How does weapon range work? & plasma rifle

[masternoxx1]

When I think of weapon range in real life I think of the distance to which it can accurately hit something.

But apparently in this game (I looked it up on the wiki) weapon range works like this... if it is past that range, you can still hit it, but your weapon damage is reduced by 50%.

Is this the actual case? Is this how it works or if not can anyone explain how it works?

For instance recently got the Plasma Rifle and it seems from the look to have a short distance such as a Flamethrower, but let's say I use VATS on an enemy that is far away, it can still hit him ??? (with reduced damage)? It sure does not look that way but it is?

Also got a whole bunch of new guns, I mean there are so many weapons in this game it's crazy, and I have not used even 10% of them. If anyone would share their opinions on these weapons I would be appreciate.

Gauss Rifle - very good dmg but slow
Plasma rifle - huge damage but short range
Grenade launcher
minigun
rocket launcher - rockets are very heavy, but haven't tried yet
blunderbuss - mid-high damage, slow, 1 shot, ammo heavy
cryolator
assaultron head - 1 shot... reload after every shot... way too slow for most encounters... cool looking tho

I have shared a few opinions on the ones I tried breifly

and I have about a dozen more new weapons I only got after lvl 40, cant think of their names rn =)

[masternoxx1]

So if I'm using a short range (low range stat) gun with a sniper scope I am doing -50%+ damage on every long range (scoped) shot?

Is the range measurment in meter or feet or ...
for instance lets say fairgrounds dirt track from one end to the other or like a football field from one end of the field to the other from one touchdown line to the other (100 yards)... how much "range" is that?

[masternoxx1]

I think I'm starting to figure this out, guns with a higher range will seem more accurate visually,

Therefore either range = accuracy, or there is a hidden accuracy stat

Not sure if range really works that way (-50% damage) or if the wiki is just totally wrong, it said "starting with fallout 4" it works that way, but maybe in this game you just miss more often... seems more likely

For instance with the combat sniper rifle and sniper rifle why is it always so accurate when other guns are not, what stat is that based on

[masternoxx1]

44 is fairly accurate also,

while submachine gun very inaccurate looking

if I up the submachine gun range by modding it, will it become more accurate?

[Mooman]

Different weapon classes have different drop off values. For example shotguns lose 90% damage over range and pipe weapons 75% (Something like that, numbers may be off due to constant updates and me not remembering them. There was/is a good Reddit post from a while back that went into all the hidden stats of weapons).

But... the real issue is what does that number represent? It isn't feet, it isn't inches, it isn't even the metric system... It is just an arbitrary number that is repeated on most weapons depending on the barrel length.

You can see the issues with this with shotguns. Shotguns start with a short range that can be made even shorter with short barrels and bayonet. At it's shortest range the gun will do little damage even at point blank range (the barrel can be through your opponent as the bullet is calculated from the player and not the weapon).

Range also affects the hit chance in VATS. Combined with the perception stat and some equation to determine the hit %. Nothing else factors.

Because of this it makes long barrels the default 'best' choice. Short and stub offer nothing of use, sure higher durability but that's not such a big deal, and reduced recoil somehow... but that is useless if you use VATS.

Edit: Found the Reddit post. Please note that it is old and some of the values have changed over recent updates. https://www.reddit.com/r/fo76/comments/121qlk9/a_compilation_of_lesserknown_weapon_stats/

[masternoxx1]

Originally posted by Mooman:

Edit: Found the Reddit post. Please note that it is old and some of the values have changed over recent updates. https://www.reddit.com/r/fo76/comments/121qlk9/a_compilation_of_lesserknown_weapon_stats/

Thanks for reply. FlshGot'd the page =)

Has a lot of info. Doesn't mention accuracy, tho.
Accuracy is a hidden stat? Seems that way.

I always expect an online game to be fully figured out, but seems like a lot of times with this game, no one really knows. Good thing there is this forum =)

I know that the lvl 2073 guy I saw on yesterday probably knows =)

I'm going to add a range extender to the Submachine Gun and see if it focuses the bullet spray any. Will report findings.

[masternoxx1]

Originally posted by Mooman:

Range also affects the hit chance in VATS. Combined with the perception stat and some equation to determine the hit %. Nothing else factors.

Because of this it makes long barrels the default 'best' choice. Short and stub offer nothing of use, sure higher durability but that's not such a big deal, and reduced recoil somehow... but that is useless if you use VATS.

Yes I also use long barrels and long scope, always,

these modifications increase range but also increase the "VATS accuracy" stat, which I think is responsible for this, not the range stat.

However there is no non-VATS accuracy stat shown, which I find odd.

[Mooman]

The VATS accuracy stat shown in the pipboy is a lie. It doesn't affect VATS accuracy at all, only the guns range stat, your perception stat and the current distance to target.

That "VATS accuracy" shown is for hip fire accuracy... A higher number results in a tighter reticle.

When they recently updated the info shown to players Bethesda stuffed up... A classic example of "They don't play their own game!". In this case is probably correct as work is done by remote studios, often in other countries.

[lockwoodx]

Whatever you do NEVER use a sawed-off shotgun.