D&D (2024) Firearms in the Forgotten Realms (+)

[GnomeWorks]

The long and short of it is that I think firearms takes people out of the fantasy mileu.

Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantasy movie (among other genres).

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

What if it's a lady in a chainmail bikini holding a musket?

Way too heavy for a woman. She can't understand role-playing games, so the intricate working of a gunpowder weapon? Forget it!

 

[Vaalingrade]

Way too heavy for a woman. She can't understand role-playing games, so the intricate working of a gunpowder weapon? Forget it!

Okay, so we abandon the 80's...

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Okay, so we abandon the 80's...

We can keep the hairstyles.

 

[MGibster]

Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantasy movie (among other genres).

The pirates movies were set in the late 17th early 18th centuries when firearms were actually used. I think that makes the presence of firearms hit a little differently for the audience.

 

[GnomeWorks]

The pirates movies were set in the late 17th early 18th centuries when firearms were actually used. I think that makes the presence of firearms hit a little differently for the audience.

Is there something special about the 17th or 18th centuries that makes them a non-viable setting for a fantasy story?

I get that the majority of the fantasy genre has a vaguely-medieval feel to it. I would also argue that that isn't a requirement.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The pirates movies were set in the late 17th early 18th centuries when firearms were actually used. I think that makes the presence of firearms hit a little differently for the audience.

D&D is set on a whole other world with magic and dragons -- and with the presence of adamantine other elements. So it should be even easier to accept different tech levels.

 

[GrimCo]

Well, D&D is full of anachronisms. Adding early firearms isn't that big of a deal. In real world, full plate and firearms are from the same period, 15-16ct. Janissaries used them in late 1400s, so did Black Army of Hungary under Matijaš Korvin (same period).

Keeping them as simple weapons means they might be valid option for those without martial weapon proficiency. For anyone with martial weapon, longbow is way to go, specially if you are range oriented martial with multiple attacks.

As for appendix N, never read that. Where is that from? Some old edition campaign setting? Cause we are discussing 5e here.

 

[GnomeWorks]

As for appendix N, never read that. Where is that from? Some old edition campaign setting? Cause we are discussing 5e here.

Ah, the wonderful smell of vindication.

"Appendix N" is a reference to one of the appendices found in the 1e DMG. It's basically just a reading list from Gygax of authors and books he enjoyed and informed the shape of early D&D.

 

[MGibster]

D&D is set on a whole other world with magic and dragons -- and with the presence of adamantine other elements. So it should be even easier to accept different tech levels.

I'm not arguing it's logical. I think part of the reason why it's hard to accept in D&D is less the fantasy setting and more hit points. As I typed earlier, I can picture a melee battle where people are getting superficial cuts, maybe a swift kick, etc., etc. but when it comes to firearms it's a little harder to accept a solid shot from a musket doing 2d6 damage and leaving the opponent essentially unhurt. To a lot of people it just doesn't feel right.

Keep in mind I'm not here to argue against the inclusion of firearms in a fantasy game. A question was asked, so I answered it.