I can't say I've ever done a play through and consistently used an energy weapon.

I was curious as to what your preferences are and why!

Disregarding all Melee Weapons

Energy weapons. I play with EVE and it improves energy weapons so much it's unbelievable, from better crit effects (like melting, turning enemies into ash), random arcs jumping on gun, and there is a perk with more mods when u kill enemy with energy weapon they explode like grenade, u can kill whole pack of raiders with 1 shot, but it can become dangerous if they come close, i died so much time when they explode in front of me. But anyway much fun, and i really like BoS and they are energy weapon nuts so it goes hand to hand

Energy weapons because when you get energy weapons early in the game there's a lack of ammo. Although further in the game, the only real good energy weapon is the Q35 Matter Modulator. If you have the plasma rifle with weapon mods it's good. But you have to find the mods in stores which is a pain in the ass sometimes. The Laser RCW is ok as well. But some of the other energy weapons are impractical. Especially the obsolete laser rifle.

Normal weapons, call me old school but I trust bullets more. Also because I seem to kill things faster then with energy weapons. Though I make an exception for the the Vengeance.

My usage is as follows :

Long Range - Rifles (any rifle)

Medium Range - Energy (RCW, Pewpew, Multiplas)

Close Range - Shotguns (Hunting, Mossberg, you name it)

Sneak attack from behind - Rebar, Fire Ax, Snow Shovel (for the knockdown effect)
If the sneak attack didn't kill them, I'll dash away to cover, ready a shotgun, and finish them as the pursue me.

I use a pretty equal helping of normal/energy/melee I think, though mostly modded weapons.

I use mostly normal guns in Fallout 3 and like Tesvixen, mine are mostly modded. Compared to energy weapons, I think normal guns are more brutal and harsh, which fits the D.C. atmosphere perfectly in my opinion.

When I do get around to playing Fallout NV however, I'm going to stick to energy weapons. Strange choice in a Western-themed wasteland I know, but it's mostly because New Vegas, to me, feels very much alive and closer to humanity rebuilt than D.C. ever was (plus I absolutely loved the MF Hyperbreeder Alpha from the Gun Runners' Arsenal).

I agree, Scheme.  I prefer the kinetics/impact of 'bullet' weapons hands down, but I'm on a Metroid kick as of late and that's all about the energy weapons and missiles.  

I like normal weapons it just feels better when you kill an enemy with a knife or gun then shooting a bunch of lasers and hitting nothing.

While energy weapons are a thing in Fallout I do believe there's nothing better than good ol' ballistics.

That moment when you line up a shot, pull the trigger and a bullet gets that damn ghoul right in the head...priceless.

I'd say for me its 6 cases out of 10 I will use a traditional gun.

Energy weapons are where it is at, I mean who doesn't love turning people into goo or ash?

Normal weapons all the way!
Who doesn't love to put some bullets into a monster or something?
But to be fair, I'd use energy weapons in heavy form.
Just obliterating a group of bandits with a tesla Cannon is just awesome!

I like normal weapons because their ammo is more easy to find and and their appearance and better

I don't like melt-down effect in energy weapons so... I stand for Low - Tech Firearm.

I'm a gun guy, I just looove the look, sound and feel of guns!
But there is one

The Argon:

It's a reaaally sick energy sniper rifle!

jasper-op wrote:

I'm a gun guy, I just looove the look, sound and feel of guns!
But there is one

The Argon:

It's a reaaally sick energy sniper rifle!

The armor and weapons are sick!
Could you give me the link as well?

Though I seem to always fall for ballistic guns, I've recently fallen in love with Energy Weapons. Again.

I mean, once you install EVE they just look so beautiful, and the animated moving laser sights.... hnngghh plus who doesn't like disintegrating stuff?

Unless I were in the Enclave or the Brotherhood, I would shy away from using energy weapons. They're more powerful, but fragile, more difficult to maintain and supply with ammo, and make you a target to anyone who may want an energy weapon. Normal weapons are more reliable in the wasteland for the average joe. Of course, in a lot of playthroughs I'm with the Brotherhood so I wind up using energy weapons. Gameplay-wise I prefer them because of the laser rifle's range and accuracy.

Im on the fence with it comes to bothe of them. Both serve their purpose very well but they both have their faults and when it comes down to it, I would stick with whatever is more reliable and has a common ammo type.

Energy weapons...

Light saberssssssss  

but seriously normal weapons are more reliable