I got really lucky apparently. I just jumped down like I was supposed to (thought I had to) and opened up with the 5mm (wasn't sure I could switch weapons, obviously wasn't supposed to). The deathclaw ran around a lot, was distracted by other humans, only hit me once or twice. It actually died right as my 5mm ammo ran out, which made me think the whole thing was heavily scripted.
Still, it is one of the more frustrating parts of the game. Whatever happened to alternative routes to quest completion, Bethesda? You couldn't set up a physics trap or something? Maybe talk Preston into sneaking to a closer position for sniping? I consider this evidence Bethesda's interest in / ability at making a proper RPG is still declining.
Right, set a trap for something that you (the character) not only don't know is there, but in all likelihood aren't even aware exists (you've been in cryo stasis for 200 years). "Hey Preston, stop guarding those whiny bitches and get ready to ambush something that I *know* is there because I read about it online/played this quest already. Don't worry, the raiders aren't going to sneak in and slaughter the Longs. Even if they did, nothing of value would be lost since all they do is complain. There's only one suit of power armor? Don't worry, you're immortal! We'll set up a tripwire trap with all those pipe-rifles I've been collecting! Trust me!"
But... You do know enemies are coming, so a trap or proper ambush is totally reasonable. Plus Mama Murphy warns you about "Death Itself" coming if you pass a speech check.
>easy to cheese
>Whatever happened to alternative routes
How'd you expect to win? Boot up your CASIE aug and talk it to death? It's a DEATHCLAW. The alternative to fighting toe-to-toe is to cheesily shoot it from a position it can't reach.
It's kinda a shame that you *have* to kill it. Otherwise you could...
* Lure it away, meet up at Sanctuary later (Agility/endurance)
* See that it's there and hide, letting it take out the raiders and leave (Perception/agility)
* Set up a proper ambush with Preston (Charisma/intelligence)
And the explosive perk could give some clue about the cars, since it's the beginning of the game and all.
Heck have it be "wounded", such that the Wasteland Whisperer perk auto-succeeds against it.
They wanted to show off power armor instead of the SPECIAL system though, which is kinda a shame in my opinion.
Of course, that power armor is pretty crappy, so I didn't really mind being given it. I don't know where people are finding all these abundant fusion cores, except shops.