Fallout: New Vegas/Skill Checks

Skill checks are a core mechanic of Fallout: New Vegas. These occur in dialogue and when interacting with quest objectives. They often award XP and can determine the outcome and subsequent availability of quests. Multiple skill checks may sometimes be available, either as increased difficulty of a single skill for a more favorable outcome or different skills that offer different options for resolution.

In Dialogue
Skill checks are most commonly encountered as part of dialogue options for quests, both marked and unmarked. These checks typically award experience points equal to the required skill level (50XP for a Repair 50 check). These skill checks may increment the Speech Challenges stat in the Pip-boy, though this is not specific to the Speech skill or applicable to all checks that occur in dialogue. While skill checks encountered in dialogue may generically be referred to as Speech Checks, the majority of dialogue checks relates to other skills as well as S.P.E.C.I.A.L Stats, Traits, Reputation, Karma and even inventory. Skill checks that depend on a SPECIAL stat usually reward XP equal to ten times the required stat value (90XP for a Strength 9 check).

Other Skill Checks
Interacting with certain items, usually as part of marked and unmarked quests, will prompt the player to perform actions that require some minimal level of a particular skill.