Hey guys,

I started a new Fallout 1 adventure.
I am considering playing mostly a melee fighter. As of character type, he is a charismatic and intelligent guy, but who can pack quite a punch if need be.

Stats:
ST = 8 / PE = 5 / EN = 2 / CH = 10 / IN = 10 / AG = 8 / LK = 4
Traits:
Gifted / Bloody Mess
Perks:
Bonus HtH Damage (I barely started)
Skills:
Melee weapons / Sneak / Speech

My concerns are:

1) do I really need to put 10 points in any given attribute?
** I want to be smart and charismatic, but do I need heroic levels of IN / CH ? Because I would very much take points from this and put in LK / PE.
** Even if I am melee, I heard PE is good for any character and is required for some awesome perks later on, like the ones that boost your critical ?

2) At some point I would be also interested in using Big Guns (flamer, etc)
** how will my PE of 5 affect me?


Thank you in advance for any help!

You have the right idea by choosing Perks like, Bonus HtH damage but having a Trait like Bloody Mess conflicts with your theme of having a character that can "...pack quite a punch, if need be."
I would place more points into Strength that would benefit your melee based character more effectively.
I am not certain that the numbers distributed would allow for both a melee based character *and* a charismatic in addition, an intelligent guy. I believe your choices have to be very specific.
For instance, you chose Bloody Mess where that Trait really works in conjunction with ranged weapons.

You need to choose Traits, Perks and Skills that support the theme of your character. In Fallout, you can't really create a character that is 'good at all things yet a master at none'. That's part of the challenge.
Y'know...?

Thank you for your time.

That was only a sort of description, I do not intend to role-play it.
Also, I actually think it does not contradict itself = even if I pack a punch because I need to, this does not automatically rules out the "I do enjoy watching them die" part.

But most importantly, what about starting a new adventure and putting 10 points in any given stat?
Do I really need this?

No, you don't. As Hickory said, you can raise your stats during the game, so there's no real reason to start with any of them above 9.

From the build you posted, I'd take 1 point each from CH/IN and put them to EN/PE.

There's no need to restart with a different character, your build is strong enough to finish the game.

There are powergaming builds for an easy game but taking away some of the challenge isn't necessarily a good thing.


6+ luck allows taking the "better critical" perk which effectively upgrades the worst 20 percent of your critical hits from doing extra damage to instant kills but you'll have to focus on scoring criticals for it to be really useful, the cheesyness might ruin the immersion and other perks like Bonus HtH Attacks or Action Boy are useful too.

I am hardly a power gamer in computer role-playing games, however, role-playing is what it's all about for me so my advice is strongly based on theme because I believe all (or should have) well-designed video games have a intended structure in its design. Anyway, when the original post mentioned something about melee based character customization, I took it upon myself to respond as I have tried the same approach. One of the neat features of Interplay's classic post-nuclear computer role-playing game, the original Fallout is that the program can generate a character sheet with all of the current in-game statistics and save your progress to a text file in the file location where it is installed on your computer. So I still have a character sheet from a previous game I've never finished still sitting in my folders.

::: Statistics :::

Strength: 8
Perception: 4
Endurance: 9
Charisma: 4
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 8
Luck: 4

Hit Points: 89/89
Armor Class: 25
Action Points: 9
Melee Damage: 5
Damage Res.: 40%
Radiation Res.: 38%
Poison Res.: 45%
Sequence: 8
Healing Rate: 3
Critical Chance: 4%
Carry Weight: 145 lbs.

::: Traits :::

Small Frame
Kamikaze

::: Perks :::

Bonus HtH Damage
Silent Running
Dodger

::: Karma :::

Reputation (General) 27
Champion

::: Skills :::

Small Guns ........ 67%
Big Guns ............ 29%
Energy Weapons . 20%
Unarmed ............ 75%
Melee Weapons ... 95%
Throwing ............ 68%
First aid .............. 83%
Doctor ................ 50%
Sneak ................ 75%
Lockpick ............. 30%
Steal .................. 28%
Traps ................. 26%
Science .............. 39%
Repair ................ 32%
Speech ............... 33%

So, yes, Hickory & Aturuxo are spot-on about being careful not to place any numbers in your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. above 8 or 9 because the player can earn additional points as the game progresses.
My example supports my point about having Traits, Perks & Skills that fit with the theme of my melee-based character.
Silent Running works because as described in-game: "With this Perk, you now have the ability to move quickly and still remain quiet. You can Sneak, and run at the same time. Without this Perk, you would automatically stop Sneaking if you ran."
Dodger works because as described in-game: "You are less likely to be hit in combat if you have this Perk. You gain a +5 to your Armor Class, in addition to the AC bonus from any armor worn."
If I intend to go toe-to-toe with a target, I'll need to quickly run up to it, without making any noise, hit my target as hard as possible then dash away, these are the Perks that can allow me to do that.
Also, my selection of Traits supports my chosen Perks. For example, Small Frame as described in-game: "You are not quite as big as other people, but that never slowed you down. You can't carry as much, but you are more agile." works because, again, If my character goes toe-to-toe with a target, I'll want to avoid being hit as often as possible.
Kamikaze as described in-game: "By not paying attention to any threats, you can act a lot faster in a turn. This lowers your Armor Class to just what you are wearing, but you sequence much faster in a combat turn." This Trait works because If I am going melee against a target, I'll need to strike as often as possible.

See the difference?

OK,

I think I understand now. Thank you very much - all of you - for your time and help.

Also, I've been giving some thought to your ideas, HEF2011, and it is indeed something to consider.
However, I've been role-playing pretty much in other RPGs and, while I enjoying it a lot, it's not something I would do each time.


Cheers.

This is the best advice you've gotten. Don't spoil your virgin Fallout game by asking for help on boards. Just follow your instincts and have fun. We'll be here to spoil everything for you later. :)