I'm currently at level 22, wearing Sierra Madre reinforced light armor with Light Touch perk, Sierra Madre reinforced helmet, sub dermal armor and two levels of Thoughness, wich results in 33 DT. The weapon modifications really maded light armor "light" again, I cannot be critically hit, but Powder Gangers and Nightkins are really dangerous now if they are using guns.
Before the patch you could frontal assault an enemy equipped with a LMG, one Nightkin in Black Mountain reduced my HP in half because he was equipped with one and I make the mistake to rush to him (and I was using Med-X).
Dynamite, grenades, mines and powder charges make a huge mess, the Light Machine Gun finally is usable (let's be honest, the spread in the weapon never made much sense), the Service Rifle with custom springs became a really good weapon to be used (you don't wonder anymore how NCR soldiers have survived their battles with that piece of crap the rifle was) and 9mm/.22LR weapons are very usefull.
This also means that enemies became more deadly again, even if you are at higer levels.
As mentioned, Powder Gangers use dynamite against you and they are really powerfull now, enemies using 9mm pistols can hurt you really bad, the Vipers now use grenade launchers, wich can dispatch you in no time and Fiends equiped with Caravan Shotguns are also a treath because the modifiers in the weapon.
And those Centurions with Chainsaws and Thermic Lances are really dangerous now.
I was hitted by a thermic lance and the thing made a strike on me, my limbs crippled in no time and my health goes to space.
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