(Skip to last sentence if you don't have the time to read it all)

So I played through most of the game on hardcoe mode and it wasn't that bad.

I was a bit too confident, and saved over my last (and only) save slot for that session after going to the battle of Hoover Dam. The battle itself was pretty easy, except ED-E (I only brought that companion) had died somewhere and I didn't know where (he had a lot of my equipment). But for some reason I didn't think it was a big deal and I saved over that same session. Then I got the the Legate Camp and found out I was screwed because:

• I didn't level up so I could hit 100 speech (as was expected) - but I can 1 on 1 him.
  
• I didn't have an good equipment and I was a low level.
  
• I didn't have any good save points to go back and fix my mistakes.

So basically I'm a low level needing to solo Legate Lanius on hardcoe with little equipment and no way to go back to an older save point. Any advice. :sadvaultboy:

Before walking up to him, heal yourself in the pool of water.
You should be able to get some good gear in the dam offices.

I took the NCR salvaged power armor, is that the best in there - or should I used my combat armor? Health is not necessarily the problem (though doctor bags would be nice), I just have such low levels in guns, energy weapons, and the other combat skills so my damage doesn't do much to him. It would take awhile to take him down.

I'm willing to play through the game again... but meh. I'm just wondering if there is maybe some certain spot you can stand where he can't hit you but you can hit him.

Playing on 360 by the way.

You can't grab any Anti-material rifles or brush guns off of dead NCR vets?

Are you sure you don't have an autosave before accepting the quest?

Change the game difficulty to very easy! Then take a CL weapon and have at him!