I don't think there is a bunker strong enough to endure the fanbase exploding over this.
I'm pretty sure I've seen warforged with arm cannons in 3 or 3.5. Was that not a thing?
Firearms aren't something that you can just decide to invent from scratch. They are the result of many technological advances in metallurgy, engineering, chemistry etc. Only after all those were known were people able to consider the concept of a firearm as a practical weapon.
Eberron doesn't have those advances.
Its easy for us to look back through the history and say "Well, all they have to do is develop this, then that, and then they can make firearms." But the people actually doing so do not have that endpoint visible. Even more to the point, early firearms just weren't that effective. A nation would be more likely to be put resources into developing something they know will work, like improving the formulae for arcane foci to allow more people to be wandslingers.
I'm pretty sure I've seen warforged with arm cannons in 3 or 3.5. Was that not a thing?
Integrate crossbows and wands were a thing. Cannons weren't, at least not in, uh, canon. (Can't speak to what people did in their home games, of course.)
Even in a saturated low-magic setting like Eberron, most people can't cast damaging cantrips at-will. In fact, the presence of special arcaneers on the battlefield throwing magic around at non-magical soldiers makes a great argument for inventing firearms to level the playing field.
Whilst most soldiers may not know any damage cantrips, they can all, to a man, use a Wand of Magic Missiles, which can be made with existing technology and readily available materials. And your troops will be 100% accurate without needing any special training.
Well, we're closing in on the release of this puppy—only four more days in this month.
Whilst most soldiers may not know any damage cantrips, they can all, to a man, use a Wand of Magic Missiles, which can be made with existing technology and readily available materials. And your troops will be 100% accurate without needing any special training.