If I'm not mistaken it all started when I first wore Combat Leather Armor Balthas gave me as a reward. I noticed that NPC graphics and doors "overlap" my character animation much like you would regularly overlap doors and walls when in building. Then I came to VC and insulted Lynette to call guards: Dialogue ends, she screams "Guards!" Nothing happened. Spoke to her again, did the same insult thing, she screams again and nothing happens. Then I noticed that in random encounters thugs, dogs, floaters etc. do NOT initiate combat when I'm near. They would fight just like they normally do if I attack them first. Next: I encounter caravan and fight them. 2 guards with flamethrowers walk up right next to me, I throw plasma grenade at them, they both die and NOTHING happens to me, not even no damage taken, it's just as if I'm not there. Next: Bridgekeeper encounter. I attack him for one round, combat ends, exploding brahmin spawns... walks up to me and nothing happens then Sulik comes in range and it explodes. (On an amusing side note I critically hit bridgekeeper with HK P90C's first burst for no damage and land an instant kill, cha-ching ) So far the only drawback to this is that I didn't get any XP killing bridgekeeper. Seconds later i realized the game treats me as some sort of "scenery" regarding certain aspects of the game such as AoE damage. Further experimenting with this I noticed people that normally initiate combat if they catch me stealing don't do this anymore, meaning I can steal with impunity from anyone. Another interesting discovery: Dropped an armed dynamite right next to one of NCR's guards, surprise-surprise no combat mode. It detonated damaging the guard for some 30 hp, when combat initiated, oddly enough he didn't attack me who was closer to him but attacked Sulik instead.
Don't know what to make of it so far but it certainly makes the game a great deal easier when there are no forced battles, effectively allowing for a superdiplomatic game of sorts or just whatever you fancy.
P.S. I can upload screenshots and saved games if anyone interested.
Edit: just noticed i can loot any "protected" containers having looted police station in NCR.
Don't know what to make of it so far but it certainly makes the game a great deal easier when there are no forced battles, effectively allowing for a superdiplomatic game of sorts or just whatever you fancy.
P.S. I can upload screenshots and saved games if anyone interested.
Edit: just noticed i can loot any "protected" containers having looted police station in NCR.