No medicine has no effect on med X.

Oh and ranged you would be fine.
Taken on a melee build against rangers or any heavy automatic users even full DT and the 55 DR possible with all drugs / items will still get you killed quickly.
As well as Deathclaws, nightstalkers, giant radscorpions, cazadors and Mirelurk ranged attacks will all ignore it.

No they don't ignore DT.
With the possible exception of a lake lurks mind blast, there all subject to DT. But Giant Radscorpions and Cazador's also have a wicked poison.

Really I did not know this, at what DT do they stop causing max damage if you don't mind me asking?

Edit just consoled a DT of 50 to my character, deathclaws still do enough damage to baypass the shield one taking my health down in four hits on a level 22 character.
As do advlt Nightstalkers, I may have taken a bit less damage on at least the nightstalkers but still enough for a pack of three advlts to kill me quickly.

It's also not likely to get that high a DT any time early in NV.

You mean how much DT do you need before you get the shield icon? as any DT would reduce the damage.

Well Giant Radscorpions deal 60dmg according to the wiki, Deathclaws 100dmg, advlt Cazador's and NIghtstalkers 70dmg. Though I hear the deathclaws in the Quarry deal 125. So lightly armored characters might as well be naked vs melee enemies. Deathclaws also have there pounce attack which deals additional damage.
Then of course head shots deal more damage to you just like NPC's and enemies can critically hit just like PC's

People have actually tested this, measured the damage being naked vs say wearing Remnant Power armor. The DT applies to the deathclaw attacks.

Yes it seems giant radscorpions on normal setting where getting through at over 45 DT
Cazadors around over 35.
Nightstalker required somewhat over 50 I would guess.

I understand that any DT has an effect on damage, but most creatures in the wasteland seem capable of tearing through DT beyond vanilla playthroughs.

Again I'm not talking about nerfing them weaker as I like them as is, I rarely take armoured characters only two of 20'ish have worn any.
It just seems a little odd that certain base creatures and some npc's can tear through extreme DT when a player of equal level needs to power up to do so.

That is where the med-x and the re-breather come in - reducing DAM taken by 28% total.
72 DAM from a death claw is better than 100 DAM... especially with max HP from 10 END and Life-giver
Also carry antitoxin for cazadors and scorpions; BTW hollow points from a LMG - give cazadors nightmares.

Also I do not advise being naked. Even light armor (reinforced leather) is often enough to negate DAM from SMGs, Pistols, and shotguns (as I never have seen an NPC w/shotgun surgeon & slugs).

Wait - I want a Ranger Veteran as a companion.

Dear sniperbob allready have done on a melee build all those give you a chance ( with V'A.T.s DT 46 and all the power perk picks ) a very good chance one on one with a deathclaw.
As I killed one with a rolling pin before.

I also took out 7 giant rads with a level 8 melee build in one encounter.

They don't however make you indestructable, try taking out McCarran with first recon there with spiked knuckles, no sneak and all the chems in the world which gives you extra health, 50 bonus damage and 50 DR.

Then try 3 ranger elites with 40 - 70 govs with the same get up, possible but luck is envolved.

Not really, the higher end melee and unarmed weapons can deal 60-100dmg per hit matching scorpions, nightstalkers and deathclaws.

Again true but giant radscorpions are low middle tier creatures ( as they should be due to not being that strong outside of damage ).
Higher end weapons however are not so common, ( again they don't have to be as most low end ones work just as well with tricks ).

I'm not trying to flame I think I'm coming from cross purposes here.

My point was that although well balanced the rules are a little odd in implemention sometimes imo.

In a viking rage I took out 4 ranger elites using the knock knock and wearing reinforced metal armor.
Trick is to power attack to close the distance and cripple the arms to make them drop their guns.

A good defense helps tremendously, but is useless without an equally ferocious offense.

I still want to go Deathclaw hunting with a switch'

Very true, the best defense against ranged hitters is to close.
I used spiked knuckles as thats all I had at that time, at level 18 or so with Reinforced as well, man I love that armour.
The trick I favour as well is putting one foe in front of the other in combat, as then you're only facing one rather than 2+ npc's with the best weapons in the game.

It took me four tries with a rolling pin, and I got lucky with a knock down and having piercing strike.

Golly I do wish butter knives were classed as weapons, or spoons.

I like using canvas tents as bulletproof cover.

I think that it should be noted that a .308 Sniper rifle isn't any more powerful than a .308 hunting rifle (in real life), it's just more accurate over long distances. That being said; in game I believe the sniper rifle's damage should be more reliant on criticals than per-shot damage. A sniper rifle should have increased critical chance and multiplied critical damage, pretty much bringing a sniper rifle to life with long distance sneak attacks.

Silly people...

YCS to the head and the ranger is dead!

On a serious note.... do critical hits ignore DT?
And sniping with a hunting revolver using handloader ammo does ginormous damage too....I have to check but I think it states damage around 100 with cowboy perk.

Add in Contract killer, better criticals and a sneak critical a shot to the foot would probably kill a giga claw.

Sneak criticals don't ignore DT, ordinary ones may not either but I have no experience to dra from there.

Actually, the Hunting Rifles' barrel would be in lower quality compare to the Sniper Rifles', which would result in different energy conversion efficiency; and so on with the receiver and camber etc.

In short, Sniper Rifle should be more powerful than non-unique/mod Hunting Rifle because it allow the round to reach its maximum potential.

All this weapon debate aside the fact is rangers are tough SOB's with there secret damage resistance they have ontop of there armor.