I'm trying to build my character sniper-stealthy.

I've seen that you actually start out with a Laser Pistol.


Are Energy Weapons more common than on FO3, and therefore more viable as a main weapon to play the game from start to end?

And what do Energy Weapons have that Guns don't have, why should I pick either, is one type more accurate with less damage or something like that?
I only noticed that there are no Sniper Energy Weapons, so are EW just close-combat weapons, like pray-and-spray?

I started with a 9mm. Maybe it starts you with whatever you have a higher score in.

I haven't seen a single energy weapon by 5 hours in that wasn't sold at a merchant. Unless you count an incinerator.


Generally, energy weapons are supposed to be better weapons, but harder to find. That's older Fallouts. I don't know if New Vegas continues this trend. But the game does make a point of including merchants with the guns in case you need to buy parts for repair or replacement.

I have seen more and more Energy weapons in my travel. Not as much as guns but they are definatly increasing, spawning in houses etc. Ammo for them are increasing as well. It may be a level or skill based quantity count.

wierd i started with a laser pistol too, but didn't choose energy weapons as a fav skill or anything. if i remember right the doc gave it to me as i was leaving, that or i stole it from somewhere in his house

i think it'll be tough to start using strictly energy weapons just because the ammo isn't all that available right away, you'll prob want reg guns or melee as a backup for now

and good luck, i wanted a stealth sniper too like i loved using in FO3, but with the changes to vats and the blinding iron sights i'm struggling with it

I've been using an energy weapons and explosives exclusive character and I've got to admit, it's hard. If you follow the main quest south, in 5-6 hours of exploring you'll find plenty of Laser Pistols to repair your other one with, but that's it. You get an incinerator relatively early on, but repairing it is costly as all hell and it seems to be the only one around in that area. After 6 hours or so of exploring I only JUST found a Laser Rifle, but even that is pointless to use because there's nothing to repair it with and it costs far too much to repair it via a merchant. Not to mention the fact that ammo is very hard to come by for your Laser Pistol, as well as being rather expensive.

If you specialize in Energy Weapons, be prepared to be fighting for dear life a lot because the first few hours are ridiculously hard. They give you plenty of guns to use but energy weapons other than the pistol seem to be really really rare at lower levels. But it's certainly more realistic, I guess.

If you have high luck that may be why.

I generally go sniper myself and plan on quickly building guns at low level, while slowly building up energy weapons. The idea is to be proficient when they become more plentiful.

Even though the ol' doc was very kind in everything he did, I still thought it a good idea to go and loot everything in his house.. There's 2 energy pistols in a box somewhere, so that's where to get them at the beginning Also look out for a monkey load of stimpacks & supers.

I played all the way to Primm and I have a Plasma Rifle, a Laser Rifle and a Laser RCW (sold the Incinerator, I have 5 Str, 200 holding space >_>), I have some ammo for them but not alot.

I played with (Small) Guns in FO3, and I would like to try something else (but I still like guns, but I want to know what I've been missing).

Is it possible to be proficient in both (like what Certi does, slowly working up the EW, like 5guns/1ew point per level), so if I have a change of mind, I can switch, but without gimping myself (since I only tagged Guns/Science/Lockpicking)

Right now I'm happy with Guns anyway. But I don't know which gun fits my playstyle.

Well, you may want to think about this for a second. What's so stealthy, exactly, about an extremely bright line (laser) or a giant glowing ball (plasma) that directly points to your location

They're about the same. In Freeside, (a town that's right next to New Vegas) there's a store that sells only energy weapons, they have a pretty huge stock and you really can find all types. The only problem is that their store is
1: Heavily guarded on the inside
2: Most of their actual stock is layed out on a table and can ONLY be stolen.

Energy Weapons are not a very viable weapon. From the start of the game until New Vegas, I never saw an energy weapon until I reached the city. Also, your starting guns are also some of the best guns in the game if I don't mind saying. For example, I still use the Hipower (or 9mm pistol)

I'm pretty sure the Gauss Rifle has a scope, and the laser rifle is pretty accurate

Well you can always stick a scope on!

There's a Laser Pistol stashed away in Doc Mitchell's and I happened upon another in the General Store early game. I've gotten up to Nipton and haven't seen much more than that in terms of Laser Pistols.

Oh, I got a Recharger Rifle from the General store as well and have been using Repair kits to keep it in good repair.

The Laser Rifle is (I think) the most accurate ranged weapon and can be scoped as well.

The best thing to do is ignore myour laser pistol till you have enough money to buy the bulk small cells and have some repair kits handy. Even with little skill and I do mean little as in 1 agility no added skill AND good natured.. the varmit rifle will do you fine for a good bit until you have the money to go energy.

Mind you not only are small cells spendy but they arnt small.. they weigh 8x the weigh of some bullets and almost 3x the weight of rifle bullets. Bloody silly if you ask me.