How to Deactivate a Stealth Boy

The RobCo Stealth Boy 3001 -- Stealth Boy for short -- is a personal cloaking device found in "Fallout 3" and "Fallout: New Vegas." The Stealth Boy bends light around its user to render them almost invisible. The Stealth Boy's field adds 100 to a character's Sneak skill. When enemies are nearby, the Stealth Boy is very useful, but when you're trying to get someone's attention, it isn't so great. There's no way to turn a Stealth Boy off, but there are ways to get around its effects.

Wait It Out

A Stealth Boy's effects last for two minutes of real time, equivalent to one day of game time. To run out the clock on your Stealth Boy, simply wait. Bring up the Wait menu by pressing "Back" on the Xbox 360, "Select" on the PS3 or "T" on PC. Wait for one hour to let the Stealth Boy expire. You won't be able to wait while there are enemies nearby.

Get Spotted

There are times when you'll actually want an enemy to notice you -- when you're trying to lure them into a mined area, for instance. In these circumstances, you can attract an enemy's attention by doing anything that will reveal your position. The Stealth Boy boosts your Sneak skill, but it doesn't make you completely invisible. Firing at an enemy or otherwise provoking them will still draw their attention.