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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 2230512" data-attributes="member: 1645">In the real world, firearms were used alongside bows and crossbows for a long time, and alongside swords and spears for centuries.  The chief advantages of firearms are: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They're easy to use.  It takes quite a bit of drilling to get to three rounds per minute (with the later flintlocks), but it doesn't take long to learn to aim and shoot.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They're intimidating.  Thunder, flames, smoke.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Their high-velocity projectiles punch through armor -- but thicker, heavier armor "of proof" could withstand a pistol shot or a long-distance arquebus shot.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Their ammo is small and light.  You can easily carry more rounds than you'll use.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They're actually pretty cheap.</li> </ul>On the other hand, they're not reliable, they're not particularly accurate, and they have a terrible rate of fire.For matchlock firearms, just use the crossbow stats, renamed:hand crossbow -- pistollight crossbow -- arquebus (or hackbutt)heavy crossbow -- musketIf you want a swashbuckling campaign with minimal armor, you can have firearms bypass armor, but that's a bit extreme.Realistically, it should take a minute or so to load a matchlock -- 10 rounds -- without taking a few Firearms Drill feats.</blockquote>