Non-FWE Modded Game, no Fast Travel: more Carry Weight?

[FearlessFelix]

To the point: I'm looking for opinions on adjusting carry weight based on self imposed restrictions (no fast travel, no companions) and I wanted to know what other people thought of that. If you'd say, "yeah, sure, makes sense," where would you draw the line with modifying the base carry weight of your character? My own initial thought was to increase base carry weight to 450 pounds, so that a 10 Strength character (+100) with Strong Back (+50) could carry 600 pounds in total. I plan on starting with a 5 Strength character, and not increasing his strength until 30th level (as I've never done a "Ultimate Build" before). So, I'd be running around with 500 - 550 carry weight most of the time.

 

The way I reasoned out that number was based on companions. You can have 1 companion and Dog meat, and i can't recall if dog meat allows you to store items on him (it would almost make sense, but not really). Companions seem to typically allow you to store an extra 150 to 200 pounds. The other amount I factored in as an imaginary bike or other traveling contraption: I'd use a mod option for this, but I'm not using FWE by pure preference, and I distrust that otherwise putting something like that in wouldn't add extra stress on load and stability. So, an extra 300 pounds (effectively 2 companions) seemed reasonable.

 

It is fair to mention that my Ammo will *not* have any weight attached to it, which doesn't really bother me, but I know might affect others opinions on game-play balance.

 

Overall, I'm probably going this route, but I definitely appreciate any commentary, advice, or observations people can offer. I do know that simply foceav'ing my carryweight to 5000 has never felt right. ;)

 

Some Background on me and my play style: I'm coming back to Fallout 3 after a year or two and this time I mean to make a full run - or even more than one - out of it. So, I plan on limiting my fast travel to an absolute minimum - if I could get away with never Fast Traveling, I would, but it's my bet that that is just not going to happen. But getting rid of Fast Travel is going to really hobble my obsessive need to loot absolutely everything: I am the guy that visits Springvale Elementary and strips it bare. I usually find myself making several trips back to Megaton, completely overburdened with books and other miscellaneous crap. But Springvale is incredibly close to Megaton, and so I won't get to indulge that extreme scavenger mentality without Fast Travel most of the time otherwise. Unless other adjustments are made.

[blackrat99]

Do you plan on using a backpack? I find that starting with a strength of 5, getting the strength bobblehead, Strong Back and (possibly) taking Ant Might, with a backpack as well I can carry almost everything I need without becoming encumbered. Not totally, but close. Without working it out I'd guess you'd eventually be quite close to 600. You'll still get encumbered early on looting Springvale School but you'd cut down on trips if you buy the backpack early.

[kschang77]

I personally do "backpack". I have the backpack mod, which can give you 50lb plus carry weight, and there's one for companions too. I got a mod so Dogmeat can carry a pack too.

 

I do on-the-spot merge repairs so I don't get saddled with three lame copies of assault rifle, but sometimes I need wimpier versions as merchants don't have the caps for them.

 

I'm a pretty careful looter, but by end-game, I refuse to pick up most of the loot (unless it's enclave armor or Talon armor, hahaha). Or assault rifle. But I'm playing a mod game where repair prices are crazy and weapons prices are crazy (fully repaired assault rifle is like 4000+ caps) My stockpile of "to be sold" is probably worth about 100000 caps. :)

[FearlessFelix]

Do you plan on using a backpack? I find that starting with a strength of 5, getting the strength bobblehead, Strong Back and (possibly) taking Ant Might, with a backpack as well I can carry almost everything I need without becoming encumbered. Not totally, but close. Without working it out I'd guess you'd eventually be quite close to 600. You'll still get encumbered early on looting Springvale School but you'd cut down on trips if you buy the backpack early.

 

I think you must be using FWE then, as in genero FO3 carry weight calculates as 150 lbs + (STR * 10) lbs + an additional 50 pounds if you have the Strong Back perk. Even with a Strength of 10, you cap at 300, though from an FWE user's persepective, I'm "cheating" by not having my ammo weigh anything (which I can understand even as I completely abuse it). Of course, I very rarely see people complaining about all the players in Skyrim that cart around hundreds of arrows that are absolutely weightless, but whatevs. ;)

 

I personally do "backpack". I have the backpack mod, which can give you 50lb plus carry weight, and there's one for companions too. I got a mod so Dogmeat can carry a pack too.

 

I do on-the-spot merge repairs so I don't get saddled with three lame copies of assault rifle, but sometimes I need wimpier versions as merchants don't have the caps for them.

 

I'm a pretty careful looter, but by end-game, I refuse to pick up most of the loot (unless it's enclave armor or Talon armor, hahaha). Or assault rifle. But I'm playing a mod game where repair prices are crazy and weapons prices are crazy (fully repaired assault rifle is like 4000+ caps) My stockpile of "to be sold" is probably worth about 100000 caps. :smile:

 

Mm. I don't plan on using companions most times, as I have a certain level of fear in my use of Fallout 3's companions at start, based on really old experiences with them. Stealth is also a bit of a b&@*$ with Dog Meat, unless I"m constantly ordering him to stay here, etc. I follow you with the repairing, as that's also how I prefer to maximize the old Weight-Value-Ratio deal. A high repair with a gradually rising Barter is a wonderful way to ensure an utterly ridiculous amount of caps. (Not as ridiculous as in Fallout New Vegas, but still)

 

Thanks for your replies, guys, and my apologies for not getting back sooner (RL)

[blackrat99]

 

Do you plan on using a backpack? I find that starting with a strength of 5, getting the strength bobblehead, Strong Back and (possibly) taking Ant Might, with a backpack as well I can carry almost everything I need without becoming encumbered. Not totally, but close. Without working it out I'd guess you'd eventually be quite close to 600. You'll still get encumbered early on looting Springvale School but you'd cut down on trips if you buy the backpack early.

 

I think you must be using FWE then, as in genero FO3 carry weight calculates as 150 lbs + (STR * 10) lbs + an additional 50 pounds if you have the Strong Back perk. Even with a Strength of 10, you cap at 300, though from an FWE user's persepective, I'm "cheating" by not having my ammo weigh anything (which I can understand even as I completely abuse it). Of course, I very rarely see people complaining about all the players in Skyrim that cart around hundreds of arrows that are absolutely weightless, but whatevs. :wink:

You're quite right, carry weight is a lot lower than I thought. My mental calculation was based on the carry weight of some companion backpacks which is higher than the one I use myself. With the backpack (50lbs), a strength of 10 and Strong Back I will cap at 400lbs (I don't have FWE). I don't dispute your calculation, so some of my carry weight (an extra 50lbs) must be coming from another mod or Leather Backpack is bugged. Even so, my experience remains true - with my current carry weight of 360lbs I can carry just about everything I need.

Edited January 31, 2018 by blackrat99