It feels like it doesn't really help and your character doesn't even has a good animation for it besides lean out of cover in first person. Its nothing compared to Wolfenstien the Old Blood and maybe the New Order. But you see Raiders use cover better than your character can like no problem.

Little pet peeve about this. /rant

Anyway does it even help? It feels like enemies shoot you regardless.

Honestly I didn't even notice that there was one to begin with. I witnessed NPCs use cover of course, but I always figured that's just an exclusive, more or less cosmetic thing to make combat look better.

Then again, my weapons are a sniper rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and a machete; so how would I know about taking cover in the first place...

Something about going against a wall and aiming than you automatically lean out than let go of aim to lean back in.

Yeah, I don't think the cover system was ever meant to be a huge part of combat. It's just sort of there. This isn't a cover-based shooter like Mass Effect, and the nature of Bethesda's level design doesn't really suit it as well.

I think it's just kind of an added on thing. It's not really meant to be a central part of combat. I use it sometimes, but very rarely.

Have you ever noticed your gun dip down when behind cover?

Or with a sniper and shotgun they move to the left to be held against your body.

If you are holding your gun, lets say behind the corner of a building and your gun dips, then you can press your zoom in aiming button and you can aim and shoot around the corner

You'd be surprised how much it saves your hide, but it doesn't really work well with Beth's usual "difficulty".

Slap on some mod that makes you and your foes hit like a truck and you'll never regret the cover system, even in it's basic form.

Yeah it works really good if there isn't a huge invisible wall enveloped around what you're taking cover behind. Also I don't think it gives away your position when you're sneaking. I've never once gone from hidden to caution while peaking.


I use this mechanic quite a lot. It's great!

I didn't even know this and I played for over 100 hours.

I know enemies like to do that but man am I [censored].

I use it a lot too, but really all you need to do is put something between you and enemies or good distance. They have really poor aim in comparison to the player so even if a little bit of their body is exposed, that part will be hit by me.

I dont use it a lot as it is limited where it works, would like to see it improved. The real miss here is a 3rd person cover, that is really necessary IMHO, pretty much all 3rd person games have a cover system.

I like the added feature, but I never use it. I tend to forget about it. I'm either sniping or going in guns blazing.

i don't care about cover systems , ofc i use cover when i reload or to avoid enemy fire when i am outnumbered but that's about it

im so used to playing traditional FO combat, honestly didn't know there was a cover system. =S

Ive never used it, I prefer 3rd person view too, but I go 1st when crap hits the fan. Never used it in those times as I personally would do faster just dipping in and out like normal. I wouldn't mind the companions making better use of cover though lol.

It is a shame that we don't have a "shoulder to the wall" animation for cover in 3rd person, or that we can't lay down suppressing fire like some of our companions, but I use the first-person cover often in situations where I'm not likely to get flanked.

That said, there are few things as satisfying as having my spy character stand out in the open, steely-eyed, facing down automatic fire, and systematically takign down the bad guys with nothing but a suppressed 10mm pistol...

That's a pity as i found it quite useful in the beginning of the game when my character was weak, vulnerable, noisy and had wimpy weapons.

I think its great that they fit this in the game naturally, instead of using some "snap to" mechanic.

That said, I rarely ever use it, but I'm a VATS player and its awkward hitting left trigger and left button at the same time...

Oh lord! And I thought this, too, was an "ambient" feature to indicate a sense of physical depth of FP camera. Thanks for clearing that up!

Good thing I'm only level 60 now and played since release...

Personally I've found it to be completely useless. If you could blind fire like enemies that would be another story maybe lol

They are surprisingly accurate for doing blind fire aswell.

Well considering I can stand in the street during a firefight and make a sandwich and still not die I don't think we need more damage mitigation.

Well the enemies utilize a much better cover system then the player does

I do wish you could pop up above cover with this mechanic (if you're against a long short wall and theres no side peak possible)

I tend to forget about it until the going gets tough, then I magically remember I can take cover. It's useful, but after playing the previous games, I never really use it.