i have 3 questions about fallout2 1)traits: what is the downside of finesse? 2) is 4 char good or is 5 really important? 5) if small guns is my focus, how much str should i have so i can use all small guns? ediy: yeah i forgot to mark it as a question

1. You deal 30% less damage on all attacks. Statistically, Finesse doesn't really work in your favor.
2. One point either way won't make a huge difference unless you're focused on making a diplomatic character.
3. I think a STR of 6 is enough to wield the shotguns and rifles that are at the heavy end of the Small Guns scale.

thanks a lot

Yea it is, 6 str also will allow you to use all energy weapons as well. If you want big guns though you will need 7 str minimum to use all of those.

Not a member of GOG, just enjoy helping people get these old games working or figure them out. I'm also bit of a fallout fan as they are great games.
As for small frame I'm not sure its worth it, for 1 extra point of agility you lose alot of carry weight. Instead of 25lbs of carry weight for every point of STR you only get 15lbs. I normally find it hard enough to grab everything and keep myself equiped without losing quite a bit of carry weight.

1. I'm not really a big fan of finesse. As Prator pointed out, statistically it really works against you. If you make a character with exceptionally high luck stat it makes sense (until you get a sniper perk that is, after that it becomes obsolete) although it sort of cripples you at the beginning of the game. Not a good choice i'm affraid.
2. You need to take into account that your charisma stat determines how many followers you can have. With charisma 4 you can have 2 with 6 you can have 3. Don't start with an odd number.
3. Starting with 5 in your strength is good enough if you want to use a special kind of armour you get late in the game. If you're determined not to use it strength 6 should be sufficient.
4. Small frame is an exellent choice with gifted trait (if you play a sniper character). Carry weight loss is painfull but you got followers as pack mules.

1) Finesse only reduces non-critical damage by 30 percent, critical damage is unaffected.
For most builds without fast shot the average damage output will be bigger.
Lets assume you have a character with 5 luck who aims at the eyes.
Instead of 35 percent change to score normal damage with a non-critical you have 25 percent chance to score 70 percent damage and additional 10 percent chance to score about 300 percent damage with a critical.
2) The only real difference between 4 and 5 cha are the additional skillpoints you get in speech and barter. Raising other attributes will raise more skills and if you raise int you'll even get additional skill points at level up.
3) No small gun requires more than 6 strength. You will find small guns which require 6 strength long before you'll find a way to raise strength.
You can use weapons even if your strength is lower, but you get a 20 percent skill penalty for each missing strength point (and an annoying message each time you attack).

and what if i would compensate it with the packmule perk early?

Well that would help it quite a bit, you of course sacrifice the possibility to take another perk at the level you pick that but if you want the +1agi you could do it.
Having your team mates carry your stuff also works as summit sugested but it can get a little annoying having to go back and forth between taking stuff from them and then selling it on. Depends if that will bother you or not.

ok thanks

If you manage to raise strength to 10 you need 2 perks to even out the missing carrying capacity.
Don't trade 2 perks for 1 stat point, 1 perk is about as useful as 2 stat points.
The magnetic personality perk is about as good as 2 cha, action boy or bonus move is about as good as 2 agility, more criticals is about as good as 5 luck, lifegiver can grant more hit points than 4 extra endurance ...