Here's some tips and tricks i've picked up while playing FONV. When I first play games I go very slowly through them so I can find every single little thing. Even though we are in the Spoilers, Hints, and Cheats section i'll state that below is spoiler information so please read on at your own discretion.

First the build:

I went with 5s across the board for SPECIAL putting 4 points into Intelligence to get the max skill points possible. If there's 1 left over point I think I put it into strength, but know I took special training putting 1 point into strength. Second thing I did was select Science, Repair, and Medicine as my 3 perks, but i've found this to be wrong. It is best to go for Speech, Repair and Medicine as NPCs are very sociable and i've encountered atleast 8 to 15 speech options. Magazines are great, but even though they are plentiful later on they are rather difficult to obtain in the beginning.

As for beginning perks this is completely up to you and I didn't find them all that appealing. Only chose the Weird Wasteland perk for kicks and the explosives perk.

Second Rob The Doctor:

It's greedy, cruel, and wrong, but hell I need those blasted freaking caps. You can pretty much rob the doctor blind taking everything that isn't nailed down in his place for caps. Just be mindful if you see anything that pops up in red *Maybe 4 things*, but otherwise TAKE IT because every little bit helps. There's several ammo container boxes in his place and medical equipment that will be useful. If you are like me and hit hardcoe mode right off the bat it will be tricky even for experts.

After you take the ink blot test you'll get your chance to rob the place blind just be mindful of the doctor I waited until he was at the door.

Third DO THE TUTORIAL QUESTS:

Doing the tutorial mission will give you the Quest Mark completion thing which will help you out. It's option, but I did it for the extra experience points that helped me out. You'll also obtain some nice items along the way such as healing powder and all which is quite useful. The tutorial quests will also lead you to the quest to defend Goodsprings or let the powder gangers over run it. Personally I helped out the town cause the barkeep will give you a nice discount for saving the town.

Fourth Putting In The Points:

When you start putting the points away you'll want to level up Barter, Speech, Explosives and Guns. Barter you only have to get to 30, explosives to 30 and speech to 30, but if you find a magazine that raises your Barter, Speech and Explosives to these levels you are fine and don't have to follow this rule. I will say though that you want to put points into Science *minor*, Medicine, Survival, Lockpick, and Gun. Lock Pick should get up to 50 along with science when you are level 5 to 8 since locks and computer hacking quickly grow to Average/50. Medicine will be crucial if you chose hardcoe in the beginning since stimpacks heal over time. It should also be noted that stimpacks have a nasty downside where you get addicted to them for a short period of time.

Fifth What To Do?:

After you complete the quest in Goodsprings saving it or destroying it your choice the first thing I recommend is heading down to the road from Goodsprings to the intersection. Here you will encounter some Powder Gangers, but they are chumps if you can deal some damage to them and have a bit of armor. At the intersection you will find a shack *forget the name of it*, but it is a waypoint on your map. The best part is you just found yourself a house to stash your crap in. This place can be reached via fast travel, and has plenty of lockers to put your stuff in. Use this place often as needed to keep your weight to or below 50.


Schematic Rundown:

Here's a recipe for the crafting bench that allows you to make the Powder Ganger bomb. Unlike the Timebomb you don't need to waste 5 dynamite sticks, but unfortunately it does consume 1 to 2 ducktapes which are used to make the weapon repair kit. Inside the NCR Correctional Facility in the B Cell dorm/building is a locked cell. Inside that cell is a bunch of explosives and inside you will find the schematic for the Powder Ganger bomb. Uses 1 ducktape, 1 to 2 dynamite sticks, tin can, and scrap electronics/scrap metal I believe have to check.


Finally what to keep an eye out for:

Garbage/junk is now useful and players need to keep an eye out for these things to help them out.

1. Ducktape: Used in Weapon Repair Kits and Powder ganger Bombs
2. Wonder Glue: Used in Weapon Repair Kits
3. Scrap Electronics: Weapon Repair Kits
4. Forceps: Doctor Bag
5. Scalpel: Doctor Bag
6. Medical Brace: Doctor Bag
7. Wrench: Weapon Repair Kit

I'll update the list after I check the recipes/schematics again to be 100% accurate.

Food and Aid Recipes(Note: Unfortunately the super stimpak requires 90 science to make and it's best not to just dump points into science to make this item. However I do recommend collecting the Leather Belt, Nuka Cola, and Mutfruit when possible especially the leather belt since those can be rare):

1. Leather Belt: Super Stimpak
2. Nuka-Cola: Super Stimpak
3. MutFruit: Super Stimpak
4. Stimpak: Super Stimpak
5. Big Horner Meat: Big Horner Steak

It is best to collect Big Horner meat gradually increasing your survival to 50 so that it hits that point when you are level 10 to 12. Big Horner Meat turns to Big Horner Steak with just the meat nothing else needed which is great. That means 1 meat = 1 steak and there are TONS of big horner north east of the Ranger Station past Nipton South to South East of Novac. These Big Horner are hostile with several bulls in the group so it's best to have some good firepower to take them down. However after a killing spree I netted about 44 Big Horner Meat so when my survival skill hits 50 that means 44 steaks to munch on to keep starvation at bay.


Final Tips:

1. The Good Spring's Source is an EXCELLENT place to go when you need water for dehydration. Having just 1 sip from the trough will reduce Dehydration to 0.
2. Get speech up to 40 and use magazines to finish off the rest. Best to get speech up early to complete speech options for extra xp if you like that sort of thing.
3. Junk is not junk now and keep your eyes out for the mentioned list of stuff for weapon repair kits. The kits don't need another weapon just you to equip the weapon you have on hand.
4. If you are playing on hardcoe Mode keep ATLEAST 4 doctor's bags handy up to 8 since limps can get damage quite easily.
5. Maze is excellent for use in hardcoe Mode since it helps with food and water.


I'll update this when I can and once I get some more relevant information.