My current character is boosting both Guns and Melee. And it is very fun. However, for the hard encounters I find guns being far more effective then melee. The 10 MM SMG or Caravan/Lever Shot gun or Service Rifle beat out melee hands down. Even with Chances Knife and Super Slam. Late game I think the Riot Shotgun, LMG, Assault Carbine and Minigun smoke all Melee weapons close range.

So what is everyone elses thoughts. Am I just not giving Melee/Unarmed a chance? Or is Guns the best combat skill! Period.

If you get your hands on a chainsaw/thermic lance then combat is really fun. Just hold down the 'attack' button and watch the body parts churn. Although my current 'gun' PC got his hands on a LMG and had a lot of fun clearing out Tettiticup Mine from the hip. :gun:

its all a matter of perspective really. I myself love using Guns and EW, but would not object to tearing people apart with a Termic Lance/Ripper/Chainsaw. :toughninja:

Ballistic Fist and the Fire Axe tear [censored] up, although I'd prefer a shotgun personally.

That's because Chance's Knife is a very good weapon for some opponents and very bad for others, specially animals. For example, Knock-Knock with Super Slam don't need more than two blows to knockdown ANY enemy in the game, usually is in the first one, so give it a try.
If you want to clean Quarry Junction with a melee weapon this is the one (or a Chainsaw/Oh Baby!, but they are heavy to carry around)

If I'm using guns for close encounters I go with shotguns, but usually I prefer to spend some points in melee and use Fire Axe/Chainsaw/Knock-Knock/Oh, Baby! than spending two perks for working with shotguns.
You have to pick at least Shotgun Surgeon, otherwise shotguns are not good weapons in the long run, with the exception of a Riot Shotgun (but she needs at least 90 in guns to be a good weapon).

With Shotgun Surgeon and And Stay Back perks you don't need other weapons in the game, really, just craft some magnum rounds and switch accordling.

Ahh the beauty of this game, so many options for different scenarios and so many different playstyles.

Knock-Knock is a beast like someone else stated.

The Riot Shotgun is a very viable choice, with Shotgun Surgeon & And Stay Back it's devastating. Especially with Magnum Rounds

I personally use a Suppressed .45 Auto Pistol for everything, and Chance's Knife for close up.

I've also got an Assault Carbine with AP rounds(-25 DT) for when things get ridiculous.

Chances Knife needs your character to have all the critical perks and the quest perk from Dead Money to be effective. Otherwise you would be better off with a Sledgehammer, which beats same or higher tier gun such as Caravan Shotgun.

Even with the Bladed Claw "nerf" (which was only good against Radscorpion with its DT ignore) it is still far superior.

Unless you are talking in VATS.

Interesting. Looking at the WIki - it seems Chance Knife beats the Sledge Hammer hand dows. Both are the same DAM, but Chances has higher DPS. But I will try it out. I am using Broc Flower Cave as a "proving ground". Got butchered using Chance's Knife at level 8.

Unarmed > Melee weapons, ijs.

I'm a Ranger; Survivalist Rife, A Light in Shining Darkness, and a Ballistic Fist is all I need in the Mojave

Kudos

I usually find that a Laser Rifle or This Machine will take care of all my problems. All of them. Maybe the unique laser rifle or the Q-35 if I just want to use something different. So far, at least for me, melee/unarmed has been annoying at best.

DPS is nothing if it doesn't contact. Sledgehammer have a greater reach and with strong blows you would hardly take any damage

That was a very good tip! Switching to Sledge/Rebar Club worked wonders. Was able to kill things much faster and take less damage.

Just for fun, I also took on all the Ghouls at the Nuclear test site. Level 8 in Metal Armor with a rebar club. Did a Pyscho/Med-Ex stack and was able to wipe them all out. Never managed that one before at such a low level. Timing your block, then hitting hoping for the knockdown. So, I am impressed! Thanks for tips.