Given that laser weapons were still in their infancy even as standard military weapons, parts can be hard to come by in the wasteland. The crystal arrays and non-mechanical components are delicate and if not properly cleaned and serviced can lead to a loss of beam intensity, overheating, and energy regulation failure.
As with all energy weapons, laser rifles can suffer from poor performance if not properly maintained. Several different models exist, from low power home-made versions to extremely powerful military weapons. Laser weaponry was readily available for civilian use before the Great War
