Hey guys. Relatively new RPG player here. A short backstory before I ask for some help:

I was never really into RPGs, just mostly FPS, sports, and the occasional Action game (Assassin's Creed series). However, I am just taken aback by the possibilities of open-world RPGs. I tried playing Fallout 3 on Xbox last spring but could never get into it due to the lack of realism, such as being able to tank a bunch of bullets, carrying an entire city on your back, and not having to eat or sleep. I also tried NV last summer but I couldn't get into that on Xbox either but I don't think I gave it a fair shot. Then, when Skyrim came out, I picked that up and stared playing, also on Xbox. I had problems with the lack of realism similar to in FO3, being able to care 23 warhammers and not having to eat or sleep. I gave RPGs a break for a little while until I learned about mods. Once school got out, I re-bought Skyrim for PC (I sold my Xbox copy) and started downloading some mods. I had to play with a lot of settings on my computer to get the game to run properly, but I finally got it working. I spent a long time doing that and researching/downloading/testing mods. I started over so many times that I burned myself out.

Recently, I bought FO3 and FNV on PC during the summer sale (awesome by the way ). I wanted to play FNV because of the built-in hardcoe mode and I didn't want to waste a bunch of time with mods like I did in Skyrim. I did a little bit of mod research and was just eager to start playing, so I jumped in without much mod research or planning for my character. I download a few texture mods, along with iHUD and Project Nevada. My character was poorly planned and a little messed up. I'm using my first character as a warm-up as I learned how to set my visual settings and re-familiarized myself with the Fallout skills and perks. Now, here come the questions:

Should I do a vanilla playthrough first? (I've heard to do this with RPGs, although I have an idea of how Fallout games work and what I want changed)
What's a good playstyle for my character? (I'm starting to like the idea of a survivalist; That's one thing I like about FO over Skyrim is its about survival, not killing anything and everything)
Any other mods I need to have?
Any general tips/tricks?

As a final note, I don't like when things feel cheap in games. This can be as simple as somebody getting stuck on a rock as I'm trying to kill them, to taking loot from an enemy that makes me too powerful and makes things easy. My main point is that I like to struggle to survive in FO, just the way it would be if this were real

Thanks for any and all your help, and sorry if this was a long read. Happy gaming!

Ok well....


1) I really think you should learn to drop this idea of realism. RPG universes, basically ALL RPG universes, require a suspension of disbelief. They say "hey, this is my universe and this is how things work." For example, Fallout's concept of radiation? Guess what, it doesn't actually work that way. Radiation simply makes you throw up and die in real life, it doesn't turn you into a ghoul. What's important isn't that the entire series and all workings be realistic, but rather that the game remains loyal to it's own rules and boundaries of the universe it's established. If you play New Vegas, you're GOING to be taking multiple bullets, you're GOING to be fighting enemies that yes, occassionally survive headshots (depends on the weapon used and how you attacked, point-blank range for example is irrelevant) and you're GOING to be seeing things that are just pure fiction based off of the 1950's impressions of science, radiation and the world of tomorrow.
Just try to immerse yourself. Let's say, for example....New Vegas takes place in 2281. It's been over 200 years since the world saw a reliable arms dealer who had the technology and tools we have in our world. Weaponry is in disrepair and probably doesn't work as effectively as it did 200 years ago. Likewise, radiation has all sorts of odd effects in the Fallout world, turning reptiles and insects into giant versions of their former selves. Perhaps radiation also made humans more durable, to the point where yes, we CAN survive gun shots far better?

The thing is, the unrealistic parts are just part of the game. I mean, this is really no different than if you were to say "hey I tried reading Harry Potter once but couldn't get into it just because it's so unrealistic, but I feel I never gave it a chance. Any tips?" Yeah, accept the Fallout universe for what it claims to be. The Fallout universe DOES have rules and laws of physics and science it must abide by, but they are different from ours. Robots, laser rifles and teleportation are doable, but the internet? What's that? However, I think you'll find that for what it's worth, it also stays loyal to it's own universe. I mean if you were to tell me "why doesn't character A call up character B on a cell phone to solve the problem," I'd also look at you and say "ridiculously unrealistic." Why? Because cell phones don't exist in the Fallout universe; they never have and probably never will.

Just don't look at it as unrealistic. Look at it like a divergent universe from our own with it's own set of rules, physics etc.

2) Consider playing on very hard, while simultaneously making good use of sneak mode. Why? Because to me, it's the most realistic. Very Hard means you take realistic damage. For example, a .50 cal sniper to the head? Yeah, incredibly unlikely you'll survive that. Do enemies tank more hits though? Yes and no. See, Very hard makes you deal half damage and enemies deal double damage. However, if you use a sneak attack (enemy doesn't expect it), that automatically a crit and, if I remember correct, double damage. A headshot is also double damage, so with sneak attack headshots, you can easily deal enough damage to oneshot enemies while they can also easily kill you. Likewise, use hardcoe mode, as hardcoe mode addresses your issue with carrying 23 warhammers with you at all times. It's still unrealistic amounts of stuff, but for example my hardcoe mode characters can typically only manage a sidearm, a rifle and two other misc guns of my choice (shotgun, SMG). Something to consider, given your playstyle.

3) Consider http://twofoldsilence.diogenes-lamp.info/2012_05_01_archive.htmlPersonally I would still give the vanilla unmodded game a try first, but Josh Sawyer's mod tends to make things more difficult and more realistic. It cuts your HP down quite a bit while also making the rate at which you need food and water realistic. It WOULD make the game significantly harder though. Not enemy-wise, but just with general character management.

Good advice above, but I think you're not going to like it anymore than you did.

As a FPS game I think New Vegas is probably mediocre to poor when you compare it to something like Call of Duty, but shooter is not what New Vegas is about, it's about story telling, NPC character acting, questing and exploration. In terms of story and the NPC character/voice acting, New Vegas is up at the top.

But combat engine? Forget it. No matter how many mods you use it's not going to change the fundamental nature of the combat engine.

As for terrain glitches, it's the same basic engine as they used in Morrowind and Oblivion and I noticed right away that enemies (and player) getting stuck in terrain is worse in New Vegas than the other. In New Vegas I frequently get stuck in terrain and have to reload because I can't get unstuck, and it's not like Oblivion where if you fall into the void it puts you back on the surface, you have to reload.