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Fallout: New Vegas

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Attribute Information

By
Nathan Garvin

Your seven attributes are cleverly formed into the acronym “SPECIAL”, which stands for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck.

Attributes do a number of things for you-depending on what the actual attribute is, but they all give a 2 point bonus to their related skills for each point in that attribute. For example, if your Strength was 5 your base Melee Weapons skill would get a 10 point bonus. Luck is the exception, which gives a 1 point bonus for each two points in Luck to all your skills. This also means that when determining your skill points, each skill starts out with at least a +2 bonus (for your minimum of 1 in each attribute.) But… more on that later. A brief description of each attribute will be given, as well as list what bonuses it gives. Below the chart listing the nuances of the effects of that attribute will be the suggested starting score for each attribute.

Implants

Instead of Bobbleheads, in New Vegas you have Implants. Again, anybody who played Fallout 1 or 2 shouldn’t be surprised by the concept of shelling out caps to have your character surgically augmented. You can get one Implant per point of Endurance you have (not counting points gained from gear worn or from getting an Endurance-boosting Implant). Naturally, this means you shouldn’t use Endurance as a dump stat, at least, and at most, if you’re a power gamer, you should strive to have a high Endurance to get as many Implants as possible. The Implants are listed below, along with the Caps they cost, and the bonuses they give. Note that buying an Implant rewards you with a perk corresponding to that Implant, which is how the Implants will be listed below. Also, there is no significant down-time associated with these surgeries; you shouldn’t starve to death or dehydrate from having a surgery, even though it does fast-forward time by three hours.

Implant Cost (Caps) Effect
Agility Implant 4,000 +1 Agility
Charisma Implant 4,000 +1 Charisma
Endurance Implant 4,000 +1 Endurance
Intelligence Implant 4,000 +1 Intelligence
Monocyte Breeder 12,000 Regenerate Hit Points
Luck Implant 4,000 +1 Luck
Perception Implant 4,000 +1 Perception
Strength Implant 4,000 +1 Strength
Sub-Dermal Armor 8,000 +4 Damage Threshold

Obviously these Implants differ in potency… the Sub-Dermal Armor Implant is better than a Toughness perk, and for Hardcore players, how can life get much better than health regeneration? On the other hand, for a build like the one in this guide (one which uses Charisma as a dump stat) it might seem mindless to bother getting enough Endurance in order to boost Charisma.

You can buy the Implants from Doctor Usanagi at the New Vegas Medical Clinic. Check the “New Vegas Medical Clinic Run” section to see how to reach this area with a new, low-level character.

Why Get the Monocyte Breeder Implant?

The Monocyte Breeder is NOT a combat implant. It heals too slow to make any difference in a fight. Why bother with it then? Well, two reasons, one good, one bad. First the bad reason-save a few essential considerations, such as meeting perk requirements, weapon requirements, and having enough Intelligence (and hence skill points) to max out all your skills, there are few good reasons to invest more or less into many of the attributes. Simply put, the health and extra implant you can get with a point of Endurance is worth more than what the other SPECIAL attributes offer. Now for the good reason-in Hardcore mode, the Monocyte Breeder is not a lackluster implant, as it will allow you to heal by resting, waiting, or even fast traveling. Sure as hell beats having to snarf food, constantly drink from a water source, or make yourself a Stimpak pin-cushion.

Lonesome Road DLC Bonus Attribute

At the end of the “Lonesome Road” DLC you’ll get one of four perks, depending upon your actions… the only interesting thing you need to focus on here is the fact that all these perks will give you one SPECIAL point to allocate-just like picking an Intensive Training perk, but for free! It’s something to keep in mind, but since it happens so late in the game, it’s not really an important “build” consideration. Putting it in Luck and getting the 1% critical hit chance is a fine way to spend this perk.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Bethesda Softworks
  • Platforms,
    PC, PS3, XB 360
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    1 November 2015
  • Last Updated
    7 December 2020
  • Guide Author
    Nathan Garvin

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The year is 2281 - two hundred years after the old world was eradicated by nuclear fire - and now the New California Republic has become powerful along the western coast of what used to be the United State of America. They’ve expanded east into Nevada, but across the Colorado river to the east a united army of tribals - Caesar’s Legion - have been organized under the guise of ancient Rome. War never changes, and impending conflict looms between the two sides, the prize being the Hoover Dam and control over the Mojave. Stuck in the middle are the residents of Nevada and the jewel in the desert; the city of New Vegas. But the mysterious overlord of New Vegas has his own plans for the future of the Mojave…

You are Courier six, an employee of the Mojave Express who has been entrusted with delivering a mysterious Platinum Chip. The delivery goes horribly awry, however, and after you are robbed and nearly killed for the package you were carrying, you must set out in pursuit of your attackers. Along the way you’ll have to navigate the political struggles between factions both large and small, making friends and enemies between the various groups as your actions in the Mojave influence your reputation. Ultimately, a new overlord of the Mojave will be crowned… but will you place that crown upon the brow of Caesar, the New California Republic, the mysterious ruler of New Vegas… or yourself?

  • Character creation strategies including a run-down of SPECIAL attributes, Skills and Perks.
  • An ideal chronological order of events walkthrough that will take you through the entire Mojave.
  • Complete walkthrough of all the main quests and side quests, including faction quests and endings.
  • A power-gamey New Vegas Medical Center run, for those gamers who want to get off to a great start.
  • Information about factions and reputation.
  • The locations of stat-boosting Skill Books, unique weapons and armor and collectible Snowglobes.
  • A Trophy Guide including detailed information (when necessary) about how to obtain all the game’s trophies.
  • Old World Blues DLC.

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