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(They're two different weapons)
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===AER12 laser rifle===
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===Tri-beam laser rifle===
 
[[File:Tri-beam laser rifle.png|right|120px]]
 
[[File:Tri-beam laser rifle.png|right|120px]]
 
{{Gamearticle|FO3BS|FNV|link1=Tri-beam laser rifle (Fallout 3)|link2=Tri-beam laser rifle (Fallout: New Vegas)}}
 
{{Gamearticle|FO3BS|FNV|link1=Tri-beam laser rifle (Fallout 3)|link2=Tri-beam laser rifle (Fallout: New Vegas)}}
 
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The tri-beam laser rifle is essentially a "laser shotgun", which fires three laser beams with each shot. Compared to the regular AER9, it's missing the tube on the bottom length of the barrel, is shorter in overall length and has a new emitter aperture and attached wires.
The AER12 laser rifle was considered cutting-edge state-of-the-art technology before the Great War and was used only in a handful of specialty units. However, it is not as reliable as the older models like the AER9 or the Wattz 2000, as the focusing crystal array is housed in gold alloys, more vulnerable to years of exposure to environment.<ref name="citadel" />
 
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The Metal Blaster is a unique laser rifle that fires nine laser beams while expending only one microfusion cell. [[Everett]] explains that it was created by a man from The Pitt using parts he found lying around the [[The Mill]], including a series of prisms that split the beam. Everett came into possession of the rifle by looting the man's corpse in the Mill.
 
The Metal Blaster is a unique laser rifle that fires nine laser beams while expending only one microfusion cell. [[Everett]] explains that it was created by a man from The Pitt using parts he found lying around the [[The Mill]], including a series of prisms that split the beam. Everett came into possession of the rifle by looting the man's corpse in the Mill.
 
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===AER12 laser rifle===
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{{Gamearticle|type=mentioned|FO3}}
 
The AER12 laser rifle was considered cutting-edge state-of-the-art technology before the Great War and was used only in a handful of specialty units. However, it is not as reliable as the older models like the AER9 or the Wattz 2000, as the focusing crystal array is housed in gold alloys, more vulnerable to years of exposure to environment.<ref name="citadel" />
 
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Revision as of 20:03, 12 February 2015

Gameplay articles
FalloutLaser rifle
Fallout 2Laser rifle
Laser rifle (ext. cap.)
Fallout 3Laser rifle
Wazer Wifle
Cut content Lightning gun
Cut content Laser rifle (demo)
The PittMetal Blaster
Broken SteelTri-beam laser rifle
Fallout: New VegasLaser rifle
Recharger rifle
AER14 prototype
Tri-beam laser rifle
Van Graff laser rifle
Cut content The Disintegrator
Fallout TacticsLaser rifle
Van BurenLaser rifle
Laser array gun
Fallout: BoSHome-made laser rifle
Fallout ExtremeLaser rifle
 ... 
Gametitle-FO1Gametitle-FO2Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FO3 TPGametitle-FO3 BSGametitle-FNV
Gametitle-FO1Gametitle-FO2Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FO3 TPGametitle-FO3 BSGametitle-FNVGametitle-FOTGametitle-VBGametitle-FOBOSGametitle-FOX

Laser rifles are high-tech weapons that emit a concentrated beam of coherent light, with sufficient wattage to do considerable damage. They can be powered by battery packs, fusion cells or cabled power systems, but most models use an internal capacitor, charged with microfusion cells.

Background

Several different models exist, from low power home-made versions to extremely powerful military weapons. As with all energy weapons, laser rifles can suffer from poor performance if not properly maintained. The crystal arrays and non-mechanical components are delicate and if not properly serviced can lead to a loss of beam intensity, overheating, and energy regulation failure. Given that laser weapons were still in their infancy as regular military weapons, parts can be hard to come by in the wasteland. However, their lack of moving parts (aside from the microfusion cell holding latch and trigger mechanism) means they are resilient against extended use.

Apart from rifles, other laser weapons also exist: laser pistols and Gatling lasers.

Models

Wattz 2000 laser rifle

Fo1 laser rifle
Gameplay articles: Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics

The Wattz 2000 laser rifle (also referred to as the Sunbeam laser rifle[1]) uses microfusion cells for more powerful lasers, and an extended barrel for additional range.[2] On page 42 of the March issue of Future Weapons Today, there details the story of a Wattz 2000 laser rifle in the hands of a Marine sniper in Nanjing, China.[3]

AER9 laser rifle

Gameplay articles: Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas

The AER9 was actually not the top laser rifle in service at the time of the Great War. The model line went up to the state-of-the-art AER12, which saw service in a handful of specialty units. The reason that the AER9 is much more commonly found is that it was much sturdier and more reliable than the models that followed.[4]

The AER9 features a titanium housed crystal array which proved to withstand long years of exposure to the elements much better than the gold alloy housing of the later models. As a result, the crystal arrays stayed focused within operating parameters, rather than falling completely out of focus like the newer models.[4] Power is drawn from microfusion cells and processed through a wave/particle diverter manufactured by General Atomics International. The diverters are protected by a carbon-fiber housing, preventing frequent malfunction, but when a diverter fails the weapon becomes unusable.[5]

As with all energy weapons, the AER9 can suffer from poor performance if not properly maintained. The crystal arrays and non-mechanical components are delicate and if not properly serviced can lead to a loss of beam intensity, overheating, and energy regulation failure.[4]

Tri-beam laser rifle

Tri-beam laser rifle
Gameplay articles: Broken Steel, Fallout: New Vegas

The tri-beam laser rifle is essentially a "laser shotgun", which fires three laser beams with each shot. Compared to the regular AER9, it's missing the tube on the bottom length of the barrel, is shorter in overall length and has a new emitter aperture and attached wires.

AER9 Metal Blaster

Gameplay article: The Pitt

The Metal Blaster is a unique laser rifle that fires nine laser beams while expending only one microfusion cell. Everett explains that it was created by a man from The Pitt using parts he found lying around the The Mill, including a series of prisms that split the beam. Everett came into possession of the rifle by looting the man's corpse in the Mill.

AER12 laser rifle

Gameplay article: none (mentioned in Fallout 3)

The AER12 laser rifle was considered cutting-edge state-of-the-art technology before the Great War and was used only in a handful of specialty units. However, it is not as reliable as the older models like the AER9 or the Wattz 2000, as the focusing crystal array is housed in gold alloys, more vulnerable to years of exposure to environment.[4]

AER14 prototype laser rifle

AER14 prototype
Gameplay article: Fallout: New Vegas

The AER14, a successor to the AER9 and AER12, was a prototype in development before the Great War. The unit found in Vault 22 is one of these development models, complete with exposed wiring and loose prototype circuit boards taped to the stock.

The AER14 is similar in appearance to the AER9, although it is a lighter gray scheme with an orange-red trim. It also has two integrated circuit chips housed inside its stock, which are connected to the rest of the weapon via wires. It uses two microfusion cells per shot. The AER14 also fires a green laser instead of the normal red laser.

Recharger rifle

FNVRechargerRifle
Gameplay article: Fallout: New Vegas

A specialized laser rifle designed to work with microfusion breeder ammunition, the recharger rifle effectively has unlimited ammunition. The recharger rifle is also an incredibly sturdy weapon and requires less skill with energy weapons to use effectively. However, this particular rifle is much weaker and heavier than the more common AER9, and the user must time their shots to compensate for the weapon's need to charge up its shots.

Home-made laser rifle

Home-MadeLaserRifle

This is a poor excuse for an energy weapon. This garage-rate rifle has terrible accuracy and it doesn't even fire very fast. But any energy weapon is better than no energy weapon at all.

Lightning gun

Gameplay article: Broken Steel

The Lightning gun fires, essentially, a basic laser rifle's laser. At the point of impact it generates a natural gas cloud. After a moment, a second laser flies in (horizontally, from a seemingly arbitrary location) towards the gas cloud to ignite it.

Laser array gun

Vblaserarray
Gameplay article: Van Buren

References

  1. In-game name for the laser rifle in Fallout Tactics. [1]
  2. In-game description for the laser rifle in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics. [1][2][3]
  3. Cover of Future Weapons Today. [1]
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Citadel terminal entrie on the AER9 laser rifle in Fallout 3. [1]
  5. Research Note - laser rifle, Fort Independence terminal entries. [1]