Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024

On Sat, 01 Jun 2024 13:04:37 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024?

Fallout 76.  I bought this game 2 yrs ago for $10, not having liked
what I saw of it upon initial release.  Back then, I played for a
while but stopped around level 12 or so.

Watching Fallout TV and seeing videos about how much better FO76 had
gotten over time inspired me to fire it up again, so resuming my
earlier character I grinded my way up to the point where the
combination of level, perk cards, discovered map locations, and
overall skill gets to a point where the world is a bit less dangerous,
and found myself enjoying the ride.

From what I understand you don't have to start a new game at level 1,
there is an option for new players to jump straight to level 20 at
character generation, which I guess probably alleviates some of the
pains some complained about with difficulty early on.

Other than intentionally joining events to level up faster, I don't
actually see other players all that often.  I do join teams to get the
benefits of bonuses but it still feels mostly like single player
gameplay.  I've only even spoken to one other player over the mic in
the weeks I've been playing it, and that was only to say thanks but no
thanks to a much higher level player who was asking me if there was
anything I need like extra stimpaks or whatever. 

I play in "pacifist mode" so that my shots don't damage other players
during events, and I suspect this is how most people play.  So if
you're turned off by the multiplayer aspect or worried about PvP in
this game at all, then just don't, because it's not that kind of game
and most players will help you if asked.  Maybe later on I will dabble
in PvP but I don't think there is much for me here in that mode.

I know there were no NPCs at launch, and some still think they are too
few and far between, but I think the NPC population feels about right
for a post-nuke-disaster game like this.  There shouldn't be lots of
people running around everywhere, it would ruin the vibe.

The combat mechanics, like most FO games, definitely have a clunky
feel, but you get used to that and it all kind of grows on you over
time.

Not sure how long I'll stick with it, but I'm still enjoying it for
now.