Guide/Character Creation

Last updated for version `1.8.0-BETA-7`

🌀 *The content below transcludes to Special:WhatLinksHere/Guide/Character Creation.*

The player starts with 29 points in Horizon and almost all SPECIAL or attribute bonuses are removed from the equipment in the game. On the other hand, Horizon allows the use of a special perk VANS to unlock 5 perk points every 5 Levels plus the one spent so 6 in total. The catch is, however, that you have to forego the hidden perk Primal Instincts which increase the damage +5% every 5 levels. For a pure damage build, Primal Instincts might be the way to go.

📝 **Note:** You always have the possibility to adapt to the situation if you really don't know what to do next, so save the points and decide later, there is no *my character is wrongly skilled* because, in the end you will need a variety of skill trees anyway.

One of the most innovative features is the introduction of the Dynamic Skill Gain mechanic. You are able to gain 50 skill points per skill by performing activities and 90 skill points per combat skill (similar to the skilling experience in Skyrim). Dynamic skill gain works independently to the normal skilling through perks. That means you can bring these to a maximum of 50 or 90 at any time. However, this doesn't mean that your skills are being maxed at 50 or 90 points, these are credited to your skill and are shown as blue numbers in the skills menu. Each skill has a specific maximum which is usually around 200 points.

📝 **Note:** When crafting there are certain recipes that show [+Skill] or [+Skill/15]. [+Skill], means you can skill up to 50 without any limitation, [+Skill/15] means that you can only skill this activity up to +15. However, this does not mean that the skill maxes at 15 only that you don't get more than 15 skill points through this specific *crafting* activity.

In addition, it is possible to raise your skill from "reading" Magazines and Guides. These can also increase the respective skill by 50 points. Reading books counts as normal skilling and is not shown as a blue number.

With a skillful way of playing you can raise a skill by 50 points through reading magazines and 50 points by active skill gains, so 100 in total, without ever having invested a single perk point. However, all of this takes time, not every skill can be increased at the same speed.

For every 20 skill points the player unlocks a new perk rank, in some cases one rank/perk can unlock new hardcoded features like Disarming traps. It is therefore not absolutely necessary to select certain perks at all, if you use the active skill gain mechanic and/or read books.

### Specialization

At level 15 and 30, you will be able to choose a 1st and 2nd Specialization which greatly enhance certain play-styles. To enable specialization(s) build a Training Desk and use it to open its menu. It is recommended to take a quick look at the list of specializations when initially building your character so you have an end goal in mind. For example:

* If you want to focus on Sniper Weapons and ranged sneak attacks you will want to plan out at least 8 PER for the Sniper perk which is required to unlock the Sharpshooter Specialization which gives +20% damage to scoped sniper weapons and Deadeye Perk which gives major bonuses to ranged Sneak Attack Damage. Lastly, if you wanted your main sniper weapon to be a Gauss rilfe, remember to take 5 STR or else you wont even be able to equip it.
* If you want to higher close range Sneak Attack Damage go for Assassin which requires Stealth 3 and Ninja 2 so Agility 7 is preferable. This means that you are as good as undetectable for the AI, the Blitz perk can no longer be used though, which is less of a hurdle, as you can sneak right in front of the enemy without them seeing you. In order to achieve an absolutely high damage value here, it is advisable to choose a 2-hand weapon, especially the new super mutant Weapons are very good for this.

Last words on this one, Horizon adds difficulty by itself even more though with Desolation Mode! That means you have to adapt to the situation and can no longer run blindly like in Vanilla Fo4. It is advisable to get experience by exploring locations, so hold down `W`, spam `Space` here and there and move your mouse. Most fights can be avoided, many enemies can be lured into other enemies and whoever pushes it to the top can reach level 15 by just exploring and solving quests without ever having fought. From here you change the strategy and invest in perks that influence damage and hide yourself from the AI.

1. ↑ https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Leveling