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The Broadsider is the answer to that age-old question: "Would it be fun to walk around and shoot people with a portable naval cannon?" Yes. Yes it would.— VDSG Catalogue No.9708

The Broadsider is a unique weapon in Fallout 4.

Characteristics[]

An unusual heavy weapon mixing 18th-century ordnance with 23rd-century technology. The main body consists of a small old-fashioned naval cannon strapped to a makeshift rig with metal rivets and thick ropes. This rig allows it to be carried around with both hands easily and includes a hinge allowing the cannon to be angled vertically for easy reloading. It fires explosive cannonballs via an electronic trigger taped to the back handle.

The Broadsider's base damage is affected by the Heavy Gunner perk.

Weapon modifications[]

Barrel
ModDescriptionWeapon prefixDamage per shot changeFire rate changeRange changeAccuracy changeMagazine capacity (shots per reload) changeWeight changeWeapon value change in capsEffect(s)Perk(s) requiredComponentsForm ID
Standard barrelStandard.Adhesive x4
Screw x10
Steel x13
001A8A4E
Light barrelBetter hip-fire accuracy.Fluted+2-4.5+10Gun Nut 1Adhesive x8
Aluminum x13
Lead x6
Oil x4
Screw x10
001916A2
Grip
ModDescriptionWeapon prefixDamage per shot changeFire rate changeRange changeAccuracy changeMagazine capacity (shots per reload) changeWeight changeWeapon value change in capsEffect(s)Perk(s) requiredComponentsForm ID
Standard gripStandard.Screw x8
Steel x13
001A8A4F
Steady gripBetter recoil and hip-fire accuracy.Steady+2+1.3+45Gun Nut 1Adhesive x10
Aluminum x14
Rubber x6
Screw x12
Spring x11
001916A3
Shot canister
ModDescriptionWeapon prefixDamage per shot changeFire rate changeRange changeAccuracy changeMagazine capacity (shots per reload) changeWeight changeWeapon value change in capsEffect(s)Perk(s) requiredComponentsForm ID
Standard shot canisterAdhesive x2
Steel x4
001A8A50
Multi shot canisterBetter ammo capacity.Repeating+18-16+2+5.4+100Gun Nut 1Adhesive x5
Aluminum x10
Screw x6
Spring x8
001916A4

Locations[]

Rewarded by Ironsides during the quest Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution. Siding with the scavengers instead makes this weapon unobtainable.

Notes[]

  • The Broadsider is a powerful weapon, only surpassed by a fully upgraded Gauss rifle, a missile launcher and a Fat Man in terms of raw damage output.
  • The cannonball reward from the end of Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution appears to be tied to the weapon. Adding another one to the player character's inventory will also add the cannonballs.
  • At some point in development, the weapon was intended to have weapon mods that would change the properties of the cannonballs. In the game's archives, there are meshes for an alternate version of the front part of the electronic trigger, along with a mesh for a cannonball with a fuse. This cannonball variant is a cut projectile that appears to have been intended to produce timed detonations.
  • Additionally, there is another cut projectile that causes a larger explosion on impact, similar to the explosion caused by cars. The name of this, BroadsiderProjectileMortar, suggests that it was to be similar to the projectiles used by the artillery pieces.
  • A "Nuke" variation of the weapon can be added with the console command player.additem 65df2 1.
    This version of the Broadsider launches gigantic nukes, and uses a custom ammunition type called "Nuke," which can be added with the console command player.additem 65df3. However, being a cut weapon, it does not actually consume the "Nuke" ammo, making it a weapon with infinite ammo.
  • Even though it has no legendary modifier, the Broadsider cannot be scrapped at a weapons workbench.
  • Although the multi shot canister mod increases the Broadsider's capacity to three cannonballs, the Sole Survivor will only insert a single projectile into its muzzle while reloading.
  • No gunpowder is poured into the muzzle while reloading which in reality would be required to propel the cannonball projectile.

Behind the scenes[]

  • The term "broadsiding," or "firing broadside," is a naval term, referring to firing all the cannons (in jargon referred to as 'guns') that can be pointed to one side of a ship, all at the same time.
  • The Broadsider's cannon barrel has two engravings; "1820", which is likely the year it was cast, and a royal cypher of King George II. This cypher was included due to replacement guns being cast in 1929 patterned after a British siege gun abandoned in Boston during the American Revolution. The decision to do so was based upon inaccurate research that the ship was equipped with British guns in 1812.[Non-game 1]

Gallery[]

References[]

Non-game

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