Help me understand DPS and DAM

[-$ilver-]

I am seeing DPS as is Damage Per Second (or Shot?) and DAM is damage, but what exactly does either of that mean? Or more to the point what is the significance of having both in game? Is it better to have a higher DPS rather than a lower DPS? Is it the time between shots, between reloads, damage dealt in general? Is DPS better than DAM or they go hand and hand? Should DPS be lower or higher than DAM or what? Thank you.

[life is a simulation]

To keep it simple a high dps weapon means it will deal dmg by the fire rate of the weapon rather by the actual dmg of the weapon. Exp - hunting rifle (dam) because it it is slow and the dam will make sure the enemy will killed swiftly while a minigun (dps) is focused on its fire rate because of how weak the weapon deals in so the faster it spews to bullet the more dps it will rack up to kill the enemy

[MannsOverMeta]

DPS is damage per shot multiplied by firing speed per second. High damage weapons will do better at piercing through armor and consume less ammo but are usually accompanied by lower firing speeds. High DPS weapons have to consider the damage per shot of the weapon. If the damage per shot is not too different, like 160 DPS and 40 damage, the gun fires 4 times a second. 160 and 10 damage is 16 times per second and is gonna be an automatic weapon. Automatic weapons are great at mowing down unarmored foes but will require specialized armor-piercing ammo to do the same with armored ones.

[-$ilver-]

Originally posted by MannsOverMeta:

DPS is damage per shot multiplied by firing speed per second. High damage weapons will do better at piercing through armor and consume less ammo but are usually accompanied by lower firing speeds. High DPS weapons have to consider the damage per shot of the weapon. If the damage per shot is not too different, like 160 DPS and 40 damage, the gun fires 4 times a second. 160 and 10 damage is 16 times per second and is gonna be an automatic weapon. Automatic weapons are great at mowing down unarmored foes but will require specialized armor-piercing ammo to do the same with armored ones.

That really helped a lot, as well as the other explanations, thank you. But does that formula also work for melee weapons? I'm trying to figure how melee weapons, minus quick knives or heavy hammers would really differ in speed.

[life is a simulation]

It does as some melee weapons like a chainsaw, termal lance and the ripper does dmg by dps

[Jack Jester]

DMG=slap on the face from your father
DPS=if your mother scolds

[talgaby]

-$ilver-, before you literally list the entire wiki, one by one, I'll just make it short.
Read this and the linked articles: https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas_FAQ

[-$ilver-]

Thanks everyone.

Originally posted by talgaby:

-$ilver-, before you literally list the entire wiki, one by one, I'll just make it short.
Read this and the linked articles: https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas_FAQ

Funny you should mention this. I did quick searches for each thing on the internet I have asked about and they did not go too in depth and in fact some brought me back here to the Steam forums of which I did check quite a few before asking. ^^! I even checked the community guides and what I was asking did not show up unless it was hidden between walk-thrus, spoilers and cheats.

I mainly needed to know what the abbreviations meant and exactly how they work in game as that was confusing to me. I think we got the gist of it though, but I'll be sure to ask more if need be. Thank you.

[talgaby]

It should be there in the wiki though, both the Fallout and the TES ones are quite extensive. Do not forget to read the discussion pages as well, you'd be surprised how many of your questions are discussed in detail there.