I'm probably about halfway through my first play through (so, no spoilers, please), and I'm thinking ahead to what I'd want to play next time around. What I'm thinking about is a non-combat build, so no tagging weapon skills, nor putting any points into them. Additionally, I cannot use any weapon for which I don't have the skill. That means that by the end of the game, I'll only be using weapons requiring a skill of 25 or less (and I'll only get to 25 if/when I find the proper skill books). So, for the most part, I'll be using 0 skill level weapons. This will also limit my perk selection. So, no Shotgun Surgeon, Cowboy, or any perk that depends on a weapon skill requirement (except possibly rapid reload by the end of the game, but who cares about that perk?). However, I do have the Caravan pack, so the Sturdy Caravan Shotgun is an option.

Oh, and I'm playing on hardcoe.

So, trait-wise, I'm thinking Good-Natured is obvious. I'm also thinking of Built to Destroy, only because it's going to fit the luck oriented theme of the build. That is, I'd have to be lucky to survive with such an inferior loadout. As for tags (though they don't matter too much), probably survival, sneak, and maybe repair.

Anyway, I'm curious about what others would do with such a build (SPECIAL, traits, tags, perks, loadout). What do you think?

Well strength 3 or less.. probably the same with endurance, these are what I get rid of on these builds.
As you'll be low on skill and using weapons that don't require any the single shotgun is perfect if you do need a gun.. slugs for high armour, buck any other time.
Plus it's spread is an advantage in these builds.

Now for the pacifist, charisma 8+, perception 7+, intelligence 8+.. you could even dump agility as well to max out every other stat.
Speech, barter, medicine, science, repair and sneak are my personal pacifist skill pics in that order.. but survival is of more use if you plan on getting hit often.

Good natured is a given, the other traits it's up to you.. but you don't have to take two unless you want to.

Honestly your build above is perfect, and you have a good solid idea of what you want it to be.
So go with your gut, and have fun.

Loadout.. keep one or two weapons max. everything else sell.
Keep lots of misc and chems to make into craftables.
Wear one suit of clothing / light armour... sell the rest.
Run if you get spotted.. run fast.

Strength should be 3 or 4.
Barter:100
Speech:100
Unarmed to 100.
Sneak 100.
Perception 8 or 9
Intelligence 7 or higher.

Perks:
Bloody mess.
Ferocious Loyalty
Toughness
Stonewall
Super slam
Nerd Rage
Life Giver
Piercing Strike.
Unstoppable Force
Paralyzing palm
Ninja
Slayer
Perks above is for pretty much when you use your fists.


Thats about it.

Also Retention.

You may want a high perception so you can see enemies waaay before they see you, especially the deathclaws and cazadors.

I'm definitely thinking low strength. Probably 3, so I don't have a problem with weapons reqs (I won't use a weapon if I'm not strong enough). I can get an implant later for the Cowboy Repeater when my Guns skill makes it to 25. I'm thinking that's going to be my end game weapon for mid-long range combat. Fully modded, it should do ok. As for Endurance, I'm thinking of keeping it average. Partly because I'm playing HC, and partly for implants. With 5, I could get both specials (regen and DT), and a few stat boosts I'll need for perks.



How so? I always thought spread was never an advantage. Plus, I'll have the Sturdy caravan shotgun, which is superior to the single with about the same requirements.



I always have to take two, just because I can. I actually wish there were more traits in this game, maybe some less combat-oriented ones.



Yeah, I'd like to keep it limited. I think carrying around a million weapons is tacky. However, I can't see myself using less than three. I'm posting a build below, you'll see why.



I'm not putting anything into combat skills (hence the non-combat oriented build). And why would you suggest such a high Sneak and Perception? I do plan to invest in Sneak (SACs are going to be pretty vital), but I wasn't thinking of going that high in PE. The build I post below will have a PE of 7 with a hat.



I've yet to see a deathclaw and I'm not looking forward to it. I've already been killed once by a Caz. That's the one thing I'm worried about in this build. They're so fast, you kinda need VATS, but with this build, my VATS stats are going to be weak (even if I get the applicable perks).

Anyway, this is what I came up with. Tell me what you think.

Garrett Bishop (named after the character from the Thief games, and Robert Redford's character from "Sneakers")

S 3*
P 5*
E 5
C 5
I 10
A 6
L 6*

*later will be boosted with implants

Traits:
Good Natured
(Re-)Built to Destroy - even though he's non-combative by nature, Benny trying to kill him kinda puts him in a "mood".

Tags
Lockpick, Barter, Sneak
(He used to be a robin-hood-esque thief before settling in the safer and more honest work of courier. The latter two skills are especially helpful for negotiating contracts and getting to the destination in one piece)

Perks
2 Intense Training - Luck
4 Educated
6 Comprehension
8 Toughness
10 Finesse
12 Silent Running
14 Toughness?
16 Better Criticals

After that, who knows? Possibly some VATS boosting perks. If my survival is high enough, I'll probably go for Travel Light and/or maybe entomologist to help with Cazs. At some point, I'll do Hand Loader to beef up my weapons.

Weapons:
Varmint Rifle -> Ratslayer for sniping
9mm -> Lucky for a sidearm
Caravan Shotgun -> For a room sweeper
1 slot for whatever else I can use, just to try it out, though it will probably be replaced with the cowboy repeater. However, the Cowboy repeater might be redundant, as I'll do more damage with the Ratslayer due to the crit bonus.

You should role play as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtMizMQ6oM

high sneak so u can bypass enemys u can't kill using followers ( anything under 100 sneak will get u attacked )

speech 100 - no comment

barter 100 - maybe u can skip this depending on if u reach lvl 40 or not

High Charisma - so the followers don't die

high luck - if u want to win casino games tough i don't really see it's use since u don't need to crit with weapons

repair - keep u're minions geared up better

also IMPORTANT : i never played a totaly anti-combat build but i guess u could invest in intelligence so u can raise 1 skill up : explosive is very usefull , u can lay down mines , run around oponenets while they chase u and enter u're mine field

Agility 6, sneak and survival.

Take 'Travel Light', you need 45 survival and level 4. Then you can run away, with no or light armor, from almost anything in the game.

You can with 6 agility and 50 sneak get 'Silent Running' and be really fast and hard to see/hear.

Useful if you don't want to fight.

LOL...that was an awesome movie. I haven't seen it in forever. I should watch it again.

Let's see, what would it be? Definitely tag Medicine, then maybe Melee?



Really? I figured crits are pretty important so I can get the most out of the weaker weapons.



I generally don't bother with followers/companions more than I have to, especially in this series. With the way the AI works, they end up getting in the way more than anything.

how do you go through a whole playthrough without killing anything?

Boxing Gloves

You could use the rebreather as a gas mask and use jet.


or you could play as Seymour, trying to stop spore plants from spreading....you know cause they are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLO7IxKwruc&feature=related