I recently bought Fallout 1 and 2 and I would appreciate any tips you guys have to make my life easier in the games.

Don't pick Traps, don't pick Fast Shot, don't lower any SPECIAL to 1, remember to save a lot, there's strength in numbers (Fallout 2) and radiation is far far far more dangerous in the old games.

Read the manual to help make sense of the interface, skills are tied to accuracy and/or success of a dice roll rather than damage, be wary of companions with burst weapons shooting you or each other (unless equipped with power armor).

The only tip I can give is that, if your coming from Gamebryo engine Fallout 3 and New Vegas you will have a hard time playing this game at first. It took me a long time to get used to the interface and really just the graphics and combat. But as time goes on, once you get the hang of it, they are some of the best games a person can buy.

Just try to learn on your own. Form your own style. Everyone plays a little differently.

Just to pick up on the lower any special to 1 - AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE GAME ONLY replay with luck and inteligence at 1; and again with luck 10. It can be quite amusing.

If you haven't already installed Killap's Unnoficial patch, download and install it (not the restoration mod - the restoration mod is great, but only play it after your first playthrough). It fixes a lot of the bugs left in FO2 (and you lot complain about bugs in FO1 and New Vegas - Bah! Game breaking bugs are a part of the fallout experience!)

There's a lot of previous threads on suggested character builds - I'd suggest reading up on them.

Make sure you tag at least 1 weapon skill, maybe 2.


As this they're common question, I'll include a run down on how to use skills and resting.

Firstly there's a button on the right hand side that says "Skilldex", click it, then the skill you want to use. With the exception of Doctor, First Aid and Lockpick there is no limit on the times you can use a skill.

Second, the number keys can be used as a shortcut, corresponding to the order the skills appear in the skilldex.

Thrid, Right click on a world item, one of the icons will open the skilldex and once you've selected the skill it will immediately be used on that item.

Fourth, you can "use" lockpics and "tools"/"Tool Kits" like a gun and this will autmatically trigger the requisite skill.

Lockpick doesn't have a "hard" limit but there is a chance you could break the lock you're trying to pick (sometimes sleep resets the lock); Doctor and First aid have a 3 successful use limit each in any 24 hour gametime period (you have unlimited attempts, it only counts successes). First aid heals HP and Doctor heals HP and limbs - both can earn you a reasonable amount of XP on use (25/50xp)

To Rest, Press Z. You cannot rest in some locations, in some locations it would be foolish to do so; you also cannot rest before completing the first quest in FO2, so use those healing powders and first aids/doctor skills wisely.

I would also advise against becoming a slaver on your first FO2 playthrough. Although it makes the game slightly easier at the start with the extra cash, it's going to close a lot of doors as you get further in.

Aim for the eyes.

Stay classy, _____.

Not always though.

My sniper loves aiming for the legs to keep melee or gunslingers with less range away, to finish it all off with an eyeshot or a groinshot which does approximately the same thing as the first one by dealing lots of damage. The groin area has a bit more hit percentage for long distances. Also, headshots are quite handy when swarmed by a group, knocking a couple of targets out so I can concentrate on the rest.

Don't end up in an open doorway or exposed position, end up close to it for the next round.