I just finished the waters of life with my melee character

My plan is to get jack and then redo mothership zeta apparently on my 1st play through it even tho i left no "stone" unturned i missed a single holotape on a now inaccessable floor (not sure how i missed it but i did ) + id like to turn a couple thousand alien "friends" into apple sauce (note: apples not included)

also what melee weapon has the best effect agaist deathclaws (besides jack) my skill is around 85- 90 also the only xp ive gained was from the main quest and killing what i found on my way to quest points (mole rats dogs 5-6 raiders max)

oh ya is it just me or do ghouls tend to drop better loot if you smash them upside the head with a baseballbat instead of shooting them in the face ???

I don't think it's really a matter of level, but rather your skills and equipment. You said your Melee skill is about 90, so you should be okay provided you've got good equipment -- I'd suggest the Shishkebab (can't spell that, haha) coupled with the Pyromaniac perk.

Sorry I couldn't be much help -- Melee and Unarmed isn't really my forte.

Melee is not my forte either. I like unarmed (Deathclaw Guantlet) better. Might try a more melee proficient character next.

But that said, I was going to also recommend the Shishkebab.

Mmmm... Deathclaw Shishkebab

In fully-patched Fallout 3, DR Bypass (aka "ignore normal weapon resistance") does not work - so wear a suit of Power Armor, preferably Winterized T-51b since it's the most durable, otherwise Hellfire or regular T51b. That will help against their massive damage, and they rip any armor to shreds pretty quick. Use T-45d if you have no other choice, but definitely use PA.

Yeah, I forgot to mention the power armour -- you're going to need it, especially if you're getting up close and personal with them. Heh heh, it'll be like a clash of the titans.

I'd still recommend a long range weapon (even some grenades, maybe) for those dire circumstances.

Just bring a dart gun and a shotgun. Don't forget the dart gun.

i havent put any skill points into any other attack skills only melee a few points in science and lockpick so i could get into the overseers room in that one vault where you go into the simulation (also found out something new you can kill the place with teh rolling pin but when you talk to the man-girl-child-guy he resets all the people so was liek they never died (except there be epic blood splatters where they died)

any tips on how to get xp i apparently cant find any quest at the moment nearly duied in super duper mart luckily found a handful of grenades just 500 more till level 8 and cant find anything to kill otehr than vicous dogs but thats like 3xp per every half hour traveled (i go in circles or ignore places that i know whats in it (like greyditch)

Go through Bethesda Ruins. Clear out all of the Raiders outside and inside both buildings. Go somewhere else for 3 days and go back and repeat.
If you have Enclave in your game, travel to each of their camps and wipe them out every three days.
Erase the supermutant threat from DC- go through Seward Square, Vernon Square, L'Enfant Plaza, Falls Church, Mason District, Penn. Ave, Georgetowm and Takoma Park.

but wont teh supermutants obliterate me and i usaully die in teh bethesda ruins at anylevel prior to 14 :/

At your level, you'll have mostly lower level Muties and some of them will only be armed with nail boards. Get a Shiskebab schematic from Lucky Harith (or complete Blood Ties) and make a Shish. It will carve those big nasties up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

I prefer to use a baseball bat or chinese sword or as of recently the all mighty sledgehammer at 50% condition (one day ill pick up a supersledge but untill then this thing cripples anything in 1 hit)

I think the perfect recipe for the sanctuary is a high sneak skill, Dart gun, tons of Bottlecap mines, and stealthboys