Non combat SPECIALS and skills seemed like mostly a convenience thing in FO3, but in this game I’m running into quests that I CAN’T finish without them. Plus, no speech check cheating.

Really seems like skills like speech and stuff now have a lot more depth and a definite pay off.

I think its rad.

You?

It makes sense because you can't have the perfect character. Its better role play so your character can't do stuff that he/she wasn't meant to do.

yes and i rly like it

Yep. I actually have reasons to put points into things that aren't directly combat-related in NV. In FO3 there was very little reason to put points in anything that didn't make you more effective in a fight. Love it. In general my choices as a player seem to matter more in NV. Now I wish they could go back and re-tool FO3 the same way.

About 1/2 way through the main Q I guess and I entirely agree with the OP. Just build the character you want, sit back and enjoy.

So good to find a game that is balanced well beyond the obligatory combat, last game I played with this level of character support was probably Bloodlines, in fact even some of the music is similar. This is highly encouraging for the next game: get the teams together, add an expanded selection of readable books from Oblivion and the exquisite details from Fo3 and they'll be back to a game as vast and involving and supportive as Morrowind (1)

(1) It's in the rules that every third post I make should mention Morrowind, heh. At least this time I avoided mentioning levitation... Aww, now I've spoiled it