I Assume there are a fair amount of people who've played through FO3 with only energy weapons, or with energy weapons being their primary source of damage.

I started my heavy weapons character, and even with a high energy weapons skill early on, laser pistols seem to do less damage then regular 10mm pistols if I had my small arms to the same level.
Wondering how far in I am going to have to do this game on very easy or easy, because with the cost of ammo being pretty high, and the fact finding actual laser weapons is near impossible without using guides or cheats or spoilers, I am more or less doing nothing but scavanging for grenades and trying to beat people to death with sludgehammers when my melee skill is garbage ^^

Why on Very Easy? This game becomes insanely easy anyway after a level or two, so enjoy the challenge this brings you.

Because running into groups of raiders with nothing but a sludgehammer, no caps, and maybe 10 laser pistol ammo is crap?
Ever tried killing a raider with a melee skill of 15, a small guns skill of 9, no ammo for any energy weapon or gun, and he's got a flamer? >_>
Spending 7 hours trying to carefully draw single raiders far enough away from others so I can get through one area is kind of stupid.

So I am wondering when I will start to find more ammo, more energy weapons, and when they start to actually be useful.

i start with small guns first get that up to around 50. why, as you noticed, lasers are scarce and so is the ammo in the game beginning.

talon mercs sometimes have lasers. i think enclave carries plasma sometimes. some of the strongest super mutants sometimes use energy weapons. as the game progress, some merchants will sell laser weapons. i don't know if this is a level thing.

Ya, I was debating going small weapons but, my build relys on really low agility (1 lol), so my small guns starts of REALLY low anyways. And I wanted to get my explosives, big guns and such up first but.
Do you think I should just remake (not that far out of the vault) and grba small guns up to maybe 50 or so?
I don't plan on using them later in the game, I want my regular carry around weapon to be a laser weapon, then having my Rock-It Launcher and Flamer on me at all times.

Get into a few talon company ambushes and


Also you should get your barter skill up to 15 asap so you pay decent ammo prices VS crazy ones. That is all you need to start off with. Should make energy cells cost about 3 a piece.

Use the laser pistol's accuracy to your advantage and take time to aim instead of spraying haphazardly. A laser pistol has a spread of 0 degrees like a sniper rifle fyi. So the only thing hurting accuracy is your aiming and the way your character makes the gun sway side to side.

no, the first few levels won't matter too much. just be careful, carry healing supplies. the two dungeons near megaton aren't too difficult. when you level up again, put skill points into small guns. there are skill books and bubble heads. it pays to be skilled in everyone to some degree. for ammo and repair reasons. also there are one of a kind weapons that you might take a fancy to/

I made a pure energy build some time ago that was rather fun.
Go to a certain store straight out of the vault, is has lets say without adding spoilers a energy weapon starter kit.
You have to repair the gun though, kill talon company and enclave they have ammo lol. Hmmm lets see what else, I sneak....alot, it saves a lot of ammo and its awesome seeing enemies turn to goo. .
Makes me want to make my energy build again....off I go!!!

Laser pistols are really crappy. You need either a Laser Rifle (still pretty crappy, imo) or a Plasma Pistol or Rifle.

You may need to level up to Level 3 or 4 before you see them, but if you have Broken Steel installed,


If you know where to go, you can get one of the most powerful weapons in the game as soon as you get out of the vault. I always rush the first part of the main quest to get lots of ammo and spares for repairs. Energy Weapons characters are almost as much fun as Explosives specialists.

Well i'm around level 7 now, I have a pretty decently repairs laser pistol, a laser rifle (which, lets just say, costs 3caps per ammo) and only about 100 ammo for it.
However my luck has been changing as I now have my arsenal up!

I got my Rock-It launcher
Laser Pistol
Mini Gun
Flamer

I only carry 3 of the 4 at a time right now but, i'm basically pretty much decked out, plus about 20 grenades. So far all the muties i'v run into haven't really been an issue which is nice.
I am still lookin' around for more energy stuff but I want to avoid O:A and Mothership Zeta for the time being. I know they are good spots but, I just wanna wait a bit and get further into the main story before I start branching off.
But jesus those first few levels were hard... even with ammo and the laser pistol... it was just so weak haha.