For my time playing Fallout New Vegas, I've played it mostly vanilla because of the consoles. Then roughly two years ago, I returned to New Vegas and I always wanted to come back playing with mods. My aim is to improve the visuals and some parts of the gameplay here and there. If I changed too much of the gameplay or installed quest mods, it would feel less like New Vegas, I enjoy the way it is because that's what made me like the game in the first place (except the bugs, of course). But I wondered, could I play the game again without any mods? Maybe I couldn't live without the YUP bug patch, anti-crash, 4GB and the Stutter Remover mods due to the game having technical problems.

There are mods like the Joshua Graham and Ulysses companion mods, to me, story wise, they should have been companions. The Legion are trying to take over Mojave and destroy the fabric of society that's managed to have been rebuilt since the Great War. There are times where peace should prevail, then there is a time of action that people must take up arms against a fascist regime that can't be convinced to step down. Perhaps Joshua and Ulysses should return to the Mojave and help you win this war. That's why those two companion mods are great. Lastly, the Fallout Character Overhaul I like using is essential, for me. The models Bethesda created for the human models in Fallout 3 just didn't look good and sadly that had to be used in New Vegas.

What do you think? Can you play the game again without visual or gameplay enhancing mods? Can you play vanilla New Vegas, or Fallout 3 for that matter?

I would not play vanilla New Vegas (or Fallout 3) ever again, mods enhances gameplay and visuals too much.

I played both games without any mods years ago before I even introduced myself to modding games. Any game which has mods I can't play without mods, like Witcher series and Fallout 2 with Killap's Restoration Project and so on.

It's like addiction.

Probably not because the game wouldn't even work properly without the 4GB patcher, Yukichigai Unofficial Patch, CASM, NVAC and NVSR on my rig.

Nope. I must have my mods otherwise it doesn't feel right. I need my someguy series and other essential mods. I would be like something is missing. Can't and won't go back to plane ol vanilla version.

Completely unmodded? Probably not cause 100% vanilla FNV/FO3 are absolutely buggy messes and I have been spoiled by the modding community's actions to fix them. However,if we're talking about a mostly vanilla playthrough with stuff like the Unofficial Patch,YUP and other "mods" just meant to make the game run smoother,maybe. It'd be interesting to see if just the normal base game by itself would be able to keep my interest.

Hell yeah, not on pc though.

Sure I don't see why not. Just do it to have another more OG experience. You could also do a "vanilla plus" sort of idea. Where you only use mods that fix bugs and add cut content. Other than that it would be all non modded content.

Funny enough I tried doing this a month or two ago and then immediately went back to adding mods. I mean. The very first time I played vanilla New Vegas, I absolutely loved it! But I guess once you've had a taste of visual enhancements, armor, and quest mods. Then you can't really go back. At least I can't. Still a fun game though. Even if you don't play with mods.

I played briefly not too long ago, helping my brother, who was playing it on an xbox.

It was pretty jarring, and I immediately had to go back to PC haha. Honestly, my NV is so modded at this part, and it's so long since I've played purely vanilla that I couldn't remember whether or not some things were there in the vanilla game.

No, I really can't stand to look at the vanilla game. It really does look like complete shit to be honest. I'd have to have something that removes the red and yellow filters and a darker nights mod at least.

Honestly I wouldn't. Mods are necessary for me to enjoy that game, especially now that it is getting older.

I wouldn't say never. I have my PS3 hooked up to a CRT and will sometimes dust it off and play that version, but I'm so used to mods and using the console commands, I don't know at this point.

I wouldn't.  Just seeing the strip in its vanilla form would break me.  Modless New Vegas is the reason I'm unfortunately suspicious of New Vegas in the fallout 4 engine.  Graphics improved at the expense of mods and content?

I dont know man, on PC the game is not stable, it keeps crashing so, its nearly impossible to play vanilla without some utility mods like 4GB patch and unofficial patch etc. , but I think I can play on xbox.

I have never played FO3 or New vegas in the vanilla states, so it is highly unlikely I will every try to do so. If nothing else, I would miss my army of companions too much. XD

like to play it vanilla for my first character, then add mods.

I tried to play vanilla before, it felt like going from riches to rags. can't do it for long. Strange part is I can play fo3 no mods no prob...

Vanilla is the best way to play. I hate feeling overwhelmed by mods, so I always make a clear compromise and go for mods which don't change the experience too much for me, sometimes even those slightly annoy me.

I still of course use the 4GB patch and tools for stability. The engine and limitations absolutely suck.

Graphics and visuals don't ever matter too much to me. I use ENBs on modded playthroughs I am going to screenshot, but privately I always play vanilla. It's not due to the performance since my PC can run it flawlessly, but just since the flaws outweigh the benefits of having it (invisible hair, visual bugs, overly colorful and shiny visuals, the list goes on).

Mods ruin the "walk down memory lane" aspect of these games for me. I like being familiar with every aspect of the game, and that's what brings back the warm nostalgic feeling for me. Turning New Vegas into another game just isn't for me, rather for the off-playthrough when I'm feeling bored with the vanilla game.

Play vanilla again....not a chance. Modding spoils the vanilla experience forever if you are into the visuals and expanded play, which I do

I would but the old memories of the game in my mind are alot better looking then what shows up on the screen. I try to stick to just mods to give better graphics tho because everytime i get into cheats for money and weapons etc it ruins the whole experience and u get way to bored when theres nothing left to work for.