D&D 5E (2024) Building A Contemporary Fantasy Setting For 5.5E

[W'rkncacnter]

Untenable for you, which is why I acknowledge it's not going to work for some people. I see no reason to limit the options by ignoring potential consequences of magic being real. You could also just say that saltpeter or some other ingredient simply doesn't exist.

it's untenable because it shatters the entire idea of the setting being contemporary. contemporary combat necessitates the existence of contemporary firearms. it's really that simple.

in other words, you're leaving the scope of the premise. it'd be like proposing a fantasy setting without melee weapons.

Like I said, up to 19th century I don't see much of a need to change much. Bows were replaced by crossbows and then firearms for quite some time not because they were better weapons but because they were easier to use.

well, and bullets and gunpowder were easier to transport then bolts and easier to ready then fletching arrows. and bullets had the potential to punch through all but the best armor (which firearms forced to exist via arms race to begin with). logistics (training, energy use, and transport) were the big reasons though.

 

[AlViking]

it's untenable because it shatters the entire idea of the setting being contemporary. contemporary combat necessitates the existence of contemporary firearms. it's really that simple.

in other words, you're leaving the scope of the premise. it'd be like proposing a fantasy setting without melee weapons.

well, and bullets and gunpowder were easier to transport then bolts and easier to ready then fletching arrows. and bullets had the potential to punch through all but the best armor (which firearms forced to exist via arms race to begin with). logistics (training, energy use, and transport) were the big reasons though.

I understand that it's necessary for you. That doesn't mean that for some people it would be an interesting thought experiment to consider how the world could have evolved in a similar but different fashion. It's just a different take on Eberron.

 

[Reynard]

Again, I don't think we should overthink firearms. It isn't like D&D has these realistic, precise damage rules to start with. Who cares if in your contemporary fantasy a gun does the same damage as a sword?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Again, I don't think we should overthink firearms. It isn't like D&D has these realistic, precise damage rules to start with. Who cares if in your contemporary fantasy a gun does the same damage as a sword?

The difference is familiarity. Everyone knows how deadly a modern firearm is, or an automobile. But archaic weapons are just unfamiliar enough that the ridiculous D&D rules can just about pass. And of course magic can do whatever the rules say it does without challenge.

It’s the main reason the fantasy genre dominates tabletop gaming.

 

[Zardnaar]

Again, I don't think we should overthink firearms. It isn't like D&D has these realistic, precise damage rules to start with. Who cares if in your contemporary fantasy a gun does the same damage as a sword?

Its magical guns might be OP.

Have you read David Gemmel?


5.0 I gave out one of those bolt feed rifles. Better than a bow but it had 7 cartridges, magazine could hold 5. They couldn't find more cartridges easily though.

Forge of the Artificer has Victorian era vibes.

Some blend of Eberron, Ravnica and Spelljamner would do it imho.

Izzet (from Ravnica) has steam engine vibes anyway.

PHB, warforged, gearforged (Midhard Kbold press) and autognomes as races.