It's a roleplaying game, so I highly doubt any of us take the same exact perks every playthrough.

However, I'm willing to bet there's a couple here and there that you're just so tempted to grab every single time simply because they're that powerful.

For me? I repeatedly find myself taking Rapid Reload (if I can) and Finesse as if they were essential, and Comprehension automatically goes to any character with above-par intelligence. And if I can? Strong Back and Burden to Bear, as well as Pack Rat. There's actually a LOT of good weapons out there that are only viable if you can manage the carry weight to carry them and their ammo, so Strong Back, Burden to Bear and Pack Rat feel as essential to heavier weapons as Cowboy feels to the Medicine Stick and Lucky. The difference being, those three will allow use of all sorts of items, from Mercy to Annabelle to the CZ57 Avenger etc etc etc...

Strong Back, BTB, Pack Rat and Jury Rigging.

Comprehension & Educated. A couple I'll take for roleplay reasons, like Retention & Adamantium Skeleton, but they're the main two.

Thoughness is the only one that nearly all of my characters get, I just like the extra-DT... Other than that? There are essentials for specific weapon builds, like all Melee or Unarmed get Piercing Strike and Super Slam if they meet the SPECIAL-requirements, or all EW characters get Vigilant Recycler.

And most of my characters get of the six-specific perks at the first level up because I can hardly find something else at level 2. Which one depends on the character.

I nearly always take Light Touch, Travel Light, Tunnel Runner, Better Criticals, Finese, Toughness(2), Jury Rigging

Edit: Also Silent Running

I don't consider any perk essential all the time. If a perk fits a certain build, take it, if it doesn't, don't take it. It is that simple.

Black Widow

My Courier always handles certain package....

Handloader has been on ever courier I've made so far, For some reason I've never built a energy weapon courier yet. Efficient recycler too if I ever did. I usually always take Jury rigging too to make field repairs for exotic weapons much more easier.

Cowboy, Rapid Reload, Run'n'gun, Bloody Mess, Gunslinger. Basically anything that helps with revolvers and rifles cause I luuurve them so much!

The carry weight perks (Strong Back, Burden to Bear)

Rapid Reload after I noticed how actually useful it is

Comprehension for additional skill book points

Life Giver

Light Step. I [censored]*** hate traps.