In late-medieval fantasy, there should actually be guns. Cannons and personal guns were already in use in the 15th century.  Thus, Lion & Dragon, for example, has guns (as does Dark Albion).

And yet there's a big sort of tradition in most fantasy games not to have them.

I'm okay with period appropriate firearms in a 15th century setting.

I'm less inclined to like firearms in a setting based on earlier time periods.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1022008In late-medieval fantasy, there should actually be guns. Cannons and personal guns were already in use in the 15th century.  Thus, Lion & Dragon, for example, has guns (as does Dark Albion).

And yet there's a big sort of tradition in most fantasy games not to have them.

No I don't, and I blame America's fascination with firearms as the god weapon.  Also, by the time a usable pistol came into existence, the sword was on its way out as a battlefield weapon, if it ever was, given all the historical aficionados claiming it sucks as a personal weapon.

Usually no, occasionally, I'm fine with them as a change of pace.  Either have them and make them useful, or don't bother, is my motto.  

We are using them in the current campaign because some of the players had been clamoring for them for some time.  When the campaign started, we put it to a vote.  The "Yea" votes barely won.  The "Nay" advocates argued that I'd have the opposition make good use of gunpowder.  I have. :cool:

I enjoy having guns in medieval fantasy (especially if it is late medieval or ancient to early but obviously anachronistic).

Usually no. But an artist friend of mine wayyyyyy back did a really nice conversion that added some firearms for the 2e D&D system for his setting. Gorgeous airbrush art.

Done in moderation it can be ok. Early firearms were not all that great and relatively slow unless the user had practiced well, and even then the early ones are fickle. Theres at least two articles on it in Dragon and I think one in Space Gamer, which also did an article for adding firearms to Melee/Wizard.

Depends on the setting. In Old World, they're integral part of the setting, but would feel really out of place in my current D&D campaign. What I don't like is gunpowder weapons as some super-rare ancient tech, or the Conneticut Yankee -style gonzoness. If there are flintlocks, there should also be orcs with flintlocks.

If the firearms have appropriate expense and reliability, sure.

The reason I have a kneejerk reaction against gunpowder in fantasy is too many years of gamers wanting "firearms in D&D" to mean M16s and M1911A1s.

I'm okay with stuff like flintlocks, wheel lock pistols, cannons and the like particularly if the adventure takes place at sea aboard a ship.

I like them when genre appropriate.  For example, there are somewhat advanced firearms in Radiance d20 due to magic. Radiance has a Victorian feel with Electro Tech, Steam Tech, and Magic Tech.

No. Firearms don't fit in with the fantasy medieval settings/stories I like to emulate.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1022094If the firearms have appropriate expense and reliability, sure.

The reason I have a kneejerk reaction against gunpowder in fantasy is too many years of gamers wanting "firearms in D&D" to mean M16s and M1911A1s.

If the orcs have AK 47's , it might be worth it.  For a short campaign.  Once.

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Quote from: RPGPundit;1022008In late-medieval fantasy, there should actually be guns. Cannons and personal guns were already in use in the 15th century.  Thus, Lion & Dragon, for example, has guns (as does Dark Albion).

And yet there's a big sort of tradition in most fantasy games not to have them.

Only if it is well done. Iron Kingdoms and their Gun Mage comes immediately to mind.

The problem for me is that the vast majority of combat systems that are derived from D&D are functional for fantasy Swords and Sorcery, but just don't model the damage done with firearms very well. It gets really bad when you try to use that combat system in a science fiction setting, as I discovered with Traveller20 and d20 Star Wars.

Quote from: jeff37923;1022135Only if it is well done. Iron Kingdoms and their Gun Mage comes immediately to mind.

The problem for me is that the vast majority of combat systems that are derived from D&D are functional for fantasy Swords and Sorcery, but just don't model the damage done with firearms very well. It gets really bad when you try to use that combat system in a science fiction setting, as I discovered with Traveller20 and d20 Star Wars.

I liked d20 Star Wars RCR that used Health and Vitality, where Health was your Constitution score and Vitality worked like Hit Points. A critical hit did damage directly to Health, bypassing Vitality which means one lucky shot from a Stormtrooper could give you a very bad day.