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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steampunkette" data-source="post: 8295785" data-attributes="member: 6796468">"Period Accurate Study" equals "Back of the napkin guesstimate" I guess... Sure. Maybe also look into the study McCrae posted. In which they used a variety of firearms from the 1500s onward (Good choice, honestly) using Modern Grade Gunpowder... Therein lies the problem. Here, I'll give you the specific quote from the research paper:1988 standardized gunpowder has minimal impurities compared to more contemporary gunpowder for the time period. And a -far- more precise balance of chemical components than what were being produced in the 1500s to 1800s.The Side-swords (and other various weapons) were for the Archers, not their guards. Because once the spears are down, or melee is joined in general, the bow is no longer useful.I'm absolutely FLOORED that this is a point of contention for this thread.The sword is a good weapon. Not great against cavalry, obviously. But there's a reason nearly every culture in the world has some variation of "Small handle, long blade!" to go along with their "Long stick, small blade!" And yeah. It wasn't great against Cavalry. Which is why there were spear-men on hand in formation trying to protect the archers against charges. And also defensive stakes, as previously noted.And while I'd absolutely agree that at the Battle of Hastings it was a "Bring your own weapon" affair with the bowmen largely poor commonfolk bringing their own bows from home that had been used for hunting. They also often wore nothing but light cloth and generally no pants so they could run faster... At Agincourt the bowmen are armored. Meaning someone paid to put them in metal. Meaning someone wanted that money back. Meaning "Surrender so they take your armor" is much less reasonable.Oh, I didn't think you did. It's cool.My big thing on having guns included is the idea that guns are largely held by the wealthy and the unique, rather than being common. A society in which industrialization of the gunmaking process isn't done for REASONS. And instead they're largely seen as an alternative, but not a replacement, for other weaponry.Especially in a world where Dragons and Mindflayers and such still exist.Less a "Core Weapon" of the setting and the battlefield more a "Narrative Alternative" for players.Besides. When you've got a College of War Mages (My setting has 4 of those) cantrip-combat is at least as effective, if not moreso, than firearms.</blockquote>

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