Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells, heavy energy cells, Plasma cartridge (Fallout 4)s, 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,[1][2][3] propelled by, and in some models stabilized by, electromagnetic claws upon exiting it.[4] However, the plasma bolt chamber can be hotwired in order to accelerate the bolt formation process, effectively turbocharging the rifle.[5] 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.
Initially, the weapon was a bulky, industrial plasma caster, manufactured by Winchester Arms; while it performed admirably, it was expensive and required specialized training to use. However, later developments for the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, perfectly suited for urban warfare.[6]
This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created as part of a desire to replace the aging WinchesterP94 "Plasma Caster" design.[6] 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[7] 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.[8]
This weapon is a unique variant of the plasma rifle and is received in max condition from the Van Graffs. This variant consumes microfusion cells at the same rate as the standard plasma rifle.
The Van Graff plasma rifle can fire a total of about 370 times using standard cells, the equivalent of 31 reloads, from full condition before breaking.
Given to the player character at the Silver Rush during the quest Birds of a Feather when given the choice between a plasma rifle or a laser rifle. Once the first part of the quest is finished, the armor and gun are taken from the Courier.
One way to obtain this weapon is to let the Silver Rush explode during Birds of a Feather. When the quest fails, one will be able to drop the rifle whenever you want to as it will not be marked as a quest item.
Another way to obtain this weapon permanently is to kill the Van Graffs while guarding the door during Birds of a Feather.
This item is marked as a quest item even after the quest involved with it is completed, and therefore if it is acquired through theft or the console, it may only be removed from the player character's inventory through console commands.
This weapon is not able to be modified.
If this weapon is chosen during the quest Birds of a Feather, Simon will comment to the player character that plasma rifles are fine, just so long as you hit whatever you're aiming at.
↑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)
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