So who can use guns then?

[treant_on_fire]

I'm thinking of DMing an industrial age-set game and was reading the CKG for goodies... One thing bothered me though. It doesn't tell you which classes can use guns and/or what types. Seems like a pretty big omission...

[serleran]

Anyone can use a gun; effectiveness is a different subject. You point and pull the trigger. However, unless you're adding classes specifically with the ability to wield firearms, treat everyone as non-proficient, which will obviously impact those with a low BtH the most yet allow fighters to compensate quickly through similarity. You may also allow anyone capable of using a crossbow to use a gun that emulates it, like a rifle, but that is entirely the decision of the individual running the game. Furthermore, advanced targeting systems, if present, may also reduce or negate the natural ineptness with use of the technology and the Castle Keeper can decide what it takes to become "proficient" with it, noting some guns may always have innate penalties to fire, due to generally poor accuracy at extended ranges.

[treant_on_fire]

Anyone can use a gun; effectiveness is a different subject. You point and pull the trigger. However, unless you're adding classes specifically with the ability to wield firearms, treat everyone as non-proficient, which will obviously impact those with a low BtH the most yet allow fighters to compensate quickly through similarity. You may also allow anyone capable of using a crossbow to use a gun that emulates it, like a rifle, but that is entirely the decision of the individual running the game. Furthermore, advanced targeting systems, if present, may also reduce or negate the natural ineptness with use of the technology and the Castle Keeper can decide what it takes to become "proficient" with it, noting some guns may always have innate penalties to fire, due to generally poor accuracy at extended ranges.

Yeah, makes sense... Those with 'any' can use them, those with specific lists use them untrained. Okey-dokey. (I might still allow Rogues to use firearms though... Seems fitting.)

[Arduin]

Treat as a cross bow. That should work fine.

[Sir Ironside]

I like both of these. I think it comes down to what house ruling your comfortable with.

Serleran's's suggestion seems like the more complicated house rule, where as treant_on_fire's seems much, much easier.

[serleran]

In a setting where guns are a natural evolution of weaponry, known and used in standing armies, I would have a class that has "Any" weapon proficient with it. However, if the characters are transported to a world where guns exist, or they are recent inventions to the current campaign (and thus, few have any experience with them), I would go with the aforementioned auto-penalty.

I guess it really just boils to how familiar do you want them to be? That answers practically every other question.

[TheMetal1]

Well, since you're setting in pre-industrial age, I'd say the Plasma rifle is out of the question so probably a mix of primative and modern fire-arms tables from the CKG, leaning heavily on the primative.

"All members of the class are proficient in the use of every weapon on this list. If a character uses a weapon that does not appear on this list, the character suffers a –4 penalty on all the “to hit” rolls with that weapon." (Page 9, C&C PHB)

I'd take a look at what firearms I'll be using in the game and decide what classes can use what, if it ain't on the list, -4 penalty.

the C&C Freeport Companion discusses firearms, but includes some 3.X era errata (Quick Draw and Rapid Reload feats - despite this not being in C&C). Anyone can use them in that setting.

[bishop]

Second to crossbow comment. That is most likely the logical equivalent.

I'd even suggest taking it a step further.

Based on your per-industrial era.
Hand Crossbow=Pistol
Light Crossbow=Rifle
Heavy Crossbow=Shotgun/Blunderbuss (reduced range)
Heavy Crossbow=Scoped rifle (increased range)

Complicating it more:
The reload could be the only issue if you are per-industrial and the need to incorporate longer load times for powder weapons. For both powder and cartridge weapons you would probably want to have 2 separate charts.

Attribute Int for cleaning and maintenance of the weapon should be a must after extreme use/weather/underwater situations.

a few thoughts on the concept.