like what is it? Is it supposed to be something that the character is doing or merely the player? And if its the character then how are they doing it?

It's done through the Pip-boy. It allows the character to aim more accurately. I'm not sure if it was explained entirely. It was a way to bring a more turn based combat system from the original games.

The boring and dry answer would be to say that it is Bethesda trying to merge gun play and role play together. Fallout has so much more to it than a game like COD, so the developer has to wrestle with the concept of how they can translate character progression with player progression. VATS is also a tip of the hat to the vats in Fallout 1 where the first mutants came from.

And of course being able to shoot 15 things at once is heaps more fun.

True (to both your responses) I just always wondered if it was supposed to be some kind of special ability that only the character has or if its something that only those with Pip-Boy's can do.

Just you, the player. Otherwise I fear that you would never escape Vault 101, forever in the loop of getting owned by the 101 security guards.... carrying police batons.

In theory it should be everyone with a Pip-Boy 3000. There is actually a VaulTec commercial on it (although Pip-Boys are made by Robco, it appears that VATS is an add on developed by VaulTec for the miliary and then integrated into Pip-Boys). I don't think it is in-game but it is in the GNR Enhanced mod (I think the commercial was made by Bethesda as a promo prior to game release).

In practice it is player character only. Which also includes the player character in Fallout New Vegas -- who of course gets a different Pip-Boy form the Lone Wanderer, showing that VATS has been integrated into other Pip-Boy 3000s.

I don't think the in-game mechanics are well explained. But it appears that the Pip-Boy is wired into the player character's nervous system, perhaps with optical augmentation (maybe a contact lens type overlay). But that is never explained. That the Pip-Boy is wired into the nervous system may also explain why the radio does not affect sneaking, ie there is no actual sound from the radio, just audio nerve impulses.

But whats up with the mysterious stranger perk? ... says they show up in V.A.T.S. mode. I havent taken it yet , so hence my ignorance on it.

Although I find vats mode and the pip boy nice features ... I cant help but feel sad they are the direct cause for this game haveing no multi player function. err am I just stupid and there is a multi player option?

No, there is no multiplayer option.

The reason for no multiplayer is the engine couldn't run it and its supposed to be YOUR story about what YOU did to the world. Not what multible people did.

And with the Mysterious Stranger perk a Myster Stranger (hence the name) in a trench coat with a fadora and a revolver sometimes appears in VATS, slaughtering anything you were targeting.

I still dont get what your saying (how it goes down in game mechanics) regaurding the mysterious stranger.

Ill just have to give it a try I suppose.

I feel a limited multi player option could have gone along way to increase the games longevity. But with vats and the pipboy mechanic , I dont see how it would be possible.

The Mysterious stranger is a "guardian angel" of sorts, any other info on him isnt known. (Hence the name)


However:

SPOILERS




[In New Vegas you find out he has a son.]


/SPOILERS

What I mean is ... senario : You have selected the mysterious stranger perk , your playing along fighting stuff .... Botta boom botta bang .... you see >>> ??? happen ...

The description of ( In V.A.T.S. mode ) I find confuseing .... How am I suppose to see an NPC's vats mode ? Or is it , when I select vats mode. The mysterious stranger shoots them before I can? Basically saving me from using my AP's

Like I said , Ill just have to try it out I guess. But your post of , what is vats , made me wonder.

He appears in the middle of V.A.T.S, so say you're fighting a robobrain and aim for its head 3 times. But everytime you miss, his music will then play and he'll appear behind you while everything is still in slow-motion and ice the target usually killing it within 1 to 2 shots at the most then you'll exit V.A.T.S and he'll be gone.


However this doesnt always happen, and I'm not sure if having a higher luck stat will increase his "visits".

OIC .... the cinematic in vats .... but suppose you dont use vats that often .... should you not take that perk?

I wondered why they specify the scoped 44 mag though .... I almost never use the dang thing .... Then I gave it to Clover one time , she was doing some serious dmg to the super mutants that time ... its a shame the amo is so limited in game.

His revolver is a special scopeless variant (then first before the ones got released in the DLC's) that not only does like RIDICULOUS damage but also has a massive boost to crits.


And it really depends on your preference, I like just because it serves as a "second chance" of sorts. And as long as he hits them (sometimes he'll spawn by a wall and shoot it instead) most likely the target will die.


If you want to check out his Magnum here's the link: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Mysterious_Stranger%27s_.44_magnum_(Fallout_3)


It makes a Fat man look like a BB gun.

I've taken the perk once. He always missed his targets, leaving me to deal. He's good at killing small things, but when your life is on the line, he never helped me there.

And it begs to wonder , if the trigger in vats is you missing , would other perks increasing your chance to hit , diminish this perk?

Lol if you think he's bad in FO3 then he's terrible in NV, half the time him and Miss Fortune will get you killed. I dont mind though as its still awesome having a hot guardian angel wielding a revolver and is dressed like a lethal Flapper-Girl, even if she does sometimes get me killed... >.>

I believe it has to do with your luck and the amount of health you have. He would only show if I had about 50% health or less.


During the one and only time I took the perk he would:
- I would be battling significant enemies, and he would show up and shoot the radroach in the corner a block away.
- He would show up, shoot the ground in front of the target (trying to make him dance I think ), and then disappear.
- One time he actually showed up, shot me and then left. That was pretty hilarious and sad.

But others have had great success with him. My luck has only been 8 tops, with one uber character.

My luck he'll just pop-up and not even shoot (same with Miss Fortune), so I'll be stuck in V.A.T.S and eventually get killed.



I guess they dont call her "Miss Fortune" for nothing eh?