Why does my damage suck?

[WHITE BOY]

Potentially stupid question, but I just feel so weak. I have a proper build (all 3 levels of Commando maxed, bloody mess, tank killer and adrenaline) but it takes an entire mag to kill a super mutant. My guns aren't bad either, they're not god tier but they're good. Meanwhile, SheepPleaser3000 comes along with some kinda Fixer and one shots everything. Is everyone walking around with hacked or legacy weapons or am I just ♥♥♥♥?

[nordmeyerx]

Are you using VATS? Are you using Criticals in VATS?

Don't expect to come out blazing guns and mowing stuff down. A lot of this game is trial and errorand finding what works and what doesn't and fitting into a comfortable slot. Enjoy it now, while you can. That's the fun part.

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by nordmeyerx:

Are you using VATS? Are you using Criticals in VATS?

Yeah I use headshots in vats as much as possible

[nordmeyerx]

Originally posted by Chachingboy1:

Yeah I use headshots in vats as much as possible

How about criticals in VATS? There are perks that can up the damage you deal when crit'ing in VATS. Makes a big difference.

[lucg]

"Tenderizer", "Adrenaline", "Bloody Mess" perk cards are a nearly must have too ... .

[dbond1]

I'm not spec'd in to crits at all and kill enemies like mutants in a few rounds. I suspect the OPs issue is something else. I use all the same perks and only 8 points in Commando.

What weapon are you using? You say you're spec'd out in Commando, but it wouldn't be impossible to use a semi-auto rifle and wonder why it isn't working well.

I use automatic handmades and a Fixer. The Handmades do 88 to 108 in damage per round with my build. The Fixer also does 88 per round. What sort of damage number is it showing on your weapon card and which weapon is it?

Which receiver are you using?

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by dbond1:

I'm not spec'd in to crits at all and kill enemies like mutants in a few rounds. I suspect the OPs issue is something else. I use all the same perks and only 8 points in Commando.

What weapon are you using? You say you're spec'd out in Commando, but it wouldn't be impossible to us a semi-auto rifle and wonder why it isn't working well.

I use automatic handmades and a Fixer. The Handmades do 88 to 108 in damage per round with my build. The Fixer also does 88 per round. What sort of damage number is it showing on your weapon card?

Two shot automatic Handmade, 42x2 on card (seems low). Elder's Mark with 53 on card and a Furious 10mm SMG 80 on card. 9 points in Commando.

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by nordmeyerx:

Originally posted by Chachingboy1:

Yeah I use headshots in vats as much as possible

How about criticals in VATS? There are perks that can up the damage you deal when crit'ing in VATS. Makes a big difference.

I'll see if I can fit some crits in my build, ty

[dbond1]

I don't have a two-shot Handmade. If my Handmades are doing 88 (non-explosive/no demo expert) then why would that two shot do 42? Gotta be way higher no? Isn't two shot full damage for first round and half damage for second? Or something like that? Seems like that number should be much higher. Which receiver does the weapon have? Powerful automatic on mine for highest output.

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by dbond1:

I don't have a two-shot Handmade. If my Handmades are doing 88 (non-explosive/no demo expert) then why would that two shot do 42? Gotta be way higher no? Isn't two shot full damage for first round and half damage for second? Or something like that? Seems like that number should be much higher. Which receiver dose the weapon have? Powerful automatic on mine for highest output.

Just standard automatic on mine, haven't got powerful yet as handmades don't drop often to scrap.

[dbond1]

I see. The best place to farm Handmade rifles is the lumber company in the NW corner of the map. I usually get 3 or 4 per run. You'll learn the plans quickly, or that's how I did it anyway.

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by dbond1:

I see. The best place to farm Handmade rifles is the lumber company in the NW corner of the map. I usually get 3 or 4 per run. You'll learn the plans quickly, or that's how I did it anyway.

Oh cool thanks, I'll farm that up.

[dbond1]

Sure thing. The free radicals there carry them. And they also carry combat rifles, which are useful too if you plan to use a Fixer.

This isn't my main rifle, but I've rolled so many Handmades. Two mods I wanted were powerful automatic receiver and stinging magazine. So of course those were like the last two I learned. I scrapped A LOT of handmades. I don't think you can learn the night vision scopes, not that anyone uses those. But this one I snapped a picture of to show which mods I favor

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/45082/filename/Persecution.jpg

The damage comes partly from Demo Expert on this one. Weight is now 8 with two ranks of Arms Keeper. Good luck!

[WHITE BOY]

Originally posted by dbond1:

Sure thing. The free radicals there carry them. And they also carry combat rifles, which are useful too if you plan to use a Fixer.

This isn't my main rifle, but I've rolled so many Handmades. Two mods I wanted were powerful automatic receiver and stinging magazine. So of course those were like the last two I learned. I scrapped A LOT of handmades. I don't think you can learn the night vision scopes, not that anyone uses those. But this one I snapped a picture of to show which mods I favor

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/45082/filename/Persecution.jpg

The damage comes partly from Demo Expert on this one. Weight is now 8 with two ranks of Arms Keeper. Good luck!

Awesome thanks for all the help!

[Eriskumma2]

Originally posted by Chachingboy1:

Two shot automatic Handmade, 42x2 on card (seems low)

Well, just for comparison my commando/heavy's TSE handmade has almost 200 pip-boy damage (98x2 or something like that), 6 points in commando perks, maxed demolition expert and she's low health stealthy vats crit build. Kills basic max level super mutants with 1-2 rounds, firestarters take a bit more.

[Mooman]

That's the problem with this games balance. You can do everything right but the gap between the bottom end of a good build and the top is Grand Canyon wide.

Two shot is bad as each pellet gets affected by the targets resistance independently and loses much more than the sum total of damage.

Ideally around 100 weapon damage is where things start to feel ok with any higher damage starting to feel easy.

100 on a Handmade is with at least 50% damage boost effect (Aristocrat, Junkie etc.), 60% cards, powerful or prime receiver, bloody mess. Don't forget support perks such as Tenderizer which does a lot more than it seems.

Then there are mutations and consumables. Depending on how you play you can push damage even further via these. There is a reason 'bloodied' is popular because it is easy extra damage via Nerd Rage perk and Adrenal Reaction mutation, but that is optional.

In summary you did nothing wrong, the game is just poorly balanced as the devs only listen to min/maxers through the PTS process so game is far more tailored to them (though last patch did have some adjustments to mob resistances).