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The plasma caster (or Winchester P94) is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background

This section is transcluded from Plasma rifle. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

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,[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.

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.[6]

Characteristics

The plasma caster is a powerful energy weapon, having a rather low AP cost and high rate of fire. Its precision in V.A.T.S. suffers if a character cannot meet the steep Energy Weapons skill requirement (100) and at 20 pounds it was the heaviest energy weapon in the game prior to the advent of the GRA Cleansing Flame. It is rare and not very durable, so the Jury Rigging perk or weapon repair kits may be necessary for continuous use of this weapon.

Durability

The plasma caster can fire a total of about 395 times using standard packs, the equivalent of 40 reloads, from full condition before breaking.

Ammunition typeDurability
ShotsReloads
Standard39540
Bulk46647
Optimized35936
Over charge26227
Max charge15516

Modifications

Locations

Variants

Comparison

Legend 
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (melee or unarmed)Attacks in V.A.T.S.- Attacks in V.A.T.S.
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive)Action point cost- Action point cost
Damage per attack (damage per projectile)- Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per action point- Damage per action point
Damage per second- Damage per secondWeapon spread- Weapon spread
Area of effect damage- Area of effect damageMagazine capacity (shots per reload)- Magazine capacity (shots per reload)
Effect damage & duration- Effect damage & durationDurability (number of attacks before breaking)- Durability (number of attacks before breaking)
Bonus effects- Bonus effectsWeight- Weight
Attacks per second- Attacks per secondValue in caps- Value in caps
Critical chance % multiplier- Critical chance % multiplierValue to weight ratio- Value to weight ratio
Critical damage- Critical damageSkill required- Skill required
Critical effect damage & duration- Critical effect damage & durationStrength required- Strength required
With all mods attached- With all mods attached
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per secondAttacks per secondCritical Chance % multiplierCritical damageAttacks in V.A.T.S.Action Point costDamage per action pointWeapon spreadMagazine capacity (shots per reload)Durability (number of attacks before breaking)WeightValue in capsValue to weight ratioSkill requiredStrength required
Plasma caster 65
1953x1651252.60.7103952070003501008
Plasma caster With all weapon mods attached 65
243.83.75x1651252.60.7103952095004751008
The Smitty Special Gun Runners' Arsenal35
2457x0.1353303.51.3201095202000010001008

Notes

  • The plasma caster, like the plasma rifle found in Fallout and Fallout 2, is a Winchester P94 energy caster, not to be confused with the urban plasma rifle found in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. When outfitted with the Plasma caster HS electrode, it effectively becomes the turbo plasma rifle from the earlier games.
  • When viewed in third-person, depending on what armor is worn, the plasma caster may not be visible on the player character when holstered. Half-way through the holstering animation, the weapon model simply disappears, similar to the incinerator and heavy incinerator. If visible, the player character holds it in one hand with the pronged tip clipping through the ground.
  • In the G.E.C.K. there is a plasma caster critical effect explosion that was cut out from the game. In the projectiles window, the explosion is already set but is unchecked.
  • Without any DLCs, there is only one fixed plasma caster in Fallout: New Vegas.
  • In Fallout 3, Elder Lyons refers to this weapon when talking about the Brotherhood Outcasts.[7]

Behind the scenes

  • While the original idea to include the Winchester P94 in Fallout: New Vegas came from J.E. Sawyer, Paul Fish was responsible for modelling and texturing it.[8]
  • The naming of this weapon "Plasma Caster" instead of "Plasma Rifle" like in the original games was both because Fallout 3 had already introduced a plasma rifle, and that the weapon does not look like a rifle [9]

Bugs

  • PCPC The weapon fails to fire a projectile properly when used in third-person view. After equipping it when in third-person view it may not work even when switching to first-person view. Re-equipping it while in first-person view may solve this. [verified]
  • PCPC Sometimes after quick loading the weapon is held in one hand by the handle and moves with the players arm movement when holstered, or appears next to the players arm. This can be fixed by un-equipping and then re-equipping the plasma caster. [verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 When using the weapon in V.A.T.S. the projectile will often not fire unless very close to the target, and if standing under a roof the projectile may collide with the structure. [verified]
  • Xbox 360Xbox 360 While equipped, weapon may become stuck to player's hand when changing outfits. To fix this, simply un-equip, then re-equip. [verified]

Sounds

SingleShotVB

Gallery

References

  1. 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)
  2. Fort Independence terminal entries; research terminal, research log - plasma rifle
  3. Research note - plasma rifle
  4. Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net
  5. 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)
  6. The cover of the Future Weapons Today periodical as seen in Fallout: New Vegas has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
  7. Elder Lyons' dialogue: "After all," they say, "everyone knows how to make another human, but the secrets to making a P94 Plasma Rifle are all but lost."
  8. J.E. Sawyer on Formspring
  9. J.E. Sawyer when asked on Formspring
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