Plasma rifle (Fallout 3)

The urban plasma rifle is an energy weapon found in Fallout 3.

Characteristics
The plasma rifle uses microfusion cells, the same type of ammunition used by the laser rifle and commonly found throughout the Capital Wasteland, and can discharge up to twelve green, self-illuminated plasma bolts before requiring a reload.

The plasma rifle fires projectiles that inflict potentially heavy damage at a fairly quick semi-automatic rate of fire. The plasma bolt moves at sub-sonic speeds, giving enemies the chance to dodge the plasma bolts. Because of this, the plasma rifle is most effective in close to medium range combat, as opposed to the laser rifle which is better suited to long range. Due to its fast semi-automatic rate of fire, it empties its 12-shot magazine rather quickly, and its reload time is somewhat longer than most other small guns/energy weapons. Maintenance is a combination of perks and drawbacks; like other energy weapons, it has a high maximum condition compared to small guns, but is expensive and/or difficult to repair. A plasma rifle in poor condition (under 10%) can cost over 1000 bottle caps to repair. The plasma rifle has twice the chance of inflicting a critical hit than most other weapons, and can turn enemies into piles of green goo if the killing blow is a critical hit. Like all energy weapons, the plasma rifle's plasma bolt can ignite gas leaks.

A fully-repaired plasma rifle can fire 666 bolts, or 55 and a half full cells, before breaking.

Variants

 * A3-21's plasma rifle, a unique variant and one of the most powerful energy weapons, rivaling Lincoln's repeater in damage per shot.

Locations

 * Fort Independence, inside a weapons armory (the key to the armory door is inside one of the footlockers in the quarters).
 * The Citadel Laboratory, on the table (note there a possible chance that power armor can be there instead of plasma rifle)
 * Issued to many Enclave soldiers wearing Tesla or Enclave Hellfire armor. Some wearing hellfire power armor will have heavy incinerators instead of plasma rifles; these will be noted by the name Enclave Hellfire trooper rather than Enclave soldier.
 * In Broken Steel, Brotherhood soldiers may frequently be armed with plasma rifles, presumably captured by the Brotherhood and re-issued amongst the ranks. Officer Lepelletier is also armed with one. It is possible to obtain it passing a speech check.
 * In Mothership Zeta, at least two plasma rifles can be found; one in the weapons lab and the cargo hold.

Behind the scenes

 * A 'clip' levelled list that remains buried and unused in both Fallout 3 and New Vegas implies that the plasma rifle was originally designed with a 10 round capacity.