I've decided to test a sniper character archetype as it seems like a fun idea. I was wondering though what armour should I use? I want to use something thats has a DT of 10 (forget what type it is.) Also whats a good sniper weapon? I want something with a scope but nothing like the Anti-Material rifle. Right know I have a hunting rifle which I like a lot, and I'm saving up caps to buy the scope mod. Obviously I will get a sniper rifle when the time becomes available. I would also prefer to wear a helmet over a beret.

Well, If you've got a high survival skill i'd sugest gecko backed leather armor (or the re-enforced model if you want, but this requires HH). And If you're looking for a good sniper weapon and dont mind killing or maiming a named NCR character, i'd suggest La Longue Carabine.

The armor is simple, around 10-15 DT and relatively low weight PLUS rad/poison/fire resistance.

La Longue Carabine and I go way back and up until extremely recently was my go to scoped weapon. Abundant ammo, and the hand loaded ammo isnt half bad either. Readily available base models of the weapon for repairs and if you have jury rigging it's even easier. Fairly large magazime size and fast reload. Plus when paired with cowboy it can take down a deathclaw in a few shots and even one shot one if you have a good crit build. Plus if you have the dead money vending machine you NEVER have to worry about ammo.

just my 2 cents on the matter. Hope that helps.

EDIT: Vending machine code for the .357 rounds

I use the Ratslayer, which is a unique variant of the Varmint Rifle, fully modded with silencer and night vision scope (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Ratslayer). I use this purely for the silencer but it has grown on me. I would use light armor, the point of being a sniper is to stay away from direct confrontation. I use the Merc Adventure outfit for the moment, that with the 1st Recon beret which add per +1 and 5% chance of crit hit. (but if you wanna go badass use this http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Chinese_stealth_armor_%28Fallout%3A_New_Vegas%29), Sneak needs to be high, for a list of perks look here (http://www.gamesradar.com/f/fallout-new-vegas-character-build-guide/a-201011021181145075/p-2), It is a basic sniper build. But as with anything you can change the build to suit you better, but it's a good starting place. Build your lockpick up so you can get this (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Gobi_Campaign_scout_rifle). If you want a companion use Boone, you get the spotter perk which helps when scouting the are. Also tell him to hang back and he'll provide good backup.

Armor- early on, it's easy to get reinforced leather armor, which is +10 DT. In vault 34, you can get the best light armor in the vanilla game (vault 34 guard's armor), which is around 16 DT. You can get the Assassin's light armor in Dead Money, which isn't any higher in DT, but gives some +sneak and looks kinda ninja-ish. It also gives you the casino security light armor, which is around +18 DT, but makes you look like a banana. My personal fav is The Burned Man's armor from Honest Hearts, which has good DT and +3 crit, which sold me.

Sniper weapons- Ratslayer (good all-purpose sniping gun with night-scope, save ammo by using it for easy kills on most enemies that don't take a huge amount of killpower); hunting rifle- fully modded, as good as, or even superior to the standard sniper rifle, only real advantage of sniper rifle is the silencer mod. Gobi Campaign sniper rifle- fully modded, it's what the sniper rifle should be. Only drawback is you need to manage 100 lockpick through whatever means, in order to get it. AMR? It's nice to have in your stash back home for bringing out when you're up against really big game- deathclaws, etc. But not really needed, just makes the killin' a bit quicker. I'd also go fetch the All-American marksman carbine, for midrange sniping- it uses cheap 5.56 ammo, has a good scope, and packs more punch than the Ratslayer. And it shoots as fast as you can pull the trigger, and has a big clip- nice for taking out multiple mobs coming at you from medium to close range.

The DLC's didn't add any lovin' for snipers, unfortunately, so you just have the vanilla weaps to choose from.

Helmet over beret? Why? Just for looks? The couple of extra +DT from a helmet is no big deal to a ranged sniping char- you're not supposed to be a bullet sponge, anyway. You're supposed to be sneaky, deadly, and not get seen or hit. Without mods, the Beret is the best hat in the game, bar none. Any other choice, especially for a sniper who needs all the crit he can get, is gimping yourself badly.

Good sniper Gear? A laser rifle with laser commander perk. :whisper:

I carry a silenced Sniper Rifle for stealth killing and basic sniping, a Marksman Carbine for basic all around combat, and an AMR for when I absolutely have to make whatever is in front of me... NOT be in front of me.

I have a related question to this:

How do sneak attack criticals work? If I'm in stealth and I shoot someone, I always get the "Sneak attack critical" message, so does that mean a sneak attack is ALWAYS a critical hit, or can a sneak attack crit twice, so to speak? (x2 for being in stealth, x2 for an actual crit)
I ask because if a sneak is always a crit, then there's no point in wearing a 1st recon beret or Graham's armor. If there's a possibility for x4 damage though, then OP should wear both of those.

Hehe, yep. My EW char loves her AER14 prototype, +scope (WMX mod). The desert is carpeted with steaming pink ash piles.... need to find a janitor.

It looks pretty bad ass if you would where Combat armor, Beret, and with authority shades.

first recon beret, joshua grahams armour, boon as back up, 100% lockpick. head too cottonwood cove, snipers nest, unlock case, gobi sniper rifle. SORTED

THat is it for me! It does look cool!! Use Hunting Rifle with Scope, Sniper Rifle, Gobi and AMR.

I go pretty simple. I bounce around between the black Combat Armor, and the Reinforced Leather Armo. My weapons are a constant main stay though. I use the Hunting Rifle (Scope, Extended Mags, and Custom Action), 9MM Pistol, three hand grenades, and a combat knife. Plus a few various health items. Things that could realistically be carried. I've tried other weapons, but I always go back to the Hunting Rifle. I guess I have a thing for bolt actions.

You almost got it, a sneak attack will always result in a sneak attack critical, which does twice the damage of a normal critical hit. But no wearing the beret or anything else that raises your critical chance won't give you 4x the damage or anything like that, it'll always either be a normal critical hit or twice the damage with a sneak critical.

And if you get a sneak headshot, it's another x2 total damage, on top of that. (if I recall the previous thread about this stuff correctly...)

Early on the Ratslayer is a must. Later once you can get your lockpick up to 100 you can get the Gobi Sniper (or up to 75 you can get a regualr sniper rifle in an ruined building near the New Vegas Clinic). Late in the game I snipe with either the YCS or the Holorifle.

A crit is basically double damage. A sneak attack crit is double again. So 4 times damage. A Head shot is double again so it is equivalent to eight normal shots to the chest. So yes, senak attacks headshots are beyond over powered. Especially since you can pull them off with a 20 sneak score if you are far enough away.