FRPCL

   

FRPCL
Production information
Type	Rocket-propelled chainsaw launcher
Technical specifications
Ammunition type	Rocket-propelled chainsaws
Maximum ammunition	50 chainsaw rockets
Damage	10 per slice (max of 200 per second) 10-350 (launched projectile) 150 (direct damage) 200 (splash damage) 135 (piercing power)
Projectile speed	Fast
Recoil	Low-medium
Accuracy	Varies on target and range
Range	Medium to far
Usage
Made by	Fulbert le Fou
Used by	Sam Stone Fulbert le Fou Any playable character (Co-op mode)
Game information
Entity name	FRPCL

 

"He went to live in a swamp and invented a flaming rocket-propelled chainsaw launcher. They said he was crazy. But I say... yeah, OK, he was a few baguettes short of a full bakery, but now I can shoot flaming rocket-propelled chainsaws, so who are we to judge?"

―Sam Stone

The FRPCL (Flaming Rocket-Propelled Chainsaw Launcher) is a unique weapon introduced in Serious Sam 4. It makes another appearance in the standalone expansion pack, Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, but it is available only via New Game+, once the player reaches New Game+3.

Overview

The FRPCL is a strange invention that was made by misunderstood weapon inventor and genius Fulbert le Fou. The weapon combines the best features of the chainsaw, the flamethrower, and the catapult. Its unique design makes it very versatile and fit for many combat scenarios, and is able to both fire projectiles and be used in close-quarters for melee attacks.

Appearance-wise, the FRPCL resembles the XPML21 Rocket Launcher, albeit with a red-orange color and dark gray flame vinyls on the casing.

The weapon has two fire modes; the primary fire key launches a chainsaw projectile that will either travel in a straight line (for non-living targets) or will track a moving entity. Unlike rockets fired by the XPML21 Rocket Launcher, the chainsaw projectiles will eventually explode regardless if they hit something or not. Oddly enough, they do not damage the player if they happen to be within its blast radius.

The FRPCL's secondary fire key lets the player use the chainsaw projectile as a close-range melee weapon, which is useful for grinding up weak targets in close-range. Unlike the primary fire mode, the player has to hold down the secondary fire key when using the weapon's alternate fire mode.

When the player aims at a target with the FRPCL, the weapon will lock onto them in a similar manner to the rocket launcher's multirocket upgrade. Once fired, the chainsaws fired by the weapon will track the target, sawing through them and rapidly draining their health until they die. In most cases, the targeted enemy will be gibbed, since the projectiles deal Piercing damage (this property is also shared with the A-24 Devastator). Once the target has been killed, the projectile will then seek out any additional targets until it eventually explodes. The FRPCL's rocket chainsaws have a piercing power of 135, allowing them to instantly penetrate any enemy up to a Kleer Skeleton.

Appearances

Serious Sam 4

The FRPCL is the rarest weapon in the game. It is obtained after the player completes the optional side objective in One for the Road at an abandoned farm. Inside the barn, a cutscene will play showing the headless corpse of Fulbert le Fou, who was decapitated by his own invention. The weapon can then be acquired along with ammo for it scattered around the barn. Ammo for the weapon appears sparingly later through the game and sometimes in secrets or acquired from dead enemies if the Looter Shooter skill is active. It is usable all the way up to the end of Anathema Unto God, after which the weapon is permanently removed from the player's inventory for the remainder of the game.

Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem

The FRPCL is usable in this title, but only with the New Game+ option. The player can obtain it in New Game+3, in the first level - the FRPCL can be found at the container surrounded by Gnaars at the very beginning of the level. On every subsequent New Game+ cycle, the weapon will always be found at that same location.

Tactics

• The FRPCL, aside from the Mini-Nuke and SBC Cannon, is the most powerful weapon in the game. It can destroy and slice up entire hordes of weak enemies or many groups of tough enemies if the player constantly fires the weapon.
• It is extremely effective against groups of Aludran Microhoppers, Aludran Reptiloids, Draconian Burners, Major Bio-mechanoids, Minor, Khnums, Kleer Skeletons, and Scrapjacks, especially if the player is low on Devastator rounds, TCC-2 "Perun" Crossbow bolts, grenades, electricity, thermal energy, or rockets.
• The FRPCL's projectiles ignore the armor of Octanian Legionnaires and Octanian Zealots, which makes them useful for destroying groups of these enemies.
• The FRPCL's secondary fire mode is useful for grinding up many weak enemies in a row such as Gnaars, Octanian Gamma Troopers, Processed Anthropolyps, or Zubenhakrabian Spider Nymphs.
• The FRPCL's chainsaw is also great for blocking enemy projectiles like fireballs tossed by the Reptiloid and Technopolyp missiles without the player being severely damaged in the process, especially in the case of Technopolyp and Saggitarian Sidewinder missiles and Kalopsy projectiles.
• The FRPCL can also demolish Octanian Sentry Towers easily once their core has been exposed.
• If used against the Cryomorph Gnaar Pair, Howard Brand, or Lord Achriman in their respective boss fights, it can deal a lot of damage to them, especially with a Rage Serum active, although the player will need to time and aim their shots so that they actually hit them, especially in the case of Lord Achriman due to his tendency to fly around. The FRPCL can destroy the Cryomorph Gnaars' ice projectiles as well.

Related achievements

	Fulbert le Fou 15
	Discover Fulbert's great invention.

Behind the scenes

• Due to a glitch, if the player died while using the FRPCL's chainsaw, the FRPCL would remain stuck on-screen and the player would be unable to use any available H.E.A.R.T. gadgets, which would leave them with the only choice to reload the last saved game. This was fixed in the Anniversary Update.

Trivia

• The FRPCL is the first weapon of its kind in the entire series.
• The weapon is based on an internet meme started by Sergey31.
  • The FRPCL also revives a scrapped concept from Serious Sam 2 where the Circular Saw was originally intended to fire circular saw blades at enemies before it was eventually changed to be mechanically identical to the P-LAH Chainsaw in the final game.
• The FRPCL can kill Ugh-Zan VI with only one shot at close range, but this is only possible with cheats enabled or by using mods.
• The weapon appears in Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, but outside of New Game+, it can only be obtained with cheats or by being added into the level with mods, such as the Serious Editor.
• The FRPCL was relocated from slot 6.2 (below the XL2 Lasergun) to slot 8.2 (below the cannon) in Siberian Mayhem.
• If the player uses the Serious Sam 4 version of the FRPCL in Siberian Mayhem (i.e. with the "give all weapons" cheat or the Serious Editor), it will inflict no damage against Howard Brand during his boss fight.

Gallery

Worldmodel.

Viewmodel.

Projectile fired by the FRPCL.

Concept art.

List of appearances

• Serious Sam 4 (First appearance)
• Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (New Game+, cheats or modded versions only)