Began working on my PA/BoS build last night and have been diligently working on NOT using VATS as I understand that it drains your cores rather quickly.

It has been odd and I have discovered that, in actual firefights I am truly terrible at FPS. I have no issues when I have a moment to aim at the enemy or if I am using an automatic weapon (say a mini-gun or gaitling), but those are resource svcks over all.

It is when the enemy is closing quickly or there are multiple enemies w/out an automatic weapon that I am having troubles. While I love shotguns and combat rifles, they are not exactly great for up-close and personal use.

I'm finding that I am using far more melee with my weapon (fortunately it has a bayonet) and have actually been using my sledgehammer regularly.

Any tips on FPS play? I seem to be extremely weak in that aspect.

Do you have a companion? Dogmeat is perfect for distracting enemies if you need to regroup or just getaway. I mostly play a stealth based character in the fallout series, that's my thing, hiding in the shadows taking out enemy, but when I'm out travelling around the wasteland, I'm more susceptible to attacks and that's when my greatest asset comes into play..... Dogmeat jumps into the action creating that much needed distraction to help me getaway and regroup.

Mod your weapons and armor so you are sure you have better gear than most of your enemies. Before going into a shoot-out, survey the location and see "advantageous" spots for cover, mine placement, etc. Have you hot-keyed your stimpaks? It's like Sun Tze says in the Art of War, if a general is better-prepared for a battle than his opponents, the battle is won before it is even fought.

What platform are you on? I am good at FPS games but FO4 has awful mouse controls. Input lag, floaty mouse feel makes quick aiming difficult. I dont get why its like that, maybe on purpose to make it more challenging?


I almost returned the game when i first started playing it because of this. There is no reason why the controls should feel like they do. I have vsync off but it still feels like the cursor is a few steps behind your mouse movement which makes quick aiming and correction very hard.

Oh yes. I use Dogmeat almost exclusively at the moment and you are right. All my other builds are the stealth type (my favorite), but this one is a PA/BoS build so sneaking is kind of out. I miss it too. Makes my life much more difficult, although it gave an entirely new flavor to Sofia Station with a sledgehammer.

So practice, practice, practice. Thank you. Good advice. It's not the equipment, unfortunately, it's my inability to aim.

PS4 actually, but, please understand that I simply do not play FPS games, at all. Never have. Fallout is the first series I have ever played that is an actual shooter at all. I was almost completely dependent on VATS in F3 and FNV and, while I do a lot of sniping work and am great when I have the time to aim at getting my enemies, I still am using VATS a lot on all my other builds (their sneaky!).

This is my first real FPS runthrough, thus the advice request.

Oh. Well... Play a lot? Ive been playing mostly FPS games for the past 20 years. And, frankly, trying to play FPS with a controller is almost impossible for me. Trying to use joysticks to aim... Lets just say there is a reason why most console shooters have aim assist.

No, prepare, prepare, prepare. Different battles in different locations call for different strategies, thus different preparations. Most of us here are not professional gamers, let alone real-life fighters, so most people, like you, don't have the greatest motor skills. If one thing hampers you, try do other things better.

I prefer non-automatic guns, but I give them hair triggers with as many recoil reducing mods as possible . . . works well for me.

Agree. I am learning to carry multiple weapon types and have learned that pistols are not my friend (as they are on my stealth builds). Currently carrying a double barrel shotgun, a mini-gun, a missile launcher and a combat rifle. Obviously the mini & the launcher are effective, it's the double and the rifle that I'm having problems with.

I never was one to use power armor in the fallout series, but FO4 definitely changed my mind and I use it more than I ever have. My character is still heavily based in stealth, he just uses power armor to get him from point A to B without to many difficulties. When he reaches his destination, that's when the stealth comes into play without the power armor.

Interesting. I've already made it through the game 3 times (on my fourth) on a more stealthy/snipery build and I love it, but, I decided that I would finally do the whole PA/BoS thing (I loathe the BoS BTW, but, hey, gotta give it a shot).

So far it's fine in my T45 (I know where there's a T60 and I'm off to get it and I know where there's a X-01 that I can get after level 28). My main issues so far has been FPS. I'm fine in melee (I like sledgehammers!), but have trouble aiming and with timing

I'll get it though. So far it's been fun, although wearing PA kind of makes you a walking tank and nobody can really stand in your way (thank goodness for Yuo Gwai, Deathclaws and Giant Radscorpions).

I think it's better to find a playstyle that you enjoy, and then work on how to optimize that style into success. For example if you are specced for single shot, bolt action rifles, you want to keep your distance and shoot them as much as you can before they reach you. If you use pistols or automatics, then you need to find and use cover like a battlefield game, or any military shooter tbh. Depending on difficulty level, if enemies are too spongey to take out solely using guns in real time, then change to a shotgun or melee and finish them off when they get close. My single best tip I can offer that is generic to everyone, is to run away when things aren't going your way, take cover, and try another assault. The AI does not chase you to the end of the world, and you can usually get away and recover unless you screwed up got yourself surrounded.

True. It was funny to see the two mirelurks on the river bend below the robot junkyard turn around and skuttle back to where they came from once I ran too far away. Made it way too easy to hit them with a grenade.

Ghouls in particular are sometimes hard to get a good bead on especially when they do that zig zag staggering run and then jump doing a half ass combat roll. That's the only enemy that gives me some problems, but I mostly use a pool cue when I spot them, that saves me from wasting ammo on them with my non efficient hip fire.

Are you shooting from the hip, or using the sights?


I play in VATS, so I don't have a lot of experience, but there are weapons mods to improve hip shot accuracy- may help. ?

Non-automatic rifle (I use freezing laser with fire mod and long barrel + long recon scope) then fire as fast as you can (easily 4 times a sec, so over 400 dps), you will hit just fine

Also great for sniping.

I use sights when I have the distance, so that's not the issue. It's the up close and personal stuff on closing enemies that I have issues with, although I am getting better.

I have the large bayonet on my close combat weapons. My shotgun and my combat rifle are very useful close in. They both hit as hard as I can make them, which is pretty hard, the rifle is a .308 now, I have found a good stab sets them off balance and a stab, shoot, shoot seems to be about right for getting them dead and you not too badly damaged.

I'm using my assault rifle more and more, and it can be made pretty strong, mine hits about 76 now and I can get a lot of rounds on target with it. I use almost nothing else for mid distance now.

My double barrel does 82 at this point and my combat has a bayonet, I'm just really bad at FPS, I guess, although I have become quite good at melee.

I miss my VATS, but, everybody needs a challenge and a change occasionally.

Um Melee weapons work great up close or just bash if you got a beonette.

Also EXTERMINATE!!!! (I know this is your Dalek build from yesterday)

I would suggest a shock Batton for RP

melee is great up close! Absolutely. My sledgehammer or bayonette seem to work well. I'm just disappointed that, even at mid-range I am so bad at FPS. Oh well, you know what they say, Practice Makes Perfect.

You gotta use VATS in those tough closeup moments. The high percentage and the ability to shoot multiple enemies simultaneously make VATS invaluable in those circumstances. Of course, you need to boost your VATS and action points with perks, which goes back to what I said earlier: preparation.

NO the double is suicide. You need a combat shotgun. Mine does 50% extra to Robots and hits well over 100. With 32 shells in the big mag you can rock and roll for a while. The double is only good for quick executes on the side, where you have time to reload.