Energy weapons

Energy Weapons is a Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics skill.

The care and feeding of energy-based weapons. How to arm and operate weapons that use laser or plasma technology.

Initial Level: Starting Energy Weapons skill is equal to 10% + (1% x Agility). Average characters will have a 15% skill.

Energy Weapons: a practical guide
Energy weapons, depending on the character, are the most versitile and powerful weapons in the Fallout universe. Unfortunatly, they're also rare, hard to get and/or expensive. Ammo is rare and pricy so usually an Enclave or supermutant patrol needs to be sacraficed (if you can do it) to feed your hungry gun. However, a character with a lazer gratling gun, alien blaster or other such weapon encased in power armour is a walking tank, all but undefeatabe. If you can survive the early game until you can get an energy weapon, a PC can be a very happy person as they crisp/melt/vaporize all who stand in their way.

Tactics
Energy weapons almost always must be tagged to be effective. Their are now books or other easy ways to raise Energy Weapons in Fallout. So a good combination is Energy, Small Guns and a non combat skill. With this configuration, the PC can defend themselves until an energy weapon is found (try the Glow or Serria Army Base). Remember, like all weapons, energy guns come usefull and useless so find one that suits you and stick to it. Remember, a character doesn't have to aim energy weapons as they are devistating even prior to a critical hit. To really make a fight onesided, take perks such as sharpshooter and more criticals to really start the plasma flying ;)

The bottom line
Energy weapons are rare, expensive and require (usually) that energy weapons be a tag skill. A PC must set aside perks and skill points early in anticipation for these superweapons early or else be unable to use them. This runs the risk of premature termination if the player has no other combat skills. However, an upgraded plasma rifle, gratling laser, alien blaster, or simmilar is usually capable of vaporising most enimies (including BOS & Enclave) in one hit. So, in a fight, properly prepaired and armoured, it will be the PC in a feild of ash and fried enemies. Power to the plasma!