Only 3? Why not 24?
Start the game with a character at level three and choose to allocate points and choose a perk in the spawning basement/cave. It is pretty boring to be powerless against mere marauders. It isn't hardcore, it just doesn't make sense to be a fresh newborn in the wasteland.
better solution would be more simple quest wich will allow to get this lvl 3 real quickNow its not easy to get lvl 2 near starting location.
Make Sad Wife quest, get junk, showels and radscorp tails for people, deliver case to Metzger, report to Lil Jesus back. +100, +250, +300, +300, +300, +500, +1500 XP. More than enough to get to lvl3.