» Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:32 pm
PREFACE: I have encountered similar issues with incorrect faction reputation being applied, as well as controller commands carrying over from previous actions. I first noticed the rep issue when arriving at Helios One, where I am considered Neutral and boldly walked up with guns drawn. To my surprise, I was brutally attacked and gunned down in like 10 seconds....and have been ever since by any member of the NCR.
As for possible causes, I don't think it is negative karma or reputation (I am at Ranger of the Wastes and have Neutral rep with the NCR by all accounts - that is, Pipboy and Map). Granted, I have done some Karma-negative acts like open a couple of boxes I probably shouldn't have, but definitely nothing to earn any vilification except from the Powder Gangers and nothing at all against the NCR. Yet, I am still attacked when I get within eyeshot of any NCR troops. NOTE: I have tried to ensure my armor is off, and gun is holstered. And there isn't really anything I can do in the immediate to improve my rep, since I can't get close enough to talk to anyone NCR.
Having been a QA tester for Electronic Arts, I have a theory on what is causing this issue that I wish I could test further since it appears the issue is pretty widespread. To me is sounds like some form of data corruption, through improper flushing of the command cache; specifically for things like controller commands and karma/rep changes.
One issue is surely there (the input caching issue), though without a devkit or a dev team to examine the results, I don't much feel like spending my time on this game tracking down bugs; not to mention I would be doing so without receiving a paycheck for my time.
Anyways, the summary of the below quickie bug report is that I had saved, about to perform some dastardly deed I don't want to keep in my save file. I then would load my data after committing evil acts to see what was inside certain areas, on certain NPCs, and in certain containers without retribution (or so I thought...). Only reason I think this might be the steps, is that sometimes my controller commands carry over after loading a save during a fight. So by that logic, couldn't the Karma change also have been delayed, and carried over into my freshly loaded game, despite no act having been committed to cause the change???
If Dev or QA is reading this, well, here is my crack at narrowing down the steps..
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In-Game: Default View: It appears that queued reputation and controller commands carry over from a previously loaded save file into a newly loaded save file.
FASTEST STEPS:
** Assumes you have a save file with some NPC nearby **
1. From the Main Menu, select Load Game.
2. Select any save point in which a faction member is nearby.
3. When the load is complete begin firing at the NPC, and just before killing the target, go into VATS, aiming to cripple a limb as you kill the target.
4. Trigger multiple effects at once, such as a crippled limb, then killing the target, and looting it. Begin mashing RT to fire your weapon repeatedly.
5. While the effects are still updating and the commands are still pending, press the Start Button.
6. Select to load the same save file from Step 2.
6. Observe button presses from before the load action are carried over into the newly loaded game instance.
Bug: It appears that queued reputation and controller commands carry over from a previously loaded save file into a newly loaded save file.