Computer Whiz

Requirements: Level 18, Intelligence 7, Science 70%

Ranks: 1

“Fail a hack attempt and get locked out of a computer? Not if you’re a Computer Whiz! With this perk, you can attempt to re-hack any computer you were previously locked out of.”

Words can hardly describe how useless this perk is. Okay, yes they can. This perk is damn near worthless. A +10 skill point perk seems fanastic by comparison. Here’s a way to get the benefits of this perk without wasting your perk pick on it: before you hack a computer, save. If you get locked out, reload. Bam, no need for this perk. And considering 90% of the computers you encounter in this game lock a door (which you can pick) or disable turrets (which you can destroy) there’s no great fear of getting locked out of a terminal in any case. Don’t waste your perk.

Concentrated Fire

Requirements: Level 18, Small Guns 60%, Energy Weapons 60%

Ranks: 1

“With Concentrated Fire, your accuracy to hit any body part in V.A.T.S. increases slightly with each subsequent hit on that body part.”

Obviously if you don’t use V.A.T.S. you don’t need to bother with this perk. This perk becomes even more useful with Sniper and Action Boy , as the bonus to head shots will stack, and the more shots you take in V.A.T.S. the higher your accuracy will raise. This perk is most useful with quick-firing weapons-the more shots you take with your weapon in V.A.T.S. the more beneficial this perk will be. Where it really shines are those mid-to-long range V.A.T.S. shots that have a middling percentage to hit. Like say against a Super Mutant Overlord’s Tri-Beam Laser Rifle. Getting an extra 5%, 10%, 15% chance to hit on those last three shots can really help.

Infiltrator

Requirements: Level 18, Perception 7, Lockpick 70%

Ranks: 1

“With Infiltrator, if a lock is broken, and can’t normally be picked again, you can attempt to pick it again one more time. This includes locks previously broken by a “Force Lock” attempt.”

This perk sucks for the same reason Computer Whiz sucks. Why anybody would be forcing locks in the first place is a mystery, and if you are going to bother forcing locks, why wouldn’t you save first? Save and reload, and save a perk.

Paralyzing Palm

Requirements: Level 18, Unarmed 70%

Ranks: 1

“With Paralyzing Palm, you will sometimes perform a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. V.A.T.S. palm strike for 30 seconds. Note that in order to perform the Paralyzing Palm, you must be completely unarmed.”

If you built your character for unarmed combat, then this perk is an absolute must-have, and even if you haven’t, you ought to get it. There is really no excuse not to have it with the extra 10 levels you get in Broken Steel. This is the best way to deal with all of the games’ hardest enemies, although it can be somewhat less useful against enemies you’ll find in groups, say, Enclave soldiers or Raiders. Still, against Albino Radscoripions, Feral Ghoul Reavers, and Super Mutant Overlords this is the BEST way to deal with them.