only that darn computer locks gave me any trouble. honestly i like fight ghouls and i wish there were more level like vault 34

Same here, it's just that I was nowhere near prepared for it when I went in. When I return there in a few levels, I'm going to love it. And apparently get some great gear too.

Vault 34 is tough all right but, considering the rewards in the armory it is worth it. A high sneak skill and head shots definitely make it easier. A 10 mm smg at close range will kill the guards but you can use up an entire round of VATS on just one so for groups you may want to dig out any land mines or frag grenades you've been saving up and follow up in VATS with shots to any crippled legs

For dealing with the radiation I'd say the Space Suit you can find in the Repconn Test Site would be best. It's got 10 DT and 40% radiation resistance. That and a good supply (say 10-15) of Rad-X and Radaway should get you through. After all there aren't that many places where you can use it so you may as well use it there.

Last piece of advice, if you're playing Hard Core mode, is get a good supply of a vareity of foods. You can stack the healing effects of several types of foods and, with a decent Survival skill regenerate faster than they can hurt you.

I'll second the vote for the Space Suit. It makes the radiation much easier to deal with. Also make sure you pop some Rad-X regularly or you'll get microwaved pretty quickly. IIRC, I went through V34 with the Hunting Revolver and Science 100. There are 1 or 2 Very Hard Terminals that can simplify your trip. My main problem wasn't putting down the ghouls; instead, I kept getting confused by all the twisty passages. The pulse gun was a nice find; the gun made it easy to put down Mr. House's Mark II Securitrons. Not really worth the trip though...

You've gotten a lot of good info from everyone here so far. I fully endorse the use of the space suit unless you have some other means to reduce the radiation effects. My most effective runs through there have been with the after-patch Assault Carbine and with Oh Baby!. A super sledge with the right perks and you'll never get touched by one of the stinkin zombies. Don't VATS, just swing away any time one gets close. I cleared the DC promnetory with Oh Baby! and didn't get a scratch on my, so it'll do for V34.

-Gunny out.

TBH I was expecting something other than a irradiated [censored]-hole of a vault....


But yeah, vault is filled to the brim with tough mofos who disappoint my expectations of the vault....

Hmm, only problem with the Space Suit is I already sold it, so I'd have to buy it back for a lot more caps.

Your next best bet is an (Advanced) Radiation Suit. There's a free one at the Followers' Safehouse, and one just south of the road between Novac and Nelson. It's near the irradiated gecko nest. Rad suits don't offer as much DT as the space suit though, nor even as much radiation protection (+30% I think.)

i also found the pulse on a fiend up the top of the map somewhere not far from fields shack.

10mm Pistol and 10mm SMG (both fully modded) are perfect for 90% of Vault 34. Just bring several hundred rounds of JHP hand loads and use the reloading benches found in the vault. For the other 10% the Hunting Revolver found in 'REPCONN Test Site' with HP ammo does the trick. Only other thing left is dealing with all the RADs down in that hole.

Last time I ran through that vault I used a Trail Carbine (HP ammo) and Leaver-Action Shotgun (Magnum Buckshot). Worked well enough but did get into some nasty close ranged fights with the glowing ones and wished I had a full-auto weapon + ammo.

The Riot shotgun is the ultimate CQC zombie ghoul killer, and combat armor is good enough.
don't forget to stock up on stims and rad x.

Sneak is the best skill for taking Vault 34, and raising it to 50 and taking Silent Running is the best advice I can give you.

The first time I did Vault 34, I had to return 4 times to get it done. I kept getting lost and ran out of medical supplies and was low on ammo. I've done it 7 times now and it definitely got better. I was well-prepared and knew where the important items were and what to do. Vault 34 is one of the most memorable vaults in the game. The rewards are huge and it's a great challenge. You can do it at earlier levels than 20...try taking companions with you. Veronica and Rex are melee and in those close quarters, it should be better. If Veronica has Pushy, it'll be almost fun. If your Charisma is high, your companions will be stronger too.

Good luck!

There's also one in the Hidden Supply Cave, near wolfhorn ranch.

Here's a couple hints for you.

1) Do the Boomers before the vault. The rebreather will save you some trouble unless you have a high Science Skill.

2) Since many ghouls in the vault spawn behind you, lay mines as you progress through the passages. When you enter a new room, be sure to lay mines near the entrance, then lurk a bit. You'll hear lots of explosions, trust me.

I love Vault 34. It's one of the few places in the game where tactics really count.

I found it annoying even at max levels. The Safe saved my ass though when it gave me 20 Rad-X and RadAway. However, even then I kept getting lost WITH DIRECTIONS.
Seriously Manuel, there's three "leaky pipes". How am I supposed to know which one you dub the "first" and "second" ones.

Thanks for the tips. I think I will enjoy it too. In fact, I was enjoying most of it even at level 12, but it was just too hard at that time. When I return, I'm sure it will be fun.

Since I posted that, I found another free/easy Rad Suit near V34. To the east of V34, on a ridge, is a US Army truck. A few paces away is a dead NCR soldier with a Rad Suit in his inventory. It's possible he's just a random spawn in my game that got slaughtered by all the geckos, but try looking around that truck for the rad suit.

You're welcome. In a way, V34 is sort of a Dead Money trial run.
Have fun with the really tough choice at the end, too. You'll know it when you get there.