Gauss Pistol

General Information

While Earth's stocks of Elerium from the First Alien War have long since been exhausted, the alien technology captured during the war remains, and has been diligently and tirelessly researched by scientists in the 40 years since, greatly advancing humankind's ability to fight and wage war. While Plasma weapons were found during the first war to explode when fired underwater, the mechanisms used in them are not the problem. A tweak here, a bit of adjustment there, and technological advancement have led to the new plateau of Gauss Weaponry.

The Gauss Pistol is the first in the line of such weaponry. Utilizing a miniature particle accelerator, it fires a beam of energy with a level of power similar to the laser weaponry of the First Alien War. While ammunition must be manufactured for such weapons, the cost is low and build time is negligible.

Compared to the Laser Pistol, the Gauss Pistol falls significantly short in the ability for sustained fire. However, it is still quite a bit better than the Armor-Piercing weaponry with which X-Com begins this war, and should be instituted as the standard X-Com sidearm as soon as feasible.

The ammunition clip is significantly larger than most weapons, and the weapon itself is exceedingly light. While it fails against aliens with heavy armor, it is one of the few weapons capable of sustained auto fire in the X-Com arsenal, and the Gauss Pistol should be considered the machine gun of the Gauss series of weapons.

The weapon is an effective choice for frontline scouts, medics, melee combatants, or anyone else who needs a free hand. As well, it combos quite effectively with the Sonic Pistol; each weapon builds on the weaknesses of the other. Also consider throwing in a few Sonic Pulsers for enemies too powerful for the Gauss Pistol.

Comparison to UFO Mirror: Laser Pistol

Another step down. Slightly less powerful, TU costs for Snap and Auto are up, ammo is limited. While accuracy in Auto and Aimed is just barely up and Aimed shots are up, they don't outweigh the loss of speed or the now-limited ammo, despite the relatively huge clip for TFTD.

Weapon Statistics

The Gauss Pistol

Gauss Pistol

• Size: 2 high x 1 wide
• Firing Accuracy:
  • 30% Auto
  • 40% Snapshot
  • 70% Aimed
• Firing Cost:
  • 30% Auto
  • 25% Snapshot
  • 50% Aimed
• Selling Cost: $20,000
• Build Cost: $8,000
  • 300 Technician Hours
  • Required Workspace: 2

Ammo Statistics

The Gauss Pistol clip

Gauss Pistol Clip

• Size: 1 high x 1 wide
• Damage: 45 Gauss Beam
• Ammo Capacity: 20
• Selling Cost: $1,050
• Build Cost: $1,000
  • 20 Technician Hours
  • Required Workspace: 2

USOpaedia

• The Gauss pistol uses accelerated particle technology, a new development in modern weaponry. It is fast, accurate and functions above and below water. Gauss technology is a development of the Plasma technologies learned from the previous war.

See Also

• Weapons
• Gauss Rifle
• Heavy Gauss
• Sonic Pistol