Why use ballistic weave on clothing?

[psionyx]

Ok so, I'm about to restart FO 4, and was watching a YT video discussing the game. The video mentioned how good ballistic weave is, since you can put it on clothing to make it much more protective. Now, aside from simple roleplaying reasons of not wearing armor, and going around in regular old clothing, why would I want to do that?

I genuinely don't recall any specific benefit to wearing just, regular clothes all the time? Compared to actual armor? It's been a few years since I played, so I'm honestly not sure if I'm just not remember a specific feature or not.

So, is there some mechanical benefit, to deciding to not wear armor, just like, regular clothing, and use ballistic weave on it? Compared to using the weave on pieces of armor, or just wearing armor itself?

[matt]

You can wear some clothes underneath your armor. When these clothes are reinforced with ballistic weave, it's almost like you're wearing power armor. Damage resistance has diminishing returns, which makes this very attractive.

Some clothing can't be worn underneath your armor but has good protective value. If this can be enhanced with ballistic weave, it's useful for role-playing or just doing something different.

[psionyx]

Originally posted by matt:

You can wear some clothes underneath your armor. When these clothes are reinforced with ballistic weave, it's almost like you're wearing power armor. Damage resistance has diminishing returns, which makes this very attractive.

Some clothing can't be worn underneath your armor but has good protective value. If this can be enhanced with ballistic weave, it's useful for role-playing or just doing something different.

So really, it's just to further improve any armor I might already be wearing. I was mainly wondering if there was something like faction armor from new vegas, so it would make sense, if I was being sneaky in a disguise, to have it be stronger. But I didn't recall it having such outfits, so it seemed strange to me.

For example there is no fundamental benefit, to wearing a weave infused evening dress (without also using armor on top), when just putting on the armor on top of it would also be beneficial.

[Chaosium]

Except it outclasses pretty much any armor you can find, power armor aside.

Some apparel also gives you a boost to a SPECIAL stat that's very welcome. Clothes with +1 STR or END and ballistic weave are way more beneficial than standard armor for a melee character, for example.

[psionyx]

Originally posted by Chaosium:

Except it outclasses pretty much any armor you can find, power armor aside.

Some apparel also gives you a boost to a SPECIAL stat that's very welcome. Clothes with +1 STR or END and ballistic weave are way more beneficial than standard armor for a melee character, for example.

hmm, good point. I am planning on trying to be a stealth melee type.

[=EGC= kansasterry]

balistic weave is this games version of concealed bulletproof clothes.

[hawkeye]

Clothing -
Ability to swim is an advantage.
Charisma bonus.
Don't need repairing or use of frames.
Faster travel.
Can stack with the right overcoat.
Improved mental attitude leading to superior combat performance. (Better morale from not looking like a dork.)
Sanitation - clothes you make don't need "deep cleaning" before use. (You do clean that PA you found before getting in it, don't you? I thought eating 200 hundred year old burgers was bad enough.)

[Iron Knights]

Nope, P.A., although having a soft layer, doesn't get close to your skin except the helmet, which you wear on top of your combat helmet or hat. So no need to clean it expressly.

[Makeithappen]

Originally posted by psionyx:

Originally posted by Chaosium:

Except it outclasses pretty much any armor you can find, power armor aside.

Some apparel also gives you a boost to a SPECIAL stat that's very welcome. Clothes with +1 STR or END and ballistic weave are way more beneficial than standard armor for a melee character, for example.

hmm, good point. I am planning on trying to be a stealth melee type.

One of the things you can do, if you have specific clothes you want to wear with ballistic weave, but the game does not all those clothes to be worn under armor, is you can download the mod and mods that go with Armorsmith Extended. It allows all clothing to be worn under armor regardless of what clothes it is.
There is also a mod out there where you can wear the Veteran Ranger outfit from Fallout New Vegas. Its heavy and some armor pieces you can't equip with it, but if you wanted some NV gear this is one I can say I use.

So in survival mode if you do not have power armor your using, ballistic weave is a must have. 5 pieces, a helmet, and BW with 5 or so Endurance you can survive a few hits from some enemies your level. (im level 52 so I don't know how much my level factors in but all my defense is in my armor right now.)

[psionyx]

Originally posted by =EGC= kansasterry:

balistic weave is this games version of concealed bulletproof clothes.

Yeah i know what it is, I've played the game through multiple times. My question was that I wasn't really sure why I would want to weave up regular clothing, compared to just using armor. While I have played it for...I think 400 hours according to steam? It was like 3 years ago, so the minute details are a tad foggy.

[=EGC= kansasterry]

Originally posted by psionyx:

Originally posted by =EGC= kansasterry:

balistic weave is this games version of concealed bulletproof clothes.

Yeah i know what it is, I've played the game through multiple times. My question was that I wasn't really sure why I would want to weave up regular clothing, compared to just using armor. While I have played it for...I think 400 hours according to steam? It was like 3 years ago, so the minute details are a tad foggy.

basically stealth its more silent than other armor and as an undercover agent for the railroad it would be less obvious to wear than combat, leather, or Power Armor.

[buttcheese34]

from what i can tell it actually has more protection. just now i was using Kellogg's armor which i think is around 50 arm protection and you can't wear any other pieces of armor with it that i'm aware of but i can put some ballistic weave on like a tshirt and jeans outfit or some other clothing outfit and it will be like 120 arm rating. a little silly imo when you think about it that you can't upgrade some of the armors like Kellogg's armor.

[The Inept European]

Yeah it's a bit dumb that you can put ballistic weave on a T-Shirt and Slacks but you can't put it on leather armour or combat armour.

I find BW kind of dumb but I guess it provides that Railroad "undercover" vibe or if you want to just look good without having to worry about your DR.

[Grendalcat]

If you don't want to bother repairing Power Armor, and hunting fusion cores. ballistic weave is a good way to buff your non PA stats. +120 for clothes and another +120 for hat is a big gain.

[The Inept European]

Good point.

[Iron Knights]

"Hunt" fusion cores ? If you follow the factory clearing missions, there is at least 1 fusion core in each and you can BUY them at the vendors. I have never run out, I even put 100 of them in storage and I used to run with a human companion both being in power armor.