Hello Wanderers! I just wanted to stop in and ask a few questions.

Now when the topic of 'Power Armor' comes up and people ask whether or not we can wear it in indefienatly

When people say we might not... they say it's because of 'balance'

I'm confused why Bethesda needs to focas on balance in a single player game

The only thing that makes sense to have balance is to not make the game super-easy

But player freedom should be priority, not "balance".

"Let's go pal..."

I think to some extent anyone that role-plays has to make character choices that aren't as viable or powerful as other character choices; but it shouldn't feel like you're working against the game's design with your character, unless you're doing something really out of left field. If the game gives you something like Power Armor and says "this is the best way to handle 99% of situations in the game", it kind of devalues every other playstyle in the game.

Plus, having those kinds of limitations makes you think more about how you're playing the game, and makes each character choice feel a little more interesting. Like, if I want to roll through the game using Energy Weapons exclusively, I've got to account for enemies that resist Energy Weapons and the relative scarcity of Energy ammo. Or if I want to get Power Armor as early as possible and wear it always, I've got to deal with maintaining the armor (power cells, and the armor's condition).

In Fallout 3, there really isn't much downside to power armor. You're essentially purposefully handicapping yourself if you don't use it. This made every single character the same in the end, belittling one's choices in designing a character. No matter whether you want to make a diplomat, a sneaky ninja, or a mad scientist they all ended up looking the same. Its not like a multiplayer game where it needs to be balanced against other players. As Box Maan points out well, its more about balancing against other playstyles so that other playthroughs can be unique and viable. Power armor should be great for tank like characters with the know how to upgrade it and the resources to keep it maintained. But if I want to make a sneaky ninja, I want there to be a downside to power armor with better results with light armor and stealth boys. The game gets more playability with more limits as each character must approach situations differently. There's no point in role playing if all character design choices lead to the same result.

A game needs to be a game too first and foremost, not just a virtual playground that points out where the swings and the merry-go-around are and say "go play". That's where you need the balance (and the restrictions it poses). It's not going to be a very good experience if the mechanics flail around all over the place without any form of consistency.

Just pick a role you enjoy playing, and play it. If you don't like how the game plays when you wear power armor, then don't wear power armor, or seek an arrangement of attributes and perks that works well with power armor. Experiment with anything that looks interesting to find the right balance for you.

Because unchallenging fun last 30 min, balanced, challenging fun lasts hours.

Hear, hear

Ah. A knotty question, and one that is full of angst.

I would like to refer back to Skyrim. There was, and I am sure continues to be, much angst about the synergies between crafting, and how you could be "unbalanced". Now, me, if I like a lightly armored warrior, wielding 2 very sharp swords, I OP the swords a little, and don't go nuts crafting/improving armor. I hit hard, but then, so do they. To me, that gives me a game I enjoy a lot, and most importantly, I can tailor the game to give me that experience. I found, a lot of the time, people who complain about "balance" simply refused to not craft everything to the max. Then they would complain vociferously about having to limit themselves. It was and remains a silly argument.

If the game designers give you freedom to do that sort of thing, revel in it. Don't complain about it.

I would prefer the balance be left to me, rather than have a game developer force it on me and limit my options, and at the end of the day, It IS a single player game. What I do affects no one else. If you can be overpowered, and you choose to be (and it is a choice), then that's on no one else but you. I don't care what you do. Don't worry about what I do.

Bingo.

It's no fun to play a game where you can one hit kill everything, or be one hit killed by anything. Those are extremes of course, but a game too easy or too hard is no fun to play in the long run. Well, for me, at least


And i think that shows poor skill on the part of the developers, and use mods that fix that. But i don't think any two people can agree on what is good way to balance things.

I have probably NEVER used power armor except, possibly, just to goof around a bit with it. I don't like playing tank-type characters --- I prefer lightly armored sneaky sniper smooth-talkers. So regardless of how uber power armor was, I never wore it because I hated the look of it. Even if it DIDN'T affect sneak rating, I felt it ~should~. Made no sense to creep along in a massive suit that clangs every time I take a step.

https://youtu.be/glIknPywSmM

More generally, though, even a single player game needs balance so that it's not frustratingly-hard nor boringly-easy. Having godlike powers for a short time, or at high cost, is one way to balance things, although I prefer to have a more stable form of balance (do enough damage, survive enough damage, so that it's fun without being overpowered or underpowered EVER).

Balance must be a priority. But player freedom falls into that balance.

You answered your own question.

As others have said, "balance" in a single player game helps with maintaining challenge and fun (and that yes, each person has a different idea of what's "challenging".... )

Turning on God Mode and rampaging through the game world can be fun for a few minutes, but it gets old really fast....

Eh, I've never used PA in FO3 or NV. And not for any self-handicapping reasons. One, it's ugly as sin, and aesthetics can be as important to me as stats. (obviously, at some point, one can be forced to move on when a good-looking armor becomes too weak, but I've usually been ok with sacrificing some bonuses in games, if it looks better.) Two, it didn't fit the playstyle of most of my characters (not a fan of the Agility penalty, for instance.)

Very true, but no one's making you wear power armor.

PA is overrated in FO3 and NV. There were other armors almost as good.

PA in FO and FO 2 was armor of the gods compared to anything else in the game.

In New Vegas, light armor with all the related perks was far superior to anything else.

And anti-PA weapons were plentiful; just like tanks in the real world, death traps

Agreed. And I forgot about the Chinese Stealth Suit in F3 which was better than power armor for stealth characters. This is the kind of balance I hope they'll have.

In Fallout 3 I used to wear a good set of combat armour, now a new incarnation of that character goes with that stylish armoured vault suit.

The difference, even with the toughness perk, is very big. 12 DR versus 32 DR. It's still possible to be successful with the vault suit, but you have to be very careful in engaging on your own terms and not fighting very aggressively. I'd say it makes a great form of balance, with your combat or power armours you can afford to run in guns blazing and mow everyone down with your minigun or assault rifle, but when you've got that vault suit and the hunting rifle you got as a companion to your 10mm right out of the vault, you are fragile. You need to use cover, not just stand infront of a guy and unload. And getting those sneak attack criticals on high value targets is even more important.

The game seems pretty balanced already, but then I roleplay and don't power game. Maybe if you're stomping around with the best gear in the game its a lot easier, but then I was never one for giant mech suits.

While I agree that the concept of "balance" is misplaced when talking about a single player game, the concept of DIFFICULTY is absolutely a priority for the Devs. If they have elevated PA to be a near invincibility mode vehicle of destruction, they kind of DO need to limit it's use to maintain any semblance of challenge to the player. Player freedom should be a consideration but NOT the main priority in the game. Yes, this change would potentially be altering previous games status of PA, but it certainly could be a GOOD thing if you look beyond the, "I WANNA STOMP AROUND IN POWER ARMOR ALL THE TIME!!!", objection.

Also, the inability to wear PA all the time is pure speculation at this point, so starting a protest for "player freedom" before we actually KNOW how PA works in the game is premature. Stow the torches and pitchforks for when we know something for sure.