Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says Obsidian has ‘Karma Police’ who go through games making sure every skill gets enough cool stuff to do: ‘We’re not gonna leave you out to dry’
Obsidian Entertainment’s design director Josh Sawyer recently revealed the studio’s approach to ensuring character build diversity in Fallout: New Vegas during an appearance on the Human Can Opener podcast. Sawyer emphasized that Obsidian maintains internal oversight—which he humorously termed “Karma Police”—to guarantee every skill receives meaningful opportunities throughout the game experience.
According to Sawyer, this systematic approach stems from a core design philosophy: players should feel genuinely rewarded for their character-building choices. “I want people to build characters and have a good time with them,” Sawyer explained, stressing that while gameplay should require thoughtful decision-making, no viable character concept should feel abandoned or rendered obsolete mid-playthrough.
The focus extends particularly to dialogue skill checks, where Obsidian ensures different builds receive unique, engaging interactions rather than identical experiences across playthroughs. This design commitment prevents the common RPG pitfall where certain skills become objectively superior or functionally redundant, preserving character viability across dialogue encounters, combat scenarios, and environmental interactions.
Sawyer’s comments underscore a deliberate design philosophy that prioritizes player expression and build diversity. Rather than sacrificing challenge or consequence, Obsidian’s balancing work operates behind the scenes to ensure character-building decisions maintain tangible impact throughout the entire experience, allowing players to feel confident investing in their chosen skill sets.