Take Comprehension . This doubles the skill points you receive from reading found skill books.
Start with 9 Intelligence. This maximizes your skill points per level up right from the beginning. fallout-3-game-of-the-year-edition
Use duplicate weapons and armor in your inventory to repair the ones you have equipped. It saves inventory weight and increases weapon damage. 🚀 Tackling the DLCs Guide :: The (almost) Perfect Start to a New Game Take Comprehension
Choose Small Guns (early survival), Repair (maintains gear and prevents jams), and Medicine (makes your Stimpaks highly effective). 🎖️ Best Early Perks Repair (maintains gear and prevents jams)
Defuse the bomb rather than blowing it up. Saving Megaton gives you access to a safe home, merchants, and a central quest hub.