'Fallout 4': Build-A-Character Before Release Now Available

For those of us who can't wait another two or three days to start fiddling with the 'Fallout 4' stats, Pip-Boys and perks comes the free Build-A-Character Builder, available online right now.

Keep in mind, though, that "the tool is partially based on the recent Fallout 4 leak, meaning that using it means reading some minor gameplay-related Fallout 4 spoilers." I found it quite useful myself. Now I know what perks have what advantages and how to build my favorite character type, Stealthy Sniper (as opposed to a Call of Duty Sniper). You can find the actual app here. It has a full unofficial listing of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats required for each perk.

Perks are much more interesting than they have been in the past. While the number of perks is limited, they can now be upgraded when you level up, often offering improvements to the base benefit. For instance, the base of a perk might increase damage of X weapon type by 20%. The next level of the perk could increase it to 30% and add a chance to cripple a limb or stagger the target. Another perk might give you a certain amount of bonus hit-points, while the next level might add in regeneration as well. It certainly appears to be a well thought out plan, albeit, I still don't know why Bethesda kept one of the perks. I never took it in the past despite always putting most of my stat points in Intelligence. I wonder if anyone knows what I'm referring to. Sorry, no spoilers here.

Speaking of stat points, or S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes, I should say, you can now improve your character's attributes when you level up. Instead of taking a perk, you can add another point to any of the seven types up to a max of ten. I'm quite happy, as I thoroughly appreciate being able to continually improve my character as it gains experience, and not just to special abilities, but also to it's base stats. Like how working out in real-life supposedly can increase your strength and endurance.

I can't wait for Fallout 4 to finally release. "All the pieces are in place for Fallout 4 to be another Bethesda RPG that sets the benchmark for the genre." I hope it lives up to the hype, and I'll be cracking a Nuka-Cola Quantum as I fire up my apocalypse machine on November 10th.