chewed to pieces if he charges ahead, and he looks ugly in the process. The retard is only useful if you give him some laser weapon and make him stand far away.

Seriously, that asshole eats up stimpacks like candy - he probably does too, the fat pig - if you make him stand anywhere other than a thousand miles away, people love chewing on his unarmored ass.
 
Yeah, I had hell of a problem keeping him alive through Enclave. Anyway - give him Plasma Rifle and make Sulik charge with a Super Sledge \ Power Armor and everything will be fine.
 
In Fallout 2, Dogmeat, Cassidy, and the Cybernetic Dog from Navarro are pretty useful...until you accidentally minigun them. Poor Dogmeat...that critical sure was awesome, though.
 
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