Plasma Weapons of Fallout

[@f3uibeghardt522]

That's funny that A.I. Gaston Glock would be designing new guns in the future considering in our world he's spent the past 35 years selling the exact same gun.

[@Rad_King]

Ok this got me 😂

[@baker90338]

In his defense, colt has been for the last 100.

[@sherlockbonez]

Gen4

[@f3uibeghardt522]

@@baker90338 Yeah, but Glock makes only pistols, and they're all the same pistols except for the chamberings. Colt at least makes several different rifles and pistols.

[@twistedyogert]

There have been small improvements and cosmetic changes.

[@thebigsucc030]

As an empath, I can sense that this man likes the color green

[@Rad_King]

Your sense is spot on, you wizard

[@olliesmith1102]

Nothing to do with him literally opening the video saying “I like the colour green” then? 🤣

[@Sksk27547]

Funny

[@Sksk27547]

Aren't you a bomb making expert?

[@IanRose-mp1sq]

@@Rad_King who doesn't, it's my favorite color too.

[@The_Alt_Vault]

The Plasma Defender (Original Plasma Pistol) was a competing design to the Plasma pistol but due to the Plasma pistol (the new one) was easier to produce due to it being made with parts from the Plasma Rifle with the Defender becoming a rear model by comparison to its cheaper version.

[@mrziiz6893]

Yeah I think that’s what’s going on, it was fazed out on the East coast

[@nickelakon5369]

It's possible that the plasma defender was a special made weapon for special forces, the west coast had a lot of top of the line tech due to the super soldier program. Whereas the plasma pistol of fallout 3 was the more mass produced design we see used by the regular military. This would explain why the defender is a more capable combat weapon but why it also would have seen limited production

[@The_Alt_Vault]

@@nickelakon5369 that's also a good point I just hope we see the defender come back some day since despite my lack of hope for the next fallout bathesda dose seem to know that the fans like the older stuff.

[@planescaped]

@@The_Alt_Vault They seemed intent on ignoring New Vegas in particular aside from some very minor references, so I dunno... Almost seems like they're jealous New Vegas was received and is remembered so much better than their games. >__>

[@The_Alt_Vault]

@@planescaped Probably but theirs 2 trains of thought you can take(now this is in reference to the older games in general but it involves NV), Bethesda has referenced the older games and NV but its hard to do it well since Bathsheba games are east coast centered where as the older games are west coast centered, That and its a lot of lore to remember when it comes to them reckoning. (Though i think we would agree that they should be checking lore regularly when making newer games) With their ignorance being possibly seen as respect as they dont want to mess NV up by going over old ground. Camp 2 is yeah their trying make Fallout their own and want people to go for their games (Even though most people today struggle to play the older games because of how they where made with NV as the exception)

[@enclaveheavytrooper9258]

Winchester: Everything from Shotguns, to heavy Plasma Casters.

[@Rad_King]

Pretty standard weapons catalogue circa 2077 😄

[@Sksk27547]

8:13 < did you have several geckos run up on you from behind? At that location. I did. I had 3 of them.

[@davidfrancisco3502]

The institute laser guns are supposed to be cheaper to mass produce and repair than the pre war guns. And big number of synths armed with those might cause big fire power based on numbers.

[@davidfrancisco3502]

@@Trollo_Swaggins Is stated in the Fallout 4 stortyline that the Institute are tight short on resources and mass production infraestructure.

[@funkkymonkey6924]

They also have higher DPS, they’re still gross tho.

[@Rad_King]

Yeah, Limited resources are the most likely explanation.

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

But there laser guns are simply horrible

[@robertharris6092]

@@unifiedhorizons2663 so was the STEN. But ~4 million were built.

[@tinaherr3856]

22:44 to be fair, the Zetans took a *lot* of stuff from Earth. From toys to posters to bathtubs, so they weren't exactly taking the highest quality tech. Also, the Zetan's energy weapons are blue, not green. I would suspect if the government was reverse engineering the tech, it would still keep much of the design

[@mannybear4691]

Lore states that the us government used a zetan pistol to make plasma weapons in Area 51 that’s why the enclave has so many plasma weapons because there what’s left of the government’s secret side and the Bos are really what’s left of the base army

[@tinaherr3856]

@@mannybear4691 which part of the lore is that from? The Fallout Wiki unfortunately is filled with inaccuracies, Tactics is has dubious canonicity, and the Fallout Bible is not canon.

[@mannybear4691]

@@tinaherr3856 I’m pretty sure it’s hinted at Skynet from fallout 2 who was built from alien technology and used for research in to weapons and also the f.e.v

[@tinaherr3856]

@@mannybear4691 firstly, if Skynet was made to research weapons, that still doesn't necessarily mean that they created the plasma rifle. Scavenged alien technology was used to help make them, but that doesn't mean that Skynet created the plasma rifle. They researched weapons, it was never stayed that plasma weapons came from there. Heck, they didn't even specify that it was energy weapons, so it could have been a wide array of different equipment, like conventional guns. Secondly, you would think that Skynet created plasma rifles would get more attention in it's Fallout 2 appearance. However, it is never said anywhere that Skynet created the plasma rifle design. In addition to the points I already made in my original comment, I cannot believe that plasma weapons came from Zetan technology

[@mannybear4691]

It’s in the fallout three game guide we’re it says the enclave used alien technology to make weapons and advanced robots look it up. There’s also a video by theepicnate315 about the aliens in fallout if you don’t want to read your self

[@captainsinclair7954]

On the subject of Plasma Cores, I have a massive bone to pick with the Fallout 76 Plasma Caster. The ingame reload animation uses what looks like a Plasma Core just like the Gatling Plasma. For whatever reason, however, the Plasma Caster uses conventional Plasma Cartridges. Perhaps this was done to make it a more user-friendly weapon, since the Cores need Nuclear Material while the cartridges do not

[@Paladin_Johnson]

Damn.. now I can never unsee that

[@Pigness7]

I think it was done because having a weapon like the plasma caster have 500 shots would be OP

[@overboss9599]

The cores in general are Supreme jank, both fusion and plasma are frankly more trouble than they are worth. I suspect the devs intended to use a plasma core, but couldn't get it to behave properly and so canned the idea before release.

[@Rad_King]

I wasn’t even aware of that. Unplayable.

[@369Sigma]

@@Pigness7 they could’ve set it up where the caster takes multiple ammo counts per blast 🤷‍♂️

[@vavra222]

There is this terminal entry in the Institute Advanced Systems department (there is a lady scientist test shooting weapons). "Proposal: Pre-war plasma weapons exist, albeit in a somewhat primitive state. Samples have been collected; with work from a dedicated research team said weapons could be improved upon dramatically. Approval Pending - Li.M Notes: Something to consider, after Phase Three is complete"

[@Rad_King]

Nice lore tidbit!

[@mouseblackcat5263]

"Heating a pot of water, to create steam, to heat a pan, to cook your food." Dude, you just described a Double Boiler, a VERY Common peice of Kitchen Equipment. O.o

[@pepper-0ni-t1m]

Always liked the plasma weapons in fallout, due to just how they look so bulky and wired up. It's nothing elegant, but it's got a robust and untested feel to them that I actually like a lot. I mean, of course I love my ballistic weapons more but, that green fire of death being fired out of my guns is pretty awesome.

[@Sgt_Robo]

If by robust you mean "if something damages this tubing my hands will melt" then yes. But I do agree, the more makeshift, "the science boys cobbled this together in their off time" look with the plasma weapons in 3 just feels right.

[@pepper-0ni-t1m]

@@Sgt_Robo Well, considering it IS firing incredibly hot plasma, I would hope it would have some robustness to it's design. All in all, firing what is basically the surface of the sun in terms of temperature at the enemy is always cool.

[@dd11111]

And yet that is the exact reason I Hate them. Not only do they look untested and craft produced despite apperently being a mass produced weapon that passed millitary endurance trials and got accepted into battlefeild use. But it also looks as if it would have good chance to explode and melt you if you ever dropped it. Had they been mentioned as being Post-War designs I would likely agree with you. But they look WAY to flimsy and exposed to be adopted by Any millitary. I've said in other comments that the Fallout 4 one looks more belivable. But then gets called a "pistol" despite being a Brick the size of a small microwave oven. Each to their own I guess. But I'm begging to see the plasma defender make a return, the only plasma weapon that looked like it could withstand life in the wasteland.

[@Helpertin]

​@@dd11111 When pressed for manufacturing and resources and with limited time against enemies who are trying their best to kill you under the same conditions you will field things like the M3 "grease gun" or the Sten submachine gun. Look like dogshit, pieced together as quickly as could be managed using as few resources and as simple manufacturing possible. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_submachine_gun en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sten In my head, the plasma weapons all seem to be somewhere in that Times-Of-War prototype to MK 1 phase of development. It provided enough of boost in a much needed area that even though it barely met build quality (and safety) standards it was rushed into production so that they could be fielded in small but appreciable numbers with plans to improve the design and manufacturing... then the bombs fell putting an end to all the worlds prior plans... leaving the people of fallout with the plasma weapons as they are.

[@dd11111]

@@Helpertin Fair idea, but the Sten went through multiple far bulkier designs before we get the iconic "a couple of pipes, springs and a bolt." Mk4. And the "Greese Gun" despite having the charging handle IN the bolt, never had a chance to expolde if you dropped it on some sharp gravel. Although the Sten had reliability issues due to it's rushed construction. Neither it or the reasonably well made M3 were ever made with a lax approach to user safety. (Beyond the bolt charging or poor heatsheild of the Sten, but it DID have one.) And yes I know the Pistol doesn't explode in-game, but that tubing looks far too flimsy for comfort. And if it did have a %chance to go boom we would likely almost never use it apart from as a joke grenade. It's a sound idea for your headcannon, beliveable and makes decent sence. But in Mine, the FO3 and NV plasma weapons are POST-War creations (probably Enclave) from the parts of unfinished FO1,2, T, BoS & 4 plasma weapons and attempts at replicating the tech with scarce post war materials. PS. We're watching a video on the weapons of fallout and their history. We are almost guaranteed to all be "gun nuts." So please don't insult my knowlege by linking to the WIKI ARTICLE. At least link a Forgotten Weapons video dude...SMH.

[@batman96160]

My theory about the fallout 1 and 2 plasma Pistol and the new vegas plasma defender is this, after Navarro exploded many scavengers and raiders looted the wreckage finding blueprints for the modern plasma Pistol and sent it to weapon manufacturers. They mass produced the gun and it made its way to DC and other areas via caravans. People called them plasma Pistols along the way soon the name stuck. Meanwhile the old plasma Pistol was less used out of the California/ Mojave region and since the term plasma Pistol was given to the enclave weapon they changed it to the plasma defender

[@Rad_King]

There has to be a west coast/east coast divide or reason why plasma weapons are so different

[@Rebel3000]

@@Rad_King enclave presence?

[@alexbattaglia8297]

The Plasma Defender was a German (Glock) design, whereas the Plasma Pistol may have just been designed by another company, hence the difference

[@mannybear4691]

@@Rad_King I would say it’s because the enclave was able to keep working on plasma weapons longer because lore says that the plasma weapons are based on weapons from the zetans the government was working to reverse engineer

[@IonorRea]

@@Rad_King The main reason is that Bethesda decided to change the design of pretty much everything from Mr. Handy to Power armor compared to first Fallouts and weapons are no exceptions but they make some story around to hide behind it as an excuse why things are changing for no apparent reason. In reality, Bethesda wasn't wrong by redesigning some weapons as post-apocalyptic society would be unable to produce some hi-tech stuff in its original form anyway or they may improve on flaws in original designs, so many post-war designs are just shed production due to limited resources and lack of manufacturing capabilities of the past, on other hand many re-designs are just ridiculous like Mr. Handy with the jet engine operating indoors. That's Bethesda for you, looking cool wins over looking realistic in almost every case and you can argue that Oblivion or Skyrim look more realistic in the context of their worlds, thus trying to explain why Fallout 3/4 changes things is like trying to explain the technology of Star Wars, realism was never the top priority...

[@LtBlankman]

I agree with that thought. Plasma weapons started as mining/metalworking tools and after an "accident" the Fallout us gov decided to advance the idea for plasma weapon.

[@ThefifthBishopofGord]

Guessing from the quotation marks around the word accident, I am going to assume that some workers has killed their boss because of overworking or something similar.

[@planescaped]

I got the impression that it was a tool room, clunky prototype mass produced to get them in the soldiers hands right now kind of a thing.

[@Robb1977]

could have also had an "operation plowshare" kind of story. start off with scientists theorizing nuclear power can be used to power cities, make them turn it into a bomb that can flatten a city, then try to make that bomb dig canals or expedite strip mining. build a plasma prototype for complex metalworking, maybe for the underdeveloped space program, get told to turn it into a gun, try to make the gun do complex metalworking.

[@sopadumacacoumadelicia5]

Great, I look *rad* with that Gatling Plasma 🗿 Nice video homie, always interesting to see the differences between F3/NV and 4/76 weapons

[@BloodiedDoomguy]

I think I preferred when the larger energy weapons were absolute units, circa FO1-2. Really added to this since of retro sci-fi wonder, added to their rarity and this chunky power they seemed to haul around! Not that I'm saying I have a problem with the miniaturization aspect they ultimately went with, I was just a fan of the original thought process. Great work as always Rad King!

[@Rad_King]

Thank you doomguy!

[@BloodiedDoomguy]

@@Rad_King Hey, I always pop your stuff on during the 13 hour shifts. It's more to me that you go above reading the wiki pages, trying to draw parallels and pull up obscure trivia to better hit the sweet tooth I have for the lore. The least I can do is grant you some praise!

[@kotzpenner]

Regarding the plasma bolt: I always assumed the Fallout plasma weapons work like in Xenonauts. A particle (graviton) is added into the heated plasma mass which acts as a stabiliser to shoot the bolt. In Xenonauts it’s taken from alien technology, in Fallout it could be application of 2070s technology. Since physics work slightly different on the Fallout universe, it’s entirely possible their scientists found a way to stabilise the bolt.

[@allensmithphotography]

Stabilizing the bolt is the relatively easy part. Irl they've figured out that by spinning the accelerator field as the plasma is accelerated the plasma itself will generate a self sistaining magnetic field. The big issue with irl systems is the power requirements and storage volume at a high enough pressure.

[@raziyatheseeker]

@@allensmithphotography Thank you! Not enough people seem to know that discovery. It's kinda cool how putting a spin on a bullet stabilized it mid-flight, and could someday be used with plasma to shoot it like a bullet.

[@allensmithphotography]

@@raziyatheseeker absolutely cool.

[@DovahFett]

In Fallout 3 it's heavily implied, though not outright stated, that the U.S. government was reverse engineering captured Zeta alien technology to create its own plasma weaponry. So any technological advancements in bolt stabilization probably came from them.

[@Eboreg2]

@@raziyatheseeker Probably because the US Military took a VERY keen interest in that discovery due to its utility in ballistic missile defense.

[@wilomica]

Plasma weapons do electrical damage because naturally occurring plasme is called lightning! So that's why.

[@Rad_King]

It’s a bit of chicken and egg thing but the plasma is generated from the intense heat of the bolt.

[@demonic_myst4503]

Plasma isnt eletrical the static build up in the clouds is the plasma isnt what is eletrical in lighting plasma just forms around lightning

[@КонстантинЯлынычев]

Fallout 3's plasma rifle might have been inspired by a cathode ray tube in some old TV - the tube with coils mounted looks the closest i can think of

[@ericsteenbergen9470]

But RadKing, boiling a pot of water to heat your food does make sense! It's called a steam kettle, they're great. Since the interior pot cant get hotter than the steam, you can't burn your food in them. Most Navy ships for instance have big 50+ gallon steam kettles they cook a good deal of the food in for instance.

[@planescaped]

Not to mention a double boiler is a pretty standard thing.

[@ZinTyPhoon]

@@planescaped Especially if you're making chocolate covered anything.

[@vavra222]

The Plasma Defender gives me some strong Johnny Silverhand´s gun vibes, i love the look.

[@KrisHandsome]

Funny enough, the Plasma Defender has the same style of blocky look the Malorian 3516 had back in the old Chromebooks from the Cyberpunk 2020 TTRPG. Probably a coincidence tho, since the Malorian kinda looks more like a futuristic mix between a 1911 and a Glock in there.

[@AutismIsUnstoppable]

Interplay made the Neuromancer game so it's likely they liked the cyberpunk genre

[@sabliath9148]

The yellow tubes of the Smitty Special look like they were taken from the Recharger Pistol/Rifle in particular they're the same color as the ones on the MF Hyperbreeder Alpha. Most likely, on this Plasma Caster they're being used to quickly recharge the plasma, allowing the automatic fire.

[@Rad_King]

Nice catch!

[@nstar674]

Oh yeah, this is what I've been waiting for. When it comes to energy weapons I've always been the biggest fan of plasma.

[@MB-sq7yn]

Bit late to the convo, but if no one else has put this forward, the Fallout 3 and beyond plasma weapons seem to be inspired by magnetic based particle accelerators and fusion reactor designs. The idea that they're basically weaponized science/industrial devices makes sense to me considering their more complex nature and recent development.

[@Sprayer-px3tu]

you do heat up water to heat up pans that contain food. That's exactly how you melt chocolate while ensuring it doesn't burn.

[@theace8502]

Heck yeah! My favourite type of weapons, plasma weapons! Great video 👑King

[@BierBart12]

There are ways to cause ripples in spacetime that could have a similar effect on plasma as a strong magnetic field. Imagine if plasma weapons in scifi use this kind of technology. They somehow create a "bubble" of spacetime that travels as fast as the bolt itself, containing it until it hits more solid matter. It can also be focused in a pipe-like shape for a plasma beam. Other states of matter aren't nearly as affected by the bubble, since plasma is much "looser" As these weapons are used for many years, they slowly cause localized tears in reality. And that's how we get eldritch abominations, magic and other dimension-invasive concepts. Or maybe they don't. Reality can heal itself fast enough, until some madman decides to create a planet-sized plasma beam weapon, causing a tear that creates the plot of a whole bunch of games/books/movies.

[@robinkendall4454]

R.I.P. Gaston Glock, time to upload his consciousness so it will be lore accurate.

[@SifuSonic]

Sports of Fallout and Games of Fallout. Just dropping this hear again because I think they'd make great videos and I really dig your work. Thanks

[@Rad_King]

I’ll put it on the list :)

[@jesseharlan2884]

I always thought an interesting design for a plasma pistol would be a revolver except it doesn't have a revolving cylinder instead the cylinder would be a similar sized tank of green goo. Personally I would base the design off of the nine shot .44 caliber LeMat revolver. Because it has a larger cylinder then other models, a interesting trigger guard and goose neck grip.

[@car9472]

Maybe it could have a revolving chamber that has several plasma cells instead of bullets? Each shot is much more powerful, thus using up a whole plasma cell. Im not a game designer but I think something like that could be interesting

[@dragonbornexpress5650]

@@car9472. Maybe BGS Austin will make that kind of weapon for Fallout 76 in the future? If they're confident enough to bring back weapons that haven't been seen since the early 2000's while also creating brand new weapons, a kind of Plasma Revolver doesn't seem that farfetched.

[@messydeskproductions4159]

@@car9472 I've always wanted a laser revolver in fallout. The absence I'd particularly notable in NV

[@dyinghijacker]

A revolver that uses mf cells would be cool

[@dd11111]

@@dyinghijacker I was going to say, I'm surprised and a little disapointed we didn't see a makeshift energy pistol like that, esspecially in NV, One that uses a full Microfusion cell in a swing out/break action, instead of a having a cylinder. or even one like on early cap and ball revolvers like the Remmington army where the gun must be partially disassembled to fit the microfusion cell into the frame.

[@MaxiemumKarnage]

Didn't New Vegas retcon the Plasma Rifle from 1 and 2 into being the "Plasma Caster"?

[@serketenglish5963]

Yes. He completely forgot it too.

[@danielchang4671]

I’m pretty sure he mentioned it in the video

[@serketenglish5963]

@@danielchang4671 No. Even after it was brought back in New Vegas, he skipped it entirely when talking about New Vegas' weapons.

[@danielchang4671]

@@serketenglish5963 oh ok my bad

[@serketenglish5963]

@@danielchang4671 All good.

[@lemongrass5412]

your intro is absurd and i love it

[@NP6335ACDC]

Found your channel recently and it has been very entertaining, thank you for the content.

[@gabr.7878]

I love this, also I'm digging the intro cutscene

[@brando31799]

I have been looking forward to this video!

[@hekkenschutz]

Thank you for another great video! I appreciate your work

[@Rad_King]

Thank you!

[@jhomariemanzano2258]

Awesome video and love the plasma riffle!!

[@MagnusTonitrum117]

I’ve been looking forward to this

[@Rad_King]

Hope you liked it :)

[@MagnusTonitrum117]

@@Rad_King I did :)

[@Xxstoner27xX]

These videos are the shit if u tryna fall asleep love them

[@mathiascroqvist4719]

Something funny about how you mentioned "heating a pot of water so the steam from that pot can heat a pan to cook your food. " I immediately thought of one product. I'm sure you're old enough to remember the old Betty Crocker commercials for "The Original chocolate factory" which was in fact just a pot you fill with water to boil and then using the steam from that pot to heat a second pot or pan to cook your food or melt your chocolate. I just found it hilarious that your Metaphor for a Plasma weapon dealing Electric damage is literally something that actually exists. I had also forgotten for a time but then it came back to me. As I have traveled this land blessed by ATOM's glow I have been accosted by many runabouts and strange people claiming the insane. However the proof with which they supplied me had me curious about how many others are truly like them. I met a young boy living in a bus underneath what was called 188 trading post near New Vegas. This boy had the ability to see the future and predict events that hadn't happened. Another was a woman who for some strange reason had been talking with the dead the dead being A woman named Anna and finally a rather young woman at the time Certain to be a grandmother by now who had what she called "The Sight" These gifts and Psychokinetic abilities had to be blessings of ATOM and given to those he see's as worthy. These Psychics are all around the wastes and never really reveal themselves. I was hoping you would enlighten others about those with these strange abilities and possibly reveal any that i have yet to come across in my travels. May ATOMS light guide you my brother.

[@jaxgallagher911]

What.

[@dark2023-1lovesoni]

That device has existed for a long time, its called a double boiler.

[@DemonBlanka]

@@dark2023-1lovesoni or a bain marie. The purpose is to apply gentler heat to a food item, important for chocolate to avoid burning and stuff like eggs for delice.

[@Rad_King]

Haha I need a new metaphor now! Also per your request, I would gladly do a video on those blessed by Atom, stay tuned :)

[@ZinTyPhoon]

Wait, you mean everyone can't see ghosts and hear ghosts? I've been from the east coast to the west and I've experienced plenty!

[@asddsdsssd]

I believe the fins on the end of the plasma caster are stabilizers. There is a similar thing with Halo's plasma weapons, they use magnets to stabilize the plasma bolt to create projectile.

[@steveharrison76]

“What are you up to today, mate?” “Melting boomers with plasma.” “Fair.”

[@pajamapantsjack5874]

Love your work dude keep it up I’ve already binged all your other videos lol

[@thelonepainter4760]

Wow! I just found your channel and subbed instantly! Huge fallout lore nerd here. Keep up the great work 👍🏽👏

[@browndavies1422]

Hey RadKing, I’m currently in the process of 3-D modeling the plasma core from fallout 76 from screenshots taken in the game. To my knowledge and the first person on the Internet to take on this challenge, as Bethesda really shit the bed with this one. My plan is to have a fully fleshed out model with individual components that can be 3-D printed in different colored filaments and assembled together so no painting is required. Eventually I plan on making a version with hollowed interior space so that some green LEDs can be installed to make the plasma look awesome.

[@neb3760]

Another great video!

[@Rad_King]

Thank you!

[@dcross6360]

Your videos are getting better

[@raziyatheseeker]

The video I'd been waiting for since I found this channel. My liege. :D

[@Pigness7]

Because you're probably wondering: I continue to forgor

[@coolguyinc.1555]

He forgor 💀

[@Rad_King]

I’ve been looking for you!

[@Nuniixo]

@@Rad_King Got something I'm supposed to deliver - your hands only.

[@blaiseedmond2781]

You DO know that Double broilers exist? The analogy of boiling water to heat a pan to cook ur food is exactly what it does

[@3personal5me8]

According to my head canon, the institute stopped using plasma based weaponry when it was discovered that the magnetic fields used in the weapons were interfering with the electrical and mechanical systems in the hands and arms of the synths that used them. This led to a myriad of issues relating to accuracy, dexterity during reloads, and, most importantly, the ability to stop holding down the trigger.

[@ironwolf2244]

The Plasma Caster is my favorite weapon in all of Fallout. Btw, I don't know about anyone else, but I'd like to see the option to impale the focusing fins of the Plasma Caster into an enemy and melt them from the inside. It'd be something like a critical move, and it could be called 'Plasmic Immolation'.

[@bookerdewitt4597]

Or when in melee range, you can put the quantum harmonizer of the plasma caster in the photonic resonation chamber of your enemies. 🤠

[@hunterfeia9452]

Hey RadKing! Great new video!

[@Rad_King]

Thank you :)

[@13akful]

the plasma weapon might fire a pulsed chatode ray and using the magnetic field of the ray to contain the plasma during travel

[@Helpertin]

The plasma weapons all seem to be somewhere in that Times-Of-War prototype MK 1 phase of development. It provided enough of boost in a much needed area that even though it barely met build quality (and safety) standards it was rushed into production so that they could be fielded in small but appreciable numbers with plans to improve the design and manufacturing... then the bombs fell putting an end to all the worlds prior plans... leaving the people of fallout with the plasma weapons as they are.

[@Jevontae.D]

I love these videos

[@nukulardragon3891]

Gotta say, I love this guy's content on of my top 3 fallout lore KZbinrs keep it up bro And always remember to Walk in the glow fellow children

[@Rad_King]

Atom bless you.

[@nukulardragon3891]

@@Rad_King holy shit this made week

[@NPS69]

It's interesting to see Winchester on the cutting edge of small arms design when in our timeline they fell out of the military arms industry and focus mainly on sporting rifles and shotguns.

[@Falcon532.]

HOLD UP! I actually had to look up energy cells and I never realized those are just some duct taped AA batteries

[@CaptainPrincess]

this is gonna blow your mind then cause a battery is nothing but a bunch of smaller button cells lined up and wrapped in metal

[@Falcon532.]

@@CaptainPrincess yea no, that actually depends on the battery. Also most quality 9-volt batteries are just a bunch of AAAA batteries all wrapped up

[@neethsuesvoldar3865]

The plasma thrower modification is actually really good the range is awful but its really a good modification oh and there's 100% modifications for the enclave plasma rifle you can only earn them through enclave related events

[@marek1shtar538]

I like to believe the "Plasma Gun" in fallout 4 was an industrial tool modified into a weapon post war. I think this because of the special ammo for it as well as the ammo cartridge being a part of the iron sights and the short barrel being way too short for a weapon of it's size. I could imagine them being used in the construction or the upkeep of ships around the commonwealth. I also think this because of the jurry-rigged flamer barrel

[@cnut7383]

What would it be used for tho? Welding?

[@marek1shtar538]

@@cnut7383 Probably. It has that look in it's base pistol mode. The short barrel is standard it's a little too big to be used in a combat scenario without the attached barrels, which all look very makeshift

[@demonic_myst4503]

fallout 1s is an industrial tool Fallout 4s is moduler so its definitly a militery design

[@awesomesource12]

I wonder if the plasma weapons actually do fire physical projectiles which function as magnets surrounded by plasma. This would explain not only the plasmas ability to stay together through the air, but would explain the plasma weapons that can also shock enimies as maybe the magnets are still full of electricity.

[@dariustiapula]

My favorite weapons in Fallout. Unfortunately they don't have auto in Fo3 and FNV. Which is why I love Fo4.

[@ericsteenbergen9470]

Now silly, that is what modded 360 controllers were for :p

[@Cam-sl8ve]

@@ericsteenbergen9470 but imagine using a controller to play fo4 though

[@ericsteenbergen9470]

@@Cam-sl8ve Yeaahhhh because I definitely, most assuredly did not play with an xbone controller haha .. such would be silly... Just because they work without issues with windows wouldnt be a reason to use one... :P

[@Cam-sl8ve]

@@ericsteenbergen9470 ;)

[@Rad_King]

Smittys caster in FNV is full auto, but otherwise yes, I agree!

[@starblast16]

I feel like those fins on the Winchester P94 generate a magnetic field to aid the propulsion of the plasma. I've seen depictions of it having the barrel spin while firing.

[@CHAOSCR8OR]

Do you think the NCR would use vaults for housing or bases is they could disable the experiment, restore power and what not? This question has been bugging me for a while now

[@scubasteve4355]

Tandi does task the Chosen One in Fallout 2 with negotiating with squatters in Vault 15 so that the NCR can move back in.

[@Rad_King]

Interesting question. I can see them taking advantage of the cover or maybe to salvage, but maybe with trepidation if they have dealt with very dangerous vaults in the past.

[@Mestari1Gaming]

Also the Q-35 Matter Modulator only uses 1 Cell instead of the 2 Cells of the Normal Plasma rifle!

[@dashiellgillingham4579]

We have plasma weapons in modern armored combat. It’s called a HEAT round. It only turns into a jet of plasma when it impacts, because anything else is a tremendous waste of energy. We also have fission and fusion bombs, but those are a bit too big to compare.

[@stranger5011]

Plasma weapons should have different ammo type than the laser weapons. It's one of the retcons that make sense imo

[@christianwilson5956]

The commonwealth is such a useful location for adding/retconning weapons. It is a hub of military research and development and that makes it a perfect location to add new iterations and variants as well as explaining how and why those versions are so plentiful at least in that area.

[@dragonbornexpress5650]

Bingo! Because Boston was written to be a technological powerhouse pre-war, Bethesda can technically add anything they want without much trouble.

[@christianwilson5956]

@@dragonbornexpress5650 prime example being fort strong which was a test venter for various projects such as power armor making the presence of pre war t60 make sense.

[@TowelsKingdom]

Great intro my guy

[@Sgt_Robo]

The plasma weapons on the west coast (the caster and the defender, or the pistol and rifle in the isometric games) were more refined but expensive designs, being made by companies, while the versions found on the east coast (called the "urban" plasma weapons on the wiki) were easier and cheaper to make, due to being designed in house by the millitary. They were also more compact, thuse useful for confined spaces like experienced in urban warfare, likely giving them their name. The defender and caster would likely be issued only to special forces / power armor troops, while the urban variants would likely have been given to standard troopers. If the war didn't interrupt everything that is.

[@BUFFTHEPIXEL]

Head canon or what?

[@Sgt_Robo]

@@BUFFTHEPIXEL probably. I'm writing from memory mostly, so I could be wrong. Haven't touched 3 in a while, which is where most lore on the bethesda design comes from if I recall.

[@Cheeky_Bandit]

I can confirm that Plasma is just swarms of angry bees.

[@catapultking8861]

28:07 those copper bits look like electric motor components! Specifically copper discs on an armature that hold the wire wrappings in place. I work with model trains and those look like parts of a 12 volt DC motor, but without the endless wire wrappings.

[@mattguy1773]

“When one can wield the of fire of stars, what use is flesh and bone?”

[@trevorrussell40]

The pan analogy exists. It is called a double boiler and commonly used to melt chocolate. YES! GOT TO FINALLY USE MY CULINARY ARTS DEGREE!

[@monticore1626]

The mention of the gattlling plasma has convinced me to get 76

[@ThefifthBishopofGord]

The only reason I can think of two explanations on the cases of plasma weapons doing electric damage, is that it is because they didn’t want to turn people into radioactive goop. The goop could have harmful to soldiers who would be moving past it if they were able to advance forward. Another reason could be that they wanted to be able to identify corpses without having to put someone’s hands in a pile of radioactive goo. As you can’t exactly expect a normal person prewar to be willing to put their hands in that stuff.

[@GinGojira]

I love and watch all your videos messenger of Atom

[@Rad_King]

Thank you brother. Strength in Atom!

[@SirPream]

There are some weapons in Fallout 76 that can become Plasma-esque via modifications, such as the Hellfire Missile Launcher, and there is the melee weapon that came with the BOS campaign, the Plasma Cutter.

[@ericnox2069]

Plasma Weapons! Alright. I have a table top group than ran into a group of enemies who use plasma weapons. The plasma weapons are mounted on vehicles like the 2 man ATV and the Motorcycle with side car, as well as on a ship. There is a hidden prewar battleship as well, one that was set up by the Enclave that uses massive plasma casters to lob shots into other ships and rapidly melt through other ships.

[@Rad_King]

I like this idea. It’s time Bethesda shows us some old warships

[@ericnox2069]

@@Rad_King Agreed. We got some old ships, barges, and tugs, but nothing massive. And two Chinese subs of very different make. I guess the closest we have gotten is Rivet City, as that was an aircraft carrier, but nothing more really. Need more ships

[@vernnathon]

boiling a pan of water to heat a pan to cook your food is called a double boiler

[@Tounushi]

In Fallout 2 plasma weapons were my favorite because it straight up melts dudes.

[@nosidenoside2458]

I think the holorifle from new Vegas is interesting because i think it's implied through the "holo" part that it uses the same tech as the dead money holograms but way simpler. It's also got that weird effect after shooting things with it

[@Sksk27547]

When I was back in high school or earlier. I read that plasma would come out of the barrel at least 5,000 degrees of heat. That's quite crazy to think about how dangerous that would be. I could only imagine the pain of a leak and touching the plasma for only 1 second. With a tip of a finger. Wow!

[@Sksk27547]

I don't really care about plasma. I just use laser and bullets. A .38 does a lot from far away.

[@Sksk27547]

"Final judgement" is a final judgement. Simple as that.

[@Sksk27547]

I sell those plasma cells. People look at me as if I am stupid. I just don't use it.

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

The easiest way to deal with retcons is to understand fallout 1 and 2 are basically not fully cannon anymore as almost no one has ever played them so things will be picked from them mainly end story outcomes & factions other than that everything else is up for grabs

[@hozic9929]

so ready for experimental weapons of fallout

[@SockEater4293]

I can see the Fallout 4 Plasma Rifle and the Plasma Defender being the best designs for energy weapons in mass use. The Plasma Defender doesn't seem to have any potential hazards other than the fusion cell itself and the Fallout 4 Plasma Rifle also has great modularity, although I don't think that would be considered for the pre-war military, post war groups like the NCR, Brotherhood of Steel, and the Institute could use that role to create squads with variable differences depending on the weapon, which can help the user by having it to their liking and making it harder for the opponent as a scenario could change depending on the barrel or optic the user has. I can really see the combo be used in widespread by either the Brotherhood of Steel or the NCR in the future.

[@Rad_King]

I like this, it makes the most sense out of all the bits of lore we do have. The defender certainly looks more refined and like a weapon that could be carried into battle

[@DragonMercX4]

The idea that a plasma weapon can deal damage make sense to me because you could be using a high-frequency electrical charge on a electrically chargeable gas that would create the electromagnetic field necessary to hold plasma ball together through flight through an atmosphere while also transferring electrical damage to your target with the burn of plasma

[@monticore1626]

A terminal in the institute also mentions a proposal to research plasma weapons. This received interest from the reviewer (dr li or the director I think) but was put on hold until phase 3 was complete

[@AidenRKrone]

Am I the only person who doesn't like using plasma weapons? I don't really like energy weapons in general. I've always been a big fan of ballistic firearms instead, even in the later stages of the games. Also, thanks for featuring my comment on the last video, RadKing! I'm happy to see that my lore speculations reach a larger audience. Maybe in the future, a _Fallout_ game will expound upon the Gobi Campaign and the skirmishing in the Philippines so we can put our theorizing to rest.

[@Rad_King]

Well thank you for posting a good comment! Also, I’m not judging you for disliking plasma weapons… too much 😉

[@neoluna1172]

There are ways in real life to make plasma maintain its own magnetic containment feild, but only for a very short time. In fallout IMO they have mastered this method and that is how plasma projectiles work once they leave the barrel. Edit: You forgot to mention that the Q-35 also has a much faster projectile speed, basicly meaning it has the mag accelerator mod built in.

[@sixeswild274]

With regards to the Institute and their anemic laser weapons, if they were only used by non-coursers, I would assume it was an attempt by the Institute to arm their expendable soldiers with a cheap weapon that met the bare minimum requirement to overcome threats in the wasteland. Also, it meant that if one was lost or taken, it wouldn't vastly 'sharpen the sticks of their enemies'. If coursers used the plasma weapons, it would make that theory seem very plausible.

[@lightningphoenix7155]

The defender was my favorite. That thing had more punch to it. I was tearing through bots and people with it.

[@ghost-facedhindu4275]

I work at a sheet steel factory, I run the plasma cutter table and I'm very familiar with how plasma technology works. Feel free to ask me about it.

[@brysondynamite2055]

The best part of fallout 4 is the fact that no weapon has a specific name, it's just the Assault Rifle or Plasma Pistol, meaning it could just be a different kind if that weapon which could explain the Plasma cartridge Ammo for Plasma weapons

[@Ironface53]

5:27 the Tactics plas rifle also resembles the Halo 2 Battle Rifle with it's stock, grip and carry handle

[@DragonMercX4]

The analogy of heating a pot of water to use the steam to heat a pan is exactly how you melt chocolate. That is called thermal control where you use a substance that changes phase at a certain temperature to make sure nothing above that temperature affects your work piece or whatever you're trying to heat.

[@DragonMercX4]

This is also why water jacketed machine guns are a thing

[@TheRealMightyHokie]

"Repeat to yourself 'It's just a show. I should really just relax.'" Joel Hodgson, Mystery Science Theater 3000

[@FadedPixel]

8:45 there isnt an actual improved plasma weapon in game in order to back this up, but in Fallout 4, inside the Institute inside the R&D department(forgot actual name) there is a terminal entry that can be read stating the Institute found improvements to the original plasma weapon. Really sad to not see it in game. A special plasma weapon that would be Institute exclusive would've been really cool

[@MikeHunt-zy3cn]

Just by looking at fallout NV's plasma gun, I get the look of a welding gun. The cylindrical body with the tampering needle muzzle. Maybe some inspiration was drawn from that?

[@Ar_Tank]

Regarding the topic of why plasma shots don't immediately dissipate upon leaving the barrel, my theory is that there is a solid round that gets shot out. Basically the plasma rilfe kind of double as a rail gun of sorts. There a plasma reserve inside the rifle. The gun shoots a small cartridge which is magnetised, the cartridge goes through the plasma and picks up some of it thus creating a functioning bolt that has a solid magnetic core with a ball of plasma around it. So they're essentially rail guns that shoot projectiles with a a plasma field around it

[@demonic_myst4503]

They dont imediently disopate irl their just short range plasma disipates after a metre so long range shooting is unviable

[@demonic_myst4503]

thats not even remotly how it works

[@samuelyoung1]

possibly the original plasma rifle was a tool weapon, the same as todays industrial large gauge(usually 8 gauge i found) shotguns are used to get slag and other buildup out of steel furnaces, it would make sense to use plasma weaponry to do the same as you could just melt the slag and stuff and reuse it