SPECIAL (Main characteristics)
SPECIAL is the abbreviation for a hero's primary stats in the game. Don't try to excel in everything, or your hero will end up ordinary and incapable of anything. It's better to choose a specific playstyle you want to master and increase only the stats necessary for that, lowering or leaving less important ones unchanged. For example, a fighter hero should increase Perception, Endurance, and Agility. And an intellectual hero would benefit from Intelligence and Charisma. And of course, high Luck is essential for every player.
Description of characteristics
Strength - A measure of your character's physical strength. All weapons have a minimum strength requirement required to wield them. However, not meeting the required strength requirement doesn't actually prohibit the weapon's use, but it does impose additional penalties to the chance to hit (the greater the gap between your current strength and the required strength). Secondary Stats, such as Maximum Carry, Melee Damage, and Hit Points, are also determined based on your strength.
Perception is a character's attentiveness, an instinct sometimes called a sixth sense. This stat influences the secondary stat, Action Order (the higher your Action Order, the more likely you are to go first in combat). Perhaps the most important aspect of this stat is determining the maximum range at which your character can shoot effectively. The higher your Perception, the farther and more accurately you shoot. High Perception is essential for sniper characters.
Endurance - determines a character's constitution and overall health. Hit Points, Poison Resistance, Radiation Resistance, and Healing Rate are all based on Endurance. Additionally, Endurance determines whether your character will be knocked down or rendered unconscious when hit by a critical attack.
Charisma - determines how physically attractive your character is and how well they know what to do and say in different social situations. It affects the number of companions in the party: 2 Charisma points = 1 companion. None of the secondary stats are based on Charisma.
Intelligence - A measure of a character's mental strength. No Secondary Attributes are based on intelligence. However, intelligence determines the number of Skill Points gained with each level, making it one of the most important stats. It also influences the presence or absence of additional dialogue options during conversations (dialogues become more complex, and you can often convince others of your point of view).
Agility is a measure of a character's reaction speed. This stat is fundamental to Secondary Attributes—Armor Class and Action Points.
Luck - directly affects the secondary stat - critical hit chance (the most important stat in combat) and the chance to find many Special Encounters while traveling.
See also:
Fallout 2: Armor (Part 2)
Fallout 2: Armor (Part 1)
Fallout 2: Tools
