In the early part of the game you want a balance of perks so you can do lots of things and have flexibility down the road for what type of character you're going to build. Lockpick, hacking and crafting are all important early game skills I want so where do I put my "offensive perk points" early in the game?

For me...based on what I did in New Vegas it's simple...have one "go to" weapon of choice...the SHOTGUN.

All my early game weapon perks will go to improving this weapon.

Plasma sniper and turtles all the way down.

I'm putting perk points into Rifleman so I can use my Laser Musket like a boss.

Running I guess. Personally I never liked the shotguns limited range to be effective.

Energy Rifles, yo. Probably the Laser Musket early on. I'm not a fan of those assault rifles or SMGs - I like to take things one shot at a time.

Ditto, I never cared for the short range of shotguns nor their noise and, often, limited capacity and slow reload times. I much prefer an 18-shot silenced pistol or a sniper rifle (reload is slow and capacity usually low, yes, but it only takes one shot anyway ;D )

Bolt or semi auto rifle, this time with a bayonet for some melee backup.

Yeah in theory I understand the allure of shotguns.. but in practice they seem limited. I'd much rather have a powerfist or ripper for up-close and personal encounters.

My tunnel snake

Ya, but you got to give the elephant some credit too.

OT: Silenced 10mm hand gun with (hopefully) forced sneak crits.

Edit: Silenced...not Scienced

I have in the past preferred energy weapons as it means fewer types of ammunition I have to keep track of.... granted that they were tough to get ahold of early in the games.

im a rifle man, so i will never touch a shotgun.

I've always gone with a bolt-action in all fallouts, but this time around, I think I'm going for an energy-weapon equivalent (single-shot laser, most likely). I intend to craft weapons on my first playthrough and I really don't like the look of the pipe rifles.

I've seen someone mention that the firing mode can be changed for certain weapons. I'd like to get some kind of single shot carbine. Most FPS I play that have the option to go auto or semi, I go single shot. Quick headshots and move along. I always have something like 98% headshots in Battlefield and stuff haha

In 3 I used primarily the combat shotgun for close range combat, scoped .44 for mid range, and sniper rifle for long range. I will have to wait and see if 4 has equivalent weapons, and what they might be.

Early game will probably be whatever I can get my hands on.

Agreed - If I didn't use console commands (to make my character at least what he/she is supposed to be (if not more...hate tedium in games after all!): an ex-soldier (so that knowledge about guns is a given IMHO)) I'd probably go for handguns and then rifles (and later on: Energy Weapons)...shotguns aren't bad, but outside of fighting indoors I think they aren versatile enough!

greetings LAX

You remind me of when I played New Vegas. I forgot to bring my Gauss rifles to the final battle, weapons that could have beheaded Lanius in a single shot. Instead I had to kill him using a sawnoff, the only weapon I'd brought that could pierce his armor.

Haven't quite decided between energy rifles or a good ol' 44' magnum (or equivalent). I still want to wait to see a list of all of the available perks before I fully decide on my S.P.E.C.I.A.L. so I'll probably decide on my weapon choice then.

Sneaking early early (early) game is always really fun. After some levels I will already revolver (and ambush, hopefully with traps, if the game lets me) my way trough the game.

Get my hands on the first energy weapon I can find, of course. You don't expect me to use peasant weaponry do you?

But it looks like the earliest one we'll be finding is that laser musket. Looks more like scrap that can barely fire a laser if you ask me. But it will have to do until I can get my hands on some warm plasma. Looking to make a plasma shotgun that delivers my own personal armageddon to my foes.

10mm handgun, hunting rifle (lever action 357 would be great) and a shotgun for close quarters. My usual gear. Hope there are some grenades or launchers.

(I like real world guns in Fallout and I have a feeling I'm going to have to get used to their absence in F4.... I haven't seen anything but scrounged-looking custom jobbies, but then I'm not very observant)

My problem solver will my ol' trusty friend, Mr 22.

When people start making too much noise, Mr 22 will make a much louder noise

Mr 22 also has 6 little friends that can run much faster than any raider.

Side By side has been my first love. Nothing change my feelings towards that awesome double barrel goddes.

No clue