So, I've turned in the water chip, joined the BoS, gotten power armor, am armed with a Winchester Widowmaker, and are level 7. Should I start building up my energy weapons skill to get ready for some of the more powerful weapons or should I keep improving my small guns skill/any other skill you would recommend? Also, as a bonus, where would I find a better shotgun? :gun: :yuck:

You should imrpove your Small Guns skill a little and energy weapons a lot (it all depends on how high your skills are now).

And I recommend you go to the Hub and head all of the way past the second grid to a factory where you can buy a Combat Shotgun (I gave it to Tycho and we killed one (almost two) of the deathclaws in the Boneyard, I'm planning on leveling up and joining the BoS before trying again, afterwards I'll go around dealing with whoever else I can).

How high is your small guns? Posting your character sheet would help us.

Personally I'd be looking at moving to Big Guns or Energy Weapons, Especially if you're going to take the combat option in removing the master.

Depending on your special you may also want to boost your speech and sneak to limit how much combat you're going to do on the way.

I'm playing as Albert, and I think my small guns skill is somewhere around 171%. I followed Sebor's advice and bought a combat shotgun.

All my companions died... so I just ran at the deathclaws with a turbo plasma rifle, I won.