Forum:New Vegas No-Death Run

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)


 * User avatar tag.gif Avatar talk.png 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. JspoelJspoel Vault Boy.png 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. JspoelJspoel Vault Boy.png 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. JspoelJspoel Vault Boy.png 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. JspoelJspoel Vault Boy.png 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)

hmm, last time i took yes-man's side, i don't think i had any problem with the power station, as i hadn't made ncr a real enemy yet. i just snuck inside the power station and then back out. you do mean the place at the base of black mountain's east side, right? strength is not an issue in the unstoppable force case, as i bought the implant. the problem is i'd have to crank melee up to 90 and that's just not worth it. although i do agree it's a pretty practical perk - blocking enemies suck! instead i shall go for the slayer perk, which lets me hit many times over; let's see them block THEM apples!! ;D by now i am lvl 18 and just about to run the artillery gauntlet to reach the boomers. this might as well be the most critical event in the game, as caution is NO virtue whatsoever in making it across. i put all my faith into the treacherous arms of chems - turbo, to be more precise. i have 3 doses, which should take me all the way.

Raktskjutarn 00:10, October 5, 2011 (UTC)

The artillery gauntlet was no problem. Two doses of Turbo after that first barrage took me to the gates completely unscathed and it might have been enough with only one with even better timing...I wasn't going to push my luck, though. I am currently finishing Elder Hardin's final task for joining the BOS so I can wear power armor. As soon as I deem it safe enough I shall go to Deathclaw promontory, to pick up the Remnant power armor, which is the best piece of armor in the game. I have now reached lvl 20 but before choosing the Solar powered perk, I shall calculate the regen rate of the Phoenix monocyte breeder so as to learn if it stacks with the Solar powered perk as soon as I have reached lvl 22 and calculated the hopefully improved regen rate. If anyone knows already whether they do stack or not; please tell me!

Raktskjutarn 17:57, October 6, 2011 (UTC)

Dont mean to dis yal but its actually more realistic if you do it on very easy and hardcore mode because on very easy the enemies actually have a realistic health

The enemies might have a more realistic health on very easy, but I would still be able to withstand a relatively high amount of damage, wouldn't I?

Well...I died. Lvl 21 and on my way to finish Boone's personal mission at Bitter Springs, but decided to check out Bloodborne Cave first. Before you reach the last group of Nightstalkers, there is a corridor - I told Boone and ED-E to wait in the far end, so they could fire as many shots as possible before any stalwart Nighties reach them. Along the corridor I planted seven plasma mines...which would be my undoing; the Nighties seemed stuck just outside view, so I sneakified my way over there to get them to chase me. I clearly underestimated their speed, as one of them rushed towards me and set of the two mines that happened to be by my feet. I shall start all over from the beginning tomorrow. I hope I have learned something by then. ;D

Raktskjutarn 01:03, October 7, 2011 (UTC)

you guys are friggin nuts! if i did do a No-Death Run i'm not gonna run through it that's for sure, calm and collected me. on Normal for the sake of balance for your endurance and the hostiles endurance, and in Hardcore mode for realism. By the way i compleetly OVER-estimated the challenge of the 2nd battle of hoover dam, it was reeally easy! i had the boomers and brotherhood helping. Legate Lanius went down easy too! i punched him twice in the face with my superheated saturnite fist, in that exchange he took me down to 50%hp -which i was gladly surprised at, even with me wearing elite gear and daniels hat! then i backed off cos it was a hectic choppy scrum involving 7 people and ed-e, then the old remnant guy shot him abit and then good ol veronica beat him down with 2 swipes of her Rawr claw! (face down in the dirt he was), she did have brotherhood t-51b armor and riot gear helmet on tho. throughout the whole battle i never used a stimpak (i did have 450+ of them tho), i just picked up all the food the centurions had like purif water.

"Prepare, for (easy) victory!" --CDEagle147A 20:21, October 9, 2011 (UTC)

well, i'm sure as hell ain't rushing thru this - i tend to be careful, even though i often have to remind myself about it. the plasma mines may have been what took my life last run, but i really blame my psycho-saturated hubris for this most tragic event - i have this theory that i reckon myself immortal as soon as i have gained the ability to wear power armor. i shall not make the same mistake again. this time i have spec:ed a bit different as well, focusing on Unarmed from the very start - nothing beats a fist with a cause! Eagle-person; what armor DID you wear during the final fight? surely there is nothing that beats the remnant power armor? ...or is there something even better to gain from Lonesome road dlc? wait, don't tell me! i want that part of the game to be a complete surprise! ;)

Raktskjutarn 21:18, October 9, 2011 (UTC)

Level 21 until you died, that's impressive. Did you take Solar Powered at lvl 20 ? Did it stack ? I read what Felix said, I've had both implant and perk but not at the same time. I think the latest patch improved Solar Powered regeneration rate. What will you do differently this time ? Squalor 23:29, October 9, 2011 (UTC)

well, i've always considered the first 40h of gameplay to be the most dangerous, since you haven't been able to spec your character yet. i guess my knowledge about the game from four earlier runs kind of makes me prepared for at least a great deal of all the dangers. that i died after 43.3h suggests that i indeed did succumb to the o so deadly hubris. i did not choose solar powered when i reached lvl 20, as i wanted to calculate the regen rate i had before it, which i should have thought about sooner. however, i did post another topic here on the forum concerning just that. apparently they do stack and should with great benefit be taken before starting dead money dlc (if playing hardcore). this run i have focused on skills and the such that i know i tend to use regardless of my plans - unarmed, repair and science (as tags) and lockpick and speech as secondary. also, i started with a decent endurance as to be able to buy as many implants as possible without wasting perks on intense training.

Raktskjutarn 20:19, October 11, 2011 (UTC)

DAMMIT!! >,< i died again. lvl 14 this time. legion assassin squad landed a most lucky crit hit, since i was practically full health and the next second i was stone dead! i HATE legion assassin squads!! ah, well...this time i didn't even have the power armor hubris to blame - apparently i don't need power armor to feel almighty. it was as if i played this run on fast forward to get where i died the first no-death run and from there start taking it more carefully. guess i just got one more thing to learn. starting over now. wish me luck...again! -_______-'

Raktskjutarn 00:13, October 12, 2011 (UTC)

Snipe, I would say get anything with both a scope and silencers as fast as possible. I always would do it, and would gain xp and gear by sniping at Forlorn Hope, Golf, and Cottonwood cove. It should help in that respect. ToestheUnwholy 21:35, October 13, 2011 (UTC)

I'd say take Rad Child as early as you can, even on Very Hard/Hardcore there's little need for Stimpacks with it, and you can survive being swarmed by pretty much anything, even Deathclaws have a hard time killing you if you keep moving. Infact I don't think I've died once since taking it. 86.183.138.119 18:18, October 14, 2011 (UTC)

Yes, even the varmint rifle is useful when attached with a scope. However, sniping both ncr and legion would grant me two pretty powerful enemies and i'm not going there again - at least not until I'm strong enough. I thought I was strong enough on lvl 14, but got one-shot-killed by a frakkin' assassin! >____<

That Rad child-thingy sounds pretty interesting - should I die this run, I'm trying that next one. I guess it demands a very boosted END, eh? I'm thinking that this most awesome regen-perk would go perfect with the Unarmed/Melee skill, as the health one'd lose before reaching a ranged enemy more or less is restored by the time you can start a'swingin'. =D

I am now lvl 22 and have recently learned how to use power armor. It is not until now that I have chosen to attack Legion forces, as their assassin hit squads are too dangerous to have spawning around randomly when I'm busy doing stuff. I am attacking them now as to finish Boone's mission and will as soon as that is done, return to the Strip to kill off Benny, as one just after that will be approached by that nasal frumentarii, who (whome?) grants you the mark of Caesar and thusly cancels any future hit squads from surprising you...until you fuck them up again, that is. ;D

Raktskjutarn 21:36, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

I am using Rad Child in my current character, never need food for HP unless you are in battle and I laugh when a Glowing one radiates. Assassins do not spawn randomly. Every 24 hr in game, and only around the edge of ~5 cells. I am thinking of making a entry for it. Weapons from Assassin squads and Weapon repair kits from Dead Money = $$$$! GRPeng 16:32, October 21, 2011 (UTC)

Why, sir - you should have a store of your own! XD But the assassins spawn every 23h, eh? Good to know. I have learned to recognize them on the "radar" (much thanks to ED-E's most efficient sensors) as they move rather uniquely...well, all mobs do, but I'd say assassin squads and Cazadores are easiest to recognize. I am currently lvl 25 and it's getting pretty hard for mobs to inflict any damage on me, what-so-ever. ...and it's exactly this kind of talk that will get me killed again! >.< I am now about to head for Deathclaw promontory to get that fine Remnants power armor. It is a rather risky business, but it's really only the first 4 of them that could constitute any danger at all (them being the ones who come rushing down the slope) - the rest is easy pickings from a rock. I believe I shall go for that Deathclaw Pro Hunter (GRA) *** challenge at the same time, as the completely safe rocks let me take my time. Wish me luck!

Raktskjutarn 01:56, October 22, 2011 (UTC)

Break a virtual leg. :) Oh, if you do not want the squads attacking, wear faction clothing friendly to the place you fast travel. They will not spawn (at least on the PC). GRPeng 00:32, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

Thank you! Think I'll need it. As far as the hit squads are concerned - being quite the achievement whore, I still want them coming (for me to get the GRA challenge) and I actually crossed that particular one off earlier today. I have since killed Benny (with his own gun, Maria - another challenge) to get the mark of Caesar, which calls off the hit squads. I am now lvl 28.

Raktskjutarn 03:30, October 24, 2011 (UTC)

Silly me - I died again. lvl 30 this time. I really thought myself careful, but then I set off a tripwire granting me a wonderful bouquet of frag grenades right in my arms. XD XD XD I shall restart now and SO pick the Lightfoot perk-thingy as soon as humanly possible. ...man, those grenades are powerful! >_____< 71h of play undone in one bad step.

Raktskjutarn 16:33, October 24, 2011 (UTC)