I See What You Did: Fallout 4 Vid Examines Perception

Bethesda's little video series explaining the primary stats of Fallout 4 [official site] with cutesy '50s-style infotoons is rolling on, this time focusing on the P in that 'S.P.E.C.I.A.L.' system - Perception. While the first video showed Strength looking about the same as in previous Fallout games, it looks like 4 may bring a few changes to Perception. Come for the cartoony murder, stay for the speculation:

Pretty fun, these 'toons, aren't they? For folks who can't watch now or would rather have words, Perception once again governs shooty things. Higher Perception means your accuracy will be higher when using the bodypart-targeting VATS aiming mode, same as before. And yep, as in Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Perception ties into lockpicking. Then the video takes a twist, showing off pickpocketing and the dastardly art of reverse-pickpocketing - handy for popping a hot grenade into someone's pocket. In earlier games, this was connected to Agility (we'll get to that video in a few weeks, I'd imagine), so this is an interesting change.

Folks poring over every video and screenshot have wondered for a while how Fallout 4's stats might work, with some speculating that the idea of Skill stats (Speech, Sneak, Energy Weapons, and all that) on top of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes might be gone entirely, though others have returned with speculative 'evidence' of their own that they're still in. For all I know, FO4 goes for Elder Scrolls-y 'improving through use' skills. Or is the same as before. Point is: this is the first solid look we've had at a change in Fallout 4. You can read as much as you want into that. Or maybe watch the cartoon again I suppose. I like the bit when the drink comes out the man's holes - a classic, that.

Fallout 4 is due on November 10th.