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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5872184" data-attributes="member: 6669384">I think it touches on the essence of epic fantasy, as portrayed by D&D.  Player characters are special.  They're better than normal people.Think about it:  Why would anyone ever become a Warrior when the Fighter class exists?  Why become an Expert when the Rogue class exists?  Why become an Adept, when the Wizard, Sorcerer and Cleric classes exist?  Why become a Commoner when *any* other class exists?The entire game revolves around the idea that PCs are better than everyone else.Now introduce the handgun, the famous "Equalizer", the weapon that lets anyone at all, of any level, wield deadly power.If I had to represent firearms in the game, and I knew nothing of the existing gunpowder rules, I'd give them short range increment, but have them strike as Ranged Touch attacks, because of their ability to rip holes in armor.Giving that kind of combat power to just any one obviates the entire class/level approach to granting power, an approach that is basic to D&D.  Foundational, even.Whether you allow for mass production or require each gun to be a masterworked piece of craftsmanship is irrelevant.  Guns don't just blow holes in armor, they blow holes in the entire structure of the fantasy world.</blockquote>