Your View: Implementing Firearms

[Swgrclan 2682]

 

Hello everyone! Today, after bringing it up with the LT (and, prior, after having witnessed a lot of talk among players regarding anything relevant to a gun having a canonical presence in LoTC) and arguing my points as to why a form of early-model firearm technology should have a presence as a ranged weaponry alternative to bows and crossbows, I was told to make a thread where the community can share their thoughts on whether or not allowing guns be used IC would be a suitable addition to the server. I will outline the argument I presented and very clearly list my points and ideas on how firearms could be designed to not blow all other forms of traditional weaponry out of the water.

First of all, when I refer to “firearms” and “guns”, I obviously don’t mean the highly advanced weapons technology modern nations utilize to this day, but rather very archaic technology that had developed around the late Medieval ages and up toward the 17th century. I focus mostly on the design of Flintlock firearms, as they both hold the most aesthetically pleasing and atmospherically-friendly design that LoTC’s environment may host. Some information on Flintlock firearms can be found in this article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flintlock_mechanism

Deriving from this, we can discern that the idea is essentially allowing a type of firearm to exist in LoTC where it is capable of unleashing a single shot and may undergo an extensive process of reloading, and may take both pistol and rifle forms. In my argument presented to my fellows in the LT, I had stated we can take this basic concept and shape it in a manner where it isn’t as powerful as it was in real life, and furthermore in a way where it is an “equal alternative” to both bows and crossbows. My view on it is that the bullets propelled by these weapons would have the same penetrative and body-stopping power as flighted bolts and arrows based on how we explain, in the lore for these guns, that the projectiles may take flight in the first place (which can range from using blackpoweder to some kind of heated thanhium dust, it can vary and the exact details aren’t summed up yet).

This means that people who like the idea of old firearm technology being involved their their magic-oriented medieval fantasy roleplay can use this old firearm technology without having a greater advantage over everyone else. Doing this allows us to distinguish firearms in LoTC as merely part of the equal triad of traditional ranged weaponry, because with no extraneous or revolutionary stopping power like real gunpowder weapons, they cannot realistically be perceived as a threat to weapon balance in the game. It also means firearms could be used by anyone with a bow item and some arrows, like how anyone with a bow and some arrows can RP their bow as a crossbow. It all translates similarly.

I referred to this as a tolerable limitation to the rest of the LT. We may put this concept on the same level as everything else, yet set strict measures as to ensure advancements would not breach the heightened conceptual ceiling we would establish for the introduction of firearms. This means firearms would not advance, could not be made to have a greater advantage over other ranged weapons, could not be evolved magically, or transformed in any way into something more and more powerful, whether or not lore submissions would be made.

This also means, if these limited firearms were to be put in our roleplay eivorment, that there would be a lot of trust in players to follow the guide I would probably develop myself and follow the rules and keep their free, allowed use of firearms fair for both themselves and everyone they use them around.

Please provide your thoughts on the idea and vote so a majority decision can be determined.

 

[Man of Respect 5471]

this is a good firearm

0

[Tsuyose 3285]

I don't believe it fits with LoTC, in my most simplistic response. I'll expand on this when I wake tomorrow.

[Corvoo 562]

No. No, no, no. It doesn't fit with the theme, the amount of powergaming that can come from this is horrible. My god I just feel like this is such a terrible idea. It simply shouldn't happen.

[Runabarn 1028]

Absolutely ******* not.

[Guest]

I would be fine with it tbh

[Swgrclan 2682]

To reiterate before the coming storm:

All degrees of power and damaging capability can be altered and designed before implementation. Powergaming from these guns would be like powergaming from bows and crossbows.

[GDPR 014 48]

I see no issue with it, so long as ot is roleplayed properly. You might argue "but you can't dodge a bullet" you can't dodge a crossbow bolt, or an arrow either.

 

"It doesn't fit the theme."

A couple of fantasy settings have firearms, Warcraft and Warhammer being examples. 

[Tsuyose 3285]

Just now, ArcanicFable said:

I see no issue with it, so long as ot is roleplayed properly. You might argue "but you can't dodge a bullet" you can't dodge a crossbow bolt, or an arrow either.

 

"It doesn't fit the theme."

A couple of fantasy settings have firearms, WoW and Warhammer being examples. 

 

But LoTC isn't WoW or Warhammer it's best related to the likes of LoTR.

[The King Of The Moon 7016]

No for the sake of how prominent people incorrectly RPing Bows/Crossbows is already a huge problem and this would only further render swordsmanship useless - alongside quite likely rivalling some magic.

[Wrynn 1349]

um... no.

Personally I don't like the idea of having firearms in LotC - I feel like it would turn it into more of a steampunk theme rather than fantasy. Idk it just doesn't really appeal to me much - well written, but I don't think it's for LotC.

[Corvoo 562]

I don't care if it's the same as powergaming from bows/crossbows. It doesn't fit, lotc shouldn't have it. I find it hard to believe that a ******* bullet would be equal to a bow or a crossbow bolt.

[Endovelicus 613]

Realistically it'd make no sense for any sensible military to adopt a firearm if it has no edge on bows/crossbows.

[Jonificus 2741]

A technological improvement would be great. Small things like this greatly influence how things go and would spice things up.

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

I just don't think it'd fit the theme. We're more Dragon Age/Witcher/LOTR based than WOW or Warhammer. From my experience Oren ranges from 13th to 14th century Europe and seeing medeival levies carry rifles around would be weird. Guns would stick out like a sore thumb with the elves as well. Just not a great fit IMO.