Lasgun Patterns
There are a dizzying number of different Lasguns in the Imperium of Man, often referred to as "Patterns" (an old British terminology for firearm designs, in the 18th century the standard long arm of the British Army was the Land Pattern Musket), as many of them are made from specific design philosophies. In a brief effort to cover the dizzying number of different Lasgun types and a bit of information about each, this article has been made.
Varying Lasgun Types
Kantrael Pattern Lasgun
Named for the forgeworld in which it was first built, the Kantrael-pattern Lasgun is considered by many to be the most iconic Lasgun in the Imperium, with its only real rival being the Mars Pattern. The Kantrael Pattern Lasgun was developed specifically for the Cadian Shock Troops and for Kantrael's own PDF, and it shows; the gun has a reinforced frame and was the first Lasgun to feature bayonet lugs as a built-in component. Like the shorter Armageddon pattern, the Kantrael Pattern features a top-mounted rail to allow easy mounting of scopes and other accessories as well.
Galaxy Pattern Lasgun
Favored by the Catachan Jungle Fighters and the Armageddon Steel Legion for roughly the same reason, and being the preferred weapon of the former, the Galaxy Pattern Lasgun features a shorter barrel and increased cooling, making it more of a Lascarbine than a Lasgun. It lacks the standard bayonet lugs of the Kantreal Pattern (its immediate predecessor), but is both lighter, easier to handle, and still boasts a scope rail. The Galaxy Pattern was the first Lasgun in the Imperium to include an easily swapped barrel, enabling it to be easily converted to a Sniper Rifle (long-las) or cut down carbine (Voss Pattern).
Voss Pattern Lasgun
The Voss Pattern is virtually identical to the Galaxy Pattern in terms of function, and was intended for Chimera and Leman Russ Battle Tank crews - Guardsmen who had need of ample firepower but need to minimize both size and weight. With all the firepower of its big brother but a shorter effective range, the Voss Pattern is essentially a Galaxy Pattern with a shortened barrel and a folding skeletal stock. Like the Galaxy Pattern, it's primarily seen used by the Armageddon Steel Legion and Catachan Jungle Fighters, being the favored Lasgun of the former. Uniquely, the Voss operates only on automatic.
Lucius no.98 Pattern Lasgun
Made famous by the Death Korps of Krieg, the Lucius Pattern - sometimes called the Number 98 (unsubtle reference[1] when one remembers what the Krieg look like) - is designed for brute force; its power pack operates at a higher charge than many other more common patterns of Lasgun. This gives the weapon more punch, but drains the powerpack after only 25 shots. Another downside: Unlike other Lasguns, the Lucius is semi-automatic only, with a slower recycle rate than other Lasguns. It was judged by the Kriegers that the extra stopping power of the Lucius pattern essentially makes up for this drawback. The barrel of the Lucius is its most distinctive feature; it has a series of heatsinks to dissipate the excessive heat buildup the increased energy output of the Lucius Pattern creates under sustained fire. Even with the heatsinks, the Lucius is prone to dangerous overheating, a risk that the Kriegers consider to be insignificant. Made its debute in Darktide where it functions as the game's designated marksman rifle.
Triplex Pattern Lasgun
This is the preferred weapon of the Mordian Iron Guard and Valhallan Ice Warriors. It gets its name from its variable fire-rate settings; whereas most Lasguns simply have semi-automatic or automatic-only fire modes, or, rarely, the ability to swap, the Triplex has both semi-automatic and a three-round burst setting, rare among las-weapons. It also features a "high intensity" mode that can do substantial damage, but renders the weapon unreliable and capable of overheating and exhausting its power pack in record time, making the Triplex a somewhat-sought-after weapon - offset by finicky electronics and a short barrel length making it somewhat less-suited to open-terrain warfare than newer Lasguns.
Accatran Pattern Lasgun
Standard issue weapon for Elysian Drop Troops, this Lasgun is fully-automatic and utilizes a bullpup power pack configuration to make it lighter and shorter, perfect for soldiers typically deployed by Grav-Chute. It also includes a carrying handle which doubles as iron sights, similar to the design of most other Accatran pattern weapons like the Melta Gun or Plasma Gun built for Elysian Drop Troops. The most interestingly however, is that it comes with an integrated lamp pack. The lamp pack is powered by the same power cell that provides the lasgun’s ammunition, but the power draw is so small as to be negligible. The compact design of the weapon is due in part to the power cell’s location in the stock. Special sub-patterns of the Accatran has an integral single shot auxiliary krak grenade launcher under the barrel. It made is debut in Darktide where it functions as the game's light machine gun or SAW to mow down hordes of Plague Zombies.
Necromunda Pattern Lasgun
Made for the horrors of hive warfare and planetary defense, the NPLG is a brute of a lasgun. It can be flipped for semi-auto or automatic fire. Compared to other lasguns, it has a somewhat shorter charge and a shorter range, similar to the Triplex. However, it is far more reliable and compact. The primary producers of these weapons come from House Escher, which means, yes, an entire Imperial Guard regiment could source their guns from a bunch of 1980s glamor rock band members. For unknown reasons the necromunda pattern also has a diagonal power pack well. It also features a folding stock and the barrel can be outfitted with an Exterminator.
Nihilis Pattern Lasgun
A specialized pattern of lasgun exclusively produced by (and for) House Van Saar. It is said to be much more potent than other lasgun patterns, however, several of these lasguns were recalled due to logistics errors. Lasguns issued between M35 and M40, with serial numbers 00001475 through 72341110 were recalled as they were originally intended for personal use, but issued to the Astra Militarium by mistake. Issues with these lasguns made them operate outside of normal combat parameters. These included: Above-average Combat Efficacy, Temperamental Machine Spirit, No Bayonet Attachment Point, Unexpected Operator Hair Loss, and Unexpected Operator Death. Soldiers issued these lasguns were instructed to return these weapons to the regimental quartermaster. Replacements were expected to be issued in 2-3 months depending on distance from nearest forge world and warp-time dilation on delivery vessels. As an apology for the mistake, regiments issued the faulty lasguns were issued almost-new condition Plasma Guns that were permanently locked to the overcharge setting. Again, why a laser is leaking nuclear radiation, we have no idea. Something seriously fucky is going on in Van Saar HQ.
Mars Pattern Lasgun
Yep, Mars makes lasguns, too. Specifically, anywhere that doesn't have the options to make a more specialized pattern of lasgun uses the Mars pattern as a base. Also known as "the Guardsman's friend", Mars lasguns are designed for maximum pew-pew; they have a good range due to its ridiculously long barrels, good charge, and fire at full auto. They're used largely for massed laser combat, but their commonality makes sure they show up *everywhere* that resale guns are found. It's also the favoured weapon of the Tallarn Desert Raiders. The stock can also be retrofitted to be more compact, making it a good choice for tank crews.
Ryza Pattern Lasgun
Functionally identical to the Mars pattern in performance, the Ryza pattern is made by the eponymous forge world for the guardsman drawn from the local sector. A full on charge repeater. The Ryza acts more akin to a submachine gun than a proper Lasgun and is popular in more cramp conditions where its small size and rapid firepower works in its favour. The only downside to the Ryza is that it lacks a stock, which makes aiming a pain in the ass, and that it does not have a conventional charge pack. Recharging propably depends on a plug cable and a power connector as there is no physical evidence of it having a charge pack. It is most notable for Ryza's raypunk aesthetic giving it a conical, reticulated appearance. This was the lasgun the original Rogue Trader-era Imperial Guard miniatures used.
Vostroyan Pattern Lasgun
The Vostroyan Lasgun is no normal weapon; it is the mainstay weapon of the Vostroyan regiments. Fine wood-grain stocks replace more modern versions, carefully-tooled barrels replace the mass-production variants used by other factions, and high-quality scopes replace standard optics. Each Vostroyan rifle is practically worthy of being a museum display piece by its lonesome, and a common joke is that their weapons are worth more than the Guardsmen carrying them. Like the Lucius pattern, they are optimized for semi-automatic firing.
Merovech Pattern Lasgun
Designed purely for close range assaults, this gun is heavily reinforced and has a bayonet built into its short and heavy frame. A dual-magazine fed Lasgun designed to maximize fire rate, the surprisingly compact Merovech boasts a phenomenal rate of fire and is also known at the "Persuader." While it burns through energy at an enormous rate, has terrible accuracy, and poor effective range, the sheer volume of energy it hoses out makes it perfect for cramped urban battlefields and trench warfare. Moreover, this thing can transform into a mini Multilaser, especially when paired with an oversized "drum" power pack that nearly doubles the weapon's capacity. It's just as popular among criminals and Hive Gang Leaders due to these aspects.
Veteran's Lasgun
An actual twin-linked lasgun. Yeah we joke about the whole laser pointer = twin-linked thing over here, but the real deal is pretty badass. Forge Worlds and munitions plants of the Imperium rarely stray from their precious STC templates. However, soldiers in the field might alter their weapon of choice for longer range or increased firepower to better fight the enemies of Mankind. The Veteran's Lasgun for example is one of these field modifications having a second barrel installed under the first for increased firepower.
Shotlas Lasgun
What happens when you really want to lug around a mini-Multilaser like your CS Goto. An illegal modification of a standard lasgun popular amongst the techwrights and armour-mongers of Footfall, the ‘shotlas’ is rigged to discharge more energy per shot, at the cost of beam coherence, with shots swiftly losing power and becoming ineffective at longer ranges. Like a minigun, it has a three rotating barrels, with each barrel automatically discharging a shot in a consistent and effecient manner. Its multi-barrel design also helps the weapon to stay cooler for longer, allowing the user to fire repeatedly on full-auto without the worry of it melting in your hands. Found only in Dark Heresy.
Sump Pattern Lasgun
Used by murderhobos and the like in Necromunda. Whilst technically kitbashed. These rundown dollar-store Lasguns are actually produced in enough quantities with a consistent design that it became an actual independent pattern. These are Lasguns built on the cheap. Literally. Its stock is nothing more than a wooden plank carved into one. Its powerpack and focusing lens are cannibalised by the ones used by House Escher. Its superstructure is made from really cheap and affordable scrap metal. The barrel is shortened to save on cost. And it is all held together by duct tape and wish fulfillment. The result is a Walmart Lasgun that Scavvies, Scummers and members of House Cawdor could afford. The only downside is that they are all-round inferior. Shit range, shit power conservation and inaccurate to boot due to inferior materials. But you get what you pay for. Now who exactly manufacture these things, we have no idea outside of the fact that it may be located somewhere in the Hive Primus Outland areas.