Borderlands... Am I playing wrong?

[GloatingSwine]

Also, isn't a headshot (at least on a humanoid) still a headshot in borderlands?

Yes, headshots are critical hits on human enemies. Other enemies have other critical hit areas.

Criticals deal extra damage depending on the type of critter, usually proportional to the size of the crit zone. (Purple Worm Larvae have the smallest crit zone, so they have the highest crit multiplier, I could get a good 55,000 damage on a crit on them because of the absurd multiplier for doing so)

However, level difference overrides everything else in Borderlands, each level difference between you and your target gives you a good extra 15% base damage, so that if an enemy is 4-5 levels above you you're basically going to do scratch damage.

 

[DracoSuave]

Also, Brick is terrible to play as. Be either Mordecai or Lilith if you want a superhuman when you reach lvl 40.

This is great advice for games that are about running endgame content with maxed level characters and getting epic drops with large raids.

THIS IS TERRIBLE ADVICE FOR GAMES THAT INVOLVE BEATING THEM 3 TIMES BEFORE YOU GET TO THE LEVEL CAP.

Better advice would be to spend the first little while levelling each character to 5, getting a feel for their specials, and using the one that is most fun. Then beat the game with that guy. That'll take you to level 30-ish.

YOU WILL NOT BEAT THE GAME AT LEVEL 40. DO NOT BE CONCERNED WITH ENDGAME BUILDS IN BORDERLANDS. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN ENDGAME.

Seriously.

 

[Callate]

I'm about an hour through the game and I already have some pretty descent weapons. All of them do 30+ damage but whenever I come across descent enemy it seems like all of my bullets are doing +1 damage.

Stop playing with weapons from Descent. Start playing with the weapons from Borderlands.

(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.)

 

[Spitfire175]

Borderlands is not an FPS, although I really thought it was one when I got it. I am sad now, since I have the same problem and can't really enjoy the game

Basing the performance on some stupid level system instead of playing skills is retarded!

This makes no sense.

 

[SilverZ]

I'm playing as brick

I used only my sniper rifle

There's your problem - Brick plays up close, with shotguns and rocket launchers. If you want to use a Sniper Rifle, go for Mordecai.

Also, Nine-Toes is piss easy with Brick, just go Berserk and he'll die. Like a dog.

no not a dog... a skag a little itty bitty skag pup

 

[mikecoulter]

Try my method. Run away. Or, find a Borderlands help page on teh interwebz.

 

[Chipperz]

Also, Brick is terrible to play as. Be either Mordecai or Lilith if you want a superhuman when you reach lvl 40.

This is great advice for games that are about running endgame content with maxed level characters and getting epic drops with large raids.

THIS IS TERRIBLE ADVICE FOR GAMES THAT INVOLVE BEATING THEM 3 TIMES BEFORE YOU GET TO THE LEVEL CAP.

Better advice would be to spend the first little while levelling each character to 5, getting a feel for their specials, and using the one that is most fun. Then beat the game with that guy. That'll take you to level 30-ish.

YOU WILL NOT BEAT THE GAME AT LEVEL 40. DO NOT BE CONCERNED WITH ENDGAME BUILDS IN BORDERLANDS. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN ENDGAME.

Seriously.

Truly the best advice in this thread so far. I'd give you a cookie, if I believed in such things.

I'm playing as brick

I used only my sniper rifle

There's your problem - Brick plays up close, with shotguns and rocket launchers. If you want to use a Sniper Rifle, go for Mordecai.

Also, Nine-Toes is piss easy with Brick, just go Berserk and he'll die. Like a dog.

no not a dog... a skag a little itty bitty skag pup

...Dammit. Yeah, you're right.

 

[Viruzzo]

As many others have said, you're facing enemies that are too high level for you. If you do basically all the quests in a level order, you should never face that problem.
BTW, Brick is extremely easy to play with: just get a balanced Tank/Brawler if you want survivability, or the other way around to be more offensive while you grow, and use the Incendiary punches for a total berserking asskick (a Tough Guy +60% shield helps a lot). Switch to corrosive when facing Crimson Lance guys, and shock for the Guardians. If you don't end your Berserk in front of a Badass, you're golden. Also melee the final boss, it may seem a stupid but it's actually a cakewalk that way.

 

[Dragoonit]

Borderlands is not an FPS, although I really thought it was one when I got it. I am sad now, since I have the same problem and can't really enjoy the game

Basing the performance on some stupid level system instead of playing skills is retarded!

that is where the skill comes in....you have to actually fight things to get stronger and get better weapons.....no one appreciates a hard days work anymore......they want everything handed to them right away.....in a way every game is like an rpg because of the learning curve the player goes through in order to succeed

 

[haruvister]

Borderlands is a grind. Approach it like an MMO and you will win. Approach it like a shooter and you will fail.

Or bring it back to Game and you will get a refund.

 

[ethaninja]

Sounds to me like you're just fighting monsters that are of a higher level then you. It can be easy, especially at the start, to explore into areas you shouldn't be, and wind up fighting level 10 guys even though you're only level 3 or 4. When that happens, you wind up only abel to cause 1 damage each shot, while they can HAMMER you and kill you quite easily.

As a general rule, stick to the areas your mission way point guides you too. it's a lot safer and things become much more manageable.

/thread. This guy says exactly what I was going to.

Agreed. I am quoting you a lot recently aren't I?

Also, Brick is terrible to play as. Be either Mordecai or Lilith if you want a superhuman when you reach lvl 40.

Really? I love Brick. I seem to be kicking tonnes of ass with him especially when it comes to bosses. If you ask me, the Soldier is the worst. But I will agree with you on Lilith

 

[lvl9000_woot]

Borderlands is not an FPS, although I really thought it was one when I got it. I am sad now, since I have the same problem and can't really enjoy the game

Basing the performance on some stupid level system instead of playing skills is retarded!

If it was pure FPS, it would have been even shorter for some people.

 

[MetaKnight19]

I was getting annoyed to begin with, but maybe that was because I was playing as the Hunter and his Action Skill is rubbish. Borderlands is a good game though, so far the best part was when I shot a Psycho Midget in the chest with a shotgun and he blew up.

 

[GloatingSwine]

I was getting annoyed to begin with, but maybe that was because I was playing as the Hunter and his Action Skill is rubbish.

Lrn2Bloodwing.

Bloodwing is horribly broken if you spec for it.

 

[Rusty Bucket]

I'm only doing missions. These are the monsters I'm killing as part of the opening missions. And I know Brick is a close up fighter but that style only brings swift death.... and I mean SWIFT death. I usually die before I can ever punch anyone when I used his special.

What level are the mission's you're doing? In the quest log, each quest you have in there will have a recommended level. Don't try things more than 1 or 2 levels above you.