Fallout 1 - There has to be a better way to do this...

[100indecisions]

This is my first time through Fallout 1, so my biggest problem was probably expecting it to be a little more like Baldur's Gate, with the Bags of Holding, Girdles of Strength, and decent inventory management that mean a low Strength isn't a big deal. WRONG. I now have Powered Armor so my Str is high enough to use all the good weapons, but I still can't carry a whole lot since half my carry weight is taken up by the plasma rifle and the armor...and my NPCs help but not enough, so the situation I've got is that I've collected a bunch of useful stuff I can't use because between all of us, we can't manage to carry it--and I've got some really valuable things, too, like sniper rifles and assault rifles and flamers and a rocket launcher and a minigun, but I can't actually use them since they're too heavy to take more than one gun anywhere and still hope to loot anything...and I can't sell them because so far I haven't found any merchants with enough caps (or anything else I need, but caps would be best), so at the moment it's all sitting on a shelf in the Hub being completely useless. I couldn't even take most of what I found in the Glow because of this. I'm far enough through the game that I don't want to start over with a more strength-based character, because otherwise I'm pretty happy with this build, but this is driving me nuts. Developing a versatile arsenal so you can actually take down stronger enemies and gathering a stupid amount of money are half the fun of RPGs. (So is leveling up your party with you and being able to give them armor to wear...but in this case that's a little too much to ask.)

I realize FO1 is nearly impossible to mod, but there's got to be a way to make this less frustrating--some kind of gameplay trick that I'm just missing, or a relatively easy way to change item weights, player carry weight, number of caps kept in stock by merchants, something. I just want to enjoy this game, not keep slogging through it in unending frustration until I can finally finish it and move on to FO2, which has to be better.

 

[DarthBartus]

Yeah, IRL you'd be TOTALLY able to carry 10 sniper rifles, 5 assault rifles, a rocket launcher, 3 flamethrowers and a minigun. Sorry pal, but Fallout is very demanding. There's no ancient elven magic, strenght increasing artifacts or other Super-Duper-Dragon-Penis-Necklace-of-Ogre-Strenght +10. Fallout is hard and unforgiving game. So if you want to scavenge Glow completely you'll have to take few trips. You can also level-up a few times and take Strong Back perk...


P.S.:Modding game in way you're suggesting is nothing else than cheating.

 

[100indecisions]

Yeah, IRL you'd be TOTALLY able to carry 10 sniper rifles, 5 assault rifles, a rocket launcher, 3 flamethrowers and a minigun. Sorry pal, but Fallout is very demanding. There's no ancient elven magic, strenght increasing artifacts or other Super-Duper-Dragon-Penis-Necklace-of-Ogre-Strenght +10. Fallout is hard and unforgiving game. So if you want to scavenge Glow completely you'll have to take few trips. You can also level-up a few times and take Strong Back perk...

P.S.:Modding game in way you're suggesting is nothing else than cheating.

No, I get that, I realize Fallout's trying to be a much more realistic RPG, it's just--I'm not the sort of person who gets a lot of enjoyment out of hardcore gaming for the sake of hardcore gaming, especially on my first time through. I'm playing this because I enjoy it, because I love the premise and setting and storyline, but this particular aspect (along with the generally clunky gameplay) is making it kind of hard to enjoy. Cheating's one thing when it's going to have an overall detrimental effect on the end result, but for a noncompetitive game--well, I don't know. And at least IRL I'd be able to pool party resources a lot easier.

 

[.Pixote.]

Yeah, IRL you'd be TOTALLY able to carry 10 sniper rifles, 5 assault rifles, a rocket launcher, 3 flamethrowers and a minigun.

Where there's a will there's a way...

 

[LinkPain]

Developing a versatile arsenal so you can actually take down stronger enemies and gathering a stupid amount of money are half the fun of RPGs. (So is leveling up your party with you and being able to give them armor to wear...but in this case that's a little too much to ask.)

What, by taking 6 different weapons?
That's not how Fallout works, use the skills and choose weapons that work for you. If you have high Str then ok carry them all but they're just luggage not important. What good is carrying too much of inventory anyway, if you're going to use that item only once or to be able to have it? It applies more to a quest item rather than a weapon or armor, you can't sell all of them but some you can.
I don't think any cRPG work in a way like Oblivion or Fallout 3. You're not a fashion whore in them.

EDIT:
When I first started it 10 years ago I did the same thing, trying to take it all. Believe me when i say you don't need it, finishing quests is mor important than carrying a load of whatever.

 

[Korin]

You don't really need to lug all of that stuff around. Once you get the power armor you're pretty much invincible, so there's no reason to carry more than a couple weapons and some ammo. There's not much point in selling anything because as I recall, there isn't a lot to spend the gold on (other than trading for stimpacks). I would advise checking on the ammo you carry though. Don't carry ammo for any gun you don't need and don't carry more than you can use (it adds up quickly).

If you take a low strength character, you won't be able to carry the goods... thems the breaks unfortunately. If you can get at least 6 strength/endurance you can pick up strong back, which helps a lot:

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Strong_Back

I believe there is also a Fallout character editor kicking around that will let you mod your save and add stats/perks as well.

 

[100indecisions]

You don't really need to lug all of that stuff around. Once you get the power armor you're pretty much invincible, so there's no reason to carry more than a couple weapons and some ammo. There's not much point in selling anything because as I recall, there isn't a lot to spend the gold on (other than trading for stimpacks). I would advise checking on the ammo you carry though. Don't carry ammo for any gun you don't need and don't carry more than you can use (it adds up quickly).
I believe there is also a Fallout character editor kicking around that will let you mod your save and add stats/perks as well.

True. I am a paranoid packrat IRL and in games, but I guess since I've got power armor and a plasma rifle, I shouldn't need to do much weapon-switching...right?

 

[Korin]

You don't really need to lug all of that stuff around. Once you get the power armor you're pretty much invincible, so there's no reason to carry more than a couple weapons and some ammo. There's not much point in selling anything because as I recall, there isn't a lot to spend the gold on (other than trading for stimpacks). I would advise checking on the ammo you carry though. Don't carry ammo for any gun you don't need and don't carry more than you can use (it adds up quickly).
I believe there is also a Fallout character editor kicking around that will let you mod your save and add stats/perks as well.

True. I am a paranoid packrat IRL and in games, but I guess since I've got power armor and a plasma rifle, I shouldn't need to do much weapon-switching...right?

Fallout isn't really as hardcore as people make it out to be. Once you get the power armor and [insert weapon here with appropriate weapon skill], you pretty just shoot everything in the eyes and lather, rinse, repeat. Shoot them in the groin to mix it up a little. The only reason I carried another gun was in case I got bored.

There's only a few enemies that have a damage resistence to energy weapons but as I recall hitting something in the eyes pretty much bypassed most of that (unless I'm thinking of critical hits).

 

[LinkPain]

Yeah, Deathclaws... Those guys can pierce and shred you to pieces even with Power Armor.
But even with 200% unarmed skill you can kill them, just need to use it properly.

 

[Bf109]

Hex Editor.

Btw does your character have decent skills for all those different category weapons, I tried to be a jack of all trades in my first playthrough, only worked (sort of) w/ 10 INT and "Tag" perk...

 

[Muro]

I still can't carry a whole lot since half my carry weight is taken up by the plasma rifle and the armor...and my NPCs help but not enough

In case you aren't aware of this, followers in the first Fallout have infinite inventory space and carry weight. "Sell" them as many items as you please via the barter screen and take them back by "stealing" (no chance of getting caught, plus they don't mind).

number of caps kept in stock by merchants

Jake/Jacob (Old Town in the Hub) has ~2500 caps each time you initiate dialogue with him.
Zack (Fortress of the Gun Runners in the Boneyard) has ~3500 caps each time you initiate dialogue with him.

Though sometimes one may be forced to sell one item at a time, that amount of caps is enough to pay you for most of the loot you will bring from the wastes.

There's only a few enemies that have a damage resistence to energy weapons but as I recall hitting something in the eyes pretty much bypassed most of that (unless I'm thinking of critical hits).

Indeed you are.

That's not how Fallout works

As in, there are proper and improper ways to play Fallout?

I'd say Fallout is a game that works however one wants it to work.

 

[DarthBartus]

I'd say Fallout is a game that works however one wants it to work.

I'd like Fallout to be child-friendly, with flying pink unicorns, fairies, Hello Kitty. Instead I get destroyed, hostile world, wastelands and ruins. I am sad :C

 

[LinkPain]

That's not how Fallout works

As in, there are proper and improper ways to play Fallout?

I'd say Fallout is a game that works however one wants it to work.

Yeah but then you can't walk with that load, least you become immobile for wanting to carry so much. In that way it doesn't work and it would not be proper to expect it is the bad part of the game not being able to carry everything including ammo to be weightless.
But you got the point, he should make it work for him how he wants.

 

[Muro]

Still, being a one man arsenal is fully possible in Fallout. Not my way of playing the game, may not be the most efficient strategy, inventory and skill point management considered, but knowing someone who had a lot of sheer fun with it taught me that there aren't really "wrong" ways of playing the game.

I'd like Fallout to be child-friendly, with flying pink unicorns, fairies, Hello Kitty.

You must have been accidentally playing some other game all this time. Fallout has always been like that.

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[Snikers]

I still can't carry a whole lot since half my carry weight is taken up by the plasma rifle and the armor...and my NPCs help but not enough

In case you aren't aware of this, followers in the first Fallout have infinite inventory space and carry weight. "Sell" them as many items as you please via the barter screen and take them back by "stealing" (no chance of getting caught, plus they don't mind).

Listen to this man. Remember to use the barter screen.

(I bought my copy of Fallout from a garage sale and didn't get the manual, so for my first playthrough I thought this was the only way to transfer equipment. I remember being miffed that Ian was insisting I pay for my plasma rifle back...)

But anyway, you don't need money. There's nothing left for you to buy except, possibly, stimpacks and ammo. And you probably don't even need more of those.

 

[valcik]

There's not much point in selling anything because as I recall, there isn't a lot to spend the gold on (other than trading for stimpacks).

But anyway, you don't need money. There's nothing left for you to buy except, possibly, stimpacks and ammo.

Hm, there are some expensive surgeries available in both of the Fallout games.

 

[100indecisions]

I still can't carry a whole lot since half my carry weight is taken up by the plasma rifle and the armor...and my NPCs help but not enough

In case you aren't aware of this, followers in the first Fallout have infinite inventory space and carry weight. "Sell" them as many items as you please via the barter screen and take them back by "stealing" (no chance of getting caught, plus they don't mind).

Right, I use my steal skill to exchange stuff with my party members (I still maintain that this is a truly terrible system of party/inventory management on the devs' part, but the game is old and I may be spoiled, so okay), but with each of them I've reached a point--pretty quickly, recently, maybe because the better weapons are heavier--where it tells me "there is no space for that item". So I don't know that NPCs have carry weights per se, but they do seem to have a finite amount of inventory space.

Haven't used bartering to trade stuff with them, though...so maybe that's the workaround that gives them infinite space. That...had not occurred to me.

number of caps kept in stock by merchants

Jake/Jacob (Old Town in the Hub) has ~2500 caps each time you initiate dialogue with him.
Zack (Fortress of the Gun Runners in the Boneyard) has ~3500 caps each time you initiate dialogue with him.

Though sometimes one may be forced to sell one item at a time, that amount of caps is enough to pay you for most of the loot you will bring from the wastes.

Okay, that's good to know about the Gun Runners--haven't dealt with them quite yet. I think I tried Jacob without seeing a caps refresh, but I'll check him out again.

Btw does your character have decent skills for all those different category weapons, I tried to be a jack of all trades in my first playthrough, only worked (sort of) w/ 10 INT and "Tag" perk...

I think so--I ended up putting most of my points into stuff like Speech, Sneak, Doctor, etc., but I've gotten high enough with non-combat skills that most of my points are going into the different varieties of combat now. Not as good as they might be yet, but decent.

 

[Snikers]

There's not much point in selling anything because as I recall, there isn't a lot to spend the gold on (other than trading for stimpacks).

But anyway, you don't need money. There's nothing left for you to buy except, possibly, stimpacks and ammo.

Hm, there are some expensive surgeries available in both of the Fallout games.

You are absolutely right. I'd forgotten about that.

Insofar as equipment, though, he's probably got all he needs for the rest of the game.