I started a new character. I made the ugliest woman possible and she is all strength and endurance, dumb as a rock on "very hard" and I am intent on being rude to everyone but so far, even when I steal and I am crappy, the convo always ends up going forward. It seems that your actions affected more of the story in FO:NV and FO3. It's too bad I couldn't go up real nice to a raider and join their gang just because. Oh well, I am going to find someone friendly to punch.