Weapon question

Blackjay · Post by **Blackjay** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:21 pm

Just got the game and only played it a few days.

OKay in the previous fo series, the most powerful weapons were mostly energy category, and a few big guns were okayish. Wondering if fo3 is the same?

Or that every weapon type can potentially be equally powerful in end game?

Wouldn't want to spend all the points in small gun to realize only later that small guns are not viable in end game

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:58 pm

Basically, you can complete the game using only small guns. In many cases, small guns are even better than big guns, as you find more ammo to those.

But in matter of fact, at the beginning of the game spending points to weapon skills isn't that good idea, as the level cap is 20. As weapon skills only increase damage (and the accuracy of V.A.T.S. which in case of small guns won't be a problem) I suggest to spend the early points to skills more important (lockpicking, science, sneak) and only after you have got yourself familiar with the game and what weapons you prefer to use you should spend points to weapon skills. Just my opinion though.

CoM_Solaufein · Post by **CoM_Solaufein** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:33 pm

I max out small guns since I prefer to use the sniper rifles and Lincoln's Repeater. Energy Weapons is the next one I put points in since the laser rifle is very effective at long range, even better than the sniper rifles. Big Guns isn't that great, the mini guns are worthless. They don't do nearly enough damage like the ones you find in Fallout 1 & 2.

Blackjay · Post by **Blackjay** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:09 pm

Thanks everyone for the reply, good to know small guns can be viable.

I recall in fo1 & 2 its not possible to use small guns at end game cause the power armoured foes simply don't take damage from small guns at all! >.<!

UncleScratchy · Post by **UncleScratchy** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:33 pm

Big guns pretty much a waste of time PLUS SPOILERS

Except for the missile launcher the rest of the big gun are literally "not worth their weight". Even with that I don't normally carry the missile launcher around with me, just the ammo. If I come across a launcher in my travels I may use it to expend a few rounds just for kicks but its a good way to get yourself killed most of the time. Hand guns and energy weapons are mostly pretty good. For single hand weapons the scoped .44 or Blackhawk is the way to go (better than the rare plasma pistol or laser pistol) but the ammo is fairly scarce. For two handed weapons I actually like the hunting rifle, sniper rifle (or Reservist Rifle), Lincolns rifle, SMG and combat shotgun. An improved SMG can be fairly easily obtained if you do the Rivet City museum quest and Reily's Ranger quest (enough said). Once I found an improved combat shotgun that did around 80 points of damage instead of the usual 40, but I can't remember where or when - probably a random encounter. You may find improved versions of other weapons like the hunting rifle as well. Each has a use and I carry them all along with the Shishkabob which can be devastating in a close fight with multiple assailants. I'd put my points on small guns and some perks on improved VATS headshots mostly. Only energy weapon I normally use is the plasma rifle or its improved version (meaning a one of a kind plasma rifle that does a bit more damage). I also like grenades better than most big guns as well, so you might consider putting some points on demolition skills.

Blackjay · Post by **Blackjay** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:57 am

i use combat shotgun and chinese assault rifle. Been pretty good. I completed reiley's quest but never got any improved smg. And I believe smg is considered 1 handed weapon instead of two.

Only thing im curious about is why would you like the sniper rifle? I seldom find its ammo! so rare!

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:06 am

Blackjay wrote:Only thing im curious about is why would you like the sniper rifle? I seldom find its ammo! so rare!

The thing which makes sniper rifle so great is the zooming. Yes, in V.A.T.S. it is worthless, and the ammo problem forces you to use it only when necessarely, but in situation where you must shoot guard or two from distance to ensure your own safety, sniper rifle is superior weapon. One shot to the head usually kills any humanoid, and as real-time aiming with zooming is rather easy, you usually end up killing target with one shot instead of using several burst from assault rifles or several shots from combat shotgun.

feenicks007 · Post by **feenicks007** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:54 am

Lincoln's repeater is a great small weapon, although you'll need to scower the wasteland for ammo. I have enough AP to get off three shots in VATS and 1 head shot is usually enough to take out most enemies you'll meet. Big guns are only helpful against Behemoths or in open areas where you don't need to worry about getting hit by your own explosions. Although it still is fun to watch a Raider go sky high when hit by a rocket.

I used Small guns all throughout Fallout 2, and never had to worry about it being a problem. Most of the time headshots would take down anyone I needed to worry about.

GrimHarvest · Post by **GrimHarvest** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:23 am

Blackjay wrote:i use combat shotgun and chinese assault rifle. Been pretty good!

That's pretty much all I used the first time through too, along with the Shishkebab as well.

Lincoln's Repeater, like others have said, is nifty if you can find it.

Oh you can find The UltraSMG (spoiler)

Spoiler

with Sydney in the foyer of the building (whose name I forget) to collect the declaration of independence for the old dude in the Rivet City museum. If you complete his quest and give her the message from her dad she gives you the gun as reward. If she dies at any point then the gun is on her corpse.

(no more spoiler)

Belthan · Post by **Belthan** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:09 pm

About that ultra SMG...

I finished the museum dude's quest on good terms with Sydney, and she mentioned a specific location where she was going to get drunk without guys hitting on her. Weeks or months later I was doing a completely unrelated mission and stumbled across a holotape I knew she would want to hear (spoiler:

Spoiler

a deathbed note from her dad proving he didn't actually abandon her

). So as soon as I finished the mission I was doing, I hightailed it to where she said she would be, but she wasn't there (spoiler:

Spoiler

I checked both bars, plus all the other shops in Underworld

). The thing is, I was just doing it to be nice, so I kind of shrugged my shoulders and went about my business. However, from what GrimHarvest said, maybe I should have tried a little harder to find her. I guess I could check every bar in the capital wasteland, but does anybody know of any other locations she might be after the conclusion of the museum dude's quest? Or is she probably just dead someplace on the road out of Rivet City?

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:00 pm

Belthan wrote:Or is she probably just dead someplace on the road out of Rivet City?

Spoilers...

Unfortunately, she's probably dead. Supposedly the most common place for her to die on the journey is Anacostia Metro Station. You might check it out.

Otherwise, she'd be in the Ninth Circle in Underworld. She usually is there, regardless of the hour. Good luck...If it's any consolation, it's not a pivotal quest.

Dizha · Post by **Dizha** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:33 am

I used more small guns, than big guns.

I perfer using A3-21's Plasma Rifle, Spoiler,

Spoiler

which is the reward if you choose to tell Harkness that he's an Android in the quest "The Replicated Man".

Spoiler end.

Why? It's more or less impossible to destroy that weapon, Microfusion cells is easy to find when you get a bit into the game, and my personal favorite thing, plasma weapons turns into green goo if you hit them with a critical hit. :laugh:

whatsthatsmell · Post by **whatsthatsmell** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:41 am

early on the combat shotgun seems like one of the best weapons. The big guns weigh a lot and burn through ammo too quickly, so even later in the game, small guns or energy weapons are probably the way to go. Weapon balance seems pretty sucky.

jklinders · Post by **jklinders** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:06 am

I'm actually quite fond of the heavy flamer for close quarters work. Other than that, I prefer hunting rifle and Lincolns' repeater and the Chinese assault rifle.

I agree most heavy weapons are garbage.

shift244 · Post by **shift244** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:51 am

You'd likely master the Small Guns skill and pick up some Energy Weapons just to make up the requirement for certain Perks that work well with small arms rifles. While I initially decided to aim for the Laser and Plasma route, using more standard firearms to keep me alive until then, the weapon balance in Fallout 3 is such that regardless of what weapon types you choose to take up, they all perform pretty much similarly.

Big Guns are rather difficult to handle due to being weighty and synergy with Endurance (instead of Strength) makes it less appealing (to me). That it doesn't actually deal more damage on average also hurts this option.

Energy Weapons are weak until about midway, and lack options throughout. Spoiler:

Spoiler

A hidden, limited use weapon may be the only saving grace for it, if you get it.

Close up combat, requires high damage resistance to make up for the more hits you will be taking on, as well as not being able to hit specific body parts in VATS makes it less preferable. As it doesn't deal more damage in comparison, not being hit the head in VATS means having to fight in real time for head shots, which usually means more damage taken, since you lack the "bullet time" of VATS. Also significantly more difficult to double critical damage from sneak attacks due to mandatory closing up on targets.

Semi-spoiler/Tip:
Small Guns all the way works well. You only really need 3 weapons:
- A hunting rifle for targets at a distance, properly maintained can pretty kill all humanoids and critters in a single shot from stealth
- An assault rifle (preferably the Chinese variant) for the mid-range battles where the hunting rifle has problems with rate of fire and you have multiple opponents charging you.
- A combat shogun for the in-your-face encounters where things are getting really too close for comfort.

All of which are easy to obtain and maintain, with generally plenty of ammo abound. Unique (read more powerful) of each variants are also acceptably easy to find; though not really necessary at all.

As a bonus, you may want to keep a 10mm side arm to conserve ammo when facing lower level opposition. One skill, all situations. Nothing else to really ask for.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:44 pm

I'm having problems with the flamer, it only works when using VATS, if I try to use it without nothing happens, it 'clicks' and an ammo 'round' is used up but that's it. Is this a known bug, and is there any fix for it?

swcarter · Post by **swcarter** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:24 pm

galraen wrote:I'm having problems with the flamer, it only works when using VATS, if I try to use it without nothing happens, it 'clicks' and an ammo 'round' is used up but that's it. Is this a known bug, and is there any fix for it?

For the flamer, you have to hold down the attack button for it to work. I just tried it out (on the PC), and it worked fine for me.

SWC

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:56 pm

Thanks, next time I have one I'll try that; got annoyed and sold it!

Those nice chaps in Fort Bannister donated one, works fine when holding the key down instead of clicking like with any other weapon.

Now I just have to wait and see if those Talon chaps stop donating armour and weapons now I've killed the commander.

arsiwash · Post by **arsiwash** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:47 pm

Best weapon IMO is the deathclaw Gauntlet. If you get paralyzing punch, if you can sneak up behind something you can kill most things with a single blow, if not, you knock them to the ground for 30 seconds.

I was playing it on VERY HARD and was taking out the Super Mutant Overlords with them... I would just stand over them over and over smacking them, or you knock him down and then pull out an energy weapon.

The Deathclaw Gauntlet ignores quite a bit of DR of targets, making most things easier to kill.

If you do not have the skill to make it, you can some across one in THE PITT expansion. Just take it and get it repaired afterwards.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:54 pm

If you have the DLC's, then the gauss rifle is a win-win. Limited amount of bullets however.

Without DLC's.. I guess it's a draw between terrible shotgun (point-blank no-vats headshots) and the more durable sniper rifle, which name i have forgotten.. (because it's more durable than those pieces of junk that break after five shots!)

Still if you have broken steel, and meet five / more mutant overlords, only the tri-shot laser rifle will work on higher difficulties.

Now I just have to wait and see if those Talon chaps stop donating armour and weapons now I've killed the commander.

Talon chaps seem to be an exception from the "omg, you killed our friends, DIE" rule.