Plasma rifle

Plasma rifles are energy based weapons that appear throughout the Fallout series.

Background
Before the war, REPCONN Aerospace and Poseidon Energy undertook projects to create prototypes intended to replace the P94 plasma rifle. Elder Lyons refers to plasma rifles when commenting on the Brotherhood Outcasts focus on weaponry, stating "everyone knows how to make another human, but the secrets to making a P94 Plasma Rifle are all but lost."

The Brotherhood Outcasts researched plasma weaponry at Fort Independence. The scientists noted that the weapon used the same power supply as laser rifles, tapping into a microfusion cell that functioned as a small fusion reactor. They indicated that the cell was capable of supplying enough power for approximately eight shots.

Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle


In following games, this weapon is renamed as plasma caster. It uses microfusion cells as ammunition.

Turbo plasma rifle


It does slightly more maximum damage than the regular plasma rifle, while also having increased range and reduced AP cost.

Plasma rifle


This plasma rifle model shoots slow subsonic bolts of plasma that deal a lot of energy damage. It uses microfusion cells as ammunition.

Multiplas rifle


A plasma rifle with an special muzzle that fires three rounds of plasma at a time, for a total ammunition consumption of three rounds per trigger press. It uses microfusion cells as ammunition.

Q-35 matter modulator


The Q-35 matter modulator or "Quantum Plasma Modulation Matter Injection Rifle" is a unique version of the plasma rifle in Fallout: New Vegas. It utilizes less ammunition and shoots faster.

Plasma rifle


A weapon of high damage output, both in ballistic and energy damage. These can be modified to shoot multiple projectiles, shoot plasma like a flame-thrower, and in full-auto.

Experiment 18-A
A unique plasma rifle created and sold by The Institute that has a 25% faster fire rate and 15% faster reload.

Behind the scenes
According to Joshua Sawyer, Paul Fish modelled and textured the original Plasma Rifle

 The Winchester Model P94 is a bulky, industrial-grade energy caster, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel. In an interview for Future Weapons Today, United States Army Colonel Moretti slammed the design, likely for being bulky and outdated. This would lead to corporations like REPCONN Aerospace and Poseidon Energy undertaking projects intended to replace the P94. 
 * For the modified version that appears in Fallout and Fallout 2, see Turbo plasma rifle.
 * For the unique P94 plasma caster in Fallout: New Vegas, see The Smitty Special.
 * For the modification that appears in Fallout: New Vegas, see Plasma caster HS electrode.

Winchester P94 military
In the military version, the company has downsized the weapon and revamped its design, making it a more portable energy rifle, complete with a stock, pistol grip and carry handle.

Plasma rifle


This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created as part of a desire to replace the aging Winchester P94 "Plasma Caster" design. This design was produced and fielded in number prior to the Great War of October 23, 2077. This however was not the end of the design nor manufacture of this weapon platform. Prior to the nuclear Armageddon, REPCONN Aerospace (as a subsidiary of RobCo Industries) would successfully develop an improvement from their spaceflight research, with significantly advanced factions tinkering with the design post Armageddon. 

This rifle uses a microfusion cell as its power source and draws plasma from a separate cartridge. When depressing the trigger, a plasma toroid is produced that can remain stable under normal atmospheric conditions. This toroid is then ejected down a superconducting barrel against a given target. The rifles are highly modifiable, able to be converted into a pistol with ease and potentially turned into a designated sniper rifle, flamethrower, scattergun, and even an automatic rifle by simply swapping out the barrels. 
 * For the unique plasma rifle in Fallout 3, see A3-21's plasma rifle.
 * For the unique plasma rifle in Fallout: New Vegas, see Q-35 matter modulator.
 * For a unique plasma rifle in Fallout 4, see Sentinel's Plasmacaster.
 * For a unique plasma rifle in Fallout 4, see Experiment 18-A.

Q-35 matter modulator


 Also known as the V.35 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle, the Q-35 matter modulator was created by REPCONN Aerospace engineers as part of the Quantum Plasma Modulation Matter Injection Rifle project, a research program overseen by Colonel Moretti of the United States Army, who was looking for a replacement for the aging plasma rifle designs, especially the Winchester P94.

The prototype, whose three previous versions (V.32, V.33, V.34) had failed, was created by a team of engineers under the leadership of Senior Staff Engineer Xuan Duong, using design specifications stolen from Poseidon Energy for the canceled plasma rifle initiative, Project SEMELE, in conjunction with designs from their own plasma engine, the failed quantum matter modulator of the Z43-521P rocket. Poseidon data allowed the REPCONN team to rectify issues with matter inversion by using a polarized quantum spin, simultaneously solving the issues with matter conversion in the Heisenberg compensation field, enabling the creation of the first prototype of a new line of plasma weapons.

With the data from the SEMELE project, REPCONN was finally able to create a functional prototype. While prototype materials make it unsuitable for prolonged field use, the Q-35 has a longer refire rate on average, but a more consistent delay between shots, an increase in active bolt charge time, increased accuracy and a 30% increase in bolt energy.

When the prototype was completed, individuals suspected to be working for Poseidon Energy conspired with REPCONN's CFO, Julia Masters, to intercept and secure the prototype while it was in transit to the Department of Defense. 

Electric plasma rifle


 The electric plasma rifle only appears in the city of Los and the Secret Vault. It's to be manufactured using technology contained in the Secret Vault. It's equipped by the most important ghouls of the Church of the Lost and some super mutants of Attis' army.

Turbo electric plasma rifle


 The turbo electric plasma rifle is an upgraded version of the electric plasma rifle and is only found in the Secret Vault. It's to be manufactured using technology contained in the Secret Vault. It's equipped by the most important super mutants of Attis' army and by the champion of the Gladiator Pit in Los, the wasteland stranger.

Enclave


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