Cannons, where in the nine hells are they? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cannons, where in the nine hells are they? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MechMage
02-17-07, 12:01 PM I'm running a Renaissance age game, and I can't find the rules for cannons. Where are they?
Witch
02-17-07, 12:03 PM Cannons, where in the nine hells are they?
I'd say on Avernus, being created by Malphas.

Regarding the other question in your post - I do not know. There might be something in the DMG (there's siege weapons, but I forgot if there's cannons specifically).
Vagrond
02-17-07, 12:08 PM I'd say on Avernus, being created by Malphas.

Regarding the other question in your post - I do not know. There might be something in the DMG (there's siege weapons, but I forgot if there's cannons specifically).

There isn't. They're just not there. There are probably reasons why not.
kelvinaw273
02-17-07, 01:10 PM Then invent some rules for them. Study the results of battles like Waterloo for descriptions of how they can be used and what they can fire.

Form what I know (and I am not an expert):

1) A solid cannon shot is like a line attack - solid shot will still incapacitate and kill after several bounces. Characters in the path can make a reflex save to avoid it rather than it being a targeted attack.

2) Range can be easily up to a mile, although damage at extreme range is reduced. If a canon ball strikes a barrier like wood it will punch through, throwing out a cloud of splinters, so any character within ten feet should save vs damage (splinters caused most casualties at Trafalger, for example).

3) Shell shot (the kind that explode) inflict shrapnel damage over a wide radius, but if they land in thick mud (as they did at Waterloo) their effect is sharply curtailed.

4) Cannister shot is basically turning the cannon into a shotgun, consider as multiple attacks on all beings in the cone (about twenty feet at the end of a one-hundred and fifty foot range)(this and concentrated musket fire is what destroyed the Old Guard at Waterloo and along with the arrival of the Blucher's Prussian army routed the French army).

5) After shooting, a canon is thrown back several feet (even shipboard ones) and has to be hauled back into position to be fired again, which is exhausting for the crew. Generally a canon can fire one shot per ten rounds (D&D style). Maybe five with a crack crew, and all firing times will depend up on the size of the gun. At Waterloo the French twelve pounders could only maintain their initial (unanswered) barrage for an hour, and had to wait until nearly midday because of the poor ground (the guns would bog down if they did not wait for the ground to dry). The English six-pounders held their fire and then cut loose with everything they could when the enemy cavalry and infantry came in range.
Senevri
02-17-07, 01:16 PM Heroes of Battle might help. It doesn't have cannons per se, either, but it does have more siege weapon rules.
Kursk
02-17-07, 01:34 PM I'm running a Renaissance age game, and I can't find the rules for cannons. Where are they?

The chapter in the DMG right before Star ship design specs.
Rickiel
02-17-07, 03:40 PM Check out the D20 Past book and forum for all of your pre-1950's and post Dark Age needs :)
Gold Medal Jedi
02-17-07, 06:32 PM I use the Alderac Entertainment Groups, Swashbuckling Adventures book to run these types of campaigns. Its a rather obscure book to find but im sure amazon.com will have it listed somewhere. The D20 Past rules are sufficient if you are looking for something with the WotC stamp of approval but i found the AEG book to have more realistic rules IMO. In addition to rules for cannons it has a treasure trove of info and mechanics for all manner of nationalities and eras of european feeling settings. Anyway, Good luck.
Ashen_Child
02-18-07, 01:36 AM The DMG rules balistas as up-scaled crossbows.

If you can't find any other source for cannons, you could always rule them as Huge sized musket.
Limousine_Liberal
02-18-07, 02:15 AM Stormwrack has rules for cannons (bombards).
CharlieRock
02-19-07, 12:06 PM Broadsides! Naval Adventuring (http://www.gamewyrd.com/review/261). page 43 :D (link is to review of the book)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MechMage 02-17-07, 12:01 PM	I'm running a Renaissance age game, and I can't find the rules for cannons. Where are they?
Witch 02-17-07, 12:03 PM	Cannons, where in the nine hells are they? I'd say on Avernus, being created by Malphas. Regarding the other question in your post - I do not know. There might be something in the DMG (there's siege weapons, but I forgot if there's cannons specifically).
Vagrond 02-17-07, 12:08 PM	I'd say on Avernus, being created by Malphas. Regarding the other question in your post - I do not know. There might be something in the DMG (there's siege weapons, but I forgot if there's cannons specifically). There isn't. They're just not there. There are probably reasons why not.
kelvinaw273 02-17-07, 01:10 PM	Then invent some rules for them. Study the results of battles like Waterloo for descriptions of how they can be used and what they can fire. Form what I know (and I am not an expert): 1) A solid cannon shot is like a line attack - solid shot will still incapacitate and kill after several bounces. Characters in the path can make a reflex save to avoid it rather than it being a targeted attack. 2) Range can be easily up to a mile, although damage at extreme range is reduced. If a canon ball strikes a barrier like wood it will punch through, throwing out a cloud of splinters, so any character within ten feet should save vs damage (splinters caused most casualties at Trafalger, for example). 3) Shell shot (the kind that explode) inflict shrapnel damage over a wide radius, but if they land in thick mud (as they did at Waterloo) their effect is sharply curtailed. 4) Cannister shot is basically turning the cannon into a shotgun, consider as multiple attacks on all beings in the cone (about twenty feet at the end of a one-hundred and fifty foot range)(this and concentrated musket fire is what destroyed the Old Guard at Waterloo and along with the arrival of the Blucher's Prussian army routed the French army). 5) After shooting, a canon is thrown back several feet (even shipboard ones) and has to be hauled back into position to be fired again, which is exhausting for the crew. Generally a canon can fire one shot per ten rounds (D&D style). Maybe five with a crack crew, and all firing times will depend up on the size of the gun. At Waterloo the French twelve pounders could only maintain their initial (unanswered) barrage for an hour, and had to wait until nearly midday because of the poor ground (the guns would bog down if they did not wait for the ground to dry). The English six-pounders held their fire and then cut loose with everything they could when the enemy cavalry and infantry came in range.
Senevri 02-17-07, 01:16 PM	Heroes of Battle might help. It doesn't have cannons per se, either, but it does have more siege weapon rules.
Kursk 02-17-07, 01:34 PM	I'm running a Renaissance age game, and I can't find the rules for cannons. Where are they? The chapter in the DMG right before Star ship design specs.
Rickiel 02-17-07, 03:40 PM	Check out the D20 Past book and forum for all of your pre-1950's and post Dark Age needs :)
Gold Medal Jedi 02-17-07, 06:32 PM	I use the Alderac Entertainment Groups, Swashbuckling Adventures book to run these types of campaigns. Its a rather obscure book to find but im sure amazon.com will have it listed somewhere. The D20 Past rules are sufficient if you are looking for something with the WotC stamp of approval but i found the AEG book to have more realistic rules IMO. In addition to rules for cannons it has a treasure trove of info and mechanics for all manner of nationalities and eras of european feeling settings. Anyway, Good luck.
Ashen_Child 02-18-07, 01:36 AM	The DMG rules balistas as up-scaled crossbows. If you can't find any other source for cannons, you could always rule them as Huge sized musket.
Limousine_Liberal 02-18-07, 02:15 AM	Stormwrack has rules for cannons (bombards).
CharlieRock 02-19-07, 12:06 PM	Broadsides! Naval Adventuring (http://www.gamewyrd.com/review/261). page 43 :D (link is to review of the book)