When I first played Fallout 2, I wanted to make an energy weapons character, but I ran into a snag when I couldn't find an energy weapon early enough in the game, so I remade a character recently with energy weapons and unarmed tagged, given that it's easy to start with a character high in unarmed. My character is currently level 9, and I believe that unarmed sans powerfist has become a complete liability, given that I have to run towards my foes who easily tear me apart with Grease Guns and AK112's at my level. Still though, I would like to make an unarmed master (skill is currently at 130), but I am unsure if it is even viable.

By this I don't know how to calculate the difference between fighting completely bare-fisted and fighting with an unarmed weapon (spiked knuckles, powerfist, etc). I'm also clueless to the differences in certain unarmed attacks (hammer punch/jab, power kick/hip kick), and the advantages of using one over the other.

Unfortunately, I'm getting torn apart by random encounters (raiders with automatic weapons), and I'm questioning the viability of unarmed. Any thoughts?

You won't find an energy weapon early on, but it's by far the most powerful. And kicks do more damage, but cost mroe while punches do less but cost less.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Unarmed

Read.

Also always aim for the eyes.

You need to get heavier armor, and pick the toughness perks. You can get alot of knock downs and criticals once you start doing aimed punches/kicks to the head. Eye shots will weaken there ranged abilites and make you harder to hit as said above. You can get lucky and score the bridge keeper Special encounter early on and get his robes that equal combat armor in defense too.

... AIM FOR THE EYES BOO

The article helped a ton.

Right after reading, I found the Federation Shuttle with the Phazer, so no need to find a laser or plasma pistol. Managed to get to NCR as well and get a powerfist too. Downed some psycho and buffout to deal with the Salvatores as well for Big Jesus and got all the small energy cells, so now it doesn't make much sense to go bare-fisted, seeing as how the powerfist more than makes up for close range, and I no longer need to charge the enemy now that I have the Phazer and tons of ammo.