I'm on my 2nd playthrough now (having done it with an http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1127600-unarmed-hand-to-hand-build-maybe-spoliers/page__p__16546507__fromsearch__1&#entry16546507 on normal + non-hardcoe and factioning with NCR) and now I'm itching for 200% dmg from mobs (very-hard mode) while lined up with Caesar.

This char will be Energy Weapons focused and hopefully I'll get by without plunking any points into Guns. My main concern is companions dying, and not being able to lift weight (Strong Back, or Pack Rat?)

I'll be companioning with Veronica, so I'll have a portable workbench to resupply myself with energy ammo. Of course, I'll be rushing to gun runners to get an energy weapon asap as well.

SPECIAL
STR: 5
PER: 1
END: 9
CHA: 1
INT: 10
AGL: 9
LCK: 5

Traits
Rapid Fire
Wild Wasteland

Yes, perception is 1. :blush2:

My understanding is perception only affects manual aim when it is a multishot weapon (I could be wrong?). Anyone know this? I'll be doing all my sniping and close-range manually, so no need for VATS.

The only other reason for perception is to get Better Criticals. Meh, I can do without that perk as there are lots of other perks I need, and I'll take back those 5 points TYVM

Perks
'+' shortform for 'OR' i.e. I'll decide when I get to that bridge
'---' shortform for 'nothing good at this level' i.e. take a perk from a lower level or Intense Training

2 Confirmed Bachelor <+10% dmg vs males>

4 comprehension (IN4)

6 Cannibal

8 Pack Rat (IN5, Barter 70)
+ strong back (ST5, EN5)

10 Vigilant Recycler (science 70)
+ Nerd Rage! (Science 50, IN5)

12 Ghastly scavenger
+ Fast metabolism <20% stimpak bonus>
+ Life Giver (EN6) <+30hp>

14 Adamantium Skeleton <-50% limb dmg>
+ Chemist (medicine 60)
+ Jury Rigging (repair 90)

16 Meltdown (energy 90)
+ Weapon Handling <-2 STR req for weapons>

18 ---

20 ---

22 Laser Commander (energy 90)
+ Spray and Pray

24 ---

26 ---

28 Rad Absorption ???

Thanks for reading, and any thoughts welcome!

LOL at myself .... hardmode is enough for me (gasp I can't heal from sleep I have to eat my way out of dmg) so I retract that I'll be doing very hard difficulty along with it

Hindsight :

(i) Metldown is fun but you will regret having constantly crippled limbs in hardmode! As well, teammates can fall easily.

(ii) survival at 25-55 lets you cook the easy meat recipes into steaks which are really useful -- lots more hp and thus less rad too.

(iii) ***SPOILER*** ------------------------------- get 1x stealth boy, then rob the plasma vendor sibilings in Freeside blind. Junk the non-ammo/regenerator weapons, and use RCW, Plasma Defender, Plasma Caster, Multiplas. You'll laugh the rest of the game.

(iv) Veronica is the perfect buddy for this build (sans meltdown). ***SPOILER*** ----------------------- goto Hidden Valley ASAP, rob the T45 powerarmor + powerhelm laying around, and give it to Veronica to tank everything (except deathclaws LOL). Agree to help Hardin to get access to more items at armoury, then buy a ballistic fist. Sock em Veronica, Oh sock em good!

(v) My understanding is that with a low PER (this build) then your spreads a lot more ONLY IF you are using a multishot weapon. It appears this is the case in the game (i.e. multiplas and shotgun spreads wide) so only use them for close quarters.