Plasma rifle

Plasma rifles or plasma casters are energy based weapons that appear in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout Shelter, Fallout 4, Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.

Background
Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high-tech weapons which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields. They fire superheated bolts of plasma powered by either microfusion cells, heavy energy cells or plasma cartridges. The bolt forms in a special chamber, which is then sent down a superconducting barrel, propelled by, and in some models stabilized by electromagnetic claws upon exiting it.

The plasma bolt is a toroid of superheated hydrogen gas that delivers high levels of both thermal and kinetic energy damage to the target, melting through most types of armors and causing massive 3rd-degree and 4th-degree burns.

Initially, these weapons were bulky, industrial plasma casters designed to be an industrial welding tool rather than a weapon, manufactured by Winchester Arms; while it performed admirably as a welding tool, it was expensive and required specialized training to use. However, later developments for the US Army would lead to a more compact and smaller designs, such as the plasma pistol and plasma rifle, that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, perfectly suited for urban warfare.

Regardless, all types of plasma weapons have a common feature: when a Critical Hit is delivered, they can literally melt down enemies. While most industrial casters aren't powerful enough to dissolve bones too, subsequent models have no problem converting the target into a puddle of goo.

Winchester P94


 The granddaddy of all plasma weapons, the Winchester Model P94 is a bulky, industrial-grade energy caster, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel, ending in electromagnetic claws helping to stabilize the plasma bolt. Interestingly, in an interview for Future Weapons Today, US Army Colonel Moretti slammed the design, likely for being bulky and outdated. 

Winchester P94 turbo


 It's a modified version of the Winchester P94 plasma rifle. The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process, resulting in an increase in the rate of fire. 
 * For the modification that appears in Fallout: New Vegas, see : Plasma caster HS electrode.

The Smitty Special


The Smitty Special is a heavily modified Winchester P94 which was first created by the legendary Smitty, the blacksmith of the Adytum, Boneyard in 2161, who was also the only one able to improve the Winchester P94 into a turbo version at that time, with a higher rate of fire.

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 which can, presumably, also mount optics.

Urban plasma rifle


 This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created by REPCONN Aerospace for the US Army based on engine parts from the failed Z43-521P - "Green Bean" plasma-powered rocket. Like the AER9 laser rifle, it uses a microfusion cell as its power supply. It taps into the cell, essentially a small fusion reactor, to produce a toroid of plasma that is ejected down a superconducting barrel. In contrast to the Winchester P94, it does not have the electromagnetic claws.

As of 2277, these plasma rifles can usually be found in use by Enclave soldiers on the East Coast. By 2281, they can be found less commonly throughout the Mojave Wasteland. 
 * 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 the cut content plasma rifles in Fallout: New Vegas, see: Plasma rifle always crit and Plasma rifle weak.
 * For other versions in Fallout Shelter, see: rusty plasma rifle, tuned plasma rifle, focused plasma rifle and amplified plasma rifle.
 * For the unique plasma rifle in Fallout Shelter, see: Mean Green Monster.

V.32 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle
Version: 32

Status: Failure

Notes: While v.32 didn't have the power yield of the v.31 or v.30, we managed to increase the stabilization threshold by approximately 27.35%. This is promising, however we still have yet to come up with a solution for the matter inversion issues.

V.33 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle
Version: 33

Status: Failure

Notes: Lab destroyed. Data Lost.

V.34 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle
Version: 34

Status: Failure

Notes: Interesting. I'm not sure where we got this data from, it is a completely different direction from what we've been working on. We managed to cycle the matter inversion using a polarized quantum spin. I think that we solved the issue with the Compensation field, I have high hopes for the next weapon.

V.35 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle


 Also known as the Q-35 matter modulator, the V.35 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle was created by REPCONN Aerospace engineers as part of "Project: Quantum Plasma Modulation Matter Injection Rifle," a research program overseen by Colonel Moretti of the US Army, who was looking for a replacement for the aging plasma rifle designs, most importantly the Winchester P94. The prototype was created by a team of engineers under the lead of Senior Staff Engineer Xuan Duong, using design specifications stolen from Poseidon Energy for the canceled plasma rifle project SEMELE, along with data recovered from a sabotaged REPCONN launch.

This data allowed REPCONN to create a functional prototype after thirty-four failures. 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, unknown individuals conspired with REPCONN CFO Julia Masters to intercept and secure the prototype while it was in transit to the Department of Defense. 

Multiplas rifle


 The multiplas rifle (a portmanteau of "multiple" and "plasma") is based on the urban plasma rifle design. It is a sort of "plasma shotgun," firing three rounds of plasma in a volley, at the cost of a massive drain on the microfusion cell. 

Electric plasma rifle


 The electric plasma rifle appears only 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


<section begin="Turbo electric plasma rifle" /> The turbo electric plasma rifle is a upgraded version of the electric plasma rifle, and is found only 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. <section end="Turbo electric plasma rifle" />