When I got the game the first thing I wanted to do is create a melee weapon orientated character hearing how melee combat has changed and all and now that they have special attacks you can select in VATS,

Reviews and previews talked about them, heck even my game guide from Prima talks about it. Yet I don't seem to see them in vats, just the default buttons I can click on plus the body parts, but no extra button that pops up that lets me do some thing funky.

I did a quick search, but I'm finding tons of stuff except my problem/solution.

So whats the trick with those new melee attacks?
I'm playing on hardcoe mode, had my avatar his melee skill pushed all the way to 100, just to see and rule out high points would unlock it.

What am I missing?

I don't think "all" melee weapons have special attacks.
But the Nine Iron does have FORE! which is used on enemies by pressing Y button in VATS (xbox).

There should be a "Button/Key ) Attack" option that shows up in the upper right part of the screen. All Melee weapons have one special attack while Unarmed weapons have both Cross and Uppercut.

You have to press a different button in VATS to do a special attack, otherwise you just queve up normal attacks

Sadly I don't see them appear. What is the default button (for PC, not console) you have to press?

Melee has to be at 50 and 75, I think. In short, it depends on how high your skill is.

He has it at 100.

without saying too much, I've had "power" attacks been mentioned and have had an individual teach me a certain melee move but in order to pull it off it sounds like you need to be outside of vats. Haven't used the move yet cos my character isn't melee orientated at all.

Pressing 'R' on PC in Vats will set up the mauler attack. Which causes a knock down effect. I think it can only be done with sledge hammers, axe's, and the rebar club. I imagine setting up the FORE move would work the same way with golf clubs