

It allows you to create one random chem for free and allows you to purge your body of addictions, all free of charge. But, if you want to avoid addiction and the steep costs Wasteland doctors charge to cure it, the laboratory is your best friend.

You may want to role-play as a chem-addled Raider, and that’s fine, it’s definitely a fun way to play the game. This will also allow you to sell most of the Rad-X and Rad-Away you find, netting you a nice amount of caps as you scour the wastes. This is huge, as it costs a lot to get doctors to do it, and Rad-Away is scarce at the beginning of the game. While sleep does that for free, the infirmary also cleanses your body of radiation, free of charge. The infirmary will restore your health and fix your damaged limbs. Once you’ve got a home to call your own and some spare caps, it is time to get the infirmary and the laboratory upgrades for your abode. Megaton is a much better base than Tenpenny Tower and will allow you to make more money in the early-game.

Your best bet is honestly siding with Lucas Simms on this one. Moira – at Craterside Supply in Megaton – can upgrade your Megaton abode, while either Lydia Montenegro or Michael Masters in Tenpenny Tower can improve furnishings in your suite. Once you’ve done a favor for one or the other, you’ll have a place to call your own! Both properties can be upgraded with new themes or helpful amenities. You’ll need 25 Explosives skill to do this – take some mentats to buff your perception or put on a Raider blastmaster helmet to temporarily increase it to that level if it’s too low.

To get the Megaton house, do a favor for Lucas Simms. To get the suite, head into Moriarty’s Saloon in Megaton and do a favor for a shady-looking guy sitting in the corner. Without giving any spoilers, here’s what you need to get either house, as you can’t get both. There are two houses you can get very early in the game: a suite in Tenpenny Tower or a cozy house in Megaton. Getting a place of your own and not having to pay rent every night will help you massively.
