Stealth Build Questions

[dwaynegand]

In Fallout 3, due to the lower perk rate, and the near lack of specialization perks that benefited ranged combat compared to hand to hand combat, it was possible to make a stealth character attacking primarily from stealth using both ranged and melee combat. In New Vegas, due to the higher perk rate and more specialization perks, this is no longer possible. You need to choose one style because you won't have enough perk slots to fully maximize the power of both, depending on your other perk choices.

For a stealth build, Silent Running is a must. If using light Armor, Travel Light and Tunnel Runner can help improve your sneaking speed. The Professional can increase sneak attack criticals when using pistols and smgs. Ninja increases sneak attack damage with unarmed or melee weapons.

Currently, according to my build notes, all my builds that focus on critical hits and damage take Silent Running. Those build using a variant that wears Light Armor takes both Tunnel Runner and Travel Light together with Light Touch. I don't have any builds that use the Professional as one of their chosen perks. All hand to hand builds using critical hits and damage take Ninja.

Now what I would like to know is:

-Is stealth more appropriate for ranged or melee combat?
-Do I need Silent Running or Tunnel Runner if I attack primarily from range?
-Is Light Touch even necessary if making a stealth build, seeing as how I'll be attacking primarily from stealth for sneak attack criticals unaffected by critical chance? And for that matter, will I even need Finesse?

[Salamand3r-]

I can't offer too much direction on meta builds - but hopefully someone can.

The three specific questions - ranged is generally better for Stealth.

No, you won't.

Regarding needing Finesse and other perks - honestly, NV's enemies are so squishy compared to FO3, you don't really "need" anything to totally dominate the game. It's perfectly plausible to use the varmint rifle all the way to endgame with not a single point put into Guns - on Very Hard.

[dwaynegand]

What if you don't use criticals as part of your build? Should those types of Hand to Hand builds get Silent Running? They won't get Tunnel Runner because they wear Power Amor.

[Corona Varus]

Sneak still gives out your position if you try it on multiple targets. Only works well when the enemy is alone and you are hidden.

Also forgot there are perks that gives more critical damage while sneaking. I got used to one shooting with better critical.

You can pretty much get away from anything with Sneak, works well with sniper rifles (snipe President Kimball and run off before they all kill you in hard mode, etc.)

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by dwaynegand:

What if you don't use criticals as part of your build? Should those types of Hand to Hand builds get Silent Running? They won't get Tunnel Runner because they wear Power Amor.

Silent Running will definitely be important in melee, or at least make the game more fun to play.

Originally posted by Corona Varus:

Sneak still gives out your position if you try it on multiple targets. Only works well when the enemy is alone and you are hidden.

You can pretty much get away from anything with Sneak, works well with sniper rifles (snipe President Kimball and run off before they all kill you in hard mode, etc.)

Not really true if using silent weapons, or from enough of a distance. Silent weapons won't alert enemies to you specifically, or at least not automatically. Detection is also based on the attack point of impact, not where the attack is made from, so sufficient distance will also prevent you from going into [Danger] and allow repeated sneak attacks with limited waiting.

[Vassago Rain]

What.
You can build an effective "stealth build" no problem. All you need to do is wear no armor and use sneak mode, or get silent running so you can do it in any armor.

All attacks done in sneak on unaware opponents are automatically critical hits, which is why it's so broken. Go to anywhere deathclaws spawn, sneak at max range, then unload on them with something like the BOZAR and watch them melt one by one.

Silent weapons and assassin perks aren't actually necessary to abuse the broken system. The closer the targets are, the less useful sneak is, because the game is full of high perception enemies that are very aggressive and don't stop searching for you, but if you have maxed sneak and silent running, you should have no problem killing dozens of NPCs without them ever finding you. Practice at the NCR outpost.

[Shiroi Ren]

You can build master of all.

[psychotron666420]

What do you mean less perk rate in fallout 3?

In 3 you get a perk every level, to a level cap of 30. That's 30 perks.

New Vegas is a perk every 2 levels, to a level cap of 50. That's 25 perks.

[dwaynegand]

Actually, it's 29 perks in Fallout 3. The fact that you get a perk every level up instead of every few levels is what I meant by lower perk rate in Fallout 3.

Should builds that don't focus on critical hits even bother with SIlent Running?

[Vassago Rain]

Originally posted by dwaynegand:

Actually, it's 29 perks in Fallout 3. The fact that you get a perk every level up instead of every few levels is what I meant by lower perk rate in Fallout 3.

Should builds that don't focus on critical hits even bother with SIlent Running?

Silent running removes the armor penalty for sneaking, and noise, which is only really a problem in armor, so unless you're planning to use no armor, you should always have it. The stealth system was lifted from elder scrolls, but never explained in either F3 or NV.

NPCs get to check if they can see you visually, then another check to see if they can hear you, and silent running removes the hearing check. This is why they behave like they do when you're in sneak, and why they sometimes spot you from very far when you start moving, even though they didn't have visual sight on you.

[dwaynegand]

So you should take it even if you are a ranged character? What about Tunnel Runner? Should a ranged character take that too if they use light armor?

[red255]

in fallout new vegas you have 50 levels which is 25 perks + one extra from cheesing the respec at level 2 in goodsprings.

as well as challenge builds.

I started the game, wandered around hit like level 20-24. did old world blues, did Dead money, did honest hearts, now I'm doing lonesome road. I'm like level 42.

I took 2 pointless shotgun perks I'm not going to use.

So if you want to be a sneaky boy, I'd recommend christines silenced sniper rifle and a bunch of other things, the compliance regulator is great....

I mean you score a sneak attack critical its paralyzed for like 12 seconds where you can easily finish it off with whatever.

trying to think if there are any unique one handed pistols with silencers, I mean the weathered 10mm pistol can take a silencer the .45 pistol can take a silencer and works OK.

too bad the light shining in the darkness cannot.

maybe the 12.7 mm pistol can take a silencer?

but you should have no problem going both eventually, I'd recommend starting with guns though.

[Vassago Rain]

Originally posted by dwaynegand:

So you should take it even if you are a ranged character? What about Tunnel Runner? Should a ranged character take that too if they use light armor?

Tunnel runner just gives faster movement, which is nice, but not really necessary. If you want to move faster, take it.