En: [Spelljammer] Pistols, Handlocks & the like

----- Original Message ----- 
From: JJJ 
To: Discussion list for the Spelljammer campaign setting 
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 8:18 AM
Subject: [Spelljammer] Pistols, Handlocks & the like


In the original SJ boxed set, Wheellocks didn't do much to better the
inneficiency of guns in the game. Many a player of mine wanted to play a
Sharpshooter (principally the Giff ones...) but was very disapointed at
the way the weapons funcioned. Pistols are truly SJ in their spirit of
swashbucklerness, they should be cool to use! This brought many issues:

- How much would cost a single shot of smoke powder? By cannon it would
be around 300 gp (1/10th of the cost of a bombard shot). If we use the
value of a Sack of Smoke Powder form Ency. Magica, costing 750 gp for
3d6 shots, by moderating we came to 75 gp a shot (which is the one i use
on my campaigns);

- There is other problem: the poor damage, risk and low hit probability
of hand gun weapons. Assuming that in SJ there are companyes like the
Smithy Coaster, pistols shound't be that bad. To solve this i started
using the rules on the RED COAST boxed set, which made this weapons
cancel armor at the rate of (S/M/L) (only natural defenses/ 5 AC
penalty/ 2 AC Penalty), and making the math on ranges stood: (only
natural defenses / +3 bonus to hit / -3 to hit ). This also worked with
crossbows to lesser extent by using the Birthright rules.

- Does anyone use Bombards like the pistols, i mean, roll 1d6, on a 6 we
re-roll the Hull Points damage. Thats the way i thought it is to be, or
who would throw 3000 gp on a single shot of the thing?

Any ideas people?