I have a Gun, Sneak, Repair sniper toon that is at level 25 and is just WAY to powerful. I play on hardcoe very hard and he just smokes everything, including deathclaws in one shot. Soooooo I was watching Firefly and I love the idea of building a Malcolm style character, here's what I have in mind.
I would be focusing on the use of one handers, some shotguns, and maybe a rifle or two like Marksman or brush gun...I want to try not to fall back into using the damn sniper rifle and AMR..Love them but I want a slightly different experiance this time. Thought about energy weapon, but felt that wasn't in the spirit of firefly.

Mal

ST 6 (he could stand up in a fight)
PE 5 (implant if I want better crits later)
EN 7 (Malcolm gets stabed, shot, and beat up...he's tougher)
CH 3 (he's still a scoundral and a mercenary)
IN 7 (Mal's a smart SOB)
AG 6 (I just like a higher AG, but I didn't want a sniper again)
LK 6 (though he get's into scraps, he still magages to get out)

Traits: Kamikaze (he is fast on the draw) and good natured (Mal is still a good guy at heart)

Tag: Here's where I get stuck: Guns, Survival, and either Repair, speech, or explosives...was thinking speech as in the show Mal is the one who finds them work and cut's the deals.
I'll then focus on lockpick, medicine, and what ever two I don't take as my 3rd tagged

2: Fast reload
4: Educated
6: Bloody Mess

and then I would still go on to take Cowboy, Hand Loader, the Professional, Living anatomy, Strong Back, Jury Rig, Finesse, toughness, and action boy...any else is gravy. Maybe hit the deck or demolitions expert.

Your thoughts please!

- Take implants into account.
- Unarmed.
- Fast Shot, Gunslinger, Cowboy, Terrifying Presence.

I agree on the unarmed. Mal gets into fisticuffs quite a bit.

This is a cool idea btw.

I named my character Malcolm Reynolds, and did a build very close to this. (One lower on Luck, one higher on Strength.) Knowing what I know now about the game, I would have dumped Survivalist and made Lockpicking and Speech higher priorities. I've also made him by now, at level 13, an 80 on Guns, but a 20 on Energy Weapons. He likes gunpowder (even though Firefly had blasters too.)

Oh, he's good with the ladies as well, another change from the canon.

yeah i was gonna say the weapons from firefly were all energy weapons of some kind i think.they just looked like old guns..

In that case maybe ill reconsider energy weapons and take a plasma defender and a AER prototype/Qwhatever modulator...or multiplas.

SOOOOO revamped idea

Mal

str 6
pe 5
en 7
cha 3
in 7
ag 6
lk 6

Traits: Kamikaze, Fast shooting then maybe

Tag: guns/energy weapons, survival (I still think this is important for Mal...also I play on nothing but hardcoe, and the desert salad is AMAZING), and unarmed

This would also mean if I go energy no cowboy perk (sad face) and more unarmed perks.

As far as guns go, "cowboy" weapons from FNV are way closer to what he was using than energy weapons in the game.

Also, what about the Run and Gun perk...is that really worth it? Otherwise i'm thinking:

Fast reload, gunslinger, educated, cowboy/plasma spaz, pericing strike, strong back, hand loader/vigiliant recycler, the professional, maybe living anatomy if I can fit it.

For weapons I was thinking of grabbing Mysterious or Ranger Sequoia or just a hunting revolver till then, a lever-action shotty or 10mm sub, and a lever action rifle for long range. Then pushy or love and hate for unarmed goodness.

Okay, I made him and I'm enjoying him so far. Here's the final tally:
ST 6 (7 imp)
PE 5 (6 imp)
EN 7 (8 imp)
CH 3
IN 7 (8 imp)
AG 6 (7 imp)
LK 6 (7 imp)

Traits: Kamikaze, good natured
Tagged: Guns, Lockpicking (he's a scoundral after all), and Survival (Mal knows how to survive on his own in the show, so I felt strong about this one)
I've already been putting points into Speech, Repair, and I'll also put enough into melee to get cowboy and sneak to get the Professional...the rest will go into Unarmed I think as everyone has suggested.

I thought about speech instead of Lockpicking, but it seemed that I will probably only put about 55 into speech to be effective at most the game. I considered explosives still...but I think I may save that for an Energy weapon toon in the future. Unarmed seems interesting after all.

Jane would make an awesome character in this game There are just so many guns for him to play with!

I love your idea though, Browncoats are awesome.

you thought about what outfit/armour you're going to try and acquire yet?

I gonna grab the Bounty hunter duster till I can get the NCR veteran duster/combat armor stuff. That suit is so [censored]in.