Gatling Laser (Fallout 3)

The Gatling Laser in Fallout 3, is the most advanced weapon type for the Big Guns skill. It is similar to the minigun, as the only major differences are the fact it fires lasers instead of bullets, and of course the obvious appearance differences.

Characteristics
The Gatling Laser is actually not a Gatling weapon as the barrels do not rotate when it fires. Instead, the barrels fire in a rotating order. However, the animation for this firing makes it appear very random and haphazard.


 * At long range the weapon is actually an incredibly accurate weapon, this is without V.A.T.S., in V.A.T.S. it is a very poor weapon. One can easily take out any threat at a safe distance with a gatling laser though.
 * At point blank range, it actually aims a bit lower than the cross hair. This is easily observable when trying to shoot a corpse's head off while standing on top of it.

Variants

 * Vengeance can be found in the Deathclaw Sanctuary, which is located in the northwest corner of the map.
 * Precision Gatling Laser is found on the Armory Master at Adams Air Force Base with the Broken Steel add-on.
 * Fawkes' Gatling Laser is carried by Fawkes and is only accessible to the PC through the console.

Locations
Gatling Lasers are most commonly found on Enclave, Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts and Brotherhood of Steel soldiers. These soldiers can be found in areas like The Washington Monument, Fort Independence, inside Arlington Library, Pennsylvania Avenue, and outside the Citadel. It can be acquired from these NPCs either through killing them, pickpocketing the ammunition for their weapon and coming back when they've unequipped it, knocking it out of their hands by shooting it, or stunning (save before doing this) them using the Mesmetron and taking the item from their inventory..

A very short distance NW of Girdershade, there is an Enclave camp (assuming you've gone far enough in the campaign to spawn them). The camp consists of 1 satellite tower in the center, 2 "loaded" Deathclaw cages, 1 Enclave Officer and around 3 Enclave Soldiers. At higher levels, there is a very high chance that one of the soldiers will have a Gatling Laser.

At Raven Rock there is a Gatling Laser in an Enclave Crate behind the energy shield in the last area of Raven Rock. You will notice it on your right as you near the door labeled "Exit to Capital Wasteland". (NOTE: Before you exit!")

On approach to an Enclave Vertibird that drops two soldiers SSW of Vault 101 there is a chance that one will be equipped with a Gatling Laser. The exact location is to the east of the destroyed overpass, past a road, and on top of a hill. Be on watch for the spawning of other enemies such as a Deathclaw, Mr. Gutsy, Mole Rat, or Bloatfly. It is possible the higher the spawned enemy in difficulty the more chance to get the encounter with the Gatling Laser.

With the Broken Steel add-on, Gatling Lasers are also carried by Super Mutant Overlords. The Overlords can be encountered from level 14.

Ammunition
Ammunition for this weapon (Electron Charge Packs) is easy to come by, especially after upgrading the traveling weapon merchant Lucky Harith. Flak and Shrapnel in Rivet City also tend to have a good supply of the ammo for sale. While the ammo is fairly easily bought, it's much more rarely found as loot. Since the Gatling Laser has the highest ammo consumption rate, this can be a problem.

Appearances
This model of Gatling Laser appears only in Fallout 3, replacing the L30 Gatling Laser known from previous games. Unlike that version, the Gatling Laser runs on Electron Charge Packs and uses the Big Guns skill.