My furthest character is currently a level 13 big guns user packing Vengeance and Eugene along with a flamer, rocket launcher, and a deathclaw gauntlet. I have been running into difficulties with him. Mostly it is that gatling lasers to repair Vengeance are pretty much non-existant, and Eugene just doesn't quite cut it for some of the tougher targets like Deathclaws. My other big issue is just the amount of ammo I consume and I find myself always trying to use the least ammo possible, which hampers my combat performance.

I was thinking about going with small guns in another playthrough, but I worry that they may not be strong enough to take down some of the tougher challenges.

I am just wondering if they would be a feasible option for a full playthrough, or if I need to switch to energy weapons later on.

Also, any tips on making the most of a small guns user would be great.

Definitely. Some of the finest guns in the game are "Small Guns" guns. An incomplete list, based on reader favorites:

* Dart Gun - Great for stealth players, since it's silent.
* Ol' Painless, found in Republic of Dave.
* Lincoln's Repeater, found in Museum of History.
* Terrible Shotgun, found in Evergreen Mills.
* Xuanlong Assault Rifle, obtained via quest in Museum of Technology.
* Blackhawk, obtained by bringing Agatha music paper.
* Sydney's 10mm SMG, obtained by giving Sydney a message from her dad.

i played small guns all the way through with everyone of my characters, the terrible shotgun is devastating for close range and Lincoln's repeater is better than a sniper rifle, the zulong, not right spelling, assault rifle will work to conserve ammo cause .556 is super common, do the outcast scavenging for just about infinite ammo, if they aren't cutting it at later levels energy weapons are a good investment

I prefer Energy Weapons, but Small Guns is my #2 for projectile guns. Big Guns are ammo hogs.

Generally, if your character has an option for distance fighting (Big Guns, Small Guns, or Energy Weapons) and one for close-in fighing (Unarmed or Melee), you're in good shape. If you choose Big Guns, it's especially imperative to have a close-in method for backup, you're more likely to run out of ammo.

This is all good to hear. I already have a level 6 small guns character who is looking like this right now:

S. 5
P. 6
E. 6
C. 1
I. 10
A. 6
L. 9

Barter 19
Big guns 19
Energy Weapons 19
Explosives 37
Lockpick 47
Medicine 42
Melee 23
Repair 57
Science 45
Small Guns 52
Sneak 40
Speech 14
Unarmed 19

Perks:

2 Intense trainings put into luck
Educated
Comprehension
Gunslinger
Rad Regeneration
Wired Reflexes

And I got 10 intelligence with the bobblehead fyi

I am using recon armor, the shady hat, and some tinted reading glasses till I find some shades lol

I use a .44 magnum as much as I can afford to due to ammo scarcity but more so due to lack of "repair parts"
I also use a combat shotgun, Chinese Assault rifle, occasionally a sniper rifle, and pack a hunting rifle and 10mm pistol for dispatching pests using one or the other dependent on range.


I posted all that because I am looking for suggestions on things that would benefit him.
I am going the snide route through the wasteland survival guide to get +3% critical chance as it all adds up, especially with higher crit. multipliers.
I am about to do the Robco facility part, and then finish with the library.

How soon do you think I would be able to handle getting the Blackhawk, and also Lincolns Repeater. I know that the quest for blackhawk takes you pretty close to Old Olney which is full of "you know whats" (trying to avoid spoilers). I might be able to get Lincolns Repeater, I just really, really, really hate feral ghouls. Civil ones are alright though. I just hate how the run at you.

On another note, has anyone every noticed a resemblance between feral ghouls and Gollum from the lord of the rings movies. They walk kind of like him, Sound a lot like him, and even look kind of like him lol.

I strongly prefer Small Guns, Sure they arent kill all god mode one hit killers like a Missle Launcher or anything, but It makes up for less power with high accuracy and power with each point invested into Small Guns.

you could just get the ghoul mask and it makes getting the repeater much simpler,

Small Guns are overwhelmingly the best choice for early game and late game. If you still want to use other guns, make a character with above average Intelligence and pick the comprehension perk- you'll have no problem with skill points after that.

Got the objectives in the robco factory and now I am looting it while the protectrons do some "pest control". After that I think doing tenpenny tower would be a good idea, then I'll get Lincolns Repeater, and then do the final task for the survival guide.

After that I should be strong enough to go get the Blackhawk.

Then maybe do some of the main quest and get the dish for 3-dog and also do the mini quest for the Xualong Assault rifle while I'm at it.

Maybe then I'll do stealing independence and Reilly's Rangers to get Sydney's SMG.

If you're near Tenpenny, don't forget to stop by Lucky's and pick up the Lucky Shades.

Edit: I found it

Welcome to spoiler hell.

I am heading out to see Roy Phillips. From the sounds of it there will be a lot of zombie killing to get there, although I plan to do the diplomatic solution so I don't get bad karma lol.

Small guns is one of the most useful skills. Chinese assualt rife, hunting rifle, dart gun and licons repeater are some of the best guns in the game and the are small guns, and thats not counting the black hawk and terrible shotgun

And, it's the most useful skill early on. After all, you start with the 10mm pistol.

I got the ghoul mask now. Now my next task is to get to the mall. Going to take a anacostia station by rivet city to the history museum exit. The ghoul mask should help me out on the way. Then I'm going to get Lincoln's Repeater.

I prefer Small Guns over Energy weapons. In general there are more "repair parts" and ammo is MUCH easier to find. besides, it's easier to find small guns that are just as powerful or even better. If I use them at all Big Guns are saved only for the biggest badest mofos in the wastes or if I'm just overwhelmed with no other choices. Explosives are not to be under estimated. I started a character that almost exclusively use grenades just for fun. I didn't get very far (ran out of grenades too often ) but it really opened my eyes to the potential of explosives. They can be used in place of big guns to take out some of the biggier enemies. Of course big guns are usualy more effective but heavier, harder to keep in shape and harder to keep ammo for.

Yeah, grenades can be good as long as you don't have a long distance to toss them at. I hate having to face the sky while lobbing one, and also when it explodes mid-air.

I hardly ever use grenades, but I do like using mines when the opportunity strikes. Usually it is in a place with a bottle neck or corridor and I have not been detected, and the enemy is either a melee one, or there is something to hide behind to make my enemy run towards me. I discovered how much fun they are since I laid a trap in tepid sewers in the corridor by where you find rocksalt. I love how they are so confident they are gonna kill me, and then their corpse sails past me into the subway tunnel lol.

I am in Anacostia station right now and am done playing tonight.

I am level 8 now and have taken the following perks

Intense training X 2
Comprehension
Educated
Gunslinger
Entamologist
Commando

Next I am deciding between Toughness, strong back, scrounger, and fortune finder

Any suggestions on which would be best for this build. They are the only ones worth taking next level up. I am not sure that I will need toughness quite yet as I don't often take very much damage so I will take it later. Greater carrying capacity is always great, but it isn't as important as it was with my big guns user. Ammo is more plentiful with small guns to scrounger may not be very important, and fortune finder I hear is not really needed due to the large amounts of money you can already gain at this point makes it overkill.

I have a stealth character the weapons i use are silencenced 10mm pistol, infiltrator and the vampires edge.

I am playing through the game for a second time I decided early to avoid big guns and energy weapons. I am at level 18, on normal difficulty, and have not had a problem... I use VATS a lot and have taken perks that improves my "in VATS" accuracy for both one handed and two-handed weapons, i.e., pistols, revolvers and long-guns. Also I take perks that increase my Action Points (AP) points.

If you did the same you will not have a problem. Make sure you max out repair, medicine and explosives.... repair is obvious... maxing out medicine will save on stimpacks and maxing explosives will greatly improve the damage done from grenades and mines. When your explosive perk gets maxed out you get the added benefit of your grenades not rolling around after you throw them... they stick where they land and if you actually hit the enemy with one it explodes immediately.

Good luck friend.

:)

Do you mean my explosives skill, or the demolitions expert perk?

Why bother with all of that, you're just going to end up maxing your skills in no time.

I wasn't aware of that, it's good know. I hardly ever use Grenades since they're so bloody inaccurate, always bouncing away from my target. I only using them in certain situations, like when I'm above something and just have to drop them down. They come in handy at Lincoln's Memorial as well.

I have acquired Lincoln's Repeater and now I am going to test it out on some muties at the mall.

Update: It works great. I love being able to drop brutes in one shot. I am now tempted to put Lincolns hat and a pre war suit and massacre paradise falls lol jk.

Actually I really have an itch to play with some grenades now so I have an idea. Maybe I should make a stealth melee character who also uses explosives.

I could lay traps with mines, grenade groups of enemies, and sneak up and kill people with a knife, or sword.

Just a thought.

If you can drop a Brute with one shot then you're playing at too easy a level.