Fallout 3: Stats Calculator
===========================
by zextra | 4/25/2011 | version 1.1

I made this calculator so I could use it to plan distribution of skill points,
taking perks, reading skill books, and so on, in order to reach some specific
goals. Most people want to create a "perfect" character, but amount of variations
can be a bit overwhelming for a not-really-experienced player.

Calculator is used to track player character's (PC) stats, specifically SKILLS and
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, for each level available in game. Derived stats
(HP, AP, DR, RR, PR..) are not taken into account.

So, how to use this thing... Basically, you can use it in one of two ways. First way
is to plan your character build in great detail, to plan in advance how many skill
points and books do you need for each skill on every level, in order to reach
certain goals. Second way is to use it while playing along, to do the same thing
as if you were planning your character build.

I tried to add sensible comments to entire sheet, so just hover your mouse over
field that has red triangle in the corner to see that comment. I mostly added purpose
of the row (or field, or set of fields/rows) in comments, so it should be pretty
much self-explanatory. I added few more information about some calculator fields
at the bottom of this readme.

PLEASE NOTE: This calculator doesn't take into account TEMPORARY stats adjustments
(by using items, chems, etc.). You should only use it to track PERMANENT stats
changes (initial S.P.E.C.I.A.L. distribution, tagging skills, reading books,
taking bobbleheads, choosing perks that do PERMANENT stats improvement, and
calculating any other PERMANENT stats alteration.

Also NOTE that this calculator only does CALCULATIONS, meaning that it's not the
ultimate utility you need for character building tasks. It does take into account
some known perks that would make statistics incorrect if it wasn't included
(say, Comprehension perk alters amount of skill points given by reading books after
level 4, so it had to be included). Including all other perks, items, etc, would
be pretty much impractical IMO, so you still need some handy guide to serve as a
reference for perks, quest rewards, and so on, in order to use this
calculator - IF you don't allready hold all these information in your mind. :)


HOW TO USE CALCULATOR:

1. If you use it to plan your character in great detail, then:
1.1. Choose correct sheet (you are either playing game with or without Broken Steel DLC.
1.2. Enter your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats in orange boxes.
1.3. Mark selected perks, bobbleheads you took and how many books you have read during level 1.
1.4. Skip to 3.

2. If you use it while playing along:
2.1. (optional) Try to fill in S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats you choose upon exiting Vault
2.2. If you choose Comprehension perk at level 4 (well, you either take it as soon as possible, or not take it all), scroll to
Level 4, and enter 1 in the box at the far right. If you didn't reach level 4, or didn’t take it, just skip this step.
2.3. If your PC is, say, level 8, then you fill level 7 "Playing" section with following data:
2.3.1. First, mark all Bobbleheads that you took.
2.3.2. Next, enter number of skill books that you have read (if you don't know exact numbers, you might still want to enter
approximate amount of books you read, so that you can track how many books you have left to read).
2.3.3. Then, fill out "Stats Adjustments" row, to adjust for remaining skill points or S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats that are different
from your current stats.
2.4. Now check out 3 topmost rows (labeled "FINAL STATS"). These should match your current statistics closely, including
how many boobleheads (and which) you took, and how many (of which) skill books you have read.
If your stats are temporarily altered by some means (using some item, or being "under influence", for instance)
you might want to get rid of that temporary change, so you can verify that stats you have entered are correct.
3. Now, you can plan how you should proceed.
3.1. If you already know which stats you need to reach by given level (say, you need Sneak at 60 on level 13), scroll down to
that level, and in "Required stats" row enter desired values. Field will be colored red until you reach that goal
by filling in those columns above with some data.
Example: if you were to take Chemist perk as soon as you reach level 14 (that's when it becomes available),
you'd enter 60 in Medicine column in "Required stats" row of level 14 (it takes into account skill points that
you will distribute AFTER you reach level 14, and BEFORE you get to choose desired perk.
Same applies if you had requirements regarding some S.P.E.C.I.A.L. level.

One way of using this would be to pick 19 (or 29) perks that you want to take from list of perks you have as a reference,
fill in requirements those perks have in the table, and work your way back so you can fulfill those requirements.

Calculator counts all bobbleheads you took (if you mark same bobblehead twice, it will show yellow exclamation
mark (instead of green check mark) at the very top (and very bottom) of calculator. It counts how many books you have
read, and will color summary field green when all books are read (24 books for Barter, 25 for all other skills, or more of each).
It will also mark in green color if you reach (or over-reach) any stat (skills will become green at 100, and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. at 10).

Calculator takes into account your Intelligence level, so it will give you correct amount of skill points at each level to distribute.

One last note. Calculator comes in form of a Excel 2007 Template, so it REQUIRES having Excel 2007-compatible program. Also, it will
not be overwritten when you try to save your stats, but will offer to be saved as a regular xlsx file instead, keeping xltx file intact.

Well, I think it should be all. Happy planning!


Changelog

Version 1.1 (04/25/2011)
* Bug fixed: Medicine skill was governed by CHR instead of INT (thanks, psoliver!).
* Bug fixed: Skill book points were incorrectly calculated (with Comprehension perk) for levels other than level 5.

Version 1.0 (04/20/2011)
* Initial creation of calculator for both raw game, and for game with Broken Steel DLC.