[2020] Wastelanders introduced a NEW Gauss weapons bug that severely impacts the Gauss Pistol and Gauss Rifle; details inside.

The Wastelanders update introduced a new bug that makes Gauss weapons like the Gauss rifle and the Gauss pistol consistently miss 95% hit chance shots. I've researched this, and here's what I've found.

Note: This bug ISN'T…

• The "Charge Up" bug that happens when you charge a Gauss shot BEFORE you enter VATS;
  
• The "Held Charge" bug that happens when you enter VATS, start charging when you're at something low like 5% to hit and then creep closer until you're at 95% to hit; nor
  
• The "Blank Fire on Sever Load" bug that happens when you load into a fresh server and the damage from your very first shot does not register.

This is a brand new bug, and here's how it works: The first shot against each target in VATS almost always misses.

To reproduce this bug, do this:

• Ready a Gauss weapon.
  
• Use VATS to lock onto an enemy you have not previously locked onto in VATS. You want to be close to the target so you get a high hit percentage.
  
• Fire a shot. Don't charge your shot, just tap fire is sufficient.

RESULT: Your shot will miss the vast majority of the time.

WORKAROUNDS: If you lock onto a target, then quit VATS without shooting, then lock onto the same target again, the first shot will land normally. Likewise, if you lock onto a target, miss your first shot, then fire a second shot in VATS, the second shot will land normally. Also, if you are using the Gun-Fu perk, switching targets via the perk trigger does NOT trigger the bug, and shots land normally on subsequent targets after killing the first target.

So you're missing a few shots in VATS; big deal, why is that a problem?
This is a problem because Gauss rifles only have 5 shot magazines, and this bug effectively cuts that number in half by forcing you to waste every other shot when using VATS. As anyone who uses a Gauss rifle knows, with this gun you HAVE TO make every shot count, and this bug effectively kills a very fun playstyle. The same bug also affects Gauss pistols and possibly other Gauss weapons that were added with Wastelanders. I was looking forward to making a Gauss pistol work with my bloodied VATS crit sneak rifleman build, but this bug makes that rather difficult.

I'm having a lot of fun in Wastelanders, it's an amazing expansion, but this bug is very much the fly in the ointment.

u/ladydevann
u/valseek

QUESTION: Anyone who has the Gauss Shotgun, can you see if this bug also affects that weapon?

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