in fallout 3 and new vegas it seemed like you kind of had to rely on it at some points, but now the game is more of a shooter, it seems more fun to just try and rely purely on aiming skill.

I switch back and forth. Love the sniping mechanics though.

I don't use Vats,

I use JET shck aaahhh that's the stuff

V.A.T.S.

Very
Annoying
Targeting
System

I trust my aiming better ?

Mostly no but it is in my arsenal so I employ it from time to time to help me out of a sticky situation.

I use it a lot to find distant NPC and determine if they are hostile before sniping their brains out.

I find I use it too much. I just love those decapitating and head exploding kill cams.

I think its a waste to use vats. By not putting the points into it you can spend SPECIAL points on other categories. Besides, no matter how much perception you have, the accuracy svcks.

I do not...occasionally the suiciders..but seems I have way worse luck hitting things around the 50-60% range, than in FO3 and NV...
Nothing like missing a guy 10 feet from you in VATS to turn me off to using it...

I only use it for close-up gun control e.g. shotgun blasts to the face and for the odd melee attacker while I watch him run at me in slow motion whilst said head % gets larger and larger. Other times it to search for mines in "busy" areas. Lastly if I'm feeling real lazy with a mid-range rifle I do it to centre my aim onto a target and shoot in normal.

In most other cases it costs you health to use it as you have to stand there in front of someone who isn't carefully selecting targeting points with a mouse and clunky aiming system.

I pretty much stay in vats, its a godsend for melee/unarmed this time around.

I use it in a pinch when ghouls are running to [censored] my face or other hairy moments but I usually prefer free aim as it's so much better this time. VATS makes for some sweet kill moments though.

I only use it ocassionally when I'm in power armor, and it's very rare that I use PA. I think it's cheap, but for immersion sake, it's more plausible when you're in PA.

I don't use vats, because without vats I can hit nearly every single shot, making every bullet count.

In vats, I waste 'em all for one lousy hit, and perhaps a critical once in a while.

I panic-click vats when i hear Ghouls tho'. The bastards jumpscare me every [censored] time.

I've played Fallout as a shooter since Fallout 3. I really like that it's less random and more skill over Fallout 3 when playing as an FPS. The rounds actually go where you aim.

I don't use it too much. I mostly just use the VATS scan perk from Perception to check targets every once in a while...but deal with them almost exclusively in normal mode, unless it's something like a Mirelurk at close range where I desire convenience, given how tedious they can be.

I don't use it much myself, if ever. I find my aim with the mouse to be much better than the percentages VATS is displaying...

I svck at shooter games. I am finding I am having a hard time with Fallout 4 so I am using V.A.T.S. a lot especially when those dang mole rats are attacking me. I can't see where they are coming from since they are at my feet I can't shoot and need to use V.A.T.S. so I don't keep dying.

Close-up emergencies and as a scouting tool.

I use it all the time.

Even used it on the radroaches in the vault.

Which is weird, because I didn't even have a pipboy yet.

I've played Fallout as a turn-based RPG since Fallout 1. I use VATS exclusively. Meaning I don't attack in real-time. Therefore if I am out of AP I try to run and hide - which is tough because you need AP to run. So I need to save some AP in case I need to retreat and regroup for another assault. I have maxed Agility and Perception and I'm looking to take all the perks I can to give me advantages in VATS.

Which brings up an explosives question. Has anybody found a way to use VATS to throw grenades? Or is that only real-time?

Secondary question: Are there any perks to help with Laser or Plasma weapons? I haven't seen any. Is the best I can do just pistol and rifle perks (guessing energy rifles and pistols fall under those categories as well)?

Nope, it makes the game significantly easier. At least Jet only last 15 seconds and uses up a resource that you have to find or purchase.

You have to shoot it in VATS. Throw it and pop it in mid air when it reaches destination.

As much as I like VATS there is no worse feeling when you take a shot at a Deathclaw with a 90% hit rate with a missile launcher and watch your last missile just sore by it. Especially when it's early in the game, no power armor on, and no aids left. Then it rips your head off, if that missile woulda hit you woulda won

That's what we call a 'critical miss' in PnP RPG land.

I only used it when I tested melee out, but I haven't touched it otherwise.