I was wondering if someone might help me understand how Damage Threshold works. I searched the forum and didn't see a thread that addresses this comprehensively, and I checked http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Damage_threshold, which offers this formula:

"max((Shot Damage - DT) × (100% - DR), (Shot Damage × 20%)) = Damage Inflicted"

It has been a while since I had to do any real math outside of statistical anolysis, so I am super puzzled by the comma in that equation.

What I'm getting from the wiki is that you do SOME damage every time you shoot someone successfully, even if the base DAM of a weapon is lower than the target's DT. I'm just trying to get a sense of how much of that damage gets through. I am also a little confused by the reference to damage resistance (DR) here, as I don't see that listed for any armor in my own inventory, just DT. (Using Xbox, not PC.)

Also, please correct me if I'm wrong, but you get a broken red shield icon when the ammo you're using completely reduces a target's DT below zero (e.g., you have rounds that cause -6 DT and the target is wearing armor with 6 DT).

Any help is appreciated.

You take or deal a minimum of 20% of the weapons damage no matter how high the DT.

Yep, that's exactly right. If you weapon's DMG is lower than a target's DT, 20% of the damage will still go through.

Darn ninjas.

No he isnt.

Basically damage received is reduced by DT directly but cannot go lower than 20%

So 40 damage cannot be reduced lower than 8.

If it was the originals DT the any damage that wasn't strong enough to get by DT of the armor would be reduced to 0 and do nothing.

http://www.newvegasnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=34872

Damage Inflicted is maximum of these two values: (Shot Damage - DT) × (100% - DR) OR (Shot Damage × 20%)
Meaning of this was explained above.

OHHHHH. Just needed it spelled out in a sentence. Makes total sense, though I'm sorry I don't get to see what anybody's DR is. (Does Living Anatomy reveal this?)

Thanks to all who replied!

Cool, a .22 shouldn't damage a Power Armor. Well, maybe the paint a little.

FYI: that's a Microsoft Excel style formula format: MAX(value1, value2, value3,...)