Fallout 2 Secrets, Unlockables and Glitches

The Fallout series were referred to many times as the first real role-playing games. After the incredible success of Fallout the sequel came as a natural idea of continuing the story and even improving the gameplay somewhat. With Black Isle Studios out of the business, the third title in the series is announced to be developed by Bethesda Softworks, the creators of another fabled series - The Elder Scrolls (I'm sure everybody heard of Morrowind and Oblivion and the vast lands of Tamriel). Obviously, there are great expectations for Fallout 3, but for now let's get back to what Fallout 2 has to offer.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world in the year 2241, the game tells the story of the original hero's descendant (referred to as Chosen One) and his or her quest to save their primitive tribe from starvation by finding an ancient environmental restoration machine known as the Garden of Eden Creation Kit (or GECK). Like its predecessor, Fallout 2 uses the SPECIAL character creation system (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) and an impressive (for 1998) collection of 18 skills ranked from 0% to 300%. As you progress through the game, your village - Arroyo - is captured by the remnants of the United States, the Enclave. Of course your final task will be to free both your village and the people in Vault 13 (the first place possible to get the GECK). If you prevail, than a new thriving community will be established using the kit.

Just like in the previous title, you can recruit some people to assist you in your great task. The number of party members depends on your Charisma stats, while convincing them to aid your cause is a matter of having a good karma standing and not committing atrocious acts (like becoming a slaver). Here is a list of characters that you can recruit.

Vic (The Den) - can repair energy weapons and small guns. He's a trader whom the village elder instructed the player to find at the beginning of the game and is a vital link in the discovery of the GECK. He can join the player's group as soon as his radio is fixed and his debts repaid, or if the player eliminates Metzger, his captor.
Sulik (Klamath) - wields melee weapons and small guns. He's a tribal human who will be willing to join player's party if the player repays his debt.
Cassidy (Vault City) - wields small guns, melee or energy weapons or can fight unarmed. He's a bartender sick of Vault City. He lives there because they have the best healthcare in the area. He uses stimulating drugs to prevent his heart to collapse.
Myron (New Reno) - is a scientist. He's a brilliant young scientist who is employed by the Mordino family for chemical research. Fortunately for you he feels they are not treating him properly and may agree to join you.
Lenny (Gecko) - is a Ghoul Doctor. As a Necropolis survivor he's glad to follow the descendant of the Vault Dweller.
Marcus (Broken Hills) - is a Supermutant that can wield big guns and large energy weapons. He'll live his sheriff job if the player can attend to some quests in Broken Hills.
Goris (Vault 13) - is a Deathclaw that will gladly fight unarmed by the player's side just to learn more of the world.
SkyNet (Sierra Army Depot) - is a robot that you must first find a suitable brain for his chassis. His skills depend on the brain he gets and the brain depends on the Science skill of the player, but basically he'll be able to make good use of rifles.
K-9 (Navarro) - is a robot dog belonging to a malevolent Enclave scientist Dr. Schroeber, who removed his motivator. He possesses exceptionally strong ethical programming.
Cyberdog (New California Republic) - is another robot dog that you'll get from a scientist here after successfully completing his quest.
Dogmeat (Café of Broken Dreams) - is a dog character, surviving teammate of the Vault Dweller that will join you if you show him your Vault 13 jumpsuit.
Maria and Davin (Modoc) - are Grisham's daughter and son. You, the Chosen One, can chose to get either of them in the party by preparing a wedding ceremony. Although they are devoted to the party, they won't improve their skills with experience.

So that you can enjoy an even relaxing game experience here are two most valuable unlockables:

Talk to Father Tully in New Reno to get the Fallout 2 Hint Book, plus 10,000 experience and all skills set to 300%.
Go to the third level of the Vault in Vault City, put the Pip Boy into the main computer and than use the computer in the far left room to get 20,000 experience.

To hear the development team comments all you need to do is hold down the SHIFT key during the Credits.

Unlimited experience and books

Once you get to New California Republic, go into the city. Go right one building and down unstill you see a female character and a robot just waiting outside of the building. As you run past her she cries out for help. Do help her and she'll take you inside the building where a guy is blowing himself up. Let him do that and head on to fix the power regulator console which was damaged in the explosion the guy caused. Once you repaired it go talk to the lady she will give you some books and you get 3000 experience points. Now you just repair it again, talk to the lady and she will give you more books and the 3000 experience points for "repairing the console". Keep doing this until you have as much money and experience as you wish.

Armor Trick

If your companions tend to get killed too quickly you could surely use a little glitch of the game to your advantage. Turns out that if you tell any of your companions to take off his armor, the protection that the armor was offering him still remains. Once he puts the armor back on the protection that the armor gives is doubled. Do this as many times as you'd like. The downside is that once the character gains a new level the effect will be gone. More over, most of the enemies engaged by this companion will try to flee so have the ranged weapons prepared.

Hint on How to Steal
Steal one item at a time. The big guns and big armor make a nice addition to any adventurer's inventory. And don't forget to save your game often.

Early Upgrades

In Vault City, there is a store with a yellow smiley face. Ransack the store to receive guns, armors, ammo(s) and cash.

In New California Republic, just beside the entrance, there's a shop guarded by four green costumed soldiers. Steal Bozar from the soldiers and loot the store. You'll need a high stealing skill however (above 80%).

Unlimited Outdoorsman Skill

Rescue Smiley the trapper. Talk to him, and after he's taught you to skin geckos, say "Can I ask you few questions about trapping geckos", and ask him to teach you, and when he says that you need to learn more than you know just ask him to teach you. Repeat this until you've got a big enough outdoorsman skill (or you get bored).

Easily Beat The Final Opponent

When you create a character, put endurance (EN) and luck (LK) to 6 or higher, and get a high speech skill. When you get your first three perks, (at levels 3, 6 and 9) get all the three points into toughness. When you finally get to the President of the Enclave, stuff him full of super stimpaks, wait for him to die and take his security key. When at the stage of the final showdown, use the security key on the computer terminal and speak to the Enclave troopers. Convince them to join you. Now that you've got lots of allies and advanced power armor you'll have 95% damage resistance and you'll be able to beat him with bare hands.

Faster Travel

There's a person in Den who will sell his car to you if you have the following parts:
Fuel Cell Controller - found in Gecko
Fuel Cell Regulator - found in Klamath

Unlimited Money

To get unlimited money all you have to do is have at least 200% gambling skill and then go to a casino. Go to the craps tables and when you are asked how much you want to bet say the highest amount. If you do it a couple of times and you win, just keep clicking on the amount you want to bet and you will be able to get unlimited money.

Another way to make your fortune is to go to Broken Hills. In the mine there's a hidden passage near the entrance leading to sleeping Chuck Stodgers and a chest with a chunk of Uranium Ore in it. Take the Ore to the Refinery and let it be refined for $1000. Pick it up next day and donate it to Broken Hills to get your money back plus an extra $500. Just keep talking to the supervisor to get $1500 over and over again. You can go on with this as long as you like.

Upgrade All Weapons for Free

When you enter the New Reno arms during the day you notice he doesn't let you enter the back room. There is another door leading inside the building that you can enter from the outside. Pick the lock and enter during the day (so the shopkeeper is at the front of the store instead of being in his room). Make your way to the right. There should be a room with two dogs (that won't attack). Behind a shelf is a stairway that will lead you down to a man that keeps saying "Boom!" as you talk to him. You give him an upgradeable weapon and in one virtual hour he'll return you the upgraded weapon, fully loaded and ready to go.