Hi everyone.
I'm thinking of starting Fallout 3. I loved Black Isle's and Interplay's Fallout and Fallout 2. I disliked Fallout Tactics a little bit. Now i've heard a lot of good things about Fallout 3, so i would like to start playing this game.

So i'm thinking, if i should start playing the original Fallout 3, and at some point go for the addons, or i should go with all the addons installed. The criterias, what i want from the game:

I want to explore as much, as possible, i want to explore everything. Also i would like to complete all quests, that are available. For early gameplay or not. In simple words, i want to expierience as much, as possible from the game.


Another question:

There are many quests. Some of them determines the story line. At least, that's what i've read. Since i want to explore everything, and do everything, i probably will need to play the game two times or something like that?

Also, would appreciate other tips. Thanks.

Go with all of the DLC's. You will only see one of them involuntarily and that's BS. OP:A, TP, PL and MZ you have to visit to start

I went with PS3 GOTY Edition. Gamestop has it for 39.99 brand new, e-bay similar. Should be able to get it for 39.99 (all addons included) for PS3, 360, PC. At first i thought I would simply beat the game and then address the DLC, however reading on this board has shown me otherwise.

I was doing side quests as I got them and kind of putting the main quest on the side being it seemed like a journey I would get to later. Well there came a part where the main quest completed a few steps on its own from me simply talking to someone in a certain area for a side question. I was a little upset because I wanted to follow the main story, but that's OK.

Back to your point, I did Operation Anchorage at level 8 and it took me to level 11 and gave me some cool stuff, on normal difficulty it was extremely easy. It was a nice change of pace form the way I was playing though. Meaning, it was more run and gun, none stop action; than it was exploring and collecting every single thing I could possible carry.

Now I'll go back to the main quest for a while, then head out to my next DLC when things get a little boring or slow.

Good to hear. Also the MQ can jump at two or three locations. I'm assuming you when to speak with Dr. Lee. Happened to me too when I played.

My angle is, I play it vanilla first. Don't mess about worrying about missing things, just dive in and do what you wanna do until you've finished the vanilla game - THEN play again with the add ons and maybe use the strategy guide or Our Lord, the Vault Wiki to help you out getting 100% completion. I really think the base game is so immersive on it's own, and you'll get to see the proper endings, both if you wanna reload and pick a different option (you'll know what I mean when you get there).

But seriously, go for it, you'll never regret it. ^-^

Edit: My ps3 GOTY was ￡24 off amazon, just so's you know

I wish I had the time to play it through twice!! Unfortunately, I'll be battling to get through it once before the new one comes out. :cryvaultboy:

Damn!! There's nothing to say you can't play 'em both at the same time though, I will be 8D *geek*

I did it in this order:

Vanilla
Vanilla + DLC
Vanilla + DLC + more mods than the game knows what to do with

vanilla? what am i missing?

It just means base game, as you bought it with no DLCs or mods.

Vanilla = Plain, yeah?

Vanilla means just the basic game, no DLCs or mods.

Bittercup the sneaky :ninja:

Even if you decide to play the vanilla game first, get the GOTY edition, so you can have the DLCs around when you decide it's time. You don't have to load them initially. If it were me, I'd probably play with just the vanilla first. To see what the original game was like.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have gone with the GOTY Edition. You can't have too much Fallout!

ah vanilla is the basic game. English is not my native language.

Okay, seems most of you agreed, that i should start by playing simple game, then installing the DLCs. Thanks for help.