Guns, D&D, and DDM

[Li Shenron]

First, where do you stand in relation to guns and D&D (yes, I know, the best position is not in front of the muzzle): Do you use them all the time, are they a novelty or niche thing for you, or do you leave them out?

I leave them out.

If I'm ever playing something else than D&D (like one of the infinite possible settings after the middleages, for example using d20 Modern) then they are ok, but for me D&D is all about swords and spells, no guns.

 

[KrazyHades]

Are there comparable rules for hand crossbows and repeating crossbows?

Sortof. I have it so the artificer can effectively set the damage and rate of fire with a successful check, but the higher it's set at, the higher probability of malfunctioning (jamming blowing up or some such), and the more ammo used.

 

[haakon1]

I'm not a fan of personal fire-arm tech in my personal D&D games. But 'gun-powder' units wouldn't bother me: that is, large siege cannons that the characters wouldn't see since how often do the PCs own & operate a trebuchet or other siege equipment?

Gun powder tools started off as huge cannons that took forever to set up and slowly evolved smaller and smaller until they could fit in a persons hand. So I would except the same advancement path and wouldn't mind seeing a mini or two of large, clunky cannons. But flintlock/wheel-lock/matchlock type firearms are just a little too much for me.

Here is an example of what I am talking about: a 14th Cent. Siege Mortar.

That wouldn't phase me at all, but dragoons with muskets would.

Except, as I said, as a cross-over . . . it could be amusing to have some American Revolutionary War dragoons "gated" in with muskets and ammo, as a futuristic plot!

 

[Derren]

The problem is that many people think that guns were super effective armor piercing secret weapons which is flat out wrong. Early and even renessaince guns were worse or at most equal to crossbows. And they were certainly not armor piercing. Full plate was invented to stop guns. After a suit was completed it was shot with a pistol to see if it can withstand bullets and the dent that made was a sign of quality.

But still people believe that and so they think that guns in D&D would be 4d10 x5 touch attack weapons with half a mile range. ANd of course that is problematic and doesn't fit.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

But still people believe that and so they think that guns in D&D would be 4d10 x5 touch attack weapons with half a mile range. ANd of course that is problematic and doesn't fit.

Officially, they're almost like every other weapon. The only difference is the gunpowder in addition to ammo and the standard action to reload (other weapons have move or full round actions, not standard actions)

 

[crazy_cat]

I like swords

No guns please in D&D or DDM. We've got D20 Modern for guns.

I would buy pre-painted plastoc DDM style D20 Modern minis - pirates, 18th -20th century soldiers, police, SWAT teams, Special Forces, Astronauts, archeologists, treasure hunters, criminals, sailors, civilians etc.

I've a sneaking suspicion these wouldn't sell in anything like enough numbers to make them economically viable.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

No guns please in D&D or DDM. We've got D20 Modern for guns.

d20M is for human gunslingers with Glocks, Desert Eagles, and Five-seveN the Wondergun.

D&D is for gnome inventors with muskets.

Something can be in more than one game - noone is asking to get humans out of D&D because that's what D20M is for, after all.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Let's thaw this one up, let some more people vote on this.


And to recap, the score after 232 votes:

D&D:
18 voters proclaimed their undying love for guns in D&D
76 think they're fine for occasional, well, occasions.
57 Are neutral
54 Don't want them

That means, out of 205 votes, 94 (45%) are for guns, 57 (28%) are neutral, and 54 (26%) are against (and 1% fell victim to rounding). Only a quarter doesn't want guns in their campaigns. I still find that quite surprising, I would have thought there'd be more people against them.


DDM:
12 are pining for figures with guns in DDM
46 think that as long as it's only a few figures, they're all for it
46 are neutral
45 are against

That's 149 total, 58 (39%) being for them, 46 (31%) are neutral, and 45 (30%) against.

Again, this still surprises me. I can't say how representative these numbers are, but I'd say with only a third of the people not wanting the figures, nothing really speaks against one or two figures per year. I'm sure there are figures in sets already existing that would get far less positive feedback.

Swords:
106 voters like swords.

For me, that's a clear signal that swords should not be removed in 4e!