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For an overview of plasma rifles, see plasma rifle. |
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The Q-35 matter modulator, officially called the Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle version 35[1] is a unique weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.
Background[]
Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells, heavy energy cells, plasma cartridges, or plasma cores which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields. The bolts form into toroids in the plasma chamber, which are then sent down a superconducting barrel,[2][3][4] propelled by, and in some models stabilized by, electromagnetic claws upon exiting it.[5]
However, the plasma bolt chamber can be hotwired in order to accelerate the bolt formation process, effectively turbocharging the rifle.[6] The primary damage mechanism of plasma rifles is thermal transfer, causing serious burns to soft targets and melting hard ones. In extreme cases, the plasma can cause spontaneous dissolution of the target, including separation of soft tissues from hard ones or wholesale molecular destabilization that turns the target into a viscous green fluid.
Bulky, industrial plasma casters manufactured by Winchester Arms were once popular. While they performed admirably, they were expensive and required specialized training to use. Later developments by the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, suitable for urban warfare.[7]
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 the Quantum Plasma Modulation Matter Injection Rifle project,[1] a research program overseen by Colonel Moretti of the United States Army,[8] who was looking for a replacement for the aging plasma rifle designs, especially the Winchester P94.[7][9]
The prototype 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.[8]
With the data from the SEMELE project, REPCONN was finally able to create a functional prototype after 34 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.[1]
When the prototype was completed, individuals suspected to be working for Poseidon Energy[10] conspired with REPCONN's CFO, Julia Masters, to intercept and secure the prototype while it was in transit to the Department of Defense.[11]
Characteristics[]
Compared to the standard counterpart, the Q-35 matter modulator has attributes such as:
- Uses one microfusion cell per shot instead of two.
- Rate of fire is twice as fast.
- Plasma bolts have a much higher velocity.
- Degrades slower.
- 50% extra damage per second (DPS).
- Causes 7 less damage per shot but 15 more critical damage.
- Uses 2 less AP in V.A.T.S.
- Weighs 1 pound less than the standard variant.
As with most unique weapons, this weapon cannot receive modifications. Its projectile velocity is similar to that of its standard variant with the magnetic accelerator modification. It also has a dark red and black color scheme as opposed to the normal gray; the microfusion cells used as ammunition also follow the color scheme and appear red and black. This causes the cells to appear similar to electron charge packs.
Durability[]
The Q-35 matter modulator can fire a total of about 1,245 times using standard cells, the equivalent of 104 reloads, from full condition before breaking. Despite being considered "unsuitable for prolonged field use," it has the second highest item HP of all the rifle type energy weapons (the laser RCW having the highest), at 250 HP; more than triple the durability of a standard plasma rifle (which has 75 HP).
| Ammunition type | Durability | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | Reloads | |
| Standard | 1245 | 104 |
| Bulk | 1466 | 123 |
| Optimized | 1132 | 95 |
| Over charge | 829 | 70 |
| Max charge | 495 | 42 |
Variants[]
- Plasma rifle - The common variant found in the Mojave Wasteland.
- Van Graff plasma rifle - A special variant given by the Van Graffs during the quest Birds of a Feather.
 | The following is based on test content from the Fallout: New Vegas files. |
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| End of information based on test content from the Fallout: New Vegas files |
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Comparison[]
| Legend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | - Weapon name (melee or unarmed) |  | - Attacks in V.A.T.S. | |
 | - Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive) |  | - Action point cost | |
 | - Damage per attack (damage per projectile) |  | - Damage per action point | |
 | - Damage per second |  | - Weapon spread | |
 | - Area of effect damage |  | - Magazine capacity (shots per reload) | |
 | - Effect damage & duration |  | - Durability (number of attacks before breaking) | |
 | - Bonus effects |  | - Weight | |
 | - Attacks per second |  | - Value in caps | |
 | - Critical chance % multiplier |  | - Value to weight ratio | |
 | - Critical damage |  | - Skill required | |
 | - Critical effect damage & duration |  | - Strength required | |
 | - With all mods attached | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma rifle | 47 | 65.8 | 1.4 | x2 | 47 | 30 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 24(12) | 370 | 8 | 1300 | 162.5 | 25 | 3 |
| Q-35 matter modulator | 40 | 96 | 2.4 | x2 | 62 | 28 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 12 | 1245 | 7 | 3000 | 428.6 | 25 | 2 |
| Van Graff plasma rifle | 32 | 44.8 | 1.4 | x2 | 32 | 30 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 24(12) | 370 | 8 | 1300 | 162.5 | 0 | 3 |
| Multiplas rifle | 105 (35x3) | 105 | 1 | x1 | 34 | 35 | 3 | 1.5 | 30(10) | 245 | 7 | 2500 | 357.1 | 50 | 4 |
Location[]
The weapon is located on the REPCONN headquarters main floor, behind a Very Hard-locked door. A Very Hard-encrypted terminal next to the door can also be used, which can alternatively be unlocked with a security card that is either printed from a badge processing terminal on the second floor or found on the top floor in a briefcase clutched by a skeleton on the other side of the debris where two dead BOS paladins are found as part of Still in the Dark.
Alternatively, taking the stairs near the Very Hard-locked door to the second floor, then turning left, continuing forward and taking the next three rights will lead to a Hard-locked door which allows access to the weapon storage room through a hole in the ceiling. There is an unlocked terminal to open the Very Hard-locked door from the other side and return to the lobby.
Notes[]
When viewed in the first person, the plasma arcs in the ampoules on the side may not be visible, and often not in the third person when at certain angles.
Behind the scenes[]
The name is a reference to the fictitious "Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator" (sometimes "PU-36 Space Modulator" or "Uranium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator"), a weapon that is always unsuccessfully deployed by the Warner Brothers' cartoon character Marvin the Martian in efforts to destroy planet Earth.[12]
Bugs[]
If picked up, the gun could cause problems when loading a game. When loading it, the console reads "cannot open file because there are some mods that cannot be held." There is no known fix. [verified]- The gun may be wedged in the wall, making it difficult to retrieve. Go up against the wall in third person, aim at the ground and grab the gun. Another option is to use C-4 to move the gun until it can be picked up. [verified]
- Often, the gun will not be found floating in the middle of the capsule as shown in the images below. It will be on the floor beside the container. [verified]
- Sometimes the gun will appear stuck in the bottom of the container, making it difficult to get. Leaving the building then re-entering may fix this. [verified]
- If the weapon is dropped, it may become invisible, making it hard to find. The "Pick up" text will still be visible, however. [verified]
Sounds[]
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Gallery[]
.jpg "Fallout New Vegas Q-35 Matter Modulator (1).jpg (179 KB)")
.jpg "Fallout New Vegas Q-35 Matter Modulator (2).jpg (155 KB)")
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 REPCONN headquarters terminal entries; terminal, Q-35 telease notes
- ↑ Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{1500}{}{Plasma Rifle}"
"{1501}{}{A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells. Min ST: 6.}"
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel item description: "name_plasmaRifle = {Plasma Rifle}"
"desc_plasmaRifle = {A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of ionised gas down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2) and Items.txt) - ↑ Fort Independence terminal entries; research terminal, research log - plasma rifle
- ↑ Research note - plasma rifle
- ↑ Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net
- ↑ Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{23300}{}{Turbo Plasma Rifle}"
"{23301}{}{A modified Winchester P94 plasma rifle. The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process. Min ST: 6.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2) and Items.txt) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 The cover of the Future Weapons Today periodical as seen in Fallout: New Vegas has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 REPCONN headquarters terminal entries; terminal, inter-office correspondence #3458503
- ↑ The Courier: "What kind of prototypes?"
Arcade Gannon: "Plasma rifles. They were intended to replace the P94 plasma caster. There was some corporate espionage going on between Poseidon Energy's Project SEMELE and whatever was going on here."
(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) - ↑ REPCONN headquarters terminal entries; Sara Wang's terminal, Inter-office Correspondence #3457785
- ↑ REPCONN headquarters terminal entries; Julia Masters' terminal, encrypted message
- ↑ J.E. Sawyer on Formspring
