Forum:Critique my Sniper + Perfect build

I'm fairly new to Fallout 3, but I like to plan out my steps in detail, so I've been working on a character build. It's based on these pieces of advice I've gathered:


 * 1) You can get all the skill points you need from books, Comprehension, and bobbleheads.
 * 2) You will be awash in caps by midgame at the latest.
 * 3) Radiation is easy to handle with meds and doctors.
 * 4) Karma is fairly easy to handle as well.
 * 5) You will have no trouble getting XP.
 * 6) Stick to one or two weapon types.
 * 7) Almost Perfect is a must-have perk.

So, my goal is to have perfect skills and stats by endgame, and also as many good perks as I can get. I like sneaking and sniping, so that's what I prefer my perks to go toward when possible. I ruled out any perks whose sole effects are skills, leveling, caps, SPECIAL, radiation, karma, or weapons I probably won't be using much (explosives, melee, unarmed, one-handed). Except the first Intense Training, because there's only one non-skill, non-XP, non-SPECIAL perk below level 4.

Starting SPECIAL: 5 6 5 4 7 7 6

TAG skills: Science, Medicine, Small Guns

Perks (in order): Intense Training (LU), Black Widow, Comprehension, Entomologist, Toughness, Child at Heart, Commando, Strong Back, Finesse, Animal Friend, Sniper, Fast Metabolism, Silent Running, Cyborg, Better Criticals, Action Girl, Light Step, Robotics Expert, Grim Reaper's Sprint, Chemist, Puppies, Quantum Chemist, Chem Resistant, Concentrated Fire, Nerves of Steel, Warmonger, Mysterious Stranger, Explorer, Almost Perfect

I know this won't be the best build mid-game, but I'm more interested in maxing out my endgame, though not completely gimping myself in the meantime. I'm just wondering, as a new player, if there's anything I'm totally missing or messing up.

EDIT: After playing nearly halfway through this build, I'd like to point out that while in general it's working out very well, it turns out my Charisma isn't high enough for Animal Friend. That's not a huge deal as animals aren't a real danger, but it should be kept in mind if anyone's gonna use this build. I replaced it with Scrounger. I also took Silent Running before Fast Metabolism, because I sneak everywhere and have plenty of stimpacks.

One more note regarding skills: this build gives you 19 extra points per skill if you get all the books & bobbleheads, so I am taking my skills to 59 instead of 40. In other words, I take the important skills (sneak, small guns, repair, etc.) to 59, then stop until *all* skills are at least 40. Once they're all at least 40, I could conceivably finish them with books and bobbleheads, so I can dump the remaining points wherever I want. This is all pre-Almost Perfect.

Omnilynx 17:46, October 7, 2010 (UTC)

That's most of the good perks down, combine Grim Reapers Sprint and Chem Resistant with Sidneys 10mm 'ultra' SMG, Jet and a high Small Guns and you'll be so strong (great for getting through ghouls, Talons/regulatiors, most animals, even Enclave. I also recomend getting the perk Gun Nut and The Pitt weapon Metal Blaster and/or Smugglers end (V. Hard locked safe in a bedroom in B ring in the citidel.) 19:49, October 7, 2010 (UTC)


 * Thanks! Is Gun Nut worth getting for the early game, despite the fact that I'll have plenty of skill points later to max out those skills without it? Omnilynx 20:54, October 7, 2010 (UTC)

Well I alway get it. Gives you 5 to repair and Small guns (two of my favorite ones) each time, it's really up to opion, but it does go against your no skill ups rules. I find it so useful though. It's useful, but if you have the spare skills then it's not all that nessacary. The perks you have work well (Grim Reaper, Action Girl, Better critciacls, ect) Oh and you might want to think about the perk that finds you more ammo, as sniper rounds are rare and costly. 21:03, October 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I was actually thinking about dropping Explorer and picking up Scrounger, so now I'll look at it more closely. Thanks again! Omnilynx 21:15, October 7, 2010 (UTC)

For my characters, which are all sniper characters, I find that intelligences and perception is a must. You also must have the right perks, sniper, mysterious stranger, and lady killer. Deathclawpoop 01:41, October 17, 2010 (UTC)