Mechanik’s Union

Often as not firearms in Iron Kingdoms, while being iconic and flashy are, rules wise, a crossbow that takes a skill check to reload and grabs the party gold faster than the dwarven rogue. So I have experimented with giving firearms in the Kingdoms a benefit which makes their use and proliferation make some sort of sense rather than have everyone use the far less expensive and equally dangerous bows and crossbows. Namely the ability to ignore base AC [aka non-magical AC bonus] and a reworking the proficiency rules.

Proficiencies:-

• simple firearms such as pistols, pin locks and the like are usable by any class except Barbarians, Druids and Monks. (just including basic classes here)

• martial firearms such as carbines, long rifles, military rifles etc, are usable by Fighters, Rangers, Paladins and so on. Rogues get long rifles and carbines. This does not apply to starting classes for races who lack such a technological background.

• exotic firearms such as the clockwork pistols, radliffe firestorm, chain-gun etc require the exotic weapon prof. feat to use effectively. I’d suggest three new feats on that front:

Exotic Weapon Proficiency: pneumatic (weapons based on compressed gas and pumps)

Exotic Weapon Proficiency: repeater (multiple barrel or chamber weapons)

Exotic Weapon Proficiency: cannon (heavy guns from bombards to artillery pieces)

Penetration:-

• pistols, hand guns or anything of similar firepower can ignore the base AC given by light armor unless the armors description says otherwise.

• carbines & rifles can ignore the base AC given by light and medium armor unless the armors description says otherwise, they can also ignore the first layer of light or sparse cover such as thin wood, foliage, plasterboard walls etc. [although this doesn't help you hit if you still cant see what your aiming at].

• heavy or exotic weapons such as cannons, chain-guns and other large ordinance ignore all base AC unless the armors description says otherwise. Ignores all but solid of cover.

The only issue I’ve come across so far is how to deal with natural armor, mostly I have treated natural armor as medium armor for the purposes of penetration unless its obvious that you’d need some serious heavy ordinance to ignore the targets natural armor, or if such is impossible due to it being made out of solid rock or something similar.

I found that this encouraged players to use cover and go prone during firefights rather than stand around sucking up bullets, provoking a more realistic firefight scenario. Plus, the Damage Resistance given by the greatcoats suddenly made a bit more sense.

I may have to think about the sort of damage a load of bullets punching through armor would cause to such items eventually, but that’s for another time.