Speech too important?

[Prozel]

Hi guys!

 

I enjoy NV a lot, really an awesome game.

However, everytime I'm trying something new like a Melee/Explosives build where Speech isn't a skill I focus on, I quickly lose my motivation because Speech makes everything so much easier.

 

Some quest can't even be completed if you don't focus on Barter or Speech and that's a shame imo.

 

I know Speech has been there since F1, but, somehow I wish Speech to be scraped in the next Fallout game, and instead they should give you more unique choises.

 

Goodsprings is a good example: If you wan't Dynamite, you need Explosive skill, fair. If you want something from Chet, you need Barter, fair enough. If you wan't medicine, you need, well, medicine :P

 

What do you guys think?

[ita]

I don't see why every quest, except main quests required to complete the storyline, should be completable by every kind of imaginable character build.

If people favor combat skills and strength over speech and intelligence, they should be prepare to suffer the consequences of their choices when faced with a quest that requires a more diplomatic approach.

[jerriecan]

I like the fact that you have to choose between a combat-oriented character and a speech-oriented one, especially early on. Not everything should be available in every playthrough - hence why New Vegas is so replayable, IMO. Yes, certain early Speech challenges seem a bit high if you're not putting all the skill points you can into it, but that just means playing a bit more carefully until your combat and speech skills are on par.

[drakeelvin]

I agree, I also got the sense that it is an overused skill compared to others, in fact if you excell in it many parts of the game become very easy. Later in the game it is possible to raise speech a lot but here's a good alternative when you are working on other skills early in the game:

 

 

 

Perk: Comprehension

Naughty Nightwear (Buy at Mick and Ralphs)

Total: +30 speech

 

 

[lemonfan1]

I build a pretty successful character with the weapons of my choice and speech. It's all in how you level and where you put your points. I like having higher Intelligence (9 and below since I can upgrade later) when I start so I can toss out more skill points later, using the Training perk for extra SPECIAL points later on. Even if you spend 5-10 points in your main skills and toss the extras into speech, it goes a long way. Using Mentats, Alcohols, books and gear, you can also increase your speech considerably, for a limited time. Currently, I'm working on an infiltrator class.

 

That's pretty much how it would be for any class, I think. Just tossing those few points and adding a SPECIAL point into the right place can really help out. Remember, the items are in the game to be made use of. ;)

[jukehero461]

I liked Fallout 3's approach to speech.

Not the percentage of success part of it, but nearly every quest had an alternate way to complete it the way you wanted to. For example, the quest "You Gotta Shoot em' In The Head", each guy had a key. You could kill em and take it obviously, or you could take the key with diplomacy, or pickpocket him while he was sleeping or unaware. That was the right way to do it, I feel. Speech made it easier, but there was still a non-violent way to go if you didn't have a silver tongue.