I've sunk over 1,000 hours into this game, and I've got to say, I know it like the back of my hand – at least 80% of it, anyway. I've explored every nook and cranny, every possible and impossible route. I've re-watched countless reviews, but the strategy I use? I came up with it myself. Let's start with how this game came to be. In a nutshell, Bethesda was working on it under the guidance of Todd Howard, but they were bogged down with another project. So, they partnered with Obsidian, led by Feargus Urquhart. It's a miracle they managed to get it done in two years. If you compare Fallout 3 to New Vegas, the difference is night and day. Even in terms of quest content – Fallout 3 has a paltry 25 main quests, while New Vegas has over 100, plus all the DLC.

The key players from both companies involved in the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series were:

1. Bethesda Game Studios: The studio's director, known for his work on The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, is Todd Howard.

2. Obsidian Entertainment: One of the co-founders and executive director of Obsidian, who worked on Fallout: New Vegas and other projects, is Feargus Urquhart.

But I'm not going to get into the DLC – that's a whole other can of worms. Instead, I'll focus on the story and the fastest way to level up. When I said 15 minutes, I wasn't joking. Within 15 minutes of playing, you'll have one of the best weapons in the game. But there's a catch – you have to do it exactly as I say.

So, the game's story is pretty vague, but I'll try to fill you in. We're in a post-apocalyptic world - 2281 year. It's been 200 years since the nuclear war that wiped out most of America. My main character is a courier, and I get to choose their name. I went with Sinewy Melon – that's what my avatar looks like, after all. Why a courier, and not a courier girl? Well, it's pretty simple: women get a whole extra branch of storylines related to Benny, and it's just more fun to play as a woman. Who's Benny, you ask? He's the guy who shot me in the head and didn't kill me – it happens! The game starts with my courier waking up in a doc's office, courtesy of Victor, a robot working for Mr. House. Now, let's get into the details.
We've got different factions, each with their own goals and interests that often clash with each other.

— NCR (New California Republic). I've gotta say, their whole vibe is about restoring order to the world, like it was before the nuclear war. They're all about getting things back to normal.

— Legion. This faction is like the Roman Empire, but with modern tech. And at the helm is Caesar, their leader.

— Mr. House and the Strip. Our enigmatic leader is all about making a profit, but sometimes shows a softer side. It's pretty interesting to see how he operates.

And then there are the smaller factions: Red Vipers are traders, Gun Runners make their own guns, Big Hanks are the NCR's enemies, and Cherries are a bunch of chem-addled misfits.

Before you start playing, know this: the main road is the safest place to be. If you stray from it, you'll likely get into trouble. I've already learned that the hard way.

I quickly created my character for this review, and didn't spend too much time on their looks. So, my Sinewy Melon is ready to hit the road. Let's set their stats according to the image. We're only interested in two things:

Charisma and Intelligence.

I'm gonna tell you why Charisma is so important, because nobody really develops it. The two companions that'll be fighting alongside you in the game will be 30% more effective if your character has maxed out Charisma. As for Intelligence, it significantly boosts the damage of energy-based weapons. I'm gonna show you this particular branch, and I think it's the strongest.

Main stats are distributed like this:

Science, Energy Weapons and Medicine. The latter improves the effectiveness of stimulants, which you'll be using way more often. I mean, I was hooked on those things after a few days of playing. After listening to the doc's advice on the dangers of smoking in a post-apocalyptic world, we set off. I was actually pretty surprised by how realistic the whole experience felt. I always choose Hardcore mode - it's way more engaging. You'll have to eat, sleep, manage your water levels, and consider the weight of your ammo - it's all super realistic. So, we're leaving Gud-Springs.
Don't bother searching the house before leaving - it's a total waste of time and minimal rewards. Now, I'll teach you how to get ten thousand caps in no time. First, let's choose the most important direction. I mean, it's not rocket science, but it does take some strategy. You gotta think about what you need and what you can live without. For me, it's all about finding the right balance.

As soon as you step outside, the first thing you'll want to do is find the cave marked on your map. The entrance is guarded by coyotes, but don't worry, they're pretty weak. Inside, you'll also run into a few more coyotes, but they're not too much of a threat. But the real surprise is waiting for you inside - a seven-shot, reloadable rifle that doesn't require any ammo. With your science skills, your firepower will be even more intense. Of course, this is just the beginning of your character's upgrade. As you leave the cave and head down the road, you'll soon come across Gina's Parachute School. I highly recommend setting up a temporary base here and getting rid of any unnecessary weight. Oh, and don't forget the special star-marked lid on the table - you'll need it later. Then, head on over to the crash site in the canyon, marked on the map.Along the way, check out the pipe – there's something useful hidden in there. When you free the robot from the container in the bunker, explore the room around it – grab all the loot. Once you've freed the robot, it'll unlock access to the shop, where you can sell junk and buy useful stuff. Next, pull the microchip out of the broken robot – I've gotta say, having my trusty sidekick fix my gear for free is a total game-changer. It's like having a personal mechanic on speed dial!

Now that I've got my base set up, I can finally focus on leveling up and raking in some serious cash. And the best part? No cheats or glitches - it's all legit!Of course, if you're feeling brave, you can head to the abandoned house and grab the second chip that lets you create a daily energy boost. Completing the whole chain of locations will give you a serious power boost and a fat wallet.
As for bugs, I've spent thousands of hours exploring the wasteland and found a sweet trick for taking down the Claw of Death - the game's toughest enemy. Just duck under the floorboards and those claws can't reach you. It's a total game-changer!And if you're playing Caravan, be sure to check out the rules of the game below.
I've gotta say, the gameplay is super straightforward. Each player's got a deck of cards and three caravans. The goal is to rack up exactly 26 points in each of those three caravans. You win if you hit that mark simultaneously in all three or if you score more points than your opponent across the board. There are some special cards to keep an eye out for: the jack and the king. The king doubles the value of any card, whether it's yours or your opponent's. The jack, on the other hand, lets you wipe out any card, including one that's already been played. For example, let's say you've got 24 points in one caravan and your opponent's got 25. If you slap a king on top of theirs, you instantly push them over the limit, which means they lose that caravan. Or, conversely, if your opponent lays down a king to boost your score, you can use the jack to nullify the effect.

The key to winning at Caravan is to make sure your three caravans are worth more than your opponent's without going over 26 points. One super simple way to guarantee a win is to buy a deck from Ringo at the Good Springs gas station and then ditch all the jokers and queens. Stick to collecting 10s, 8s, 7s, jacks, and kings - that lineup gives you the best shot at winning. The dinosaur shop, meanwhile, is a goldmine if you're looking to make some serious cash playing Caravan. If my explanations are still unclear, I'll elaborate in the comments later.

Honestly, I don't think you'll have any trouble with this arsenal and the sheer amount of tokens you'll be raking in. That being said, my approach does have a major drawback: once you get too powerful, the game can start to feel a bit stale. But hey, some people might actually enjoy that kind of dynamic.