Laser RCW

The laser RCW (rapid capacitor weapon) is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
A precursor to the Gatling laser, the gun was designed to mimic a famous gun design and invoke in buyers the same rapid delivery of ordnance but instead with lasers. The unique feature of this "laser assault rifle" is the addition of a "drum," which gives this weapon its unique look, high rate of fire, and name.

This drum contains a bank of 6 capacitors in a circle formation, centered around an electron charge pack (ECP). The capacitors in the drum are rotated as they fire in succession, producing a single continuous laser beam. While each capacitor is firing, the ECP is used to recharge the previously discharged capacitors.

This capacitor rotation allows the Laser RCW to operate like a multi-barreled ballistic weapon (for example, the minigun), and avoids the rate-of-fire limitations imposed by a single capacitor design. This high rate of fire restricts the Laser RCW to using only the ECP ammunition type. The single barrel is also a detriment to the long-term use of the weapon, as constant repairs are necessary to maintain the sole barrel used for directing all lasers, a problem sidestepped in more advanced Gatling lasers by having multiple barrels.

Characteristics
With adequate Energy Weapons skill and Strength, this weapon exhibits moderate accuracy due to a high spread for a laser weapon, making it useful for taking down enemies at almost any range. As a directed energy weapon, it has no recoil, allowing for continuous fire without muzzle climb. Using it extensively on full-auto requires large amounts of ammunition. A partial solution to this problem is to apply the laser RCW recycler modification, which recycles every fourth discharge. It also has the second-lowest critical chance of any energy weapon in the entire game.

Using true iron sights can become difficult with this weapon, as the bright pulse emitted when it fires can easily obscure the tiny field of vision that the iron sights allow. This effect is especially pronounced in low light conditions.

Durability
The laser RCW can fire a total of about 1995 times using standard packs, the equivalent of 34 reloads, or 25 reloads when modified with the recycler, from full condition before breaking.

Modifications

 * Laser RCW recycler - Recycles and replenishes 1 in 4 shots.

Locations

 * Silver Rush - One can be bought or stolen from Gloria Van Graff.
 * REPCONN headquarters - Can be found on one of the Fiend corpses by the locked door in the lobby.
 * Fiends occasionally carry them, more often in and around Vault 3.
 * Hidden Valley - The Brotherhood of Steel scribes often carry them, as well as Elder McNamara.
 * Novac - May be sold by Cliff Briscoe.
 * North Vegas sewers - Sometimes carried by Greasy Johnny.
 * Can occasionally be found on Bright Brotherhood members.
 * Primm - It is possible to find it inside the locked gun cabinet inside the Bison Steve Hotel.
 * Big MT - Sometimes carried by Y-17 trauma override harnesses.
 * Ulysses' Temple - Behind a locked door in the Very Easy locked locker.

Behind the scenes

 * The Laser RCW was known as the Laser PDW (personal defense weapon) and CBW (continuous beam weapon) at early points during development. This is reflected by nearly all assets - textures, models, icons, and some sound files - still bearing the name Laser PDW. The original concept for the PDW would have been to shoot a single continuous beam. Work began on implementing a system for continuous beam weapons early on, but the amount of bugs associated with the system ended with any ideas for such as system being shelved and the Laser RCW being turned into a simple automatic weapon. A single sound file reflects this original design which plays a sustained laser sound effect.  The only "weapon" to shoot a continuous beam was the Laser detonator released with the Lonesome Road add-on, however, it is not used for any combat outside of detonating stationary warheads.
 * The laser RCW is based on the Thompson submachine gun.
 * The original concept for the Laser RCW comes from the Laser array gun from Van Buren, which shot a continuous beam in the Van Buren tech demo.