Gunslingers in Your World? It's More Likely Than You Think

[Jackinthegreen]

You know, the thing with old time guns is that I can't believe people could get enough practice in to be really good shots.

I've shot probably twenty thousand rounds with a revolver and I can generally get 3-4 shots into a soda can at 30 feet on average.

That's nothing (on both counts) to what really good shooters can do.

I just don't see how in a pre-industrial age, they could produce enough ammo and such to let people truly become great marksmen (some of it is inborn talent but practice is a big part, too). Even just how they worked, having to be slowly reloaded. Not until the revolver could you have reasonably rapid fire, and not until metallic cartridges were invented could you re-load reasonably quick

I mean, heck, even the famed Musketeers mostly fought with swords. That's about as high as D&D tech goes, IMHO.

You're forgetting such spells as Fabricate, which could create several thousand rounds in a single cast. Who needs tech when magic replaces it?

 

[Loonook]

You're forgetting such spells as Fabricate, which could create several thousand rounds in a single cast. Who needs tech when magic replaces it?

Except that you could only make one material at a time, and Gunpowder is not going to be a 'material'... I mean you could make the separate parts of the round...

Or you could always just use air rifles .

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[Azgulor]

One of the main resistances concerning firearms is supposedly D&D is meant to be at least similar to a medieval setting.

While this is certainly the most oft-cited reason, I think it actually runs deeper than that. Once firearms are included in a fantasy setting, players -- being more culturally familiar with modern warfare than medieval warfare -- start wanting to employ modern-day tactics. And while the GM always has the power of veto, in my experience players begin thinking that any piece of firearm-related tech is now fair game to be discovered/invented -- silencers, scopes, magazine-fed firearms, etc.

Sometimes, having to have a debate every session on what is and isn't allowed just isn't worth it.

Obviously, these kinds of issues aren't limited to firearms. However, I've seen them often enough to recognize that firearms contribute to these issues faster than most other topics do.

 

[Greenfield]

The irony of it all is that your 10,000 riflemen will still require 100 wizards to keep them supplied.

After all, gunpowder is an alchemical product in D&D, and you have to be a spell caster to use Craft Alchemy.

 

[RangerWickett]

Guns are cool. They let 12-year-olds grow mustaches.

 

[Drowbane]

I like firearms in my Fantasy. To me, if a setting relies solely on magic, magic feels less special.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Except that you could only make one material at a time, and Gunpowder is not going to be a 'material'... I mean you could make the separate parts of the round...

Or you could always just use air rifles .

Slainte,

-Loonook.

The point is it's very efficient and easy to create a large quantity of parts using magic. To quote what you said:

I just don't see how in a pre-industrial age, they could produce enough ammo and such to let people truly become great marksmen (some of it is inborn talent but practice is a big part, too). Even just how they worked, having to be slowly reloaded. Not until the revolver could you have reasonably rapid fire, and not until metallic cartridges were invented could you re-load reasonably quick

Making guns (including revolvers or other repeating weapons) using fabricate and similar magic would be relatively easy. Likewise for most of the ammo. Getting the gunpowder and putting it all together would require a bit more, but it's just a researched spell or two away.

If you're talking about producing it without magic, then it will of course be more difficult. Considering gunpowder is made by alchemists in D&D though, at least one caster is assumed.

 

[Loonook]

Making guns (including revolvers or other repeating weapons) using fabricate and similar magic would be relatively easy. Likewise for most of the ammo. Getting the gunpowder and putting it all together would require a bit more, but it's just a researched spell or two away.

If you're talking about producing it without magic, then it will of course be more difficult. Considering gunpowder is made by alchemists in D&D though, at least one caster is assumed.

Fabricate can be used, but the Mage will need to have the appropriate Craft and knowledge of the weapon. Of course in a world where those mages are supposedly so terrified of modern technology I'm just not seeing a bunch of 9th level casters going about and doing so... Again, great if the PCs decide to, when at 9th level, burn their spells for an exotic weapon to hand out to their followers who don't have the appropriate feats to deal with them...

Indeed. Go nuts! Unless of course you allow your strapping 1st level warriors to just know instinctively how to use this brand new weapon. In which case you're already there .

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[Dandu]

Of course in a world where those mages are supposedly so terrified of modern technology

Eberron.

 

[Loonook]

Eberron.

Where they have stopped churning out their killing machines, and a nation suffered the magical version of the atom bomb?

Of course DDO includes a mystic version of the firearm through artificers, though it looks more like a Megablaster than anything else.

Eberron would honestly be a good setting for firearms, and should have them.

Slainte,

-Loonook.