STATS - Skills

Fallout 3 Guide - Statistics Explained

Skills

A Skill is derived from one of your SPECIAL Statistics, and can further be increased through the use of Skill Points and Bobbleheads.

Intelligence increases the amount of Skill Points you can distribute per level by 1 per Intelligence, starting at 11 points at 1 INT, ending with 20 points at 10 INT.

Barter:
Statistic:    Charisma
Skill Use:    Allows you to buy cheaper and sell higher.
Unlocks Perk: Master Trader (Minimum 60 Points in Barter, LVL 14)

Big Guns:
Statistic:    Endurance
Skill Use:    Increases effectivity of Flamer, Gatling Laser, Fat Man, Minigun, Missile Launcher, Rock-It Launcher.
Unlocks Perk: Concentrated Fire (Minimum 60 Points in Big Guns, LVL 18)

Energy Guns:
Statistic:    Perception
Skill Use:    Increases effectivity of Mesmetron, Laser Pistol/Rifle,
Plasma Pistol/Rifle, Alien Blaster.
Unlocks Perk: Concentrated Fire (Minimum 60 Points in Energy Guns, LVL 18)

Explosives:
Statistic:    Perception
Skill Use:    Increases success when disarming mines, and also enhances your
accuracy when throwing explosives.
Unlocks Perk: 1. Demolition Expert (Minimum 60 Points in Explosives, LVL 6)
2. Pyromaniac (Minimum 60 Points in Explosives, LVL 12)

Lockpick:
Statistic:    Perception
Skill Use:    Allows you to pick certain locks of a rating between Very Easy
and Very Hard (see table below).  Also, the higher your lockpick skill, the easier the actual lockpicking will be.
Unlocks Perk: Infiltrator (Minimum 80 Points in Lockpick, LVL 18)

                         .-----------.---------------.
                         |Difficulty:|Required Skill:|
                         |===========|===============|
                         |Very Easy  |        0      |
                         |Easy       |       25      |
                         |Average    |       50      |
                         |Hard       |       75      |
                         |Very Hard  |      100      |
                         '-----------'---------------'

Medicine

Statistic:    Intelligence
Skill Use:    Increases the effects of medicine (Stimpak, RadAway, Rad-X...) At Skill Level 100, initial medicine effects are doubled.

Unlocks Perk:
1. Cyborg (Minimum 60 Points in Medicine, LVL 14)
2. Chem Resistant (Minimum 60 Points in Medicine, LVL 16)

Melee Weapons

Statistic:    Strength
Skill Use:    Increases effectivity of melee weapons (Chinese Officer's Sword, Combat Knife, Ripper, Rolling Pin, Police Baton, Tire Iron,Sledgehammer, Shiskebab, etc..)

Unlocks Perk: Ninja (Minimum 80 Points in Melee Weapons, LVL 20)

Repair

Statistic:    Intelligence
Skill Use:    Increases your ability to repair your weapons and armor.  You can initially repair anything to about 50% of it's best condition, but with 100 points in Repair you can fix everything to the max.

Unlocks Perk: ---

Science

Statistic:    Intelligence
Skill Use:    Science is used for hacking, but it also unlocks many perks. See the table below for the required Science Skill to hack.

Unlocks Perk:

1. Entomologist    (Minimum 40 Points in Science, LVL 4)
2. Nerd Rage       (Minimum 50 Points in Science, LVL 10)
3. Robotics Expert (Minimum 50 Points in Science, LVL 12)
4. Cyborg          (Minimum 60 Points in Science, LVL 14)
5. Computer Whiz   (Minimum 80 Points in Science, LVL 20)

                         .-----------.---------------.
                         |Difficulty:|Required Skill:|
                         |===========|===============|
                         |Very Easy  |        0      |
                         |Easy       |       25      |
                         |Average    |       50      |
                         |Hard       |       75      |
                         |Very Hard  |      100      |
                         '-----------'---------------'

Note: Hacking is made easy if you look for the whole words in the clutter of characters. When you are running out of attempts, simply use the power button and exit the terminal, then try again.  The passwords will be reset but you have a few fresh tries again.

Small Guns:
Statistic:    Agility
Skill Use:    Increases effectivity of small guns (Pistol to Assault Rifles to
Shotguns to Sniper Rifles)
Unlocks Perk: Concentrated Fire (Minimum 60 Points in Small Guns, LVL 18)

Sneak:
Statistic:    Agility
Skill Use:    Increases your ability to stay hidden from enemies when crouching
and pickpocketing.  Attacking while hidden counts as a Sneak Attack Critical Hit (2x damage or more).
Unlocks Perk: 1. Mister Sandman (Minimum 60 Points in Sneak, LVL 10)
2. Silent Running (Minimum 50 Points in Sneak, LVL 12)
3. Ninja          (Minimum 80 Points in Sneak, LVL 20)

Speech:
Statistic:    Charisma
Skill Use:    Raises your chance for succeeding Speech Challenges.  Don't bother
with it, since you can always save your game and keep reloading the conversation until you get the desired result.
Unlocks Perk: ---

Unarmed:
Statistic:    Endurance
Skill Use:    Increases damage when fighting bare handed (or with knuckles).
Also decreases the damage taken when blocking with your hands.
Unlocks Perk: 1. Paralyzing Palm (Minimum 70 Points in Unarmed, LVL 18)
2. Ninja           (Minimum 80 Points in Unarmed, LVL 20)