Lore Friendly Alternate Hacking - Pipboy Decryption Software

[Guest deleted2588518]

Ok. So I know there is a large audience of players who despise the hacking and lock-picking mini-games. I personally feel they aren't needed and only exist as a farce to give the illusion of complexity. Having said that, Skyrim had plenty of mods to allow a reasonably lore friendly way to bypass the lock-picking mini-game. Maybe you're not a rogue or thief? Maybe you're playing a low Intelligence build? Maybe you just really hate the idea that even though you're character has an incredibly high intelligence, and could hack master level software... you (the player) are still forced into a mini-game where you simply click on a word.

 

Its as unrealistic as it is asinine. This is the third fallout game that uses this mini-game and so far no one has attempted to make it better or more interesting. So I have an idea.

 

It came to me as I was leaving Vault 111 and watched the brilliant use of the Pip-Boy to bypass the control panel to open the Vault door.

[Edit]- Now that I think about it, you can hack robots from your pip-boy directly. Something that would work great for terminals!

 

[Concept]

You are an intelligent person with the ability to learn complex scientific theories and utilize complex electrical and nuclear machinery. Why should this not apply to terminal security software?

-or-

You are a complete idiot. It could be considered divine intervention that you're able to even utilize your Pip-boy as anything other than a paperweight.

-or-

You fall somewhere in-between the genius nuclear physicist and Knuckle-Dragging mouth breather but can't quite wrap your head around using a terminal.

 

Vault-Tech Pip-Boy Decryption Software (PDS) can quickly bypass even the most secure systems allowing ease of access to even the most feeble-minded and lazy.

 

[How I feel it should be implemented]

 

REWRITE! - I had a complete "I'm an idiot! The solution is right in front of me!" moment. Robot hacking. Replace the terminal mini-game with the robot style hacking method. This removes the mini-game but still requires some effort on part of the player. You could just replace the hacking perk default bonus to allow access to the " Press R: hack terminal with pip-boy" option just like hacking robots.

 

For players who don't want to invest in default hacking perks, (low intel builds), there could be holotapes with PDS on them to allow hacking terminals. Like a magazine perk that doesn't replace the default hacking perks. Or a combination of the two. You guys are smart, I'm sure you've got better ideas or could make this type of system actually work.

 

I hope someone who has an understanding of the systems in place will consider doing this. Its simply beyond my technical abilities.

 

Thanks for reading and thanks to the mod creators who make Bethsoft games no only playable, but actually enjoyable.

Edited December 1, 2015 by TotalMeltdown

[Guest deleted2588518]

I've been digging around in FO4Edit and while the perks are editable, the ability to use the pip-boy to hack robots must call a script that is tied to a UI element. Which is likely (because I have no idea) beyond the scope of FO4Edit.

That is, unless, there is a way to make a modified version of the current robot hacking script and tie it to the UI (for notifications) and the appropriate perks inside the script itself.

I'm seriously out of my depth. I should learn how to script ^.^

[Guest deleted2588518]

Anyone know anything about this stuff? Anyone with skyrim or FONV UI or scripting experience that could possibly find time for this?

[NonanteSeize]

Upping this, awesome idea. :thumbsup:

 

What I thought of first with this idea was how nick does it.

Just let your character button mash for a while (time depending on difficulty) and if you get locked out, vanilla rules apply and you must wait or return later.

 

I don't dislike the pickpocket mini-game thing, but for hacking I don't always want to brainstorm just to open a door.

 

Having no experience with modding (without CK), I really can't help, but this needs to be seen by more people.

Someone has got to have some knowledge of this, since the mini-game did not change between Fallout 3 and 4. :unsure:

 

EDIT: I just re-read your post and "Press R to insta-hack" seems a bit much to me, too easy.

Edited January 7, 2016 by NonanteSeize