Forum:New Vegas No-Death Run

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I am soon done with my fourth run in NV and am already itching to get started on a fifth. In this fifth run I aim to finish the game without dying ONE SINGLE TIME. Naturally, I shall run it on Very Hard and Hardcore mode. With this thread I'd like a discussion on what choices in skills, perks and s.p.e.c.i.a.l attributes I'd do best to focus on. Should I die, I shall simply start all over again. I am currently partial to focusing on intelligence and endurance, s.p.e.c.i.a.l-wise and their related skills medicine and survival. As a third Tag! skill I guess Guns could come in handy, as to be able to kill from afar as soon as possible. Feel free to share thoughts!

Raktskjutarn 21:56, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

tgm 21:59, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

It's just what I do. I play Very Hard, Hardcore, no armour, Service rifle and AEP 7 only (Survivalist's when I reach 30) and true death, which means that if I die, I delete the character and start over. It's challenging, and a tip from me would to think thrice about every single action. Hugs Scar: "Say 'ello to my little friend!" 22:02, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

Impossible to finish the game. Jspoel 22:07, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

How's so? Hugs Scar: "Say 'ello to my little friend!" 22:10, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

Damn, too late. I was just going to change my note. Allright, mayyyybe it's possible if you stay on the road and just stick to the main quests. Let's say the faster you can end the game, the better chance to achieve it. And not use one single stimpak! That would be cheating. Jspoel 22:14, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

The idea of finishing the game asap, as in only doing the main quest-line, still presents the issue of running through the game on relatively low levels, which in no way feels safe to me. Compare it to driving as fast as possible with your car as to avoid possible accidents since you are near the respective possible places of accidents as short time as possible. No, I rather think I should take the more time and try to gain as much exp as possible. This will of course consume very much time, but then...I do love this game! ;) Also, I have no plans on not using stimpaks - I shall use whatever the game presents me; making this run something of an ultimate roleplaying one, albeit my choices certainly will tend to be quite opportunistic...on crack! ;) Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

LOL, I can't see stimpaks as cheatin' XD. Anyway, I've died thrice, once at level 18 to some damned deathclaws, level 22 in Vault 22 (ironic, eh? Damned gas, I made quite the dent in both my hand and table that day =P) and once in Dead Money at level 30, I came in unprepared. Anyway, I'm now a healthy 43'er with most of the game complete, on my way to DM and awaiting LR ;). It's challenging as frakk, and frustrating at times (the times you die) but quite rewarding, I think. Hugs Scar: "Say 'ello to my little friend!" 22:20, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

Good luck with the Battle at Hoover Dam, buddy. I use like 100 stimpaks on that bitch of a battle. But you guys may be far better then me. To avoid dying, I'd say put Endurance up to 10, and get some decent armor.

Power Bonkers 22:27, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

When finally at the Dam for the final battle, I shall most certainly put the Turbo-chip to very VERY good use. That plus the Remnant power armor and a ballistic glove is one mighty fine recipe for messy/glorious victory. ;D Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

Looks to me like when you're using stimpaks, it's not even that difficult to have a non-death run. Always have plenty of stimpaks (and antivenom) in your inventory and as soon as the health meter drops somehow, use em. Then there's enough opportunity to assess the situation and attack or escape. Are you doing all side-quests too? Don't use stimpaks for the extra challenge. I think just stick to the main quests then it may be possible. Seen the comment above about the final battle you're allowed to 1 savegame, just before the battle. Jspoel 22:38, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

I do not plan on dying once, not even at the final battle. I shall only save for bug reasons. On the 360, the game sometimes freezes, which I in no way shall consider a death. Therefore I shall most certainly save my progress healthily but never for the possibility of dying. About side quests; I must say I am currently inclined to explore them quite vigourosly as to level up as much as possible. Speeding through the game seems much more risky than taking it slow, even though you certainly will come across many more opportunities to die the slow way. Being careful at all times should do the trick, though...which in a way is the whole point of this. I have one life; I can't just run into shit like a madman! ;) Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, I dont use stimpaks unless shits going down, like when I go for a stroll around Jacobstown and get jumped by Cazadors. But I do have ~400 of em, so I can waste them if I want, but it does decrease the value of the game.

Power Bonkers 22:42, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ I think you're both missing a very important part: no armour. When no using any armour at all (DT 1 at the most) everything starts doing real damage, and you'll stay on an even level of stimpaks. I can agree, Jspoel, that taking it cool and assessing the situation is good, but it's not always possible if you don't take it careful and stay aware of your surroundings. And in Hardcore they take a devilishly long time to act, when you need them ;). Hugs Scar: "Say 'ello to my little friend!" 22:46, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

I shall use armour and all other things provided by the game; this being somewhat of an ultimate rpg run (as mentioned before). That said, I do not in any way think that this shall be any piece of cake what-so-ever, though. My greatest enemy shall forever be...me - me and my hubris. -_______-' Like a shadow, that is. Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

Mmm, now I vaguely remember something about stimpaks not working immediately on Hardcore mode. So stimpak use may come too late. I like that ;) I had seen you're using almost no armor, that's an extra challenge. I would allow myself max possible armor though, that's not 'cheating'. Be very careful, just do the main quests and with one savegame it possibly could be done. Jspoel 22:59, August 20, 2011 (UTC)

What do you mean with one save game allowed? Should I die by the hand of the legate, I can assure you - I WILL start over from the beginning, as in waking up at doc Mitchell's. As for only doing the main quest, I still think that it would leave me on an all too low level when I reach the final battle. Being careful and of course minding my experiences from earlier runs should at least render the whole project possible, although in no way easy. Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

If you're doing no armor, you should get the sub-dermal armor implant. that'll give you a base of 4 DT. and I wouldnt consider an implant to be cheating, considering they cost a good bit of caps. Darth Roxas 01:17, August 21, 2011 (UTC)

I agree with Darth Roxas, implants are not cheating because they are so expensive (You have to earn the caps, so you earn the implants in my opinion). I would recommend the NEMEAN Sub-Dermal Armor implant and the Monocyte Breeder implant as well. In fact, every time you upgrade your Endurance, I would hit Dr. Usanagi up for an implant. My advice would be to hit Old World Blues as soon as possible in the game so you can take advantage of the Sink Auto-Doc's implants as well. (They do not count towards the amount of implants you can get Endurance-wise) Since you're playing on hardcore the implant that increases HP/AP from food and the implant that removes drinking radiation comes in handy (Sink Auto-Doc). If you choose to wear armor, you can also use the Stealth suit Mk II which actually has a fairly low DT, but completely upgraded will assist you immensely in Hardcore mode. I can't really tell you which perks to get because I have no idea what type of character you wish to play (Unarmed/Guns/Energy weapons, etc.), but there are perks you should focus on for sure such as Better Criticals, Action Boy, Lifegiver, etc. Jury Rigging is also important I would say, just due to the fact that you can use multiple weapons to keep your weapons at maximum damage. To consider implants cheating, you would also have to consider some perks to be cheating, but honestly I feel both are earned. Good luck brother! Keep us posted on how you do. GlassJAw667 01:31, August 21, 2011 (UTC)

I have never been much of an AP perk player before. Would you say it is rather useful? I guess the AP perks are best taken early, as one's weapon skills are still relatively low. I am currently planning on using Guns in the beginning as to not let the enemy close in and when I have gained a comfortable DT I can start boosting the unarmed skill. About the Lifegiver perk, that one gives you some 20 or 30 more HP, right? Do they really make that much of a deal? I have always considered it to be rather weak, but then again I have never used it. What are your experiences?

I shall begin this no-death run as soon as the last DLC is released. Raktskjutarn 18:19, September 9, 2011 (UTC)

So...at last it begins - I have made a list of perks I deem best, focusing on DT in the beginning, followed by improved damage and then as I raise in level I shall focus on the Unarmed skill and its accompanying perks with a few misc. key perks where they fit (like Jury rigging and Implant GRX, because they are so powerful). My special set shall look like this; S(5) P(5) E(7) C(5) I(7) A(6) L(5) For traits I believe I shall go with the Early bird and the one that increases accuracy on the cost of fire rate. I'm still not certain, however, whether I shall side with NCR or Yes-man for the final battle (all other options are unthinkable since they mean I'd have to destroy the BOS...and that's just not happening!). Any tactical tips on which side is better for survival?

Raktskjutarn 19:17, September 27, 2011 (UTC)

NCR is a little easier for the end battle but not really easier to survive than yes-man. There is one place going NCR will be move survivable - the fight outside the power station if you are going unarmed, the NCR patrol can be tough enough to do some real damage (even kill you) at the power station if they are in the wrong place and you have to rush all over to get to them.

I'd move a point of intelligence to strength for [unstoppable force], there isn't much blocking in the game but when it happens it can really mess up your combat flow. 75.67.224.12 20:36, September 27, 2011 (UTC)