Talk:The Terrible Shotgun

Smilin Jack can't be "tricked" anymore?
Someone said that due to the patch, Smilin Jack "recovers" new shotgun shells if you pickpocket him, leave, save, and reload, making it impossible to use the pickpocketing method. Someone care to confirm this? --Clean Up 00:09, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

But then you can get unlimited shotgun shells... 68.192.9.90 01:20, September 29, 2009 (UTC)

Inaccurate Note?
"Note: Even point blank head or body shots miss."

I don't know about this, I kill Deathclaws and bears quite easily with this gun, all the pellets seem to hit. --208.97.121.178 17:37, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

I think that you might have a problem with your aim, not the gun. That or maybe your gun is just in poor condition. After repairing the weapon to full strength, I could agree that its accuracy is poor, its not that bad. Its stopping power is unrivaled by anything else I've used. In my use it dispatches Yao Guai, Deathclaws, any Super Mutant, Raider, Talon Merc, Enclave Soldier more effectively than anything else I have tried. The key to its success is just range, if you're far away, you won't do much damage. Simple tactic is just to close with the enemy and use VATS, or just point at the enemies face. I even killed a Behemoth by kiting it and using the Terrible Shotgun.

Tarik 03:37, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

I've moved the statement:
 * Note: Even point blank head or body shots miss. After experimenting with it all day, I can safely say that a regular combat shotgun outperforms the Terrible Shotgun at all distances; the Terrible Shotgun really is just plain terrible.

Since nobody seems to be backing it up. We don't even know who signed on that statement. It's deadly up close, although the shot pattern really is terrible (hah!). When you Fast Travel to the regulator HQ and the two beasties show up (generally without fail) right in your face, it's awesome. Two shots and whatever it is goes down. Anyhow, it can be reverted if somebody else speaks up. --DarkJeff 03:43, 5 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Actually, if the crosshair is even slighty off center the shots do miss (due to the spread), but that is not the guns fault so much as it is the player's 68.192.9.90 02:28, October 16, 2009 (UTC)

I'm glad this article is fixed, to be honest it sounded like someone was mad at the gun.

I DECAPITATED A BEHEMOTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; it was awesome; its head flew away and was later recovered and is now outside of the megaton gate, resting on the gun that killed it.
 * I find that amusing considering Behemoths cannot be decapitated only their skull cap will come off.

RekonDog says: [I hope you readers understand the fundamentals and basics of in-game physics...which in this case: the differences between a 'sawed-off' shotgun and a combat 'long-barreled' shotgun] →05:06, 2 August 2009 (UTC)
 * I noticed that you have to be at a certain distance from your target for it to fully be effective in achieving all the pellets to hit target—thus allowing the weapon to be used at full potential. Too close didn't seem to work, nor at long range. I began to experiment at distances..keeping note of the spread of the pellets..you can see the vividly see grouping on your target...the impact is quite visible. Practice is easier with The Kneecapper, which also works in the exact similar method as The Terrible Shotgun—although you are more closer to your adversaries than with the latter shotgun. The Kneecapper has a larger, and easier visible spread. And since the Kneecapper can be frustrating weapon to use if one is not aware of its operability...if your too close, the game may not register that the pellets had delivered any damage to the target; same as being further away. But I mean 'easier' is because you'll quickly "catch-on" what I mean about having to be at a certain distance from your target...you'll quickly adapt and judge on where the "kill zone" distance is generally located.

Ideal Use Environment
I just added onto what you had in weapon characteristics, I thought that considering the thought behind the original page, it might be a good idea to include notes on ideal environment for use. That, and I always carry around an extra combat shotgun when I use the Terrible Shotgun. I love it, but it does deteriorate pretty fast.

Tarik 03:54, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

"Terrible"
Umm... I think they meant "Causing great fear or alarm; dreadful", as in "Ivan the Terrible", not "intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality", not "The food here at Bob's Taco Shack is just terrible". I think the intent of the name was to say that it is fearsome, not that it is poor in quality.Fiddlesoup 02:45, 17 December 2008 (UTC)

More likely is a play on words that uses both meanings of the word. It does the most damage and is "Ivan the Terrible" in that sense. But it also fires in a wildly inaccurate spread and rapidly falls apart as you use it. "Terrible" in this case for its quality. --76.103.185.70 08:46, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

My guess is that it was named "Terrible" in homage to "The Terrible Towel" which is a locally popular piece of Pittsburgh sports memorabilia. --70.90.250.169 16:30, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Sneak attack critical damage?
Will this do 100 or 120 damage on a SAC? The article says Small Guns damage is capped at 100, and that this does 80 base damage and 40 critical. So does the cap apply, or not? --70.131.116.201 11:30, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

It'll probably be 120 dmg I think they mean damage caps at skill lvl 100


 * The sneak attack damage of this weapon goes far beyond 100, trust me. OverLord of Chaos 22:45, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

it goes to around 1200 NOT 120--Warhammerork 15:49, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

O.K. Speculation ends here. I've read every article on this wiki (or at least 99 percent of them) and several times it has been said (by developers and gamers alike) that the game keeps track of everything passed the 100 point cap.

I killed the Overlord on the 1st floor of the Germantown Police Station with 2 shots from extremely close range with the Terrible Shotgun. The first shot was a sneak attack head shot out of VATS and appeared to take more than 90% of the mutants health, and the second was a repeat shot to the head at point blank range. Total accident, the beast surprised me but had it's back turned. Personally, I love this weapon. Along with the Vengeance and the a3-21, it is one of my go-to weapons.


 * RekonDog says: I totally agree that this weapon is premium choice in looting/pickpocketing. I trade this weapon to Charon and I barely even have to fire a shot most of the time when engaging against hostiles.  Although I play the game setting on "Very Hard", keep in mind that I have my skills and levels pretty high as well.  Since 'companions' level-up with your character, it is only on certain occasions that I was forced to 'assist' Charon and help take care of some foes when he became overwhelmed.→05:36, 2 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Sneak attack critical dmg w/ better criticals = [ 80 (base) + 40 (crit) * 1.5 (Better Criticals) * 9 (# of projectiles) ] * 2 (Sneak attack) * 2 (Headshot) * 1.05 (Bloody Mess) * 1.25 (Psycho) * 1.10 (Yao Guai Meat) =


 * 3580.5 DMG OMG EVERYBODY RUN HE'LL KILL US ALL AGHHHHHH!!!!!


 * or for you spanish speaking fallout 3 fans:


 * ¡¡¡¡¡3580.5 DMG OMG EVERYBODY RUN HE'LL KILL US ALL AGHHHHHH!!!!!


 * Forgot to sign. 68.192.9.90 03:08, September 16, 2009 (UTC)

I have never had this weapon deal any significant sneak attack damage to overlords, behemoths or albino rad scorpions using sneak attack criticals and usually must expend 7-8 shots to bring one down even with 10 luck, and all associated critical hit perks except ninja. I didn't think ninja applied to ranged attacks based on it's description so I never took it. Mictlantecuhtli 10:42, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Strategy
Kingclyde 22:23, 9 August 2009 (UTC)kingclyde
 * The best way to use this weapon is at point blank range.
 * If using The Terrible Shotgun in V.A.T.S. aiming for the chest is always a wise choice. The spread of the shotgun will most likely hit some kind of vital appendage, still dealing maximum damage.
 * This weapon is best used in areas where you can get up close to the enemy such as sewers, ruins, or buildings.

The Terrible Shotgun disappear after giving to companion.
Happen a while ago, I gave it to my companion, when I realize I didn't heard any shotgun blast in fight, I check the inventory and it's gone. Have to use the console to get it back.

MORE HP than a regular shotgun
The article says the item has low hp, but it's hp is higher than that of a regular combat shotgun. That seems a bit misleading. Perhaps shotguns in Fallout 3 have low item hp, it's not accurate to single out the Terrible Shotgun.


 * I noticed the same thing a while ago. Bllasae 20:25, September 23, 2009 (UTC)
 * The article shows it has an HP of 350 while on the combat shotgun page it hasa HO of 240. Not sure what you guys are talking about, both values are correct.--Kingclyde 20:33, September 23, 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't know either. The low HP of the Shotgun is the main drawback, besides the obvious range issues. While the Terrible Shotgun is slightly more durable than the Victory Rifle, for example, it's nowhere near as durable as the reliable AER9 Laser Rifle. Nitty 20:36, September 23, 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm not saying those values are incorrect, I'm saying that all combat shotguns have low item hp, but only the Terrible Shotgun is criticized for the drawback. 68.192.9.90 19:05, September 27, 2009 (UTC)
 * "The only drawback is the weapon's poor reliability, as the Combat Shotgun deteriorates quickly." -Taken from Drum-Magazine Combat Shotgun. Nitty 01:23, September 29, 2009 (UTC)
 * Huh. Hadn't noticed that. 68.192.9.90 01:27, September 29, 2009 (UTC)
 * It might degrade faster because it fires more pellets at once. I have no idea though. I dont use the terrible shotgun enough to tell. TheoQ99 03:21, January 28, 2010 (UTC)

does as much damage as mesmetron *or atleast it seams that way*
it dosent seem to do much damage at all anymore on very hard dificulty it used to be abel to one hit kill most things but now on very easy when i try to sneak attack kill a albino radscorpion it just does 1 bar of health when all hits connect with better criticals and a chinese stealth suit

maybe its a cliping error but this dident happen before when i was on very hard