Creamsteak
Explorer
The idea of a firearm, whether rifle or pistol, isn't totally insane in DnD. It also isn't that far off base to have characters with use magic device, allowing them to cast spells and act with some of the abilities of other classes.
This idea is actually a minute section of my final fantasy tactics conversion. In that campaign setting, there are many guns (some being REALLY RARE) that can be armed with a very specific type of ammunition that unleashes a spell.
My concept relies on having two matching pieces. The first piece is the gun. A Blaze Gun, for instance, works with certain fire-type spells of 1st-4th level. This part never breaks down, but it's limitation is the fact that it can never accomodate any additional types of ammunition, making it useless without the right tools. It costs about 1/10th of the cost of a want with 50 charges would cost. So, if you had a Blaze Gun that only worked with the spell fireball (additional spells means additional costs), it would be worth about 1,125 gold. It would work with any fireball wand, but it's capped at 3rd caster level at that cost. If you want a gun that works as up to 10th caster level, it would cost about 2,250 gold.
The second part, and this is the important part, is a wand. Whatever wand (and you can reshape the concept) you use, uses up charges on a shot for charge basis. Wands load into the butt of a pistol or rifle (whatever you want to go with) and the charge is there. The gun only acts as a device that can be used to allow a character without the spell to use the wand. For instance, Bob the Fighter with his Brand new Blaze Gun (Fireball, Wall of Fire) and a brand new wand of fireball (3rd caster level), can fire a 3d6 fireball every round till his clip is expended.
Some similar devices couldn't work as a rifle... but maybe more as a remote or such. For example, a remote control to allow you to cast dimensional door. The concept isn't too overly complex, and I'm curious about anyones opinions about it. As far as balance goes... I don't see why it would be any different than gold spent elsewhere, it's just another option. Also, the Craft-Guns feat would be required to get the appropriate magic guns to match yourself up. Mayhaps differintiating wands and guns ammunition to require the feat Craft-Guns and Ammo would be more appropriate.
This idea is actually a minute section of my final fantasy tactics conversion. In that campaign setting, there are many guns (some being REALLY RARE) that can be armed with a very specific type of ammunition that unleashes a spell.
My concept relies on having two matching pieces. The first piece is the gun. A Blaze Gun, for instance, works with certain fire-type spells of 1st-4th level. This part never breaks down, but it's limitation is the fact that it can never accomodate any additional types of ammunition, making it useless without the right tools. It costs about 1/10th of the cost of a want with 50 charges would cost. So, if you had a Blaze Gun that only worked with the spell fireball (additional spells means additional costs), it would be worth about 1,125 gold. It would work with any fireball wand, but it's capped at 3rd caster level at that cost. If you want a gun that works as up to 10th caster level, it would cost about 2,250 gold.
The second part, and this is the important part, is a wand. Whatever wand (and you can reshape the concept) you use, uses up charges on a shot for charge basis. Wands load into the butt of a pistol or rifle (whatever you want to go with) and the charge is there. The gun only acts as a device that can be used to allow a character without the spell to use the wand. For instance, Bob the Fighter with his Brand new Blaze Gun (Fireball, Wall of Fire) and a brand new wand of fireball (3rd caster level), can fire a 3d6 fireball every round till his clip is expended.
Some similar devices couldn't work as a rifle... but maybe more as a remote or such. For example, a remote control to allow you to cast dimensional door. The concept isn't too overly complex, and I'm curious about anyones opinions about it. As far as balance goes... I don't see why it would be any different than gold spent elsewhere, it's just another option. Also, the Craft-Guns feat would be required to get the appropriate magic guns to match yourself up. Mayhaps differintiating wands and guns ammunition to require the feat Craft-Guns and Ammo would be more appropriate.
