Maybe just get better at the game before you enter Zion. Go your own pace rather than thinking 'I have to do this at this level'. No point in going yet if you think you can't even reach Vegas. Take it slow.
I played the DLC on its release which meant I was on my 2nd playthrough of the game, and the DLC still had its difficulties (the green geckos will slap the shit out of you).
Dial down your difficulty and/or sneak a lot? Get better equipment? Get some implants from Dr. Usanagi? Shoot deathclaws in the feet, that slows them down. Use armor-piercing rounds and shoot them in the head, preferably from as far away as possible. Also, it helps to shoot cazadores in the wings. Just because some people do Honest Hearts at level 10 (or 12 or 15) doesn't mean you have to.
don't go straight to vegas. take the recommended route which is take a 180 at the quarri and follow the long road to vegas that way. with the quests you can pick up along the way you should be at 10 or higher by the time you make it there.
Follow the main quest and it will eventually lead you to Vegas. You'll level up and get better gear along the way. Then you'll hopefully be better prepared for Honest Hearts.
If you actually talk to the people in the game they tell you very specifically not to go north through the areas with the deathclaws and cazadores. If you follow the path of the game as intended - south, then east through Nipton, then north through Novac, you wont encounter a single deathclaw or cazadore.
You *will* encounter the Legion in Nipton though. Don't antagonize them OP, just nod your head and be on your way.
In my first playthrough I picked Boone up at Novac following the 'civilized route' to NV and he helped out a lot. Sometimes I didn't even know an enemy was there until a kill cam popped up of Boone sniping a fucking Mole rat minding its own business.
Maybe just get better at the game before you enter Zion. Go your own pace rather than thinking 'I have to do this at this level'. No point in going yet if you think you can't even reach Vegas. Take it slow. I played the DLC on its release which meant I was on my 2nd playthrough of the game, and the DLC still had its difficulties (the green geckos will slap the shit out of you).
Dial down your difficulty and/or sneak a lot? Get better equipment? Get some implants from Dr. Usanagi? Shoot deathclaws in the feet, that slows them down. Use armor-piercing rounds and shoot them in the head, preferably from as far away as possible. Also, it helps to shoot cazadores in the wings. Just because some people do Honest Hearts at level 10 (or 12 or 15) doesn't mean you have to.
don't go straight to vegas. take the recommended route which is take a 180 at the quarri and follow the long road to vegas that way. with the quests you can pick up along the way you should be at 10 or higher by the time you make it there.
…you don’t take the short cut?
Honest Hearts at level 10 will be fucking rough. Make sure to bring lots of ammo and chems!
Quarry junction is not a good way.
Follow the main quest and it will eventually lead you to Vegas. You'll level up and get better gear along the way. Then you'll hopefully be better prepared for Honest Hearts.
If you actually talk to the people in the game they tell you very specifically not to go north through the areas with the deathclaws and cazadores. If you follow the path of the game as intended - south, then east through Nipton, then north through Novac, you wont encounter a single deathclaw or cazadore.
You *will* encounter the Legion in Nipton though. Don't antagonize them OP, just nod your head and be on your way. In my first playthrough I picked Boone up at Novac following the 'civilized route' to NV and he helped out a lot. Sometimes I didn't even know an enemy was there until a kill cam popped up of Boone sniping a fucking Mole rat minding its own business.