Consider your experience with Fallout before deciding between Fallout 3 and New Vegas.
Consider your experience with Fallout before deciding between Fallout 3 and New Vegas.
I think it's best to hold off. I’ll wait for Fallout 4 to launch, check out some gameplay clips, and then make a decision. So far, Fallout 4 seems quite different from previous titles like FO3 and FNV. The core systems have shifted—focusing more on weapons and armor rather than traditional RPG mechanics. If you’re interested in the lore, the wiki at http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_world is a good place to start. There’s also a timeline here: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline. Playing older games right now wouldn’t be practical unless you can commit to hours of play without other obligations. I’ve already spent hundreds of hours in both games and keep discovering new content. So, just wait for Fallout 4, decide whether to buy it, or if not, look for a good deal later. If you do purchase it, you’ll have a wealth of hours to enjoy, and once finished, you could revisit the older titles at a potentially better price.
I was in your shoes about three weeks ago, so I picked up FO3. I’ve logged around 100 hours so far and I’m still just getting started compared to my friend who has played over 700 hours. While I understand EChondo’s point, I’d still try the game and go through the campaign to get a feel for how it works—just swap out the dragons for more guns if you’re used to Oblivion or Skyrim.