Do I need mods to enjoy this game?

[JP]

Aside from unofficial patches for bug fixing

[Almost]

Not really.
For a first playtrough I would recommend you only bug fixing mods,with retextures mods to make look a little bit better even though it's not that important imo.

[Moonjunk]

I didn't use any mods for the first time around, but for the second time, I would recommend using mods

[Crypt Wraith]

Kinda, but on the bright side, nexus mod manager makes things very easy. But usually the mods that make the game way better are the little things, like new food items, chems, couple of new weapons, skins, and moddable weapons that aren't moddable.

[Docsprock]

Nah. Ive been playing for years, and have only used a handful of mods. There are a zillion weapons, npcs, and armor mods. They are all sort of the same after you use one. Visual mods are probably the most useful.

[Patniap]

I have easily sunk in 150 hours without mods.

Because my ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ laptop won't let me install any

[E.P.D. Gaffney]

Played the game a total of five times without mods and without DLC and without hardcore, back in 2010. About 1000 hours. Finally got the game on the PC with all the DLC and I've modded it a lot. It's better with these mods, but most of them are little touch-ups, things that restore cut content for example, or improve the lighting (which isn't just cosmetic, as it gets bloody dark now), stuff like that.

So, for your first playthrough(s), no mods necessary. I do recommend looking at this, but that's about it for now:
https://taleoftwowastelands.com/content/ttw-performance-guide
And the pinned threads on here.

If graphics are your thing, here you are:
http://wiki.step-project.com/User:EssArrBee/FalloutNewVegas

But get ready to work for your graphics if you're picky.

[Maicara]

You don't need to, BUT after playing vanilla once or twice you really ought to try downloading some. Or all of them. Mods are like drugs, and the best thing you can do with this game is be like Ozzy Osbourne. Take all the drugs. ALL OF THEM. TTW, the Someguy series, and a couple hundred other gameplay improvements or niche additions. My mods folder is double the size of the base game. I regret nothing.

[BDK]

Nope. But they are great for shining things up a bit (such as graphics, bugs etc).