Attacking without reputation loss

[Out Of Bubblegum]

I think that if I kill someone using a stelth boy or stay hidden somehow AND I use a silenced weapon that I will not damage my reputation with that group. Correct?

What if I just hurt someone during a battle but I do not get the killing shot. Will my reputation stay unchanged?

I am thinking about the attack on the two caravans by the Legion on the way to Novak. I want to help in the attack. But I do not want the Legion hit squads after me yet. It is too early in the game and I am too weak to take on enemies with 20+ DR, and nasty weapons.

[Ygolnac]

For the legion rep there's a thing that fixes it in the mid game.
If you kill someone without beeing seen by him (oneshot kill) and any of his buddies you don't loose rep. Remeber that few weapons are completly silenced to the point of not decloacking you: silenced 10mm pistol, sleepytime, and the compressed air rifles (if you can one shot something with them). Not sure about ratslayer.
A granade would go as it makes noise in the point where it explodes, not in the point where it is thrown.
With a stealth boy and the silenced 10mm pistol i headshoted a certain npc in a room full of his buddies, but did not decloak and never loose rep for that faction.

[Flayer]

The assassination squads of both NCR and the Legion will scale to your level so they're not insanely difficult for low level players. However you can wear the faction armor for the NCR and kill legionaries to your heart’s content without gaining Legion infamy.

[Out Of Bubblegum]

Thanks. Wearing NCR armor. Oh, I like that idea. I do have NCR armor from Nipton. I do not have any of the good silenced weapons yet. Just a varmit rifle. That thing takes like 12 hits to kill a lowly recruit. The frag grenade idea is also a good idea. Never thought abut that one.
The hit squads do not seem to be scaling properly for me. They have 16-18 DR amor and two of them have 5 DR helmets. I think that is a high level squad. I am level 9 when they attack. I am playing on hard, so maybe that makes a difference.

PS: So if I get the NCR armor first in Nipton before going to the town hall. I could talk with the Legion dude like normal, without wearing the NCR armor. Then duck into a house while he leaves, put on the NCR armor then attack him. I am going to have to go back and try that. I hate leaving him just go.

[Flayer]

The faction armor works only to a point. Just as if you were to wear a faction disguise to infiltrate an enemy camp; you can be discovered. Named NPCs, dogs, and certain regular NPCs can see through the disguise. If you're attacking them and get too close, this will happen and reputation loss will start to occur.

Edit: It appears that some NPCs will trigger reputation loss if attacked in open combat, disguise or not.

[Dosbilliam, Boring but Practical]

Pretty much every time I go by there, the caravan beats the Legion every time, although they usually take a few losses. (which means lootables)

[Vic Evicerator]

If you have a save before that happens and have some armor-piercing 5.56mm ammo on you, you might foray east before heading up to Novac. A certain gun in a certain spot will be a big help against armored enemies, but I don't want to spoil it so I'll leave it there...

[Dosbilliam, Boring but Practical]

If that's referring to what I think, you'll need a pretty high Lockpick to get it, though.

[Vic Evicerator]

Then we may be thinking of different things - I think you're referring to the G--- S----- R----. I was talking about R--------. (GSR is .308; R is 5.56 ;) ). No lockpicks needed for R, but that early-on in the game some mines/powder charges will help.

[Dosbilliam, Boring but Practical]

He already referenced Ratslayer.

[Out Of Bubblegum]

I tried out the option of using NCR armor but it only half worked. I attacked the 4 Legion near Wolfern Farm and latter attacked 3 Legion near NCR camp Charlie. I lost no reputation. After getting Boone, I went back and attacked the Legion raiding camp where the Powdergangers are captive. There were no dogs and no named NPC's, just 3 recruits. But I went straight to vilified reputation.
One thing that might have mucked it up is that I did not wear NCR armor when I went up the road to Novac. I took off the NCR armor after killing the 4 Legion that attack the caravans. I might have passed too close to the camp while not in disquise and so I was 'known' already when I went back.
Any ideas?

As for the hit squads, I do get 'That thing' in Novac and I always buy all the AP ammo I see at the vendors. My main problem with tough battles is that I always forget to buff up with the chems. With some crafting, I have over 6 different buffs I can use. The money to cure the addiction is minimal.

[averagegaydrunk]

i suggest the super sledge and jet

[Out Of Bubblegum]

Holy necro, batman.And I don't even remember what I was trying to do anymore.

:)

[jomigaru]

Aaaand puff! ...just like that 10 years have passed.

Not even dancing the batusi could help us.