Madae Posted November 18, 2010 Share Posted November 18, 2010 Cass is The Companion for New Vegas just like Fawkes was The Companion for Fallout 3. Well... maybe not as strongly. Boone's default, infinite-ammo weapon is incredibly powerful for when you're liable to first run across him. Having him with you pretty much guarantees you won't be killed by Cazadors so long as you keep your distance. On the other hand, when she gets the Calm Heart perk Cass has the second-highest health out of any of the human-ish companions. When she gets Hand of Vengeance... well NOBODY else has a perk that directly modifies firearms damage like that. An extra 15% damage really stacks up when the weapon she's using is something insane like an Anti-Materiel Rifle. And then there's her companion perk, which turns Whiskey into "Med-X Lite". DT +2 isn't bad at all, but that bonus is affected by your Survival skill: at 100 it becomes DT +6. Compare that to the other companion perks and the closest in terms of usefulness is Boone's Spotter perk. The rest? Eh. Raw damage reduction is WAY better. Also, frankly, Cass is the most charming and has the most consistently enjoyable dialogue. Arcade has some funnier one-liners, but Cass is just more likeable. She's a drunk, she has strong ethics and firm opinions, and is up front with all of these things. What's not to like? Finally, when the Birds of a Feather quest came to that point it didn't even enter my mind to let Cass get shot. I gave Jean-Baptiste a .308 JSP facial with my Sniper Rifle and hacked Gloria's arm off with a Fire Axe just because the Whiskey got me onery and I wanted to hurt something. Cass, of course, took out half the guards on her own while I was doing that. No fading flower, that one. In short, Cass = win. Can you equip a different weapon on a companion? I think I tried, but she only ever used her crappy shotgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hjaaalmar Posted November 18, 2010 Share Posted November 18, 2010 You have to supply them with ammo if you want them to use something other than their default weapons. The weapon Cass gets free cheat ammo for is indeed subpar so Boone is better if you're poor and can't afford to spare a good weapon and ammo for a companion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukichigai Posted November 18, 2010 Share Posted November 18, 2010 Yeah. Ammo use is enabled for companions. The weapons they have by default are special versions that run on "Magical Companion Ammo" (I'm serious, that's what it's called in the GECK) which replenishes automatically. One of the things that ISN'T enabled for companions though is weapon degredation. All those surplus ammo types that triple your gun's rate of decay? Doesn't matter to a gun wielded by a companion, and they still get any other effects (like increased damage) that the ammo has. And since basically all surplus ammo sells for less than 1 cap per unit, even with absolutely nothing invested in the barter skill, you're really getting your money's worth giving. It to a companion. Whenever I have a companion (which these days is almost always Cass) I load them up with as much surplus ammo as I can buy and a weapon that uses it. Usually I start with a Cowboy Repeater and .38 Special rounds, but the minute I can get a minigun, assault carbine, marksman carbine, or even That Gun, I give it to my companion, along with as many surplus rounds as I can get. 5.56mm and 5mm surplus rounds go for 100 caps for 250, so that can actually be quite a few. I usually give companions somewhere around 1500 rounds. Surplus rounds are the best thing ever for companions. It's a pity they don't come in some additional variants, like 12 gauge and .308. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlankerDFR Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 Thanks for the tip on Veronica/BoS side quests! I'm just about to that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlankerDFR Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 I've only played with Cass and Veronica so far (mostly I go it alone as I don't like the extra "companion managment" on top of the already horrendous inventory and PIP Boy minutia); definitely find Cass the more entertaining and well "companiable" of the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secksegai Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Aside from Fawkes, and Dogmeat (for those of us that started with Fallout 1), companions were nothing more than pack brahmin for me in FO3. I remember Paladin Cross because she was the human Paladin option, but she effectively had no more than a few lines of backstory. For the rest I had to look at the vault to be reminded of them. Hell, even Fallout 2 had companions with more personality. Fawkes was the only one in FO3 with actual personality, and the closest one to actually having any character development. I was actually surprised that in NV there was a mutant companion I didn't like. While Cass is one of my favorites, I rarely use her outside of her side quest as I don't make use of her perk whatsoever, yet I think it was definitely one of the more creative perks in the game. She and Veronica have some of the best lines in game, not to mention actually "feel" like in game companions with actual stories. Veronica I like for the liners and personality. As she doesn't level with the character (without modding as of the time I write this), I did find her of limited combat use. That combined with her perk mean I dump her as soon as her side quest is done, maybe picking her back up just to give her that dress even though her combat special she's supposed to give has always been bugged for me. Lily is funny at first, annoying later down the line. Since I'm usually sneaking a lot, that bug where she constantly repeats her crouched line was irritating, especially when you consider her perk. As far as tanking is concerned, don't think anyone can match her, but its not enough for me. I like Danny Trejo, but Raul's character just seemed so... blah. Not to mention I have to avoid meeting Ranger Andy (or rely on a mod) for the sake of his sidequest. ED-E is someone I keep parked simply for the enhanced sensors perk. Was hoping to get more story. Combatwise, even upgraded usually has been more trouble than its worth. Rex - you've got to have a dog companion, and rex fits it just fine. If not for the enhanced sensors perk of ED-E, would easily choose Rex. Arcade felt like a better Myron that I didn't have the urge to kill. Didn't find his perk terribly useful and usually only recruit him for to finish his sidequest. Boone - my favorite, a man of few words with a score to settle and the most compatible with my playstyle. I make it a point to take him to the Fort after I've met Ceasar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorch621 Posted November 25, 2010 Share Posted November 25, 2010 Cass is cool, I dont use her much because I cant be bothered to go to the caravan company etc etc. but the little before quest is worth it...she is definately one of my favourites...her and Boone...Boone who is basically Chuck Norris with a Sniper Rifle and no beard...that and I hate the legion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webster63 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Yeah. Ammo use is enabled for companions. The weapons they have by default are special versions that run on "Magical Companion Ammo" (I'm serious, that's what it's called in the GECK) which replenishes automatically. One of the things that ISN'T enabled for companions though is weapon degredation. thats why i give my companions like veronica or cass a powerfull hand weapon that needs no ammo and it will last forever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasim4 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I'm also in the category that never used companions much in FO3. For some reason in NV I don't want to be without them. Hard to put my finger on why but I really enjoy having them with me this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarogath Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) cass is a charm indeed... and it seems to me as if she had more lines of spoken audio than other companions... still i find most companions overpowered, i just realized the other day that my game was progressing tactically slow because i had no companion with me at all and while i was travelling around even only with that fancy tin can called ED-E i was literally racing thru dungeons... also in terms of loot: companions can pack way too much weight for my taste... everytime i hire a companion it ends up being a pack mule same as in FO3 (i think sum1 mentioned that before too)... all hail the old days of Fallout1-2 & Tactics when inventory-management amongst your party members was quite a necessity (even tho i was quite always short on basic equipment back in the day, so not too many inventory space issues xD) ... thank god the modding community is quite active and fixes most of the vanilla annoyances like for instance that it is not possible to freely customize the outfit of your companions (well maybe i want them to wear the "Shabby Rags of Smelldom" +1, just that i can stand next to them and look awesome)... ...quite a rant that is ;D ... still right now i do have cass on my side -> http://www.newvegasnexus.com/imageshare/images/1754663-1297197751.jpg *waving hysterically* edit: just noticed that cass has a nice set of dialogue with pacer in the Kings HQ, anybody know whether this is true just for pacer or all named NPCs? Edited February 13, 2011 by Sarogath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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