My VATSless Melee Survival Experience :: Fallout 4 General Discussions

Store Page

Fallout 4

All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews

Fallout 4 > General Discussions > Topic Details

Varanus

Aug 4 @ 11:47pm

My VATSless Melee Survival Experience

After several others have made posts about their challenges and whatnot, I decided it was about time to do the same.

I am currently level 32. And here is my experience thus far.

Rules:
Survival Difficulty
Solo
Melee only(this means no explosives either)
NO VATS
NO Power Armor
NO Chems or Alcohol(this includes stealth boys)

Important Notes:
-I hope you like diseases, because even blocked attacks from animals and can disease you.

-You cant block melee attacks from Deathclaws, Bears, or Robots. Using terrain and hit and run tactics is necessary.

-Early-mid game, some fights are just down to luck. Even at max Endurance, at levels 20-30, things can still 2-3 shot you. Sometimes 1 shot, depending on what it is.

-Sprint attacking is VERY important.

-Its all about power. Things need to die before they can attack back.

-Pay attention to clip sizes and when reload animations are happening.

-This is a VERY tedious, tactical, methodical playstyle. With almost every encounter requiring some kind of forethought and strategy.

-You WILL die. Alot. To everything. 2 raiders with pipe pistols are enough to overwhelm you near instantly, if you're not careful. Miss a single block on a ghoul lunge? Gratz! You're dead.

WIll add more later, in the comments. About struggles with specific locations and whatnot. Too much typing and thinking for one single post.

Questions, concerns, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to discuss. :D

Last edited by Varanus; Aug 4 @ 11:48pm

< >

Showing 1-15 of 61 comments

Senor Cinco has Fallout 4

Aug 5 @ 4:42am

N... no chems?! What tha...?
Chems = player wins

Does VATSless have a selfie on file?

I assume VATSless is still utilizing stealth. Aside from not using SBs?

What's VATSless's weapon of choice?

Does VATSless... you know?
*whispers
'eat people?'

Varanus

Aug 5 @ 5:17am

Originally posted by Senor Cinco:
N... no chems?! What tha...?
Chems = player wins

Does VATSless have a selfie on file?

I assume VATSless is still utilizing stealth. Aside from not using SBs?

What's VATSless's weapon of choice?

Does VATSless... you know?
*whispers
'eat people?'

No selfies. O_O

Stealth using, yes. When possible. But the old fashion Skyrim way, of actually having to walk into melee range to do it.

As of right now hes using the Wormmeisters Blitzkrieg(aka Pickmans Blade), and a penetrating chinese officers sword, for when I need to to bonk something particularly chonky or armored.

I have toyed with the cannibal idea in my head. But have not grabbed it. I've mostly been eating mirelurks and radstags. With the occasional bug tossed in.

wtiger27

Aug 5 @ 5:18am

I would never do a melee focused play run without some type of range weapon. Preferably a pistol or revolver. There are situations where melee only is just going to create more of hassle than enjoyment without a range weapon.

Varanus

Aug 5 @ 5:32am

Originally posted by wtiger27:
I would never do a melee focused play run without some type of range weapon. Preferably a pistol or revolver. There are situations where melee only is just going to create more of hassle than enjoyment without a range weapon.

I had considered using a 10mm to deal with search lights. Or to attract attention. But I opted not to.

I will say this. I will likely never do it this way again. There have been more than a few parts that have not been fun, at all. And I didnt even get a sense of accomplishment that I had gotten passed certain struggles. I was just glad it was over. (Corvega took me like 5 hours)

At this point, I'm just trying to prove to myself that its possible. I havent even settled on how far I think I need to get. Main story? All the DLC? When is my challenge successful? This has been such a grueling experience at times, that its the first time I've been thinking "at what point have I done enough?'.

Last edited by Varanus; Aug 5 @ 5:34am

Zes

Aug 5 @ 5:39am

I once had watched a twich stream of a chubby girl was playing no vats - melee - survival.. all jerk responses and always drunk :) she had a Glowing Super Sledge, like some fusion cores attached to it.. she got it from the nuclear submarine if i recall correctly, its was a quest reward something.. (far harbor)

good run btw, i hope you are enjoying it.. :)

inetd

Aug 5 @ 5:43am

nothing to say here, melee is for Skyrim.

I would be more interested in companion only kills, which the same level of stupidity tbh

wtiger27

Aug 5 @ 5:43am

Originally posted by Varanus:
Originally posted by wtiger27:
I would never do a melee focused play run without some type of range weapon. Preferably a pistol or revolver. There are situations where melee only is just going to create more of hassle than enjoyment without a range weapon.
I had considered using a 10mm to deal with search lights. Or to attract attention. But I opted not to.

I will say this. I will likely never do it this way again. There have been more than a few parts that have not been fun, at all. And I didnt even get a sense of accomplishment that I had gotten passed certain struggles. I was just glad it was over. (Corvega took me like 5 hours)

At this point, I'm just trying to prove to myself that its possible. I havent even settled on how far I think I need to get. Main story? All the DLC? When is my challenge successful? This has been such a grueling experience at times, that its the first time I've been thinking "at what point have I done enough?'.

As long as you are enjoying it, that is what matters.

I have did a no mod Survival play run to level 71 before. What are you doing would not be fun for me. But, it's your game to play how you like.

Keep us updated, I would be interested in how far you get.

Varanus

Aug 5 @ 5:50am

Originally posted by Zes:
good run btw, i hope you are enjoying it.. :)

50/50.
Some parts have been really fun to figure out and execute. Learning to block properly. 1v2ing 2 deathclaws. That felt good.

Other parts have just been like "WHY AM I DOING THIS!?". There have been some rooms and especially outside areas that are NOT melee friendly. And your option is run straight at something that can one shot you, and HOPE for the one time it misses or you hit the small chance to disarm them. And those luck based engagements dont feel good.

Senor Cinco has Fallout 4

Aug 5 @ 5:56am

Yup. Pickman's Blade is THE melee weapon folk's goo-goo over. Until...

...you get the Slicer at NW Market. Mhoohoohahahaaaaa!!

Just imagine that bad boy with +50% from Adrenaline. Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka!

*throws VATSless a chunk-o-flesh ...and grunts

wtiger27

Aug 5 @ 5:57am

Originally posted by Varanus:
Originally posted by Zes:
good run btw, i hope you are enjoying it.. :)
50/50.
Some parts have been really fun to figure out and execute. Learning to block properly. 1v2ing 2 deathclaws. That felt good.

Other parts have just been like "WHY AM I DOING THIS!?". There have been some rooms and especially outside areas that are NOT melee friendly. And your option is run straight at something that can one shot you, and HOPE for the one time it misses or you hit the small chance to disarm them. And those luck based engagements dont feel good.

Ninja along with Rooted and a 50% Adrenaline buff, a Instigating or bleed weapon, no enemy will stand much of a chance against you with melee. Those out of melee range, will be your most challenge. Or frustration if it was my char. Esp lower levels.

#10

Varanus

Aug 5 @ 6:00am

Originally posted by wtiger27:

As long as you are enjoying it, that is what matters.

I have did a no mod Survival play run to level 71 before. What are you doing would not be fun for me. But, it's your game to play how you like.

Keep us updated, I would be interested in how far you get.

I think you might be interested to hear that I have actually made it to Nuka World. And defeated Colter. Which was something I did not think I could do.

Oddly enough, the first room with the turrets, was one of those not fun times. As even with nearly 300DR and ER(ty dual stacked ballistic weave) and the 30% damage reduction from lone wanderer, AND another 15% reduction while sprinting from a Cavalier legendary, the laser turrets could still kill me in 4 hits. So figuring that out, took many deaths.

Everything else was actually fairly easy. And the fight with the mirelurks was really fun. as was fighting the flying ants. Which involved alot of trying to get the ants stuck on terrain to give me a quick sprint hit, back off, repeat, while they were stuck. Colter somehow only took me 3 tries. But I got lucky and he dropped him gun. So he was just fist fighting me for half the fight.

Last edited by Varanus; Aug 5 @ 6:01am

#11

Zes

Aug 5 @ 6:09am

Originally posted by Varanus:
Originally posted by Zes:
good run btw, i hope you are enjoying it.. :)
50/50.
Some parts have been really fun to figure out and execute. Learning to block properly. 1v2ing 2 deathclaws. That felt good.

Yeah thats the whole point of melee in fallout, it's actually fictional but fun, "never bring a knife to a gun fight" and your respond.. hold my beeer :D

- - - - -

While you are stabbing some Deathclaw asses, i'm building a vault like a retired school principle :D collecting essential members and maintaining security, soon I will have to build (ugh) the main chamber.. all those Vault Rooms and stuff..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3778035218
All Tier4 Merchants except Tina.. time to visit v81 soon.. and to dive deep down to a long quest line.. which will probably end up being lovers with Curie :) well, i cant wait.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3778035782
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3778036668
Since as overseer i live a humble life here.. Killing mutants and signing papers.. :d I need a woman touch in my life. I wish Curie could design and build stuff for me.. We need those whole color coded Vault Rooms and stuff here.

#12

Varanus

Aug 5 @ 6:28am

Originally posted by Senor Cinco:
Yup. Pickman's Blade is THE melee weapon folk's goo-goo over. Until...

...you get the Slicer at NW Market. Mhoohoohahahaaaaa!!

Just imagine that bad boy with +50% from Adrenaline. Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka!

*throws VATSless a chunk-o-flesh ...and grunts

Yeah, I'm in NW now. So thats my goal. Alot of the difficulty falls off when everything dies before it can attack back.

Originally posted by wtiger27:

Ninja along with Rooted and a 50% Adrenaline buff, a Instigating or bleed weapon, no enemy will stand much of a chance against you with melee. Those out of melee range, will be your most challenge. Or frustration if it was my char. Esp lower levels.

Ideally instigating would have been great. But the game has not been kind to me in terms of legendaries. Though the penetrating chinese sword is pretty decent. But throatslicer soon. And that will likely carry me through the rest of the game.

#13

wtiger27

Aug 5 @ 6:30am

Originally posted by Senor Cinco:
Yup. Pickman's Blade is THE melee weapon folk's goo-goo over. Until...

...you get the Slicer at NW Market. Mhoohoohahahaaaaa!!

Just imagine that bad boy with +50% from Adrenaline. Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka! Nu-Ka!

*throws VATSless a chunk-o-flesh ...and grunts

The single most powerful melee weapon ( using the melee perks, like Blitz and Ninja, etc. ) I have ever had in my play runs, is a Instigating Disciple's Blade. The issue with it however, is it's a random drop and I have only had it drop once.

The Throat Slicer is without question, a great melee weapon and one you can easily get if you have the credits.

#14

wtiger27

Aug 5 @ 6:35am

Originally posted by Varanus:
Originally posted by wtiger27:

As long as you are enjoying it, that is what matters.

I have did a no mod Survival play run to level 71 before. What are you doing would not be fun for me. But, it's your game to play how you like.

Keep us updated, I would be interested in how far you get.

I think you might be interested to hear that I have actually made it to Nuka World. And defeated Colter. Which was something I did not think I could do.

Oddly enough, the first room with the turrets, was one of those not fun times. As even with nearly 300DR and ER(ty dual stacked ballistic weave) and the 30% damage reduction from lone wanderer, AND another 15% reduction while sprinting from a Cavalier legendary, the laser turrets could still kill me in 4 hits. So figuring that out, took many deaths.

Everything else was actually fairly easy. And the fight with the mirelurks was really fun. as was fighting the flying ants. Which involved alot of trying to get the ants stuck on terrain to give me a quick sprint hit, back off, repeat, while they were stuck. Colter somehow only took me 3 tries. But I got lucky and he dropped him gun. So he was just fist fighting me for half the fight.

Colter is easy to kill if you are quick with taking down his immunity, I have one shot killed him several times. Even on Survival. Esp with melee, using Blitz. The turrets there is a prime situational example of why I won't do a melee, with no range weapon play run.

#15

< >

Showing 1-15 of 61 comments

Per page: 1530 50

Fallout 4 > General Discussions > Topic Details

Date Posted: Aug 4 @ 11:47pm

Posts: 61