I've started a new game after not playing since the game came out. I got the game of the year edition, v1.7 and all five DLCs.

I'm level two and just set off to Super Duper Mart for Moire and low and behold, an Enclave trooper... just apparently out for a stroll or doing a bit of scaving or whatever the game designers envisioned Enclave troopers doing.

Naturally he shot my head off in one shot. I think it's cool that there are super dangerous enemies that I will dread running into, but I think it's dumb making it an Enclave trooper because of the story (they have yet to be introduced into the story, and you're not supposed to know that they're bad guys yet).

But it did occurr to me that it might be some sort of bug. Is it, or did they introduce this in one of the updates or DLCs?

Thanks.

ah, this is a common bug now. random enclave soldiers spawn before the rest of the encampments, regardless of level. i always have one spawn on the road to the super duper mart, near dukovs, and at deathclaw caverns. i dont think anyone has a fix for it, even right out of the vault on very hard i manage to deal with them, and they are somewhat rare, some people like to think of them as advanced scouts, if that helps you.

If you can ice him you've got some pretty useful gear early doors

Pretty sure it's a Broken Steel bug.

Hmmmm pretty sure Broken Steel is a bug.

Seriously I just tried playing it for the first time and GOD is it bad( imo of course)

Is fallout 3 a lot buggier on other versions, 'cos I've never honestly had any problems in over 160 hours of gaming on my 360?

same here this is the only bug ive found on 360

Except you can't wear it. The plasma rifle may be nice, but in my experience, most are just carrying laser rifles if they're alone. It's only when there are 3 or more that one has the plasma rifle.

I've not seen this bug, but then again, I don't have any DLC installed.

capsssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Caps? For what? Everything in the game is given to you.

well, y'know I'm a greedy sod

keep track of those lone enclave nastys. i think when the main quest ends, the broken steel DLC kicks in. those enclave weren't intended to show up until broken stteel was active. when broken steel kicks in, enclave bases will appear where you encounter the lone enclave nasty.

Haven't played Fallout 3 in ages. But for PC can't you disable Broken Steel in the Data Files menu?

Why would you want to? It adds a lot of content to the game. And the Enclave doesn't just appear with Broken Steel, they'll show up in the main game after you complete the Waters of Life quest. Gamestter is mistaken. There's a few extra Enclave checkpoints that are added by Broken Steel, but most of them exist in the original game.

To get rid of the bug that has the Enclave spawning to early. You can always activate the mod before entering the purifier code.

You just have to get the Broken Steel Unofficial Patch. At least if you're playing on a PC. It's also a very rare thing, it doesn't always happen. Even before the end of the main quest Broken Steel adds new content, so I wouldn't recommend turning it off.