Hello everyone!

In around 2 - 3 days my copy of Fallout 3 GOTY edition will arrive after giving in and finally buying this great game again. Before (3 - 4 years ago) I was a noob with this game... Had it on very easy and would run and gun completing the main storyline in 5 hours. I would fast travel and miss out on discovering new things and great stories.

Anyway, I've now taken a new approach to these games (TES & Fallout) and would love some tips on a better way to survive. I will be a stealthy guy, would like to pick off my targets from a distance and will also be a friendly person (so good karma is a must). Difficulty on very hard.

What should my specials be and how should I approach this?

There are a wide variety of starting combinations which can be successful. Here is a good starting setup that can work:

At Start- Strength 9, Perception 5, Endurance 5, Charisma 1, Intelligence 7, Agility 8, Luck 5. My starting tag skills are usually small guns, sneak, and repair. Before I leave the vault, I take everything that's not nailed down to sell to the vendors in Megaton. The 9 strength is used to carry that as far as possible without being encumbered. After exiting the vault hatch but just prior to entering the wasteland, I alter my specials by reducing strength to 6 while increasing intelligence and agility to 9 each. I sell off the goods at Megaton. My first survival guide mission with Moira Brown is to become irradiated with 600 rads. After picking up the sniper rifle and other goods in the hollow rock directly behind Megaton, I head out to the Potomac River, avoiding all enemy contact along the way. I then jump into the river and start building up rads while I swim in the direction of Rivet City, I stop at Wilhelm's Wharf and The Citadel to make them available for fast ravel later. I continue on down the Potomac, stopping at boats in the water to check them and underwater boxes for contents. I finally check the boat on land below Rivet City, then enter Rivet City with over 600 rads. I then go to the science lab. I avoid talking to Docto Li and pick up the intelligence bobblehead. Then I fast travel back to Megaton and report to Moira Brown to complete the first mission of the survival guide. It's a decent start.