I want to specialize in Speech, Science and Energy Weapons. Is this viable?

What should my S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skills look like? Which perks should I take?

This will be my second character (my first was just for getting a feel of them game, I used sneak for him but I'm not very fond of it in this game), and I'm trying to go for a Intelligent, words-before-action kind of guy. Help?

1. Yes, it's viable. I tend to play one similar, and I don't even take Speech!

2. Depends on how you want to play, and how you want to roleplay. For example, despite the posturing about every choice having a consequence, Charisma is a dump stat even if you're going for the "Speaker" route. I like to put 8 into Endurance just so I can get all seven SPECIAL implants and the Sub-Dermal Armor.

Good Natured and Skilled is a phenomenal combination if you're going for the social / practical skills instead of overt offense, and if you're sticking to Energy Weapons, you get a massive net bonus from Good Natured since you only care about one weapon type.

I should avoid putting points into charisma? Is that what you mena by "dump"?

Also, yeah I was especially thinking of getting GN and Skilled. What about Confirmed Bachelor and Lady Killer? I've heard they help with some stuff.

A "Dump stat" is something in character creation that has use but is generally believed to be underwhelming based on the circumstances of the game, sort of like Wisdom for non-Cleric/Druids in some of the modern cRPG games where willpower saves didn't come up often. In this particular case, Charisma only affects Companion Nerve which only makes them do more damage - something they're already pretty over-tuned at in the first place. With next to no Charisma checks in conversation in the game, Speech and Barter being variable skills you can invest points in, and I BELIEVE only ONE perk that requires Charisma, it's mathematically a waste of points to be Charismatic unless you're an avid roleplayer.

My current character has 7 in Charisma because he's supposed to be a sociable, charming doctor, it didn't make sense to set CHA to 1.

Confirmed Bachelor pops up a LOT, Lady Killer not so much. Plus more enemies in the game are male, and you can pretend you're a swingin' gay scientist to boot.

Charisma is good for a pure Speaker type char, as a lot of points in it will make your companions very deadly indeed. I'm currently playing a more speech-oriented playthrough, and with a CHR of 8, Boone and ED-E pretty much blow away anything I don't kill in the opening volley of a fight. But if you plan to beef up EW's a lot, then you may not need or want such deadly companions.

The majority of the human enemies you'll meet in the game are male, so pick whichever perk applies to the six of the character you make- if male, pick Confirmed Bachelor; if female, pick Black Widow. Either of the other choices would be for flavor only, if you feel like you have a lot of perks to waste... heh.

Confirmed Bachelor it is!