Is it possible... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is it possible... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Koplow92
10-02-07, 08:33 PM ...to make a projectile weapon(other than bow or crossbow) in D&D? I'm wondering if you can make a gun of some sort? Sort of like a magnetic propelled rail gun with a short shaft of metal as the "bullet". Just wondering.:coolcthul
Kouk
10-02-07, 08:40 PM Anything's possible. *

With DM permission.

Anyway, there are several different sorts of weapons statted out in the DMG for alternate campaign settings. You could start there, but they are all quite powerful.
Koplow92
10-02-07, 08:49 PM Thanks. I'm kind of a newbie. I know the rules, but I don't know the specific limitations of D&D, weapon- and character-wise.
happy_fuzzy
10-02-07, 09:18 PM A hand crossbow that fires a auto-firing wand of magic missiles CL15, or you could just use the wand urself
draco1119
10-03-07, 02:39 AM In AD&D 2nd Edition, the Arquebus was one of the basic weapons in the PHB. In the Forgotten Realms setting, there were also rules for various smoke-powder guns developed by priests of Gond. I would assume that you can find the same types of things under the current rules. (Or you could transport the rules from D20 Modern...)
DrMorganes
10-03-07, 09:32 AM ...to make a projectile weapon(other than bow or crossbow) in D&D? I'm wondering if you can make a gun of some sort? Sort of like a magnetic propelled rail gun with a short shaft of metal as the "bullet". Just wondering.:coolcthul

Not to rain on your parade, but the easiest way to do this is to simply "reflavor" a crossbow. That is, from the standpoint of game mechanics, this IS a crossbow: same damage, same critical threat and multiplier, same range. You simply describe it's look and functionality differently.

HOWEVER, the whole "magnetic railgun" concept seems more relevant to a steampunk game (c.f., Girl Genius (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com) for more on that) where science and magic roughly coexist. If you're looking to add an element of tech to your game, I believe the DragonMech (http://www.goodman-games.com/dragonmech.php) campaign setting may be for you. It's NOT D&D, but I think lots of folks have had good experiences porting the rules between systems.
MrCustomer
10-03-07, 02:10 PM There are rules and stats for guns in the DM's guide. I don't recomend them however for flavour reasons, technology ruins fantasy in most cases, at least imo.

You could have some gnomish device that works differently then your bow or crossbows. Like for example:

Hand-Held Catapult: awkward and heavy it hurls a good sized rock at the opponent. Benifit over conventional crosbow/bows:

-you can attack opponents behind cover by shooting up so it falls down on the other side.
-launch Area attacks, (bucket of holy water, acid, burning oil)
-Batter the defences of a fortification, hammer at a door etc.
-have an extension brace, so if set-up on solid ground (takes 1 minute to set up) it can be used to fire even larger projectiles then you could while holding it. (you can only take so much knockback and carry so heavy an object)
-Make fantastic leaps by placing it on the ground and standing on it :)

Heavy hand-Held catapult is a full round action to reload, light Catapult is a move action.
FoulQ
10-03-07, 10:53 PM you could play the abomination that is d20 modern
Mock26
10-03-07, 11:44 PM Years ago, back in the 1st edition days of AD&D, one of my friends created a weapon adapted from one of the Michael Moorcock's Elric books. It was a club with a slot carved in it. The slot ran lengthwise from the end about halfway down the club. Into this slot was placed a crstyalline (?) disc that was like an over-sized shuriken. The club was pumped back and forth (in a motion similar to that used in lacrosse) and then whipped forward. This propelled the disc forward at great speed. It did 2d4 damage and generated a whistling sound when it flew through the air. In 3x terms it would have a range increment of 30 feet and would be a full round action to fire.

I also once had a similar weapon that was a small steel ball with a hole in it. Into this hole was inserted a flexible wooden staff. The staff was then held and the ball passed over your head until it was hanging down. You would then whip the staff around over your head and snap your wrist. This would propel the steel ball forward at great velocity.

And one final missile weapon I have used is rockets. They are spears that are made with a hollow wooden tube instead of a typical wooden shaft. The tube is packed with gunpowder, aimed at your target, the powder lit, and the spear is propelled at speed at your target. It doesn't explode, though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Koplow92 10-02-07, 08:33 PM	...to make a projectile weapon(other than bow or crossbow) in D&D? I'm wondering if you can make a gun of some sort? Sort of like a magnetic propelled rail gun with a short shaft of metal as the "bullet". Just wondering.:coolcthul
Kouk 10-02-07, 08:40 PM	Anything's possible. * With DM permission. Anyway, there are several different sorts of weapons statted out in the DMG for alternate campaign settings. You could start there, but they are all quite powerful.
Koplow92 10-02-07, 08:49 PM	Thanks. I'm kind of a newbie. I know the rules, but I don't know the specific limitations of D&D, weapon- and character-wise.
happy_fuzzy 10-02-07, 09:18 PM	A hand crossbow that fires a auto-firing wand of magic missiles CL15, or you could just use the wand urself
draco1119 10-03-07, 02:39 AM	In AD&D 2nd Edition, the Arquebus was one of the basic weapons in the PHB. In the Forgotten Realms setting, there were also rules for various smoke-powder guns developed by priests of Gond. I would assume that you can find the same types of things under the current rules. (Or you could transport the rules from D20 Modern...)
DrMorganes 10-03-07, 09:32 AM	...to make a projectile weapon(other than bow or crossbow) in D&D? I'm wondering if you can make a gun of some sort? Sort of like a magnetic propelled rail gun with a short shaft of metal as the "bullet". Just wondering.:coolcthul Not to rain on your parade, but the easiest way to do this is to simply "reflavor" a crossbow. That is, from the standpoint of game mechanics, this IS a crossbow: same damage, same critical threat and multiplier, same range. You simply describe it's look and functionality differently. HOWEVER, the whole "magnetic railgun" concept seems more relevant to a steampunk game (c.f., Girl Genius (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com) for more on that) where science and magic roughly coexist. If you're looking to add an element of tech to your game, I believe the DragonMech (http://www.goodman-games.com/dragonmech.php) campaign setting may be for you. It's NOT D&D, but I think lots of folks have had good experiences porting the rules between systems.
MrCustomer 10-03-07, 02:10 PM	There are rules and stats for guns in the DM's guide. I don't recomend them however for flavour reasons, technology ruins fantasy in most cases, at least imo. You could have some gnomish device that works differently then your bow or crossbows. Like for example: Hand-Held Catapult: awkward and heavy it hurls a good sized rock at the opponent. Benifit over conventional crosbow/bows: -you can attack opponents behind cover by shooting up so it falls down on the other side. -launch Area attacks, (bucket of holy water, acid, burning oil) -Batter the defences of a fortification, hammer at a door etc. -have an extension brace, so if set-up on solid ground (takes 1 minute to set up) it can be used to fire even larger projectiles then you could while holding it. (you can only take so much knockback and carry so heavy an object) -Make fantastic leaps by placing it on the ground and standing on it :) Heavy hand-Held catapult is a full round action to reload, light Catapult is a move action.
FoulQ 10-03-07, 10:53 PM	you could play the abomination that is d20 modern
Mock26 10-03-07, 11:44 PM	Years ago, back in the 1st edition days of AD&D, one of my friends created a weapon adapted from one of the Michael Moorcock's Elric books. It was a club with a slot carved in it. The slot ran lengthwise from the end about halfway down the club. Into this slot was placed a crstyalline (?) disc that was like an over-sized shuriken. The club was pumped back and forth (in a motion similar to that used in lacrosse) and then whipped forward. This propelled the disc forward at great speed. It did 2d4 damage and generated a whistling sound when it flew through the air. In 3x terms it would have a range increment of 30 feet and would be a full round action to fire. I also once had a similar weapon that was a small steel ball with a hole in it. Into this hole was inserted a flexible wooden staff. The staff was then held and the ball passed over your head until it was hanging down. You would then whip the staff around over your head and snap your wrist. This would propel the steel ball forward at great velocity. And one final missile weapon I have used is rockets. They are spears that are made with a hollow wooden tube instead of a typical wooden shaft. The tube is packed with gunpowder, aimed at your target, the powder lit, and the spear is propelled at speed at your target. It doesn't explode, though.