Upgrading the Minuteman arsenal.

[Kyotra]

The Minutemen are, unfortunately, very outmatched in technology and weaponry by the other factions. The Laser Musket is an awesome example of their ability to fuse pre-war and colonial-era tech with wastelander pragmatism, however it is dwarfed in power by the BoS's military tech and Institute's cutting edge efficiency. I think it's time the Minutemen stepped up from leather armor and pipe rifles.

 

Idea #1: Minuteman Power Armor

If the paintjob is anything to go by, apparently the Minutemen's armor of choice is the T45. The T45 suuuuuucks. I say the Minutemen should apply some of their wastelander ingenuity to the basic T45 to create the Minuteman Power Armor. Using scrap T45 parts, pieces of combat armor, metal, and various robotic components (from Sentry Bots and Assaultrons) the Minutemen develop an armor that offers superior ballistic protection at the cost of reduced energy shielding. I'd say durability on par with the T60, ballistic protection slightly better than the T60, however energy protection more in line with the T51. Perfect for taking on Raiders, Gunners, and Super Mutants, but would still face a stiff challenge against the energy weapons of the Brotherhood and Institute.

 

In terms of appearance, it would have a very hand-made look, but far more professional in craftsmanship than the janky-ass raider armor. It would also feature multiple Minutemen paintjobs, each denoting rank (NCO, Officer, and General). Rank would be denoted by markings on the shoulders, similar to the epaulettes of the historical Continental Army.

 

Idea #2: The Minuteman Thundergun

Facing increased pressure from the heavy armaments of Super Mutants while lacking the resources to properly maintain their own, the Minutemen have instead devised their own ad-hoc rotary cannon: the Thundergun. The Thundergun is comprised of several components: a recycled fusion core power plant, a feed mechanism fashioned after the gatling gun, a rotating barrel assembly powered by a hand crank, and a crude imitation of the gauss rifle firing mechanism. Chambered in .50 cal, this weapon uses the same hand crank mechanism seen in the Laser Musket to chamber rounds while charging and firing the electromagnetic firing mechanism.

 

Put simply, it's a hand-cranked Civil War-style gatling gun that uses Gauss tech to increase the projectile's kinetic energy. Uses both .50 rounds and fusion cores, whose consumption is offset by a low fire rate and very efficient core use. While individual shots are far less powerful than the actually gauss rifle, it's automatic fire combined with an AoE knockdown effect makes the Thundergun a very effective crowd-control weapon. Perfect for laying down covering fire while comrades go to flank, suppressing fire while a patrol picks off the enemy one-by-one, or just keeping those damn ferals in their place.

 

Idea #3: Piston Mortar

Pretty much a homemade portable mortar, that uses a pneumatic piston to increase launch range on grenades. Enables lightly armored Minuteman patrols to provide heavy firing support at a distance. Uses whichever grenade the player has equipped.

 

Idea #4: Armored Minuteman Coat

A brown version of the Colonial Duster with additional metal plating, provides decent ballistic protection. Worn by patrol leaders.

 

Idea #5: Better Minuteman Patrols

Considering many Raiders, Gunners, and Super Mutants are well equipped with combat armor and laser weapons, it seems silly that Minuteman patrols are supposedly "helping" when all they have is leather armor and pipe rifles. The patrols need an upgrade.

 

Basic patrol makeup: 3-4 common Minutemen, 1 patrol leader with Laser Musket and armor, and a chance for a "heavy" Minuteman in power armor (wielding either a Thundergun or Broadsider). As level goes up, so does the chance for better equipment i.e. more Minutemen have Laser Muskets, better armor on patrol leaders, higher chance for power armored Minuteman to spawn.