‘Fallout 4’ Character System Gives Perks From More Than Just Leveling Up

The character system is an integral part of the Fallout franchise as it allows players to define their characters along with what they can and cannot do during the course of the game. Bethesda Softworks detailed the Fallout 4 SPECIAL system and the corresponding perk system. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC players can look forward to an extensive character development system as a result of no level cap.

The Fallout 4 character system is divided up between the traditional SPECIAL stats (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) and various levels of perks. This is where players begin the development of their character at the start of the game.

Preview Fallout 4’s Character System: We spent a long time on it & think you’ll love it http://t.co/LA6zyt7mkn pic.twitter.com/dMjJeH9Obg

— BethesdaGameStudios (@BethesdaStudios) September 24, 2015

“When selecting your starting SPECIALs, you can assign 28 points,” Bethesda explained. “This makes it difficult to initially max out certain SPECIALs, but you can still start with a 10 if you choose to neglect others. Even though you pick your SPECIALS early before the bombs fall, we do let you change them when exiting the Vault into the Wasteland, after you’ve played for a little.”

Players will have the ability to raise their individual SPECIAL stats as they gain experience points similar to Fallout 3. However, Bethesda says the leveling system will be faster than the previous game in the series and closer to Skyrim‘s leveling speed.

When players reach a new level in Fallout 4, they will also be able to select a perk for their character. Each SPECIAL stat has up to 10 perks they can rank up. Ranking up the perk requires players to not only have the stat score for that SPECIAL attribute at the right level, but also to have a high enough overall rank.

For example, you could max out Charisma at 10 in the beginning to receive the “Intimdation” perk. At rank one, players will be able to aim a gun at lower level characters for a chance to pacify them. Meanwhile, rank two can incite someone to attack and rank three will allow players to give a pacified character specific commands.

Ranking up perks will allow even greater abilities to be unlocked. In total, there are 270 perk possibilities from the seven SPECIAL stat categories and multiple perk ranks.

Additional perks can be earned from collecting magazines and comic books in-game. Others will rank up a perk associated with the magazine. Bethesda gave the example of Grognak the Barbarian comics that give an additional rank to the Barbarian perk, which raises the critical damage of melee attacks.

The Fallout 4 perk poster details and hints at every perk that will be available in the game and Bethesda is offering it as a pre-order bonus for those that purchase a physical copy of the game. Here is the list of perks we know so far:

Charisma Perks

• Cap Collector (Rank 1) – You’ve master the art of the deal! Buying and selling prices at vendors are better.
• Lady Killer (Rank 1) – You’re charming… and dangerous. Women suffer +5 percent damage in combat, and are easier to persuade in dialogue.
• Lone Wanderer (Rank 1) – Who needs friends, anyway? When adventuring without a companion, you take 15 percent less damage and carry weight increases by 50.
• Attack Dog (Rank 1) – Your faithful canine companion can hold an enemy, giving you a greater chance to hit them in V.A.T.S.
• Animal Friend (Rank 1) – Commune with beasts! With your gun, aim at any animal below your level and gain a chance to pacify it.
• Local Ruler (Rank 1) – As the ruler everyone turns to, you are able to establish supply lines between your workshop settlements.
• Party Boy (Rank 1) – Nobody has a good time like you! There’s no chance you’ll get addicted to alcohol.
• Inspirational (Rank 1) – Because you lead by example, your companion does more damage in combat, and cannot hurt you.
• Wasteland Whisperer (Rank 1) – Master the post-apocalypse! With your gun, aim at any Wasteland creature below your level and gain a chance to pacify it.
• Intimidation (Rank 1) – Time to show everyone who’s boss! With your gun, aim at any human opponent below your level and gain a chance to pacify them.
• Intimidation (Rank 2) – When you successfully pacify someone, you can incite them to attack. (Requires: Level 23)
• Intimidation (Rank 3) – When you successfully pacify someone, you can give them specific commands (Requires: Level 50)

Intelligence Perks

• V.A.N.S. (Rank 1) – Let Vault-Tec guide you! The path to your closest quest target is displayed in V.A.T.S.
• Medic (Rank 1) – Is there a doctor in the house? Stimpaks restore 40 percent of lost Health, and RadAway removes 40 percent of radiation.
• Gun Nut (Rank 3) – You gain access to Rank 3 gun mods (requires Level 25)

Agility Perks

• Sneak (Rank 1) – Become whisper, become shadow. You are 20 percent harder to detect while sneaking.

Luck Perks

• Bloddy Mess (Rank 1) – +5 percent bonus damage means enemies will sometimes explode into a gory red paste. Watch out for flying eyeballs!

[Images via Bethesda]