Fallout 1 - Why all the hate for Kamikaze?

[mountain_hare]

I'm relatively new to Fallout 1. Although finishing it once, I want to replay it again to experience more of the game mechanics.

I've noticed that many veterans don't seem to like the kamikaze trait, although I'm not sure if this is justified. Even with an agility of 10, the benefit is minimal. However, having a significant bonus to sequence could change the gameplay. For example:

Deathclaw sees you, enters attack mode.
Round 1: Deathclaw has first move, as it initiated combat, moves closer to you.
Vault dweller attacks.

Round 2: Vault dweller has a higher sequence, hence gets first attack.

So essentially, you get two turns to take down the Deathclaw with impunity, thus preventing damage. The best defense is a good offense, yes?

Yay or Nay?

 

[Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude]

Well since we're using deathclaws as an example: You rarely encounter them alone. If you manage to knock off the 250-310 HP in two turns, great! But you'll be needing every bit of AC you can get when the others start pounding on you.

It really isn't that bad of a trait, especially when combined with fast shot.. but there are better ones available (Fast Shot, Gifted, Finesse, Small Frame)

 

[mountain_hare]

Phil:

But you'll be needing every bit of AC you can get when the others start pounding on you.

Which is preferable? 2 deathclaws, or 3 deathclaws with the vault dweller having an extra %6 to damage resistance (I think that's what it is at high agility, although I'm not certain).

Fast shot? Eh, I don't like losing targeted shots, especially since targeted shots to the eyes seem to really mete out damage.

Gifted is awesome, game breaking in my opinion. It seems almost cheating to take it, since you can essentially max all the stats which matter with it.

Finesse? Probably not, since I don't consider 30% damage reduction for +10% to criticals to be a good trade off.

And small frame is OK, I took it in my first game. But I soon found it frustating, since I often couldn't carry what I wanted, even when I dumped a lot of the stuff on my teammates.

I want to play solo, anyway.

I'm thinking of jinxed, as well.

 

[Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude]

You can't forget that critical hits to limbs often cripple, and crits often completely bypass armor. Finesse is pretty great if you go for aimed shots often.


As for jinxed, I was thinking about using that on the HtH/Stupid character that I'll be making to take through Fo2 again. Should be interesting to say the least.

 

[mountain_hare]

OK, so just to clarify.

Natural armour class (due to agility) only detracts from the chance of being hit, NOT from the actual damage?

And if you have an agility of 10 (natural armour of 10), you gain an extra 10% to evade an attack?

So if you have an agility of 10 (as you should) and you take kamikaze, you are 10% more likely to be hit.

 

[Lord Elden]

Natural armour class (due to agility) only detracts from the chance of being hit, NOT from the actual damage?

Yes, AC only gives you a chance of not being hit. Think of it as a chance of dodging the attack or that the armour stops the attack completely (otherwise PA would reduce the armour class being bulky).

And if you have an agility of 10 (natural armour of 10), you gain an extra 10% to evade an attack?

The extra AC you get is your AG. You get 1-10 bonus AC depending on your AG.

So if you have an agility of 10 (as you should) and you take kamikaze, you are 10% more likely to be hit.

Kamikaze drops down your AG dependant AC down to zero, so yes.