I just beat the game a few minutes ago on normal mode. Got to level 26 and overall found the game to be not that difficult. My SPECIAL was 7,6,5,7,5,5,5 and here were my major skills: 100 guns, 100 energy weapons, 92 speech, 75 lock picking, 62 barter, 50 explosives

First of all, let me start out with what I like about the game:


Now let me talk about what I dislike about the game and what I wish was different:


Now that that's done let me get into the topic...

So now I really want to replay the game to do things I haven't done and make different decisions but my question is this, what do you think is a really good build for a 2nd play through but on Very Hard Hard Core Mode? I was thinking for the special something along the lines of...
S - 5
P - 5
E - 9
C - 3
I - 5
A - 7
L - 6

A high endurance would seem to help a lot in this, but I really just want your opinions on this before I go ahead and devote my time to a second play through that may just be a catastrophe.

So all I want you guys to do is to post me your recommended SPECIAL + Skills Builds for Very Hard - hardcoe Mode. Thanks!

My only suggestion is to go with an Melee/Unarmed build, both combat types are very effective at later levels (albeit it can be frustrating in early game situations)...

Here would be my general build..

S: 9
P: 2
E: 9
C: 5-3 (Depending on your preference)
I: 6
A: 4
L: 4

Of course it is your character, and there are many different builds..

Wow I never thought of going unarmed. It does seem like a cool idea, I couldn't really get into it in Fallout 3. Would this build work good with just your bare fists or would I have to grab a death claw hand / dispalcer gloves?

Also, it seems like I'd save a lot on weapons + ammo with this, so that would be a huge advantage.

I'm about to embark on the hardcoe adventure myself and wondering the same thing. Except I think I'm going for a charismatic cowboy, guns and melee. A little role playin' never hurt anybody but I guess I'll see

The build I am currently using on Hard/hardcoe:

7 STR
5 PER
5 END
1 CHR
8 INT
9 AGI
5 LCK

After implants (DR, STR, PER, LCK, AGI) it looks like this:

8 STR
6 PER
5 END
1 CHR
8 INT
10 AGI
6 LCK

This gives you access to any gun-based perks you want, max AP for vats, high enough STR to use any gun without a strength penalty (and no need to take the weapon handling perk), plus ample skill points per level. You could very easily substitute out INT for LCK if you wanted, though, to make an even more proficient shooter. If you wanted to make a better build for combat than what I have, you'd probably be better off putting more into END and getting more implants (for example deceasing INT by one and adding 1 to END and simply getting an INT implant -- results in overall higher SPECIAL), I just didn't want to bother with it.

Thanks for that suggestion, I like that idea! Anyone else got some ideas?

Well, early in the game I would focus more on melee since I have not seen any vendors early in the game that sold brass/spiked knuckles... But from my experience, once I got freeside I was able to transition into a pure melee character.

Also, most unarmed weapons do high DMG, so you can breach enemies DT much easier than guns in my opinion.

STR - 1
PER - 1
END - 1
CHA - 1
INT - 1
AGI - 1
LUC - 1

That should make it even harder. :disguise:

Seriously, go with a weakling. I'd say to keep things fun and get some perks, go something like this:

S - 1 -Limits carrying weight and gun handling
P - 7 -Keep this high so at least you can spot the molerat before it kills you
E - 3 -You need some HPs to keep you alive
C - 9 -If you can't beat em, charm them
I - 5 -Let's face it, you can't be a rocket science if you're expecting to survive on these stats, but you'll need some skill points along the way
A - 6 -Might help you run away
L - 6 - You'll need better than average luck

Traits:
Small Frame +1 agility but you'll need to invest in some Hydra
Good natured -probably better to have the support skills than the combat skills on this build.

This is pretty much my New Vegas, uh, working girl.
Early perks:
Black Widow
Educated
Ferocious Loyalty (you'll need companions)
Lead Belly
Mysterious Stranger

Looks challenging to me on hardcoe.

I'm loving the new iron sights, so i'm playing completely without VATS, making agillity useless for me.
I play on very hard + hardcoe as a sniper'ish character.

STR - 5
PER - 5
END - 9
CHA - 4
INT - 9
AGI - 3
LUC - 5

Traits:
Small Frame, Good Natured.
The +1 agi from small frame + the agi implant puts me on 5 agi, making it possible to get the fast reload perk. Allthough i'm contemplating playing with 1 Agi alltogether since that stat only effects reload/holstering speed, which isn't an issue at all to me.
Sneak can be brought up with skill points.

I usually make my way to the implants lady before lvl 2 (yes it's possible) and get the intelligence implant for maximum skill points. Then return to Goodsprings and play as before.