Hi, it's your game so you can play however you wish. But i really think mods should be left until the 2nd playthrough.
This game gives you crappy weapons at the beginning and they're meant to suck and yes you're meant to run away and be evil. You can't take on multiple enemies at once for very long. Just keep playing. You get better and better guns. Once you're in cordon and about to go to the freedom base you'll be swimming in assault rifles everywhere.
I highly recommend playing through without mods, completely vanilla the first time.
I agree. I finished the game probably about 5-8 times 2 of which I pissed of different factions just to see how it goes, and what missions opened up. Sounds gay, but I had a note book about where I found things, and how I got to find about them (who you talked to or paid for info off) and the 3rd I just was pretty nutural and played the all round good guy... interesting how it all works.
The other times I modded it while I had more fun, it was almost too easy!