The game has some awesome features that it forgets to explain, leaving players clueless about cool stuff like using companions for extra storage or making the most of a cover system. Although the game world is vast and complex, it can be overwhelming without clear instructions. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! Check out these nine secret mechanics and tips to boost your survival skills in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Sneaky Cover System
Let’s talk about the sneaky cover system in Fallout 4. You might have thought it’s just a tough shooting game where you’re stuck in one position while enemies hide behind cover. But guess what? There’s a secret cover system that the game never bothers to mention. When you get close to a corner, your character automatically crouches, indicating that you’re now in cover. If you aim your weapon while in cover, you can lean out and take precise shots at your enemies. Master this technique, and you’ll have the upper hand in combat!
Grab and Play
One of the things I love about Bethesda games is their incredible attention to detail when it comes to junk items. I really enjoy using the Grab function to create my own unique pursuits in the game. For instance, I take pleasure in building towering piles of weapons, as if my character is some kind of medieval ATF agent, or arranging a room filled with stomachs. However, when I started playing Fallout 4, I thought my fun experimenting days were over because the old right-stick click no longer worked.
Thankfully, it turned out that the developers just switched the buttons around. So, I can still continue with my wild creations like my bone palace. All I need to do is hold down the interact button (A/X/E), and any interactive item I’m pointing at will magically float, allowing me to move it around however I like. This becomes really handy, especially when enemies in Fallout 4 are more alert and come running when they hear you making noise, like clattering over a bunch of Old World saucepans. In such situations, I can use the Grab function to quietly move obstacles out of their clumsy foot range and maintain my stealthy approach.
Flashlight
In most of Fallout’s dangerous indoor areas, it’s pretty dark unless there’s some glowing bioluminescent fungus or fiery Molotov flames lighting up the place. Since there’s usually a lack of electrical generators and enemies want to catch you off guard, they like to hide in the shadows. But fear not, there’s a way to flush them out!
Your trusty centuries-old Pip-Boy has another neat feature hidden up its sleeve. Just hold down the button to bring up your menu (B/Circle/Tab), and voila! You’ll start emitting a powerful nuclear-powered light. The best part is, the color of the light matches your chosen UI color, adding a nice touch to the experience. If you’re wearing Power Armor, each suit comes with its own headlamp. You can even customize the type of light you want by heading to the Helmet section in a Power Armor crafting station. Now you can light up those dark corners and take the fight to the enemies who thought they could hide from you!
Supply Lines
If you’re planning to build a large settlement in Fallout 4, there’s a perk called Local Leader in the Charisma section that you really, really, really should consider getting. It might not seem like a big deal at first, but trust me, it’s incredibly helpful. With the first rank of the Local Leader perk, you gain the ability to set up supply caravans between your settlements.
Now, why is this so important? Well, imagine this scenario – you’re trying to build a Radio Transmitter, but you realize you don’t have a crystal because you stored it in a workshop that’s miles away. Frustrating, right? But fear not, with supply caravans, you can solve this problem and prevent yourself from raging and destroying everything in sight.
When you establish a supply line between settlements, their Workshop contents become connected. To do this, go into Workshop mode, highlight a Settler who’s not busy, and you’ll see an option for Supply Line at the bottom of the screen. Select it, and then choose which settlement you want to send them to. Once they become a Provisioner, resources can be shared between those settlements. Here’s a pro tip: If you pair Sanctuary with any fledgling settlement, you’ll have access to a ton of wood and steel from Sanctuary, making it an ideal choice for supply line connections.
Holster Weapon
I mainly use this feature for taking screenshots, so it might not be essential, but trust me, it’s pretty cool that it exists. There are three long button press actions in the game, and one of them involves holding the reload button (X/Square/R). When you do this, your character puts away their gun, and it adds a touch of civility to conversations. Unfortunately, holding the jump button won’t make you fly or perform any crazy moves like duplexing NPCs.
Extra Inventory
Believe it or not, all your companions are secretly super strong, especially Dogmeat; that dude is seriously ripped! When you talk to any of them, you can select the Trade option, and it will show their inventory. Here’s the cool part: you can load them up with all the Power Armour pieces or other stuff you don’t want to carry yourself. This trick effectively doubles the amount of stuff you can carry since your companion will carry it for you. On top of that, the Trade menu also has a fun cosmetic function, allowing you to give them clothes or gear to make them look even better.
Clothe Your Companions
After spending so much time in the harsh Wasteland, it becomes crucial that your companions look good, right? Well, the good news is that it’s super easy to dress them up. Just trade them some clothes or weapons, and if they can use them, you’ll see a prompt at the bottom of the screen to equip the items. Press the right button (Y/Triangle/T), and they’ll come out looking fabulous.
Even non-human companions can join in the fashion fun. Dogmeat, for example, can rock more outfits than you might imagine. I currently have mine in light armor and stylish welding goggles. And then there’s Codsworth, who has a particular fondness for hats. Although he’s a bit choosy, he’ll gladly wear bowlers, but fedoras aren’t his thing, just like any English gentleman worth his salt. So, dress up your companions, and they’ll be looking spiffy as you journey through the Wasteland!
Tag For Search
Running low on crafting materials can be quite a hassle, especially when it’s something like gears that are hard to spot and find among all the irradiated junk. But don’t worry, there’s a solution to this problem!
When you’re crafting and you see a material you need but don’t have enough of, you can simply select the “Tag For Search” option. This will mark that material, and from then on, whenever you come across junk containing that material in the wild, a magnifying glass symbol will appear next to its name. That way, you’ll easily spot the valuable stuff you need.
Drunk Conversation
Alright, maybe it’s not a game mechanic, but trust me, this is the most fun thing for me! If you get your character drunk on some tasty booze, they’ll behave differently during conversations. And the best part is the hilarious dialogue-skip noises. Instead of the usual “yeahs” and “uh-huhs,” you’ll hear them slurring out “concur!” and just making a total fool of themselves. It’s these little details that bring so much joy to the game!
While some game mechanics may be essential, it’s often the small and humorous details like getting your character drunk that make the gaming experience truly enjoyable. These little touches add a special charm and make the game memorable and fun!