Forum:Melee Stealth Build?

Im really stuck :/ im trying to come up with a good melee/stealth build, this character would also be my Legion Playthrough, but i couldnt help but think that The NCR all pretty much use guns, that and most of the battles take place in open areas, not very generous for a stealth build, but a pure melee build doesnt sound good to me either, because again theres the problem with most enemys using guns and i dont want this character to wear heavy armour. Levi Lauson 13:46, April 22, 2011 (UTC)

Be a Cowboy. Take the Cowboy perk and other perks that compliment that perk. Try to have 10 Agility and 6 or better Strength.Squalor 14:38, April 23, 2011 (UTC)

I say use leather armour (Reinforced, or non-Reinforced) or a merc outfit. I don't like using heavy armour, so I nearly always use one of them, or a labcoat or tux. I would recomend Oh Baby for a melee weapon, or that unique golf club. I would also say you should have a high explosives and sneak, so you can plant live explosives in pickpocket style, or lob greades and people. But like the guy above, I also think using Coyboy would be good, maybe carry one small pistol/revolver as a back up weapon. 15:54, April 22, 2011 (UTC)

Melee (I think) is a backup skill to either explosives, energy or guns. Go with the golf club, you may have to swing it a few more times, but its light, Oh Baby weighs 20 lbs. If your gonna use a 20 lbs weapon, then use the Thermic Lance. Just dont use melee as your primary weapon, if you do, then get the Enclave Power Armor. Even though its 45 lbs, its considered Medium, so you'll still have decent speed. Actually use it if your primary is gonna be explosives, and if its on Hardcore, and you use explosives, don't bring companions into battle with you. I can't stress enough, melee is a backup skill.Pappy002 22:44, April 22, 2011 (UTC) p.s. Playing Legion sucks


 * STR = 7 after implants
 * END = 6+ after implants
 * AGL = 7 after implants
 * rest of SPECIAL not essential, work for your own desires although I recomend going high on the END


 * chose traits from these four; 1)Built to destroy,2) four eyes, 3)good natured, 4)wild wasteland

discussion

Learn to use walls, they are your friends. Show yourself at long distance to those NCR punks with their fancy rifles, then duck behind a wall (or rock if no walls are handy). The punks will come to you and when they get close you can jump out and teach them the power of close range fighting. Also note that VATS can do a real good job of getting into up close and personal with enemies. I prefer unarmed to melee against ranged because it is even closer range than melee and gun wielders often auto miss at extremely close range - however unarmed does not fare as well as melee against deathclaws and Cazs, although teamed with VATS distance closing can work. Stealth is fine, but it is also possible to use the terrain and develop patience by waiting for them to come to you when you cannot sneak up on them. Strength in combat is very important for melee builds, but endurance is also important and strength can be buffed with common foods and alcohols and even drugs (survival 50+ = +2 STR from alcohol and some foods, and they stack, so you only need a 6 STR to have a 10 STR in combat if you drink and eat before getting into battle - too bad you need STR 7 to get unstoppable force but on the bright side when survival = 100 then a single beer or bighorner steak provide +3 STR). Survival is more important for melee than for ranged builds, not just for the buffs but for the improved healing. Agility wouldn't be important for melee types if Slayer didn't require it to be 7 (and you want slayer). Heavy handed is not a question, with a stealth build do not go heavy handed (you are aiming for stealth critical damage). With high enough stealth those open areas are not as big a problem you might think, above 60 stealth you can get quite close as long as you stay away from the direction they are facing (also VATS can close a considerable distance for stealth attacks). Probably more important to improve stealth to 60 first before combat skill, then combat. 75.67.224.12 09:05, April 23, 2011 (UTC)

Everyone's giving Levi good advise. I would just add, if this is your "Legion" play through wear Legion armor. Start with recruit armor and work your way up. Use Legion weapons, Machette first and cowboy repeater when necessary. Later on, get a bumper sword. Squalor 14:38, April 23, 2011 (UTC)

Melee builds rock, they aren't backup weapons for guns, energy weapons or explosives (and BTW, the secondary skill that blends better with explosives is unarmed). One huge disavantage of this build is the lack of ranged attacks options, but they exist. Throwing knifes, spears and poisons are your friends, use them. If you want to specialize in melee is a good idea to have the build related perks: Slayer, Unstoppable Force, Super Slam, Piercing Strike, two levels of Toughness and the sub-dermal armor. Stonewall will sure help a lot, even if it's bugged, but since you will use melee and unarmed weapons you will gain +5 DT. I strongly advise against heavy armor, I don't like it because slows you down and melee characters need to shorten the distance from the target fast. If you have Dead Money, use the Sierra Madre Reinforced. If not, Leather Armor reinforced or Chinese Stealth Armor or Vault 34 Security Armor (bear in mind when using the later two you need to have Jury Rigging and carry some Pre-War clothes with you, the HP of this armors are extremelly low). If you want a good melee weapon from the start go to Wolfhorn ranch and get Chopper, this weapon rocks better than a machete. I prefer to use Knock-Knock than Oh, Baby!, Knock-Knock is lighter and the knock down effect is higher than Oh, Baby! if you have Super Slam perk. Also, most melee weapons are considered stealth, so what you really need is a good strategy for remain undetectable. Brfritos 17:36, April 23, 2011 (UTC)

Wow, this is great folks thanks, i will try all this out, accidently deleted my previous game so i pretty much have to start from scratch :/ but with this info i might actually be able to apply myself into the game properly, Thanks :). Levi Lauson 17:55, April 23, 2011 (UTC)