While expanding on the new rules for my modified Inquisitor class, I'm also building out a structure and rule set that will make the Inquisitor a feared and hated adversary.
One of those rule sets revolves around firearms. Now, contrary to the standard Pathfinder rules, which allow you to turn any character concept into a superhero, I want firearms to represent a sort of existential threat to the players. In this case, gunpowder is a problem that arises when magic becomes rare or weak, a Great Equalizer much like... well, gunpowder actually was in history.
I've pretty much scrapped the ridiculously OP gun rules from Pathfinder. Even though the gunslinger class has been modified and toned down since its initial release, I don't wish to change my game into a wild west analog. I want guns to be introduced slowly, to be powerful in numbers but unappealing to work with as an individual player.
In place of the standard rules I've started with adopting the firearms rules from Lamentations of the Flame Princess, which sets itself right around the mid 1600s. Matchlock pistols and muskets and blunderbusses (blunderbussi? blunderbuses?) are expensive, finicky and powerful, requiring special training and resources. I've locked down gunpowder in the campaign by making it require a special low-magic method to manufacture, while the guns and ammo themselves are still non-magical.
Most guns are "flat" - meaning uniform in effect. Guns usually do a d8, and take a substantial amount of time to reload. Some basic mechanical innovations allow a somewhat faster reload but again require time and training to handle properly. They are also prone to malfunction. Tuns in general will have the following traits:
- most of them do around 1d6 to 1d8 damage
- range is generally shorter than a crossbow (range increment of 25 for pistols, 50 for muskets)
- Ignore up to 5 points of armor bonus
- Automatically critical on 20s (thus the low damage relative to Pathfinder rules)
- Automatically break on 1s (broken condition and if another 1 is rolled, explode)
- Take 5 rounds to reload
So far I've prepared two different versions of the gun; the pistol and the musket.
Pistols do a d6 damage, have a range increment of 25 feet (meaning every increment of 25 feet you are from the target, reduce your attack roll by -2), do a d8 damage, and ignore 5 points of armor if within short range (first range increment).
Muskets are similar, do 1d8 damage, have a longer range increment (50 feet), and retain their armor penetration beyond the first range increment.
I haven't worked out what I want to do with blunderbusses yet.
Those who use firearms may in addition take "apostle rounds", which are an early form of pre-loading device that allow the firer to quickly set the charging powder, wad and ball round, reducing reload times to 2 rounds.
