I searched all over and couldn't find any threads like this. But before I begin, two things. One, this is my first post so hello to everybody here. And two, this might sound extremely difficult but I made sure it was possible myself before posting it; I have completed both challenges.

Lately, I've begun to think about the consequences of death in modern games, and the significance of dying. There is none, save for being set back 3 minutes when you last quicksaved. The only "punishment" of death is lost time, and all that really teaches you is to save before taking a risk. That doesn't really support a "survival" experience. Now, I'm not ragging on Fallout games, the experience they provide is fine. I'm talking about taking it one step further, putting your survival skills to the test. Perhaps you don't believe me that death with no consequences has taught you poor habits. Fair enough. Try your hand at this challenge and see just what you have learned all this time. Personally, it taught me to be impatient and reckless, fearless and foolish. You might disagree, but I guarantee after trying this challenge you'll prove yourself wrong. I've thought about a goal that would be easy to define, and hard to reach. Reaching the end of the main quest is just too easy, in both games. Attaining the highest level is much more of a challenge. A word for the wise: If you do attempt this, I highly recommend starting with Fallout 3 first. hardcoe might seem trivial with the H2O/FOD/SLP requirements, but what actually makes it so much harder is that stimpacks heal over time.

THE ULTIMATE* FALLOUT 3/NV CHALLENGE

GOAL: Reach Level 20/30 without a single death

RULES:
1) You may never use VATS (With the exception of using it once to get rid of the "Press V to use VATS" message)
_{I'd say this is optional, since this rule would probably scare off a lot of people who rely on it so much. But preferably, you should challenge yourself.}
2) The game must be on VERY HARD at all times (and hardcoe at all times for New Vegas)
_{This is pretty self-explanatory.}
3) You may not use companions
_{This is here because companions lighten the load. In a challenge that teaches you not to die, that's undesirable.}
4) You may save a starting point right outside of Vault 101 and Doc Mitchell's at the start of the game
_{This is a very convenient rule. The punishment should not be so severe that you repeat these over and over.}
5) If you die, for ANY reason, you must start over
_{You might think for ANY reason is too harsh, or stupid, or extreme. But is it? The point of this challenge is to see if you can live. If you fell off a rock(and I have), that's your mistake.}

Since I've not seen a thread like this on here, I'm curious as to what you think. I'd appreciate your comments on this challenge. Too hard? You've done something harder? Although my highest hope is that a few of you complete it yourself and share how you got through it. Oh, and this could also be appropriate in the fallout series discussion forum, but I put it here because the real challenge is New Vegas. FO3 is just a warm up.

_{*Obviously disputable. IMO it deserves it, though.}

1.) I never use vats anyway. I'm too used to first person shooters to use VATS.

2.) The same way I play all playthroughs

3.) The only companion i ever use is Raul/ED-E and I hardly use them because they're a liability.

4.) Lol k.

5.) Interesting, but that just ruins the point of playing on very hard/hardcoe.

Well, number 1 there is already the http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1248083-the-dead-is-dead-thread-9/ if your interested in that

and number 2 I think you mean to put this thread http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/forum/33-fallout-3-general-discussion/

Sounds like a more difficult dead is dead to me.

Which is what, exactly? I was under the impression it was to make things harder



That was an interesting read. Yea, I was looking for something like that. I found no mention of difficulty setting, though? And no, I definitely meant to put this here. As I said, the challenge is oriented towards New Vegas.

Sorry, for some reason I only read the "vault 101" part in step 4. :tongue:

I'm pretty sure someone tried to do the hardest difficulty on Dead is Dead, but I don't think anyone ever made it to level 20 or 30.

I've completed the game... Level 30... On VH/HC...

I did this and recorded it but did it naked to make it harder. Haven't had time to put it up on YouTube yet.

Cheers

About 7 people have beaten the game without a death. Dunno how many on VH/hardcoe. I myself wasn't a heavy VATS user, and I don't quite see the point of limiting VATS usage or companions. To me, companions and VATS are fair trades. You invest a fair amount of stats into charisma or companions feel crappy, and going into VATS has just as many risks as it does rewards. Hell, there was a point on the Lonesome Road with my DID character where I had two enemies on me, considered going into VATS to use Paralyzing Palm but thought it was risky since you can't react or use stims/chems if you're in trouble, thought "what could go wrong?" tried it, then saw "Auto-inject Stimpack used" and thought "OH SHIIIIIT!!!" Immediately after VATS died I was downing every single consumable I had.

Limiting definite-helpers like chems, I can understand, but VATS and companions can come with as many downsides as they do good sides.

I completed it easily, Carl "Demoman" Krause survived everything :/ tooooo easy with Tiny Tots and Mercy <3 gotta love Battle Brew/Slasher/Med-X combo breaker, already done this challenge, so nah, will probably do this again with an Unarmed/Caesar's Legion. If your not doing the DLC's, this challenge isn't even a challenge.

Lol. I bet way more than 7 have done it. Imagine all the people that use tgm. (god mode)