Official Fallout 3 Spoilers/Hints/Strategy Thread™

[Elesirdur]

There's a Stealth Boy™ in the Museum of Technology's lobby, off to the left from the main entrance. Be warned however, when you click on it you get this Predator-type stealth effect for a few minutes but it can only be used once and then it's gone. I just hit it and used it my first time without any indication that it was a one-use deal.

When finishing the quest Them! you can find a home for Billy or whatever the kid's name is in Rivet City. Go talk to the owner of the hotel, who is the kid's aunt (you may need to use some speech skill on her), and ask if the kid can stay with her. Then just return to Grayden and tell the kid he has a place to live. I haven't followed it up but he says to go visit him in Rivet City sometime, where you might get a reward.

In the sub-basement of the Jefferson Memorial you can find some data voice logs that fill in some back-story to Project Purity, of which you father and mother were working on. This starts a quest to go way out west to some scientific compound, and it may be related to finding your father in the main quest (having just turned on the Washington Monument GNR array but not talked to Three Dog yet I'm not sure). One log has your mother speaking and your father getting all frisky with her in the background; perhaps that lead to the sex in which your character was conceived? lol

[Krandor]

That is part of the main quest, the precursor to that is talking to Doctor Li in Rivet City, which for me Xed out the "Following in His Footsteps" quest.

[Doombear]

For those of you that are starting over to get the 2nd Bobblehead in Vault 101 (behind your mother's frame) don't... you WILL be able to go back to Vault 101 for a later mission ("Trouble on the Homefront") so no use restarting for that one.

[Null]

There's a Stealth Boy™ in the Museum of Technology's lobby, off to the left from the main entrance. Be warned however, when you click on it you get this Predator-type stealth effect for a few minutes but it can only be used once and then it's gone. I just hit it and used it my first time without any indication that it was a one-use deal.

Actually there are four of em in that Museum, three are in the same room.

I've been trying to save those for when I "need" them but I have yet to find a reason to need them. So far I've got 11 sitting in my house in Mega.

[killerx]

so for finishing quest oasis killing the tree gives u a new perk that gives damage resistance +5% dont know what all the other choices give

[Elesirdur]

That is part of the main quest, the precursor to that is talking to Doctor Li in Rivet City, which for me Xed out the "Following in His Footsteps" quest.

Interesting. I went through the Jefferson Memorial on my way to Rivet City (on my way to the Washington monument ) and picked up the logs, listened to them and when I spoke to Dr. Li I got the quest that way. Not sure if that somehow circumvents the info I'm going to get from Three Dog when I see him about info on my father. I'm guessing it probably will.

Speaking of Dr. Li, there's an Intelligence+1 Bobblehead in the Science Lab of Rivet City - though I'm sure that's probably already been mentioned.

By the way, were are these other vaults like 108 located? I'm guessing they are more out in the wastelands and not clustered around the Potomac.

[Krandor]

I unlocked the location for Vault 112 as part of the main story sequence in the Jefferson Memorial. As for the other vaults, nothing yet, I've barely touched the main storyline so far.

I missed going to GNR Radio too (storyline wise) when I went and talked to Dr. Li. You definitely still have to go to GNR though, the trek to reach it is epic, especially the final portion out on the building's front doorsteps. I do like that you can effectively "skip" portions of the story by encountering different people. I think the main thread someone said that they were just walking around and accidentally ran into Dad, which is just kind of awesome that the game works out that way.

Oh and for those interested, in the GNR building, upon entering if you head to your left, I found a suit of Power Armor in a locker there.

[Koyuki]

Anyone else having trouble getting to tenpenny tower? No matter what route I take those mutated bears show up and completely rape me.

[Elesirdur]

Honestly, repairing GNR's transmitter atop the Washington Monument is worth it only so you can get the decent GNR music throughout the wasteland.

So when you you "learn" how to use power armour? I tried ganking a set of a dead BoS soldier during my trek to the GNR studios but it said I was not trained to use it. Do I have to join up with BoS to use it?

[Krandor]

Afaik it's part of the main storyline (Power Armor training)

[Deacon]

For power armor training, you learn it inside The Citadel (Brotherhood of Steel HQ) shortly after you go to project purity and encounter The Enclave. Talk to Scryer Lyons who will give you permission, then talk to Gunny who is walking around in the bailey for actual training.

you learn the location of all the remaining vaults when you enter the lab inside The Citadel by talking with one of the scribes next to the giant robot. I believe theres 4-5 vaults, spread out all on the map.

I suggest for those who like to explore and do every quest in the game, dont go back to The Citadel after you escape/leave The Enclaves main base, as it will start the chain of events that bring the game to its conclusion, and theres no open world play after you finish the last storyline quest.

Anybody encounter Deathclaws yet? I suggest being very cautious when running around in the northeast/north portion of the map, as these things 2-3 shot you before you can even turn around.

[Zeb]

Ugh! About an hour late in reading that Deathclaw warning. Republic of Dave was interesting though.

I highly recomend helping the ghouls overrun Tenpenny Tower. There is a lot of loot in there and you don't lose any karma for doing the actual killing of the citizens.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

I have about 20hrs and have not seen a Deathclaw. Oddly enough, the day the game was released, I watched my friend play. The first outside enemy encounter he had was with a Deathclaw...

[Wintermute]

How are you guys dealing with over-encumberance?

I keep picking up too much crap and it's starting to really take its toll. I'm a pack rat so it really doesn't help since I pick everything thing up to sell for Caps later.

Starting to run low on ammo too, though I think I spotted a supply cache on the way back to MT from Minefields.

Lots of fun so far, just wish the PC wasn't so damn slow.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

I just drop shit when I pick too much stuff up, then quick travel to a shop? I don't see how else you'd handle it

[Doombear]

Oh and for those interested, in the GNR building, upon entering if you head to your left, I found a suit of Power Armor in a locker there.

I just looted them off the bodies outside after the Behemoth raped all three of the Guards =P Not that i can wear it until another 4 sections in the story quest.

I also accidentally skipped the GNR section of the Main Quest, because i went to Rivet City first. Good to know though, i JUST got my achievement for finding GNR, and am back on track. So even though i was 'told' to do something a bit farther down the quest line, i just went back and completed to GNR part.

As for being over-encumbered... i just had to pick and choose what i looted. A lot of Raider Armor at first, making sure to repair multiple pieces so i could sell it for more AND carry more. The +50 to your carry limit Perk was nice too.

[Elesirdur]

I chose to upgrade my Strength twice using that perk (Quick Learner or something? Whatever it's called you can boost a SPECIAL of your choice), and with the +STR bobblehead I'm up to 9 STR which equates to a 250 carry limit. Since I'm focusing on small arms I don't have an issue with weight, but I could see if you want to go out with miniguns and the fat man all the time it could be tough.

[fren.]

This is a post from SA; but what skill is this?

Other than getting that magical 95% in VATS and doing a ton of damage per hit, being nearly undetectable, having perfect condition weapons and armor, having a huge chance to succeed on any speech check, or being able to buy and sell items for ridiculous profits? Not really.

This is regarding a post in maximizing skills.

Edit: The Hobo outside Megaton seems like a good way to quickly raise Karma. Get water from the robot at your home and fork it over.

[Wintermute]

Think I need to stop being a klepto.

Must have taken everything in Minefields that wasn't bolted down. The scoped .44 Magnum in the safe was nice though.

[Elesirdur]

This is a post from SA; but what skill is this?



This is regarding a post in maximizing skills.

Edit: The Hobo outside Megaton seems like a good way to quickly raise Karma. Get water from the robot at your home and fork it over.

Maybe maxed Small Guns with the Commando perk using the hunting or sniper rifle under sneak attack conditions?

But seriously, I love me my hunting rifle and the sneak key in VATS. Automatic criticals to the head are just too much fun.