D&D 5e Firearms Question

[checkmatepc]

Hi y'all,

I'm running a 5e game and in my current setting, its set a few hundred years before the spellplague took place. My question is, do firearms exist during that period of time in the D&D world. I realize that I'm the DM and I could make it so if I wanted to, but I just wanted the story to make sense and have proper technology of the time.

If it's not a proper tech, I don't want to add it in.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Herobizkit]

Short answer: Yes.

AD&D 2e's Forgotten realms had pistols (starwheels), rifles (arquebeus and musket) and a shotgun (blunderbuss) all powered by smokepowder (considered a magic item).

They had rules for misfires (a 1-3 fouled the weapon) as well as 'exploding dice' for damage (if you rolled max on your damage die, you got to roll again). Also, perish forbid your equipment failed a save vs. Fire (If you failed a save, your equipment then had to make a save as well or be destroyed)...

 

[checkmatepc]

Thanks! I couldn't find much info regarding this on 5e but I did find some on 2e and 3e.

 

[Herobizkit]

"A few hundred years before the Spellplague" is 2e and 3e. 4e's the Spellplague; 5e is 'current' FR.

Gond (and/or his followers) is cited as being responsible for the invention of the starwheel pistol and his churches are a (probably THE) likely source of said weapons.

There are also rules in the 5e DMG (p. 268) for firearms.

 

[robus]

I've been pondering using firearms in an upcoming campaign and I generally find them underpowered. I think they should high risk, high reward items, that hit once and then take multiple actions to reload (so the PC doesn't turn into Robocop )

A blunderbuss should be short range 10/30 but deal 3d10 damage. Reloading takes 2 actions (which means you can't dodge) and attackers have advantage while you're reloading (so take cover!) something like that. Make it have a Big Bang and then cost a decent amount to recharge it.

That makes it different from crossbows and bows in an interesting way I think.

 

[RangerWickett]

ZEITGEIST: The Gears of Revolution has firearms in its setting, though they're probably a bit more advanced than what FR would have. The 5th edition conversion of the ZEITGEIST player's guide has variant firearm rules that hit [MENTION=6801558]robus[/MENTION]'s sweet spot, and it is currently available to EN5ider subscribers through EN World's Patreon.

https://zeitgeistadventurepath.com/5th-edition/

https://www.patreon.com/ensider

 

[robus]

ZEITGEIST: The Gears of Revolution has firearms in its setting, though they're probably a bit more advanced than what FR would have. The 5th edition conversion of the ZEITGEIST player's guide has variant firearm rules that hit [MENTION=6801558]robus[/MENTION]'s sweet spot, and it is currently available to EN5ider subscribers through EN World's Patreon.

https://zeitgeistadventurepath.com/5th-edition/

https://www.patreon.com/ensider

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out!

 

[Satyrn]

. . . hit once and then take multiple actions to reload (so the PC doesn't turn into Robocop )

Whatever. I'll just play a warforged with eldritch blast flavoured as my hip cannon.

Undead or Alive, you are coming with me.

 

[Herobizkit]

Doo doo doo doooooo super fighting robot
Doo doo doo doooooo MEGA MAN!