Hey, is this a good Shotgun build? Is it possible to not use explosives, and use the sniper rifle to start with tough targets?
- I will use VATS alot
- I want to have good speech

S 5 (enough for most shotguns + I can wield the sniper rifle with an implant.)
P 5 (not so important for me)
E 7 (someone said me, it's recommended for a shotgun build to have high hitpoints, but I doubt it)
C 1 (I can have nice speech without it)
I 6 (I like to have this higher, maybe)
A 8 (for AP points)
L 8 (the build is focused on crits)

Hmmm.

Str 5 is fine the best early - late mid game shotgun is the caravan one, take rapid reload and a high agility it's perfect.
Per 5, since you plan on getting close knowing where even is would help, but take ED-E.
End, 7 is a joke ?

Cha, why take this so low then tag speech? blooming heck power G, Basic ammo will now cost 2 caps from the start, and slugs 4.
Early on if you truely plan on a "shotgun" build will make it a tad harsher.

Int 6, 5 is enough for most builds skill points are only rare under 3 and or with multipule weapon skills.
A 8, this is perfect for shotguns in fact is the right choice 100% imo, if you take small frame it gets better.
Luck 8, Not needed on normal with guns 60ish and a slug loaded caravan you can kill giant rads in roughly 6 - 10 seconds.
Even quicker with rapid reload and shotgun surgeon.

Look for a great build that can do anything and is focused in shotguns, just set everything at 5, then bump agility to 8 and place the last two anywhere you like.
This has no weaknesses and tons of strength, it also does not you requiring mass hikes to stats that everyone thinks are powerfull, and dump those that are not in peoples minds.

That build looks pretty good stat wise, be sure to get the shotgun based perks but IMO the caravan shotgun is the worst shotgun out there. If you use the Lever Action Shotgun combined with cowboy it has the second highest DPS, the only one with higher DPS is the riot shotgun. The best shotgun in my opinion though would be the hunting shotgun.

Reload, the caravan has an instant reload and two shots, the DPS may be better on the stats, but constant fire rate of.

Caravan, agility 9, two independent shots and rapid reload = a 1 second max reload and an almost pure macine shotgun.

Lever action 5 shots each individually loaded takes with the same build roughly 5 - 7 seconds and is also slightly less accurate when shooting fast.
That and the earliest you can get one is in the nightstalker cave near the Mojave outpost, then it's either Boulder or a looted caravan site.
Only reason the Lever is better is for it's higher damage, and if you get cowboy as a perk.

If you don't believe me try it out yourself.

S 5 - Agreed, you need no more than the wielding strength. I would reccomend an implant though.
P 5 - You will also not need it, they rely solely on close combat. Why would you need to see a target 300 ft away? No way in hell your gonna make that shot.
E 7 - You will need DECENT health, I would reccoment Life Giver perk. and Good Armor, close combat needs high hitpoints because you will usually get barraged going towards your target.
C 1 - Useless stat, its a good dumb stat.
I 6 - Keep it as is, but I think you might want to make Agility 7 and Intellect 7, a higher intellect means more points to spend on level ups, vital for all characters.
A 8 - Read Intelligence
L 8 - Good choice, use it to your advantage at the casino slots. I have 90K with a 10 luck stat, I won Orange Orange Orange on highest bet at all 3 casinos that have slots.

I guess the reason i'm a little bit Anti-Caravan shotgun is because i can never seem to hit anything with it... :down:

I'm the same with the lever, I swear the damn thing does not fire sometimes for me as well .

Next game I may try a merchant build and take cowboy and see how it fairs.

Edit, the hunting shotgun is better then any, though not my favourite.

Should I use explosives to start with a target, or a sniper?
Maybe I want higher perception then?
Or is that not neccesiary?
Is it really recommended to have 7 endurance?

Perception increases your accuracy with a shotgun thats irrelevent but i would snipe and use the shotgun for closer targets,but shotguns will do fine at range with slugs loaded or coin shot.
I do reccomend the hunting shotgun, riot shotguns have a pretty bad spread and slightly less dmg and there is no unique varient unlike the Hunting shotty.
But maybe its just me because im a sniper based character,but slugs will do the trick often one hit kills but they do require alot of lead.
The endurance is a hard call because they get run at you and hit you but i dont think its nessicary as agilty and strength would,dont forget intelligence for max skill points.

Perception doesn't increase accuracy unfortunatly, check the wiki if you don't believe me.
Hunting shotgun is often recommended so I think I will be using this.

I'm thinking to maybe lower perception to 4 and raise intelligence and use only shotguns only close quarter, no other stuff like explosives and snipers.
Or to leave it how it is now.

Yea i checked the wiki but the 360 version says it improves accrucy but apprently it dosent put, no matter the skill isnt very usefull.