Despite its age, Fallout 3 is still a popular as well as revered game. Like any great RPG, Fallout 3 gives the player a remarkable amount of freedom to make their own choices. One of the most important decisions a player must make occurs at the very start of the game. Players must ask themselves, just what kind of character do they want to be?

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Outside of roleplaying, choosing a "build" will have a marked effect on how the gameplay is approached. The good news is that there is no right or wrong answer. There is a myriad of different ways Fallout 3 can be played. Players, however, can never go wrong with these archetypes as they venture through the wasteland.

7 The Cowboy Gunslinger

The Fallout universe is a lot like the Wild West from American history. Law and order is nearly nonexistent, and people eke out a living while relying on nobody but themselves for protection. Playing as a Clint Eastwood-esque gunslinger looking to clean up the Wasteland is definitely a viable archetype.

First, players need to look the part of a gunslinger. A cowboy hat and duster will do nicely. For a sidearm, nothing beats a trusty .32 caliber pistol. A lever-action rifle, available with the Point Lookout DLC, is also highly recommended. Skill-wise, the player character should focus on Small Guns, Medicine, and Explosives. With that, players can start cleaning up those frontier towns in no time.

6 The Pure Pugilist

Some players believe guns and energy weapons are overrated, and feel they would rather let their fists do the talking. In that case, playing as the Pure Pugilist means getting up close and personal with the enemy. It's a risky build, but definitely one of the more fun and rewarding ones.

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Since the player will be utilizing their brawn, it's important to spend plenty of points on the Endurance attribute. The Iron Fist perk should be obtained at the player's earliest convenience, as it increases unarmed damage by +5 with each rank. Obviously, increasing the Unarmed stat with every level-up is vital. Players looking to be on the safe side may want to consider heavy armor for that extra bit of protection. The Power Fist is a useful weapon for this build too.

5 The Backstabbing Sneak

Similar to the previous entry, this archetype is all about getting close to one's enemies. Instead of knocking them senseless though, this build is more about dispatching unsuspecting enemies with a melee weapon. Alternatively, in place of a melee weapon, a silenced pistol can get the job done as well.

The Sneak skill is unsurprisingly the most important stat for this build. Light armor or clothing is preferred to remain stealthy. Taking the Silent Running perk will also make the player character's life much easier. Lockpicking is another good skill to invest in to open new avenues of maneuver. As far as weapons go, a silenced 10mm Pistol or bladed knife are excellent choices.

4 The Sniper Elite

Getting too close to an enemy is assuredly risky in Fallout 3. Why tangle directly with a Super Mutant anyway? Well-aimed sniper shots can be immensely deadly in the right circumstances. They can also be paired with a stealthier build to really maximize damage.

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For this build, players will want to prioritize the Small Guns skill. Needless to say, a rifle equipped with a scope is mandatory. The Sniper and Commando perks are also helpful when attempting to aim with VATS. High Sneak can help the player character remain undetected, while Repair is good for keeping all equipment in working order.

3 The Energy Weapons Specialist

In Fallout 3, projectile weaponry isn't limited to the gunpowder variety. Energy weapons, particularly those that utilize plasma, can shred through certain enemies like tissue paper. Specializing in all things related to energy weapons is a great way to deal massive damage in a short period of time.

The Energy Weapons Specialist can adapt to a variety of situations. Utilizing both laser and plasma, this archetype employs the best tools for the right job. The Energy Weapons skill should naturally be the primary focus. Cast a wide net when it comes to collecting pistols and rifles. Players never know what may prove useful in a particular situation.

2 The Smooth Talker

Fallout 3 doesn't have to be all about violence. Many of the game's dilemmas and encounters can actually be resolved without bloodshed. However, the player character is going to have to be quite persuasive when dealing with NPCs. Putting that silver tongue to good use, though, can be massively beneficial in the right circumstances.

Players are going to want to pump plenty of attribute points into Charisma right off the bat. Then, the priority undoubtedly becomes the Speech skill. Barter is also useful for ensuring the player always gets the best deals when trading. The Scoundrel perk works best here, increasing both Speech and Barter by +5 with each rank.

1 The Indestructible Behemoth

If any of these other builds sound too puny, perhaps the Indestructible Behemoth sounds compelling. This archetype requires little finesse or dexterity. Pure, brute strength is the key to success with this playstyle. Being the last man standing on the battlefield is the core idea behind this build.

For starters, players should focus on Strength and Endurance. There's no need to be an aspiring brain surgeon with this archetype. Big Guns, preferably a minigun, works best. The Explosives skill also opens up additional options for combat. Regarding perks, Size Matters adds +15 with each rank to Big Guns, further increasing firepower. Lastly, players should deck themselves out in as much heavy armor as possible to withstand even the most withering attacks.

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