I haven't been playing Fallout 3 for long (but am loving it so far), but there are a few things I am trying to figure out:

1) Once or twice my character has gotten 'stuck' in the rubble. Usually I'm trying to climb/maneuver and I seem to slip into a place where I can't jump/walk/run/sneak out. I can see and move in place but I just can't get out. This same thing happened to me once in a while in the Oblivion game. I even tried to see if I could 'blow' myself out by throwing grenades at my feet. The only way I found to get out was to revert to an earlier save. Anybody got a better way?

2) Is there a way to put things down without using a container? Sometimes I would like to drop an object on the floor... especially when I am over burdened and want to throw away less desireable loot. In Oblivion, I was able to click on the name of something in my inventory while holding down the shift key and it would land on the floor in front of my character when I closed the inventory. In Fallout 3, the only way I seem to be able to make the character put anything down is by opening a container and then transferring it from my inventory to the containers.

3) One of my favorite weapons thus far is the sniper rifle. Sometimes, for reasons I don't understand, the character will reload it twice, wasing valuable time and causing me to miss a shot as some enemy goes from one concealed area to another. Why does that happen?

1.) Open console with the ` key and type tcl then press Enter and close the console again to unstick yourself. Repeat the command to turn collision back on once you're out of the jam.

2.) Right mouse button drops items.

3.) I play melee characters so I'm afraid I have no idea.

1. Hit the "tile key" ~ above the Tab key. It brings up the console and you can use various commands.
If you get stuck type "tcl", this turns on the NO CLIP mode and you can walk through objects. Close the console, move through the object, bring up the console and type tcl again, it will turn off 'no clip mode'. (Oblivion also uses the same console commands).

2. Select your pip boy
Highlight the item you want to drop
right click

3. not sure, maybe you accidentally hit re-load twice? Could be lag... You know you can use VATS? Hit V, that will get you into target mode. Depending how much AP (action points0 your character has, you cue up several shots with VATS. Just make sure your sniper rifle is fully loaded, before entering VATS.

Welcome to the forums and the game! Fallout 3 is great! You will have loads of fun!

Oh and here's a handy link: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_Wiki

for 3) always keep the weapon in very good shape. The sniper rifle is extremely fragile and degrades very quickly. Better not use it as a primary weapon for short range shots, when it jams you lose time.

Oh duh! yea LOL I wasn't even thinking about gun condition! Yup, that's a good explanation. It probably jammed!