I'm starting a new game -yesterday- I intend to try this time without a companion.

Any tips?

Level 2 nearly 3 starting out with 10 luck. 5 strength (I think) 1 charisma and some endurance.. (for the HP) Luck is supposed to level me faster isn't it?

Just tooling around Sanctuary and Red Rocket building stuff at this point. Still have the 10 mm, Trying to find Carla, Not done MM, Found Concord and went back out.

Not fast traveling just yet.. Also have the gun front the vault.. Cryolator.

Thanks

Carla didnt show up for me until I found Diamond City. The Drumlin(sp?) diner is close. Carla sometimes is there as well as the lady there barters.

add: I think Carla will also show up in Sanctuary as soon as you save the MM but I'm not doing it this playthrough.

Thanks, I wanted to fool around a little bit before arrowing down that questline.

I'm doing this now, level 22. Lone Wanderer perk obviously. I was using Dogmeat for a long time but finally sent him home as I just couldn't stand him being in the way all the time, however early on you may want to use him as a pack mule until the LW perk bonuses kick in. Strong Back perk also very helpful so I'd work on getting that sooner rather than later. The higher level Strong Back, letting you move and even QT while encumbered are game changers as far as looting goes.

This character is not taking any crafting perks (Armorer, Blacksmith, Gun-Nut and Science) so all my item upgrades are from mods I looted. I'm actually surprised how well it's working. This really frees up some perks choices so I can get some things I generally never chose until late game.

I'm pretty sure Carla will show up even if you bypass Concord for awhile...I went from Red Rocket direct to the diner last playthrough and Carla was just up the road. I think you have to catch her at the diner or on the road the first time and then she starts coming to Sanctuary with or without Preston.

I was going to get rifleman as soon as possible (all ranks), followed by rank one of aquagirl and then gun nut and armorer all the way. One dear to me says I should have gotten 10 intelligence if I wanted to level faster. We shall see how this goes.

Some good perks in the Luck tree. I also want Charisma up to at least 6 - 8 to get the "outfit" dress, hat and glasses - +4 charisma.. There is one dress that is +3 Charisma..That would make it + 5 for hard speech checks and barter prices.

10 Endurance is good for lots of Health too..

I hope so. I like Carla.. I could imagine being friends with her.. She has some balls going out by herself like she does.. Only the Brahman in tow.. I really like her..

-edit-

Is there some option to give her a better gun and better outfit-armor?

I hope she does. Last time I found her wandering down the road from Concord to Red Rocket..

intelligence levels you faster not luck

luck only effects critical recharge rate, maybe effects container loot aswell

trashcan carla will be wandering around drumlin dinner, look for her around there, she also turns up at bunker hill like all the other wandering traders when its her turn

once you own sanctuary carlas circuit is drumlin dinner to sanctuary and back round etc (aswell as her obligatory bunker hill day)

im not 100% sure but i think you need settlers at sanctuary before carla will turn up there?

companions really offer nothing in help gameplay wise other than extra carry, i have been using piper since i got her on very hard/survival with nothing more than her original leather coat (no weave) and default 10mm and im having no problems

in fact not having companions and taking lone wanderer not only makes up for most of the extra carry weight (piper can only carry 165lbs) but by doing more and taking less damage you will be much more powerful than traveling with a companion

really due to their unbelievably annoying AI (getting in your way constantly etc etc) and poor combat skills (constantly shooting walls sigh), you really should have an easier time without them especially with lone wanderer.

Dogmeat doesn't count against you for purposes of the Lone Wanderer Perk.

I don't know why I got the idea Luck makes you level faster... My preferred Codsworth only carries 150. It's all that junk that weights me down. Strong carries 270 but in the end I wanted to trade him for someone else.

He's a good tank but I was frustrated with the lack of ways to interact.. Explain things like when he wants to know what the words say or wants to get to know me better. How to work machines.. Stuff like that..

I read that mutants brains shrink when they are dipped for the most part.. Maybe some part of him remembers from before.. He seems eager to kill his "Brothers".

The story is pretty limited for me.. RR does some nasty things and so does Institution and BOS.. I love Liberty Prime and could not abide them destroying him..

I'm not sure what I will do this time.. Avoid main quest for a good long time I think..

I just thought going it alone would make it different and maybe more exciting and challenging..

Dogmeat is sweet but I wanted to try it alone for now -s-

yeah im with you there, i have played maybr 5-6 characters i think now and not got even close to finishing the main story because

all three factions have their bad issues that you can really do nothing about, i dont want to destroy the RR nor BOS and the MM annoy me way too much (hopefully fixed now though!!) so in one character i got up just killed kellogg every other character has only ever got so far as meeting nick after rescuing him

not sure why since the BOS and RR seem to look up to you so much and you do so much for them and complete things that full squads of there soldiers were unable too that you cant just say "hey guys no need to destroy RR or no need to turn on BOS or whatever" seem to listen to you at every other stage

i like the companions though, piper is my favourite as she really seems to like how i play (except i cant steal with her im always a dirty thief in these games lol)

At level 2, myself and dogmeat swam across to Spectacle Island and took the island for my home base, after dying a couple of times by a sneaky Mirelurk Hunter. That was it for dogmeat, I built a doghouse for him, and I've been on my own since, I'm now level 30. I feel this is my best play through, no companions, no settlements, no Preston, just me, myself and I.