Okay, somebody invoked my name. A bang stick, huh?
This guy is why I've been working on turning the design of new firearms into a combination of a new skill and feats. making a new gun requires more than knowing how to create the various parts. Some of the techniques require special tools and training a machinist will not have (creating a rifled barrel, for instance, or chroming said barrel), and the ability to simply design the weapon to begin with should fall outside the Craft (mechanical) skill as well. That damned skill is just way too broad. The way it is written, a PC could make a brand new gun, then turn right around build a F1 racer with the ease of blowing his nose, then turn around and design a brand new jumbo jet airliner for Boeing....
You've gone down the right route by declaring it an improvised weapon. have him write a description for you, and apply danger in accordance to that.
First off, as with any improvised weapon, there's a chance it will explode when used. He's going to be making it from pipe stock, not milling it for solid stock. And any sheet metal parts will end up made from folded sheet metal, rather then being stamped from a block. Given that, I'd suggest he has a 1 in 6 to 1 in 10 chance it just blows up in his face whenever he uses it, destroying the weapon and doing all that damage to him as well. Only way around this is if he's taking his character out of the game for a few weeks game time and uses the proper facilities. Hell, even then, it might not turn out being any more safe and reliable than a "saturday night special" (dirt cheap mass produced firearms that are of such poor quality that they frequently went to pieces before 100 rounds were fired through them).
Second, again, being an impromptu weapon, if he doesn't describe a safety in the written description, there is none. That means rough handling can result in it going off at inopportune times.
Third, he's loading three barrels. it will take twice as long to load as a double barrelled shotgun.
Fourth, no 6d10. Even though a bang stick uses ammunition, it really shouldn't be treated like a gun. 2d10 for the first shell, +1d10 for each additional round fired off at the same moment. The shells = 4d10 damage, only a little more than the heaviest AMR rifles in WL.
Fifth, it's heavy and awkward; three shotgun shells on the end of a pole. there will be penalties to hit from that, too. Waving such an unbalanced item around will tire the PC out quickly, too.
Is this any help?
BTW, if you want to have fun and you have a copy of one of my Big Bang books, drop the book in front of him and tell him the author has personally advised you on how to proceed with the implementation of his bang stick idea.
This guy is why I've been working on turning the design of new firearms into a combination of a new skill and feats. making a new gun requires more than knowing how to create the various parts. Some of the techniques require special tools and training a machinist will not have (creating a rifled barrel, for instance, or chroming said barrel), and the ability to simply design the weapon to begin with should fall outside the Craft (mechanical) skill as well. That damned skill is just way too broad. The way it is written, a PC could make a brand new gun, then turn right around build a F1 racer with the ease of blowing his nose, then turn around and design a brand new jumbo jet airliner for Boeing....
You've gone down the right route by declaring it an improvised weapon. have him write a description for you, and apply danger in accordance to that.
First off, as with any improvised weapon, there's a chance it will explode when used. He's going to be making it from pipe stock, not milling it for solid stock. And any sheet metal parts will end up made from folded sheet metal, rather then being stamped from a block. Given that, I'd suggest he has a 1 in 6 to 1 in 10 chance it just blows up in his face whenever he uses it, destroying the weapon and doing all that damage to him as well. Only way around this is if he's taking his character out of the game for a few weeks game time and uses the proper facilities. Hell, even then, it might not turn out being any more safe and reliable than a "saturday night special" (dirt cheap mass produced firearms that are of such poor quality that they frequently went to pieces before 100 rounds were fired through them).
Second, again, being an impromptu weapon, if he doesn't describe a safety in the written description, there is none. That means rough handling can result in it going off at inopportune times.
Third, he's loading three barrels. it will take twice as long to load as a double barrelled shotgun.
Fourth, no 6d10. Even though a bang stick uses ammunition, it really shouldn't be treated like a gun. 2d10 for the first shell, +1d10 for each additional round fired off at the same moment. The shells = 4d10 damage, only a little more than the heaviest AMR rifles in WL.
Fifth, it's heavy and awkward; three shotgun shells on the end of a pole. there will be penalties to hit from that, too. Waving such an unbalanced item around will tire the PC out quickly, too.
Is this any help?
BTW, if you want to have fun and you have a copy of one of my Big Bang books, drop the book in front of him and tell him the author has personally advised you on how to proceed with the implementation of his bang stick idea.
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