====== Combustion-Based Weapons ======

While many weapons use mechanical energy provided by human or animal muscles, low-tech warriors
also exploited thermal energy released by burning materials
– both incendiaries, which use heat to set things on fire,
and explosives and propellants, which convert it to mechanical
energy. Indeed, the invention of gunpowder (TL3)
started a revolution in warfare!

==== Can We Have Gunpowder? ====

Players may want low-tech PCs to have black powder. This is up to the
GM, but here are some important considerations.

=== Making Black Powder ===

Making black powder requires a Chemistry or Explosives (Fireworks)
roll at +4, or an Explosives (Demolition) roll. Before gunpowder comes into
common use, the Explosives skills are unavailable and have no default.
Failure means the product is substandard: -2 to Malf. for bombs and
firearms, and damage is at -1 per die. Critical failure means the mixture
catches fire, destroying the maker’s laboratory! A Per-based Chemistry roll,
or a Danger Sense roll, gives the chemist enough warning to avoid injury;
otherwise, he suffers 3d burning damage.

At the GM’s option, early experimenters may be unable to obtain sufficiently
pure ingredients, especially saltpeter. Impure ingredients give -5
(quality) to rolls to make black powder. Taking extra time (p. B346) for purification
can partially or fully offset this penalty.

=== The Big “What If”: Early Black Powder ===

Of all the “what ifs” in the history of technology, the most compelling may
be the early invention of gunpowder. A Roman Empire with firearms might
not have fallen; an Assyria with cannon might have destroyed Jerusalem’s
walls and prevented the birth of Christianity and Islam. But could they have
come up with black powder in the first place?

Charcoal is no problem; it has been a portable fuel for millennia. Native sulfur was discovered in antiquity – the Bible calls it brimstone. Impure saltpeter can be found in stable manure piles. After the invention of the chariot, ancient kings from Egypt to China had plenty of manure!

The problem is curiosity: an interest in picking up saltpeter crystals in the
first place, purifying them, and mixing them with other substances. Chinese
alchemists seeking an immortality drug tried this. Perhaps some physician or
alchemist in the Roman Empire might have done the same experiment – or
even an Egyptian priest or doctor seeking a medicine, an incense, or a preservative
for mummies. Such a tradition of experimentation 


=====INCENDIARIES=====

Setting things aflame as a combat tactic may go back to
prehistory; several recent-but-TL0 tribal societies used
flaming arrows (p. B410). Experiments with incendiary
weapons and combustible mixtures date to the start of the
Iron Age. The Greek historian Thucydides described use of
an improvised flamethrower to set fire to a defensive wall
in 423 B.C.

====Combustibles====

Early Mixtures (TL2). Ancient Greek combustibles were
predominantly based on pitch, which burned hot and stuck
to what it hit. Common additives included sulfur, charcoal,
and even incense. A small splash of such a mixture inflicts
1 point of burning damage per second; anything in an area
doused with it takes 1d-1 burn per second. Such mixtures
are flammable (see Making Things Burn, p. B433), and burn
for 3d seconds once ignited unless smothered or submerged
under water. Per pint: $1, 1 lb.

Black Powder (TL3). A powder train burns at 3” per second
and requires 0.25 lb. of black powder (p. 85) per yard.
Greek Fire (TL3). This mixture of incendiary substances –
likely including naphtha – was invented by a Syrian refugee,
Kallinikos, in 673 A.D. Its exact composition was a secret of
the Byzantine Empire and was lost, probably in the 1200s.
Treat Greek fire as a Molotov cocktail (p. B411) for damage
and other effects. It burns on top of water, making it a terror
to enemy fleets, and can’t be put out by pouring water over
it; one of its Byzantine names was “marine fire.” Often dispersed
via fire-siphon (below). Per pint: $10, 1 lb.

Naphtha (TL3). Near Eastern alchemists developed
methods for distilling petroleum, producing a substance
called naft. Treat this as equivalent to oil (p. B288). It
inflicts the same damage as early pitch mixtures, but is
highly flammable (see Making Things Burn, p. B433) and
continues to burn for 10d seconds. Per pint: $2, 1 lb.

Saltpeter (TL3). Potassium nitrate was first purified by
Chinese alchemists around 492 A.D. They discovered its
incendiary properties not long afterward. The raw material
can be extracted from urine-soaked manure, or mined. It
gives off oxygen when heated, accelerating the burning of
other substances. Treating a material that’s highly flammable,
flammable, or resistant (see Making Things Burn,
p. B433) with an alcohol/water solution of saltpeter makes
it one flammability class easier to ignite. $5/lb.

Match (TL4). Used to set off matchlock guns (see Locks,
p. 90) and charges of black powder (p. 85). Using match in a
fuse requires an Explosives (Demolition or Fireworks) roll.
Slow match is saltpeter-impregnated flax or hemp cord.
Once ignited, it burns at 1” per 15 minutes. Per yard: $2, 0.2
lb. (An improvised form, made by soaking cord in a wood
ash solution, costs 1/10 as much, but gives -2 to firearms
Malf. and Explosives rolls.)

Quick match is made by treatment with black powder
and gum arabic. It burns at up to 4 yards per minute. Per
yard: $2, 0.2 lb.

====Delivery Systems====

Fire-Cage Arrow (TL2). See Alternate Arrows (p. 73).

Flask (TL2). A light ceramic vessel (which shatters
when it hits something hard) or a wooden one (which
burns) can deliver incendiaries. Small containers (holding
1 pint) can be hurled by hand or by a light ballista (pp. 80,
82); assume that cost is that of 1 pint of incendiary and
total weight is 1.5 lbs.

Fire-Siphon (TL3). A Byzantine device for spraying
Greek fire at enemy ships, based on Roman pumping
engines. It’s built into a warship, its nozzle extending outside
the hull. Greek princess Anna Comnena described its
use in a sea battle in 1103 A.D. The handheld cheirosiphon
appeared on battlefields by the early 10th century; the
Arabs adopted it a few decades later as the zarraq al-naft,
spraying naphtha rather than Greek fire. It remained in
use in Egypt until at least the 1400s. A handheld siphon
resembles a squirt gun with a large tank attached
and a fuse of slow match (above) just outside the nozzle
to ignite the fuel. These weapons appear on the
Flamethrowers Table (p. 86).

Incendiary Blowpipe (TL3). Byzantine sources mention
a blowpipe that was charged with pine resin. On being
discharged, the fuel was set aflame by a wick at the end.
This produced a small cloud of burning vapor, not as hot
as Greek fire or naphtha. See the Flamethrowers Table
(p. 86) for stats.

Incendiary Sphere (TL3). See Bombs (pp. 85-86).

=====BLACK POWDER=====

Because saltpeter (pp. 26, 84) was expensive, Chinese
alchemists tried mixing it with other substances.
Sometime around 1100 A.D., they developed an explosive
mixture: black powder. Saltpeter was exported to the
Arabs by 1225; black powder, by 1250. Roger Bacon, in
England, recorded black powder’s formula in 1257. The
ingredients are saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur; typical proportions
are 75%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. Charcoal is
the main fuel, while saltpeter serves as the oxygen source;
sulfur lowers the temperature at which the saltpeter
releases oxygen. These components are ground fine with
a mortar and pestle, and mixed together.

Early black powder was finely ground. This serpentine
powder (TL3) burned rapidly but had limited explosive
force. In the 15th century, corned powder (TL4) was
invented, originally to make black powder easier to store
and ship. It was made by moistening serpentine, pressing
it into cakes, and grinding it into
fine grains for priming powder,
medium grains for small arms, or
coarse grains for cannon and
blasting explosives.

Black powder has many uses.
It can serve as an incendiary, in a
powder train (see Incendiaries,
p. 84), or as an explosive (use the
rules under Explosions, pp. B414-
415). It can be made into fireworks
(see Fireworks, p. 40). And of
course it can be used in weapons.
Black powder is customarily
sold in 100-lb. kegs. Corned powder
is $20/lb.; treat serpentine as
cheap (-0.5 CF). LC3.

====Bombs (TL3)====

These are containers of black
powder, designed to be thrown by
hand, hurled from a catapult, or
placed and set off.

Incendiary Sphere (TL3). Available in China in the early
1100s, this contraption is meant to
be hurled by a beam sling (p. 81).
It’s a perforated metal ball holding
several pounds of low-grade black
powder. The powder burns for 2
minutes, spraying flame out the
holes to inflict 1d+1 burn over a
one-yard radius. The sphere is
studded with metal hooks that can
catch on enemy fortifications or
ladders. $200, 10 lbs.

Paper Bomb (TL3). Another
Chinese development of the early
1100s, this is a huge firecracker:
3-4 lbs. of black powder enclosed
in string-wrapped paper, or in bamboo. It inflicts 5d cr ex
and fills a five-yard radius with smoke that lasts 1 minute,
giving -10 to Vision and acting as a mild poison (p. B439).
The burst is loud; anyone who takes crushing damage must
make a HT-5 roll or suffer a Hearing penalty equal to his
margin of failure for (20 - HT) minutes, minimum 1
minute. Failure by 10+, or critical failure, means deafness.
Roll to recover from crippling injury, or suffer lasting or
permanent Hard of Hearing or Deafness. Any failure on the
initial HT roll also stuns the victim; roll vs. HT each turn to
recover. Riding animals not specifically trained to tolerate
explosions – and, at the GM’s option, people encountering
this weapon for the first time – must make a Fright Check
(p. B360). $100, 5 lbs.

Iron Bomb (TL3). In the early 1200s, the Chinese developed
higher-powered black powder that could burst an
iron casing and produce shrapnel. A small iron bomb
holds 14 lbs. of serpentine powder. Damage is 6dx4 [2d] cr
ex. $600, 30 lbs.

Land Mine (TL4). A Chinese invention described in a
14th-century military text: a 9’ length of bamboo buried
upright in earth, the bottom 80% filled with black powder
and the rest with lead balls. Stepping on it releases a weight
whose fall powers a wheellock device, setting off sparks
that ignite the powder. The soil channels the blast upward,
inflicting 14d [4d] cr in a one-yard radius; the fragmentation
damage is crushing, not cutting. $350, 10 lbs.

Petard (TL4). This is a Renaissance invention for forcing
an entrance through a strong door or gate. Its name is a
crude military joke, from the French péter, “to fart.” It consists
of an iron pot that holds 5 lbs. of black powder, mounted
in a board that can be nailed to a door to hold the pot’s
mouth against the barrier. Roll 15d crushing damage for the
blast and compare it to the target’s DR and HP. $250, 15 lbs.

====Fire Arrows (TL3)====

A fire arrow is an arrow with an ounce of low-grade
black powder fastened to the shaft in a paper globe or tube
sealed with pine resin. See Alternate Arrows (p. 73).

====Flamethrowers (TL3)====

These weapons discharge continuing flame jets – like a
rocket exhaust, but from a fixed or handheld base.

Fire-Lance (TL3). Developed in China in the early 1200s,
the fire-lance was valued for defending city walls. It’s a two-foot-
long rocket fastened to the end of a pole. After lighting
it, the soldier points it at the enemy, spraying out flame and
sparks. The user needs a Ready maneuver to take hold of it,
another to light it, and a third to shift grip to full length.
Once used, it’s discarded.

Iron Fire-Lance (TL3). Later fire-lances, developed in the
late 1200s, used yard-long iron barrels on two-foot wooden
poles. These could expel a fiercer flame than the earlier
paper or bamboo models. Bits of metal or pottery were
often mixed into the powder to inflict penetrating wounds
on enemy soldiers. Readying works as for the regular firelance
(above). The barrel can be recharged after use; this
requires 10 minutes and an Explosives (Fireworks) roll.

Eruptor (TL3). A large-scale iron fire-lance, designed to
be mounted on a city’s walls or on a frame facing its gates.
Lighting it takes a Ready maneuver. It’s rechargeable in the
same way as an iron fire-lance, but this takes 20 minutes.

===Flamethrowers Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.


== BLOWPIPE (DX-6) ==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 3 | Incendiary Blowpipe | 1d-1 burn | x0.2 | 1/0.05 | 1 | 1(20) | 2 | -6 | $35 | [1] |

== LIQUID PROJECTOR (FLAMETHROWER) (DX-4 or other Liquid Projector-4) ==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 3 | Cheirosiphon | 3d burn | x0.5/x1 | 20 | Jet | 12x1s | 12† | -6 | $1,000 | [2, 3] |
| 3 | Eruptor | 1d+1 burn | 1-6 | 50 | Jet | 1x300s | 16M† | -8 | $500 | [4] |
| | linked | 1 pi- |
| 3 | Fire-Lance | 1d-1 burn | 2-4 | 5 | Jet | 1x60s | 9† | -6 | $50 |
| 3 | Fire-Siphon | 3d burn | 15/25 | 550 | Jet | 60x1s | 29M† | -14 | $2,750 | [2, 5] |
| 3 | Iron Fire-Lance | 1d burn | 2-4 | 10 | Jet | 1x120s | 11† | -6 | $150 |
| | linked | 1 pi- |

Notes:
  * [1] Requires two hands to ready, but only one hand to attack. Range is ST-based. Produces a cone with terminal width equal to Range. Each charge costs $0.50.
  * [2] A shot may hit a single solid target or spread out over a two-yard radius on water. Listed damage is for initial hit; continuing damage is 1d burn per second for 10d seconds after initial impact (for fire-siphon) or 1d seconds (for cheirosiphon).
  * [3] Takes 10 seconds to prepare for firing. After first shot, further shots may be fired continuously. Range is ST-based.
  * [4] Placed on a static mount: $270, 13.5 lbs.
  * [5] Requires a two-man crew to operate the pump. Readying it takes a variable time; roll vs. crew’s average ST every 10 seconds to see if the fuel has started to emerge. They may substitute ST-based Liquid Projector (Flamethrower) skill, if higher. After first shot, further shots may be fired continuously.

====Rockets (TL3)====

The Chinese developed rockets in the mid-1200s; the
Koreans adopted them in the 1300s. Rockets seemingly
evolved from fire arrows, when archers realized that the
flaming exhaust could propel these arrows without a
bow. The wooden shaft helped to stabilize the rocket’s
flight. Its explosion could set a distant target ablaze.
Rockets aren’t fired blind (p. B389) but are unguided.
Rocket attacks are the ranged equivalent of Wild Swings
(p. B388); they have -5 to hit and maximum effective
skill 9, and can’t target specific hit locations.

Below are statistics for a typical rocket. It takes three
seconds to reach full range and explode, traveling 90
yards in the first second, 270 in the next, and 450 in the
third. As well as a crushing explosion, it does 1 point of
burning damage over a two-yard radius and fills that
radius with smoke. Further, anyone who takes crushing
damage from the blast may suffer hearing loss and stun
as for a paper bomb (p. 85); roll vs. HT-2 rather than HT-
5 to resist.

==GUNNER (ROCKETS) (DX-4 or other Gunner-4)==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 3 | Rocket | 2d+2 cr ex | 0 | 810 | 1.15 | 1 | 1(15) | 6M | -5 | 1 | $23 |

===== GUNPOWDER ARTILLERY =====

The fire-lance and eruptor gave rise to actual projectile
weapons by the late 1200s. Armorers realized that projectiles
that filled an eruptor’s barrel, instead of being scattered
through the propellant, flew farther and hit harder. They
began making weapons specifically to hurl projectiles – the
first guns. Early models tried many sorts of ammunition,
including bundles of arrows, iron bolts like large crossbow
quarrels, and bags of lead pellets, but in the 1300s, solid balls
became standard. Wadding on top of the ball sealed the barrel
so that nearly all of the explosion’s force was used.

==== Bombards ====

Early gunpowder weapons – called bombards – were
heavy and awkward to use. Gun carriages hadn’t been
invented; bombards were built into vehicles or buildings, or held in place by massive wooden frames. See Aiming Fixed-Mount Weapons (p. 80) for how this
affects operation.

Bombards normally fire stone balls (see The Cost of
Ammunition, below), which take a lighter powder
charge and can safely be used in breechloading guns.
Stone shot gets half the damage and range of metal shot.

The weapon tables already account for this.
For examples of really huge guns, see GURPS Low-
Tech Companion 2.

=== European Guns (TL3) ===
European guns in the Middle Ages were made like
actual wooden barrels, with long metal bars shaped
into a cylinder and bound with metal hoops. To close
off the end, a separate cup-shaped piece was joined to
the barrel at the breech. Most such weapons were
breechloaders. Guns of different sizes and proportions
had different names:

//Bombard//: A big, short-barreled gun firing large or huge stones. The Bombards Table (p. 88) offers two examples.

//Crapaudeau//: A long-barreled, small-caliber breechloader firing small stones.

//Veuglaire//: A fairly small breechloader with a moderately long barrel, about 12 times its caliber, firing stones somewhat larger than the crapaudeau’s.

=== Chinese Guns (TL4) ===
The first Chinese guns were small and low-powered. They were essentially personal firearms; see Early Experiments (p. 91). The use of metal made larger, heavier weapons possible. Cast-iron Chinese guns are classified as TL4.

==== The Cost of Ammunition ====

Ammunition for TL3-4 firearms consists of separate
powder and balls. Balls must be cut or cast to fit individual weapons. Black powder and lead are bought in bulk, by weight, for soldiers to measure out for their guns. It’s accurate enough to treat cost per shot as a simple multiple of weight per shot. Lead or iron shot is simply cast. Stone balls have to be cut, raising costs; on the other hand, stone is much lighter than metal for the same volume.

//Metal ammunition//: $20/lb.

//Stone ammunition//: $100/lb.

===Bombards Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.

ARTILLERY (CANNON) (IQ-5)
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 3 | Bombard | 13d+2 pi++ | 1 | 80/550 | 1,550/50 | 1 | 1(60) | 55M† | -12 | 5 | $21,000 |
| 3 | Bombard | 6dx5 pi++ | 1 | 130/740 | 16,000/430 | 1 | 1(60) | 92M† | -16 | 5 | $220,000 |
| 3 | Crapaudeau | 1d+2 pi++ | 1 | 20/170 | 32/0.12 | 1 | 1(60) | 17M† | -8 | 2 | $440 |
| 3 | Veuglaire | 4d+2 pi++ | 1 | 40/340 | 700/2.5 | 1 | 1(60) | 36M† | -12 | 2 | $9,600 |
| 4 | Crouching Tiger Gun | 6d+2 pi++ | 2 | 60/550 | 47/1.15 | 1 | 1(60) | 16M† | -8 | 5 | $650 | Stone ball. |
| | | or 1d-1 pi+ | 1 | 130/1,200 | 47/3.5 | 1x100 | 1(60) | 19M† | – | 1 | – | Lead shot. |
| 4 | Long-Range Awe-Inspiring Gun | 7d-1 pi++ | 1 | 130/1,200 | 160/3 | 1 | 1(60) | 21M† | -10 | 4 | $2,200 | Lead ball. |
| | | or 1d-1 pi+ | 1 | 130/1,200 | 160/3.5 | 1x100 | 1(60) | – | – | 1 | – | Lead shot. |

====Cannon====
In the 1500s, big guns became more mobile. Ships’ guns
were mounted on carriages; thus, the barrel could be thrust
out through a gun port to fire, and the weapon’s recoil
would carry it back into the ship for reloading. In the
1600s, Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus developed field
artillery, designed to be towed on the battlefield by draft
animals. These weapons were cannon in the modern sense,
and predominantly TL4.

Most of the cannon described here are comparatively
small; a squad of soldiers or a band of adventurers could
haul one around. A few larger models are included to illustrate
what big guns were like. Huge weapons were rare –
TL4 warfare put a premium on mobility.

=== Alternate Cannon Ammunition ===

Early gunners, especially ships’ gunners, developed
several forms of special-purpose ammunition:

Chain Shot (TL4). Designed to bring down an
enemy ship’s mast, rigging, or sails. Two sub-caliber
balls are linked by a yard or two of metal chain.
Damage amount is unchanged, but type becomes cutting,
with armor divisor (0.5). Also halve Range,
increase reload time by 20%, and double cost per shot.
No other stats are affected.

Grapeshot (TL4). Primarily for antipersonnel use,
this consists of half-inch-diameter iron balls sewn into
a canvas bag. To determine the number of balls a
given cannon fires, multiply the total weight of one
round of ammunition by 40. Multiply RoF by the
number of balls, but divide damage by the square root
of this number. Damage becomes pi+, 1/2D becomes
60, Max becomes 600, and Rcl becomes 1. No other
stats are affected.

Heated Shot (TL4). Cannonballs heated red-hot on
a fire. They can only be used with powder in a cloth
bag, which won’t be touched off by the ball’s heat; it’s
customary to add an empty bag and put a layer of
clay between powder and ball. Even so, heated shot
gives -1 to Malf., increases reload time by 50%, and
adds the need for two extra crewmen. Other stats are
unchanged, but in addition to its normal damage, the
hot metal ball inflicts 3d burning damage per second
for 30 seconds. If it sticks in a ship’s outer hull, it may
set the hull on fire – and if it penetrates the magazine,
it may touch off the powder stored there!


===Swivel-Guns (TL3)===
Swivel-guns are small cannon that can be mounted on a
ship’s gunwale or a city wall, and swung about to engage
attackers. They entered use at TL3, in the form of relatively
low-powered breechloaders that amounted to aimable
bombards. Many TL4 models were also breechloaders.
The Cannon Table (p. 89) includes an example for each TL:
The TL3 lantaka (.69 caliber) is an Indonesian design using
serpentine powder; similar weapons could be found on
Chinese junks or Mediterranean galleys. The TL4 swivel-gun
(2.25 caliber), using corned powder, is typical of small guns
on European naval vessels and pirate ships.

===Early European Cannon (TL4)===
By the early 16th century, armorers had worked out the
best way to make a big gun with the resources they commanded:
a single piece cast from bronze, muzzle-loaded,
firing an iron ball. These weapons still used serpentine
powder; early corned powder was uneven in quality and
burned too fast for safety. The name “cannon” actually
referred to a specific size; other sizes had their own, often
poetic names. Common sizes in England were the rabinet,
serpentine, falconet, falcon, minion, saker, culverin bastard,
demiculverin, basilisk, culverin, pedrero, demicannon, bastard
cannon, cannon serpentine, cannon, and cannon royal.
Other countries had their own names for different numbers
of sizes spanning the same range.

These early cannon still weren’t very mobile. Many were
mounted on ships or on city walls. Others battered the
defenses of besieged cities. Artillery forces hauled their
guns about on large carts.


===Field Cannon (TL4)===
Cannon in the style developed by Gustavus Adolphus.
The 3-lb. model is designed for regimental support; the 12-
lb. gun supports larger forces in the field; the 24-lb. weapon
is reserved for defending fortifications. Restriction to three
standard sizes greatly simplifies problems of supply. These
cannon have thinner walls and slightly shorter barrels than
older models, making them lighter; in addition, they’re
designed to be placed on field carriages.

===Ships’ Guns (TL4)===
Classic cannon as used by pirate ships on the Spanish
Main. Table entries include a range of sizes: the 42-pounder
cannon of seven, 18-pounder culverin, 9-pounder demiculverin,
and 4-pounder minion. Barrel length is 9’-10’ for the
three larger sizes and 7’ for the 4-pounder.

===Cannon Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.


GUNNER (CANNON) (DX-4 or other Gunner-4)
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^ 
| 3 | Lantaka | 1d+1 pi++ | 1 | 40/400 | 30/0.08 | 1 | 1(20) | 16M† | -6 | 2 | $400 |
| 4 | Rabinet | 5d pi++ | 2 | 90/850 | 300/0.65 | 1 | 1(60) | 29M† | -9 | 2 | $4,000 |
| 4 | Falconet | 7d pi++ | 2 | 120/1,000 | 500/1.4 | 1 | 1(60) | 33M† | -10 | 2 | $6,700 |
| 4 | Falcon | 10d+1 pi++ | 2 | 140/1,300 | 680/3.2 | 1 | 1(60) | 36M† | -12 | 2 | $9,400 |
| 4 | Saker | 15d pi++ | 2 | 220/1,900 | 1,400/10 | 1 | 1(60) | 43M† | -13 | 2 | $19,000 |
| 4 | Culverin | 6dx4 pi++ | 2 | 300/2,200 | 4,800/30 | 1 | 1(70) | 58M† | -15 | 2 | $66,000 |
| 4 | Cannon | 6dx5 pi++ | 2 | 350/2,600 | 6,000/87 | 1 | 1(100) | 68M† | -16 | 2 | $80,000 |
| 4 | Cannon, 3-lb. | 14d+1 pi++ | 2 | 210/1,800 | 1,000/4.5 | 1 | 1(60) | 39M† | -13 | 2 | $14,000 |
| 4 | Cannon, 12-lb. | 6dx4 pi++ | 2 | 310/2,400 | 3,750/18 | 1 | 1(60) | 55M† | -15 | 2 | $50,000 |
| 4 | Cannon, 24-lb. | 6dx5 pi++ | 2 | 370/2,700 | 6,900/36 | 1 | 1(70) | 64M† | -16 | 2 | $95,000 |
| 4 | Ship’s Gun, 4-lb. | 6dx3 pi++ | 2 | 270/2,300 | 1,000/7.5 | 1 | 1(60) | 40M† | -12 | 2 | $14,000 |
| 4 | Ship’s Gun, 9-lb. | 6dx4 pi++ | 2 | 310/2,400 | 2,900/16.5 | 1 | 1(60) | 50M† | -14 | 2 | $39,000 |
| 4 | Ship’s Gun, 18-lb. | 7dx4 pi++ | 2 | 340/2,600 | 5,000/28 | 1 | 1(70) | 60M† | -15 | 2 | $65,000 |
| 4 | Ship’s Gun, 42-lb. | 6dx5 pi++ | 2 | 380/2,800 | 7,300/60 | 1 | 1(90) | 75M† | -16 | 4 | $100,000 |
| 4 | Swivel-Gun | 6d+1 pi++ | 1 | 90/900 | 140/2.5 | 1 | 1(20) | 27M† | -8 | 3 | $1,900 |

Notes:

For the type of mount that each cannon requires, and its weight and cost, along with the number of loaders needed (if any), consult the following table:

^ Weapon ^ Mount Type ^ Weight ^ Cost ^ Loaders ^
| Lantaka | Pintle | 13.5 | $270 | – |
| Rabinet | Truck Carriage | 375 | $430 | – |
| Falconet | Truck Carriage | 625 | $500 | – |
| Falcon | Truck Carriage | 850 | $540 | – |
| Saker | Truck Carriage | 1,750 | $650 | 3 |
| Culverin | Truck Carriage | 6,000 | $870 | 6 |
| Cannon | Truck Carriage | 7,500 | $1,000 | 12 |
| Cannon, 3-lb. | Field Carriage | 1,250 | $590 | 1 |
| Cannon, 12-lb. | Field Carriage | 4,700 | $825 | 5 |
| Cannon, 24-lb. | Field Carriage | 8,600 | $960 | 7 |
| Ship’s Gun, 4-lb. | Truck Carriage | 1,250 | $590 | 2 |
| Ship’s Gun, 9-lb. | Truck Carriage | 3,600 | $770 | 4 |
| Ship’s Gun, 18-lb. | Truck Carriage | 6,000 | $890 | 6 |
| Ship’s Gun, 42-lb. | Truck Carriage | 9,000 | $1,200 | 11 |
| Swivel-Gun | Pintle | 65 | $1,300 | – |

==== Personal Firearms ====

The first gunpowder weapons small enough for an individual
soldier to carry date to the Middle Ages. Early designs
didn’t have a proper grip or stock, making them both awkward
to use and inaccurate. The firing mechanism was
equally clumsy. Low-Tech calls such weapons gonnes, and
assigns them their own Guns specialty (see Guns, p. 10).
The standard “lock, stock, and barrel” design appeared
early in TL4; Leonardo da Vinci sketched a musket in his
notebooks in 1500. By the 16th century, standard designs
had been worked out and named, and the best sizes for various
purposes determined. Calibers weren’t standardized,
however; those given here are rough averages.

Musket-and-pike armies dominated TL4 battlefields.
The complex sequence of actions needed to load and fire a
musket, and the need to carry out these motions under fire,
inspired the development of military drill. Late in TL4, the
first bayonets appeared; soldiers armed with firearms no
longer had to depend on pikemen for protection. For more
on this, see Pike and Shot and Bayonet (p. 55).

Pistols were invented as weapons for cavalrymen, and
soon adopted for self-defense. They were seldom dueling
weapons, however. Gentlemen settled their differences
with swords, reserving pistols for situations where honor
wasn’t involved.

==== Firearms Design ====

The early modern era saw rapid innovations in gunsmithing,
affecting all aspects of the gun.

===Locks===
The lock is the mechanism that ignites the powder and
discharges the gun. Locks went through rapid technological
progress involving several fundamentally different designs.
Guns with older and newer styles often existed side by side.

Cannonlock: The oldest design, used throughout the
Middle Ages. It had a simple touchhole, like a cannon’s.
Thrusting a handheld slow match (p. 84) or hot wire into
the touchhole fired the gun.

Matchlock: Developed by 1411 and standard after 1500,
this lock placed the burning match in a mechanical holder
attached to the gun. Pulling a trigger moved the match into
the touchhole. Matchlocks had limitations – they were vulnerable
to rain (see Water and Firearms, below), the smoking
match made them hard to conceal (-4 to Holdout), and the
glow was visible at night – but they were sufficiently easy to
use to become the standard infantry weapons of their era. At
the GM’s option, critical failure on Fast-Draw (Ammo) may
either extinguish the match or set off the powder prematurely,
causing 1 point of burn damage to the user.

Wheellock: This design came into use around 1500. Such
locks were complicated and expensive. A clockwork spring
in the lock turned a serrated steel wheel against a piece of
iron pyrites, striking sparks that set off the powder. Pulling
the trigger released the wheel. Then the gunner had to
rewind the spring with a small lever, the spanner; reload the
gun; and lower the cock, which held the pyrites, onto the firing
pan. A gunman who loses his spanner can improvise
one with a roll against Machinist-2, Armoury (Small
Arms)-4, or IQ-based Guns-6.

Flintlock: Developed in the 1500s and perfected by 1620,
a flintlock has a cock that holds a piece of flint, which is
pulled back against spring tension. Pulling the trigger
releases the spring, which drives the flint against a
steel frizzen, discharging the gun. While found on the
most advanced weapons of TL4, this design didn’t
become standard in military use until TL5. GURPS
uses “flintlock” broadly to include variants such as
the snaphaunce, Miquelet lock, and doglock. A
shooter accustomed to one type of lock is at -2 to use
another variety until he acquires familiarity with it
(see Familiarity, p. B169).

===Stocks and Grips===
A TL3 cannonlock firearm was mounted at the
end of a wooden pole, like a fire-lance (p. 56).
Most illustrations show the pole tucked under the
firer’s arm. It’s difficult to aim such a weapon –
Acc is 1, at best!

By about 1450, gunsmiths adopted the curved
stock to brace firearms against the shoulder. This
gave rise to muskets, rifles, and other long arms.
Long arms were awkward on horseback; cavalrymen
needed a hand free to hold the reins. The pistol
grip – developed sometime before 1520 – made
this possible, and cavalrymen took to carrying pairs
of pistols. Pistol grips were often heavy, enabling pistols to
function as improvised maces after firing.

The flintlock carbine under Muskets (pp. 92-93) has a
peculiar telescoping stock. Folding this removes -1 from
Bulk; gives -1 to Acc and +1 to Rcl (unless Rcl is 1); and
multiplies ST by 1.2 (round up). Adapted to another gun,
this feature would add $100, 0.5 lb.

===Barrels===
The barrels of gonnes were often made of bronze, but
occasionally of wrought iron. The Chinese developed cast
iron comparatively early and sometimes used it in gonnes.


=== Water and Firearms ===

Moisture can extinguish a match or get primer wet, preventing a cannonlock or matchlock from firing. Reduce Malf.
by 4 in light rain; by 8 in heavy rain or blowing spray; or by 12 in a driving gale or heavy surf. If these penalties cause a malfunction when one wouldn’t have occurred otherwise, it’s a misfire, not a stoppage or an explosion (see p. B407). A match cover (p. 96) can partially protect against this.

A wheellock or flintlock has no match to go out; halve the above penalties (2, 4, or 6). Most flintlocks have a plate – the frizzen – that covers the primer when the gun isn’t being fired, halving the penalties again (1, 2, or 3). The early snaplock variant lacks this feature, however.

Loading a gun with loose powder under wet conditions
almost certainly gets the powder wet – the weapon will fire only on a critical success! Powder in paper cartridges or cloth bags isn’t affected.

When Europe developed more sophisticated personal
weapons, some early models had wrought-iron barrels, as
did Japanese firearms inspired by them. The later matchlock
weapons, and wheellock and flintlock firearms, had cast-iron
barrels, which gave better strength for the same weight.

Most barrels were smoothbore. These were favored for
military use because they took less time to reload and could
thus achieve a greater volume of fire. However, balls from
smoothbores come out spinning on a random axis, which
often deflects them from the target. Rifled barrels, which
have spiral grooves that give the ball a controlled spin about
an axis parallel to the barrel, date to the 1500s. Rifled
guns were used in hunting, where accuracy was
more important than reloading speed.

Hunting guns often had two or more barrels, to
give the hunter a second shot if the first one
missed. This was especially important when hunting
dangerous game such as bear or boar.

===Ammunition===

Early firearms were loaded with powder, shot,
and wadding – in that order. Each was put in separately.
Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, seeking
more rapid fire from his troops, adopted paper cartridges
with a premeasured amount of powder; the
soldier could tear open the end, pour in the powder,
and use the paper for wadding, saving time. See
Loading (p. 94-95) for rules and additional information.

At TL3, powder is serpentine powder. At TL4, corned
powder replaces this for small arms; only the arquebus
and the Japanese firearms use serpentine. The standard
material for shot is lead. Gun bores aren’t standardized,
although Low-Tech lists them as if they were; most gun
owners carry equipment for casting their own bullets (see
Bullet-Molding Gear, p. 96). Throughout this period, bullets
are spherical and often called “balls.” An exception
was the Puckle gun (pp. 92-93).

===Early Experiments===
The first small arms were basically miniature cannon.
Period illustrations depict something like vases with arrows
or stones flying out of them. To facilitate shooting – and for
safety if they exploded! – these gonnes were mounted on
wooden poles; see Stocks and Grips (p. 90).

Firing such a cannonlock requires looking at the touchhole
rather than the target. See Locks (p. 90). This means
sacrificing any Acc bonus for aiming and incurring -2 to hit
for divided attention.

Some gonnes had two-man crews: a man to fire the gonne
and a man to hold and aim it, avoiding the -2 and retaining
the Acc bonus. Only the man aiming the weapon needs Guns
skill. The one touching it off rolls against DX (or Guns, if better);
success sets it off instantly, failure means
the shot is delayed by a second, and critical
failure indicates a dropped match or wire.

All of these details make gonnes different enough from later firearms to require their own Guns specialty; see Guns (p. 10).

Gonne (.87 caliber). A miniature cannon,
cast in bronze, mounted on the end
of a wooden pole. The Arabian version is
called a midfa; the Chinese one, a pao
(“eruptor”). It usually fires lead balls, but
some illustrations show gonnes shooting
missiles resembling crossbow bolts.
These firearms come in many sizes; the
model on the table is comparable to the
smallest surviving Chinese examples.
Weapons of this type were commonly carried on Hussite
war wagons (pp. 136, 137).

Mr. Facing-Both-Ways Gonne (.87 caliber). A Chinese
gonne with a barrel at each end of a long pole, which can
be flipped around (a Ready maneuver) for a second shot.
The added weight and bulk make it awkward, but the
greater weight also decreases felt recoil.

Ten-Eyed Gonne (.87 caliber). A Chinese gonne that
goes about as far as possible toward repeated fire. Each
half has touchholes for five charges, which are set off
starting from the far end; when they’re used up, the gun is
flipped around (a Ready maneuver) for the other five
shots. European firearms of similar design are often
called “Roman candle guns.”

===Gonnes Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.

==GUNS (GONNE) (DX-4 or other Guns-4)==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 3 | Gonne | 2d+1 pi++ | 1 | 55/550 | 6.9/0.17 | 1 | 1(30) | 10† | -5 | 4 | $240 | Bullet. |
| | | or 1d imp | 1 | 75/1,200 | 6.9/0.13 | 1 | 1(30) | 9† | – | 3 | – | Bolt. | 
| 3 | Mr. Facing-Both-Ways Gonne | 2d+1 pi++ | 1 | 55/550 | 10.8/0.26 | 1 | 2(30i) | 9† | -6 | 2 | $370 | Bullet. |
| 3 | Ten-Eyed Gonne | 2d pi++ | 1 | 50/510 | 27/1.7 | 1 | 10(30i) | 11† | -7 | 2 | $920 | Bullet. [1] |
| | | then 2d+1 pi++ | 1 | 60/590 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – |
| | | then 2d+2 pi++ | 1 | 65/630 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – |
| | | then 2d+2 pi++ | 1 | 65/650 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – |
| | | then 2d+3 pi++ | 1 | 65/660 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – |

Note:
  * [1] Range and damage increase from the first to the fifth bullet on each end. The five lines show the increase. After one end is fully discharged, start over at the lowest values for the other end. Reloading the inner rounds takes 60 seconds per round rather than 30.

===Blunderbusses and Shotguns===
These weapons fire multiple balls with a diameter
smaller than their caliber. They only become common in
the flintlock era.

Blunderbuss (.62 caliber). A short-barreled shotgun
with a muzzle that widens from back to front; the muzzle
is 1.25 caliber. This doesn’t much affect performance, but
gives +1 to Intimidation against anyone it’s pointed at!
Thanks to the flared barrel, it’s exempt from the usual
Guns-2 roll to reload on a moving vehicle (see Loading,
pp. 94-95). It fires the equivalent of buckshot. Fiction and
cartoons sometimes depict blunderbusses being loaded
with scrap metal and small stones, but this works poorly;
see Variant Ammunition (p. 95) for effects.

Fowling Piece (12 gauge). A very long-barreled shotgun
designed for hunting, customarily loaded with birdshot. It
comes in single- and double-barreled versions.

===Blunderbusses and Shotguns Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.

GUNS (SHOTGUN) (DX-4 or most other Guns-2)
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^
| 4 | Blunderbuss | 1d pi | 2 | 45/810 | 11.2/0.06 | 1x7 | 1(40) | 7† | -6 | 1 | $165 |
| 4 | Fowling Piece, Single | 1d+1(0.5) pi- | 2 | 15/330 | 9.5/0.1 | 1x175 | 1(40) | 7† | -7 | 1 | $135 |
| 4 | Fowling Piece, Double | 1d+1(0.5) pi- | 2 | 15/330 | 17/0.2 | 1x175 | 2(40i) | 8† | -8 | 1 | $170 |

====Muskets====
Long arms of several sizes are the basis of “pike and
shot” warfare at TL4. For most of the period, these are
matchlocks; toward its end, the flintlock-based fusil enters
use. Military weapons at TL4 are mostly smoothbores –
both because they allow more rapid fire (see Loading,
pp. 94-95) and because they cost much less than rifles.
Military training emphasizes rapid reloading and standing
one’s ground under fire over marksmanship. Elite
troops know Fast-Draw (Ammo).

===Matchlocks===
Arquebus (.60 caliber). The original long arm; the name
derives from hackbusch, or “hook-barrel,” and probably
refers to the downward-curved stock. Guns of this type
came into use in Europe shortly after 1500 and in China
under the Ming Dynasty, which used them to complete the
expulsion of the Mongols. Arquebuses use serpentine powder,
not corned powder.

Caliver (.59 caliber). A lighter, handier musket,
designed for use by ordinary soldiers without the strength
to serve as musketeers.

Musket (.80 caliber). A larger smoothbore with a very long
barrel, too heavy to hold level unaided. A musketeer requires
a musket rest (p. 96) to use his weapon effectively; see ST
(Strength) (p. B270). Musketeers need to be large, strong men
to manage these high-powered weapons. The name “musket”
came to be used for smoothbore long arms in general.

Teppo (.47 caliber). A Japanese arquebus first made in
1543 on the island of Taneshigama, in imitation of a
Portuguese original. Sizes vary, but this is the standard
model issued to the shogun’s armies: 53.5” long, with a
forged iron barrel. Matchlocks remained in use in Japan
long after Europe moved on to flintlocks and caplocks
(TL5). The teppo uses serpentine powder.

Winged Tiger Gun (.55 caliber). A short-barreled Chinese
weapon, designed for use by cavalrymen. It’s too awkward
to reload on horseback. To allow multiple shots, it has three
loaded barrels that can be fired separately.

===Wheellocks===
Carbine (.69 caliber). A musket-like weapon designed for
cavalrymen who want more than a pistol. It has a short barrel
and weighs much less than a musket or caliver.

Wall Gun (1.06 caliber). A smoothbore weapon even
heavier than a musket, placed on a tripod mount atop a city
wall for use in defensive fire. Some tripods have small
wheels for improved mobility, but this isn’t enough to make
wall guns useful field weapons. The wall gun is normally
fired with a wheellock – but for $25 more, it can also have
a matchlock, for backup if the wheellock breaks down.

===Flintlocks===
Flintlock Carbine (.62 caliber). A carbine developed in
England around 1690, with a telescoping stock. Collapsing
this allows use as a handgun rather than as a shoulder arm.
With stock collapsed: Acc 2, ST 10, Bulk -3, Rcl 5.

Fusil. The fusil is similar to a caliver, but with a flintlock
rather than a matchlock. The fusil de chasse (.55 caliber) is
widely used by hunters, avoiding the inconvenience of
keeping a match lit in the wilderness; it becomes available
around 1630. The fusil fin is similar, but custom-made for
noblemen seeking a superior gun; treat it as fine (accurate),
for +0.75CF. The heavier military model, or fusil ordinaire
(.64 caliber), is initially used where a burning match would
be inconvenient or dangerous; a French regiment sent to
Canada in 1660 to fight the Iroquois was the first general
military force to carry it. The fusil grenadier resembles this,
but comes with a sling (p. 96). An even heavier variant, the
buccaneer fusil, is favored for shipboard use: Dmg 3d+1
pi++, Wt. 7.5/0.065, ST 10†, Bulk -11.

Puckle Gun (1.25 caliber). One of the early 18th century’s
more eccentric weapons, the Defence Gun is commonly
named for its inventor, James Puckle. It’s a tripod-mounted
weapon, like the wall gun, but with a flintlock. To boost its
rate of fire, it has a cylinder that holds nine rounds of
ammunition, turned with a hand crank between shots to
line up unfired rounds with the firing mechanism.
Normally, several cylinders are readied ahead of time.

Swapping in a new, loaded cylinder for an old one takes 15 seconds. It came in two versions: one intended for use against Christians, which fired standard balls, and one intended for use against Turks, which fired square bullets!


===Muskets Table===
==GUNS (MUSKET) (DX-4 or most other Guns-2)==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^ Notes ^
| 4 | Arquebus | 2d+2 pi+ | 2 | 65/660 | 10/0.05 | 1 | 1(60) | 9† | -6 | 2 | $150 |
| 4 | Caliver | 3d+1 pi+ | 2 | 85/870 | 6.6/0.07 | 1 | 1(60) | 9† | -5 | 4 | $135 |
| 4 | Carbine | 3d pi++ | 2 | 80/800 | 6.5/0.08 | 1 | 1(40) | 9† | -4 | 4 | $290 |
| 4 | Flintlock Carbine | 2d+2 pi++ | 3 | 65/670 | 3.9/0.06 | 1 | 1(40) | 8† | -4 | 4 | $245 |
| 4 | Fusil de Chasse | 2d+2 pi+ | 2 | 75/750 | 6.5/0.04 | 1 | 1(40) | 9† | -5 | 3 | $145 |
| 4 | Fusil Ordinaire | 3d pi++ | 1 | 75/750 | 6.5/0.065 | 1 | 1(40) | 9† | -5 | 4 | $150 |
| 4 | Musket | 4d+2 pi++ | 2 | 120/1,200 | 21/0.15 | 1 | 1(60) | 12R† | -7 | 4 | $175 |
| 4 | Puckle Gun | 2d+1 pi++ | 1 | 55/510 | 90/3.6 | 1 | 9(10i) | 18M† | -8 | 1 | $1,800 | [1, 2] |
| 4 | Teppo | 1d+2 pi+ | 2 | 45/500 | 8.6/0.025 | 1 | 1(60) | 8† | -5 | 2 | $170 |
| 4 | Wall Gun | 5d+1 pi++ | 2 | 120/1,200 | 27.5/0.3 | 1 | 1(40) | 13M† | -7 | 3 | $425 | [1] |
| 4 | Winged Tiger Gun | 2d-1 pi+ | 2 | 45/470 | 6.5/0.135 | 1 | 3(60i) | 8† | -5 | 2 | $220 |

Notes:
  * [1] Normally used with a tripod mount. For Puckle gun: $380, 20 lbs. For wall gun: $260, 7.5 lbs.
  * [2] Spare cylinder (empty): $200, 10 lbs.

====Pistols====
Pistols were developed as horsemen’s weapons, designed
to be aimed and fired one-handed while the other hand held
the reins (they were no easier to reload on horseback; see
Loading, pp. 94-95). They were initially carried with their
butts hung from the pommel, and later in holsters (p. 96).
Smaller models for other uses soon appeared – including belt
pistols for self-defense, and concealable pocket pistols.
===Matchlocks===
Tantsutsu (.70 caliber). A Japanese firearm similar to the
teppo (p. 92), designed for use by horsemen and reserved to
nobles wealthy enough to afford a horse. Tantsutsu are made
as presentation weapons; see Styling (p. 14). The example on
the Pistols Table (p. 94) has +4 CF. The tantsutsu uses serpentine
powder.
===Wheellocks===
Military Pistol (.55 caliber). A large, heavy pistol for cavalrymen.
At least two are carried into battle, allowing more
than one shot without struggling to reload on horseback.
Petronel (.60 caliber). A 16th-century cavalry weapon
with a pistol-like grip, used with the grip resting against the
breastplate of a cuirass, and often held two-handed. The
barrel is 40” long, comparable to that of a carbine; reloading
takes a correspondingly long time.

Pocket Pistol (.33 caliber). A small pistol with a very short
barrel – just over 4” long – designed to be concealed under
clothing. Fear of assassination attempts often leads to legal
restrictions on such concealable weapons.

Puffer Pistol (.53 caliber). A lighter pistol than the military
pistol, with a slightly smaller bore and a significantly
shorter barrel, which can be thrust under a belt. The
“puffer” design has a distinctive enlarged bulb at the end of
the butt, giving +1 to Fast-Draw (Pistol). Also called a dag
in the British Isles.

===Flintlocks===
Dragoon Pistols. Cavalrymen’s weapons of the early 18th
century. The light model is .56 caliber and has a 9” barrel.
The heavy one is .65 caliber and has a 12” barrel.

Duck’s Foot Pistol (.40 caliber). Developed in 1720 for
crowd control, this bizarre handgun has four barrels
spreading out from a single lock that fires them all at once.
At up to 2 yards, it acts as a RoF 1x4 weapon that can
engage one target. At 3+ yards, it works like four RoF 1
guns! Pick a 30° arc (as for Spraying Fire, p. B409) and
attack one foe there with one shot; he need not be in the
center. Then use Hitting the Wrong Target (p. B389) for
everyone else in the arc. Roll in order from right to left or
vice versa – your option. If you somehow manage to hit
four targets total, immediately stop rolling.

Highland Pistol (.52 caliber). This weapon comes into use
very late in TL4. Its 8” barrel makes it a convenient belt pistol.
Unusually for the era, it’s made entirely of steel.

Queen Anne Pistol (.50 caliber). A distinctive pistol
design of the reign of England’s Queen Anne (1702-1714),
much favored by pirates. The 8” barrel is “brass” (meaning
cast bronze), and screws into the combined lock and grip.
To reload, the barrel must be unscrewed, but this allows use
of bullets with minimal windage, improving accuracy.

Snaphaunce Pistol (.45 caliber). An early variant on the
flintlock pistol, available from 1600, with a comparatively
long 11” barrel.

===Pistols Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.

==GUNS (PISTOL) (DX-4 or most other Guns-2)==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^
| 4 | Dragoon Pistol, Heavy | 2d pi+ | 1 | 55/540 | 3.1/0.06 | 1 | 1(20) | 10 | -4 | 3 | $145 |
| 4 | Dragoon Pistol, Light | 2d-1 pi+ | 1 | 45/490 | 3/0.04 | 1 | 1(20) | 9 | -4 | 2 | $140 |
| 4 | Duck’s Foot Pistol | 1d+1 pi | 1 | 40/420 | 1.9/0.06 | spec. | 1(20i) | 7 | -3 | 1 | $150 |
| 4 | Highland Pistol | 1d+2 pi+ | 1 | 45/500 | 2.75/0.03 | 1 | 1(20) | 9 | -3 | 2 | $135 |
| 4 | Military Pistol | 2d-1 pi+ | 1 | 50/500 | 2.75/0.04 | 1 | 1(20) | 10 | -4 | 3 | $250 |
| 4 | Petronel | 2d+2 pi+ | 2 | 60/630 | 7.75/0.04 | 1 | 1(40) | 11 | -7 | 3 | $280 |
| 4 | Pocket Pistol | 1d pi | 1 | 25/300 | 0.7/0.008 | 1 | 1(20) | 6 | -1 | 2 | $190 |
| 4 | Puffer Pistol | 2d-1 pi+ | 1 | 50/550 | 2/0.035 | 1 | 1(20) | 9 | -3 | 3 | $260 |
| 4 | Queen Anne Pistol | 1d+2 pi+ | 2 | 45/490 | 2.4/0.03 | 1 | 1(60) | 9 | -3 | 2 | $135 |
| 4 | Snaphaunce Pistol | 1d+1 pi | 1 | 40/420 | 1.3/0.01 | 1 | 1(20) | 7 | -2 | 2 | $125 |
| 4 | Tantsutsu | 1d+2 pi++ | 1 | 40/400 | 4.5/0.06 | 1 | 1(45) | 11 | -5 | 3 | $610 |

====Rifles====
The rifle was originally a hunter’s weapon.
Later, armies put rifles to use for hunting enemy
soldiers. Ordinary troops, armed with muskets,
often resented the sharpshooters who could pick
them off from afar...

===Wheellocks===
Breechloading Carbine (.54 caliber). Based on
an early carbine made for Henry VIII. The rifled
barrel is short but the construction is substantial.

Jäger Rifle (.65 caliber). Used initially by
German hunters and later adopted by the aristocrats
they guided. Available in single- and double-barreled
versions.

===Rifles Table===
Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.

==GUNS (RIFLE) (DX-4 or most other Guns-2)==
^ TL ^ Weapon ^ Damage ^ Acc ^ Range ^ Weight ^ RoF ^ Shots ^ ST ^ Bulk ^ Rcl ^ Cost ^
| 4 | Breechloading Carbine | 2d pi+ | 3 | 55/570 | 9.3/0.04 | 1 | 1(10) | 9† | -5 | 2 | $270 |
| 4 | Jäger Rifle | 3d+1 pi+ | 3 | 65/650 | 11/0.06 | 1 | 1(60) | 10† | -6 | 3 | $300 |
| 4 | Jäger Rifle, Double-Barreled | 3d+1 pi+ | 3 | 65/650 | 20/0.12 | 1 | 2(60i) | 10† | -7 | 2 | $500 |

==== Using Firearms ====

There’s more to shooting than aiming and pulling the
trigger! You have to load the gun beforehand – and you
must clean it afterward, if you want to go on shooting with
any accuracy. In between, you need to handle it with care.

===Loading===
At TL3-4, ammunition has three components: powder,
shot, and wadding. Loading multi-part ammo is an
involved process. The shooter must pour in the propellant,
usually through the muzzle; insert and ram down the
projectile, followed by the wadding; add powder to the
priming pan; and then ready the action. The number of
Ready maneuvers (seconds) required varies by weapon
type, but some general rules apply:

  * Using powder in small, pre-measured flasks subtracts 5 seconds from final loose-ammunition loading time.
  * Paper cartridges halve the basic time required (round up), and supersede using pre-measured flasks.
  * Loading a muzzleloading shoulder arm – not a pistol – in any posture other than standing multiplies the basic time required by 1.5 (round up). Loading any gun while mounted requires a roll against the lower of Guns-3 and Riding-3; see Mounted Reload (p. 12). Loading on a moving vehicle, or as a passenger in a howdah (p. 135), requires a Guns-2 roll.
  * Loading a weapon with multiple barrels takes the indicated time for each barrel loaded.

Muzzleloading gonne with cannonlock action: 30 seconds. For “Roman candle”-style gonnes, double time for all shots but the outermost. Fast-Draw (Ammo) doesn’t apply.

Muzzleloading musket or shotgun with matchlock action: 60 seconds. A successful Fast-Draw (Ammo) roll reduces this to 50.

Muzzleloading musket or shotgun with wheellock or flintlock action: 40 seconds. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 30.

Muzzleloading pistol with matchlock action: 45 seconds. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 36. 

Muzzleloading pistol with wheellock or flintlock action: 20 seconds. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 16.

Muzzleloading rifle with matchlock action: 90 seconds. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 80.

Muzzleloading rifle with wheellock or flintlock action: 60 seconds. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 50.

Breechloading musket, shotgun, or rifle with matchlock, wheellock, or flintlock action: 10 seconds, regardless of position. Fast-Draw (Ammo) reduces this to 8.

===Handling===
In a realistic campaign, a firearm should always be considered
loaded. Those who run around with a finger on the
trigger, try to climb rigging with a pistol in hand, drop a
loaded weapon as a “free action,” and so on are inviting
accidental discharge. If somebody with a gun in hand
attempts to do anything but shoot – e.g., ride a horse or
climb – the GM may rule that a failed DX or skill roll means
an accidental discharge, a malfunction (p. B407), or even a
broken firearm... especially if the gunman suffers from
Unluckiness or Cursed! A weapon may also discharge accidentally
if hastily shoved into a belt or pocket. An accidental
discharge may hit the holder of the gun or somebody
else (see Hitting the Wrong Target, p. B389), or at least draw
attention at a possibly inconvenient time.

===Special Shooting Situations===
Certain environments pose special challenges to shooters.

==Firing into Water==
Shooting at an underwater target is difficult – as may be
seeing the target in the first place. The projectile will be
deflected considerably at some entry angles. All shots going
into the water are at -4 to hit. As well, the water slows down
the round; multiply the underwater distance to the target
by 1,000 to check if it’s in range.

==Firing into the Air==
Firing any firearm (from small arms to artillery)
into the air at an elevation of 50°-90° reduces its
range to 80% normal.

===Cleaning and Maintenance===
Black powder produces a solid residue. In a long
fight, carbon and lead buildup can have adverse
effects on accuracy, loading speed, and reliability.
After every five shots, the firer must take a two-minute
break to clean his gun thoroughly. Any kind
of watery liquid, including urine, will do. Saliva
works well – shooters commonly hold a patch in
their mouth until it’s saturated. For every five shots
without cleaning, increase basic loading time by
10% (round up) and reduce Malf. by one step. For
every 10 shots without cleaning, lower Acc by 1, too.

Battlefield swabbing can’t remove all the fouling.
Black powder is corrosive and attracts moisture.
Cleaning and oiling the gun is a necessary after-battle
chore. Disassembling the lock, cleaning it, reassembling
it, and swabbing the barrel takes about an hour.
Firearms that haven’t been cleaned keep the accumulated
penalties from previously fired shots. The GM
may assess further penalties if an uncleaned or
loaded weapon is kept in a damp environment.
A gun-cleaning kit (p. 96) is basic equipment for
the above tasks.

=== Variant Ammunition ===

Most multi-part ammunition can be given an extra-powerful propellant charge to eke out higher damage and better range. Make an Armoury (Small Arms) roll or an IQ-based Guns roll at -2 to stay within your weapon’s safe limits. Multiply Dmg, Range, and ST by 1.1. Multiply cost per shot by 1.5. If you exceed safe limits – through failure or deliberately – the weapon has -2 to Malf. If this penalty cause a malfunction when one wouldn’t have occurred otherwise, it’s always an explosion (see p. B407).

If you resort to field-expedient projectiles such as stones or coins, apply -1 to Acc and halve Dmg and Range. Such ammo gives -2 to Malf., too – it’s likely to damage the barrel!

=== Careful Loading ===

Taking time to load carefully has a marked effect on muzzleloader accuracy. Smoothbores in particular are more accurate when firing a well-fitted, tightly patched ball from a clean barrel. A perfectly smooth ram of the load and/or an exactly measured quantity of priming can affect the likelihood of the gun firing and scoring a hit. One reason that low-tech military commanders like to save the first volley
for as long as possible is that it’s the one that’s most carefully loaded. Doubling loading time for a muzzleloading musket or rifle gives +1 to Acc.

==== FIREARM QUALITY ====
Improvements to firearm quality typically affect
either accuracy or reliability. These options can be combined.
It’s also possible to add Styling (p. 14) – alone or with
other improvements – to create “presentation” weapons.
These rules expand on the standard examples on p. B280
(which are both “accurate” and “reliable”).

Fine (Accurate). The shooter’s quest for accuracy commonly
lands guns on the gunsmith’s bench. By improving the
fit of individual parts and installing custom-made triggers,
grips, etc., a gunsmith can improve quality to fine (accurate).

This only benefits weapons with a base Acc of at least 2, and
gives +1 Acc. The necessary modifications require an
Armoury (Small Arms) roll and five hours’ work. CF is +0.75.

Fine (Reliable). By installing better springs, custom-fitting
all components, etc., a gunsmith can improve quality
to fine (reliable). This increases Malf. (p. B407) by a step;
e.g., from 14 to 15. The modifications require an Armoury
(Small Arms) roll and two hours’ work. CF is +0.25.

Very Fine (Reliable). Further work can improve Malf. by
two steps. This is exceedingly rare except on the best target
and sporting weapons available. The modifications
require an Armoury (Small Arms) roll and 10 hours’ work.
CF is an additional +1 over that for fine (reliable) – that is,
a total CF of +1.25.

==== EARLY FIREARM ACCESSORIES ====

At TL4, ingenious armorers start to produce handy
gadgets for users of small arms and artillery.

=== Bandolier (TL4) ===

A leather strap, worn over one shoulder and crossing to the opposite side of the torso, that holds the essential supplies for using a firearm: a dozen flasks for powder charges, a flask of priming powder, a small oilcan, a bullet pouch, a
pouch of cleaning patches, and for matchlocks, a yard of slow match. Takes one second (a Ready maneuver) to don or remove. $50, 5 lbs.

=== Belt Hook (TL4) ===

Belt pistols, especially aboard ship, may have a metal
hook attached to the side to prevent their slipping through a sash or belt. $10, 0.25 lb.

=== Bullet-Molding Gear (TL4) ===

Gun calibers aren’t standardized, and balls can’t be
mass-produced. Gun owners need equipment for casting
their own balls: an iron or bronze crucible for melting lead, tongs for handling it, and a set of bullet molds. The latter resemble a large pair of needle-nose pliers with several round hollows of the proper size; they can be closed,
clamped shut, and then opened when the balls have cooled. A campfire produces enough heat to melt lead; casting half a dozen balls takes 4 minutes. Armies carry lead ingots with them; if this runs out, a Scrounging roll can locate lead in any TL2+ town. $50, 2 lbs.

=== Gun-Cleaning Kit (TL4) ===

Anyone who uses a firearm professionally needs equipment to clean it. This includes nipple key, vent pricker, oil bottle, screwdriver, double-pronged worm for cleaning, and tools for extracting jammed bullets. $20, 0.5 lb.

=== Holsters (TL4) ===

At TL4, holsters are horse furniture, designed to hang
from a saddle. They’re sold in pairs, one for each side of the
horse, so that the rider can have two pistols available. Pair:
$125, 5 lbs.

=== Match Cover (TL4) ===

This detachable cover fits over the lock of a matchlock gun, keeping the rain off. It was invented in Japan, which experienced frequent rainstorms. A secondary benefit is that it conceals the glowing match, keeping it from revealing the arquebusier’s location at night. $10, 0.5 lb.

=== Musket Rest (TL4) ===

A pole with a forked upper end designed to be driven
into the ground so that it can support the barrel; see ST
(Strength), p. B270. $10, 2 lbs.

=== Shooting Stick (TL4) ===

A prop for a long arm, made from crossed sticks
strapped together with cord or leather. A sitting marksman
may treat a gun supported by shooting sticks as braced (see
Aim, p. B364). $5, 1 lb.

=== Sling (TL4) ===

A sling is standard with the fusil grenadier (see Muskets, pp. 92-93), but other long arms can be adapted to use one. It allows the gunman to use two hands while keeping his shoulder arm close. Unslinging or slinging a long arm takes two Ready maneuvers – or three, if the slung position is
across the back. For unslinging, a successful Fast-Draw (Long Arm) roll reduces these times by a second. A sling also lets a shooter brace even when he has nothing to prop his gun on, giving an extra +1 when aiming; see Aim (p. B364). Bracing with a sling is a two-handed task that takes one Ready maneuver per -1 Bulk; e.g., five seconds at Bulk -5. Leaving this position, thereby freeing the hands,
requires a Ready maneuver. $10, 1 lb.