My usual play style is the sneaky-shooty like I'm sure many of you are familiar with, but I've always been Melee-curious (especially the hide behind a dark corner for the mutant to walk by and VATS him to death with a sledgehammer sneak crit)

My first experiment with melee in New Vegas left me wih 4 HP and a broken arm and leg, which on hardcoe is a bit of an issue

So my question is for feedback from you primaryily melee guys and gals out there. Do you feel like you have to pair it with another combat skill? Do most of your attacks come from within VATS or without? Power Attacks? Blocking?

Should I not quit my day (night, really) sniping job?

EDIT: I wanted to add this question-- How the hell are you klilling Deathclaws and Cazadors?

Melee does the most damage.

You will need a lot of strength and endurance to be a good melee character with Medium or Heavy armor.

I'm on hardcoe and HARD difficulty and I use Veronica has my companion and she would PLOW [censored] down. 1-2 hits, things fell like they weren't NOTHING. Even Super Mutant Masters, she even took down Deathclaws once I gave her some Power Armor.

With decent armor and weapon with high strength and endurance, melee characters can destroy.

* Melee is "married" with Unarmed as far as perks go, so you want your melee guy to be very capable in both skills.
* STR gives extra damage so start with 9 and implant to 10.
* END must be high too, you are always up close after all.
* I wouldn't save points on AGI or LCK, you need those AP and crit chance to slow time when you get crowded. I'd also claim it's better to run faster rather than slower when charging enemy who is shooting at you. If you want to get some extra points reduce PER and CHA.
* Best Melee weapon I've found was in Camp Searchlight Fire Station.

Veronica's DT doesn't change even after I gave her T-51b.....

to be honest, melee and unarmed are overpowered in this game. as much as I like them, being more powerfull/reliable than plasma weapons is not very realist. you will crit very often, and you could get Pushy, a 75 damage unique power fist as soon as 2-3 hours in the game...

I played an unarmed char in FO3 and it was very easy. Unarmed (and I'm guessing melee) have been balanced against ranged to make them equally viable, only unarmed requires no ammo, and combined with the perks, is a cakewalk. Fighting with VATS allows you to instantly teleport to your enemy when you get close enough, too. Deathclaws can be troublesome if you don't get the first hit; if you do, you knock them down and can beat on them until they're dead.

i know you can get Veronica in trading post 188, but i have no idea where that is, any landmarks anyone can give me to find her? i've only taken the southern road through primm, nipton, novac and i'm now at helios. can someone help? trying to build a solid melee team lol.