Firearm Descriptions
There are two general categories of firearms: early and advanced.
Firearms are further divided into one-handed, two-handed, and siege firearms. As the category's name implies, one-handed firearms need only one hand to wield and shoot. Two-handed firearms work best when you use two-hands while shooting them. Two-handed firearms can be shot with one hand at a –4 penalty on the attack roll. Siege weapons are typically mounted on some sort of platform, movable or otherwise, and have greater power but a much slower rate of fire—they're detailed in their own section.
Scatter Weapon Quality
A weapon with the scatter weapon quality can shoot two different types of ammunition. It can fire normal bullets that target one creature, or it can make a scattering shot, attacking all creatures within a cone. Cannons with the scatter weapon quality only fire grapeshot, unless their descriptions state otherwise. When a scatter weapon attacks all creatures within a cone, it makes a separate attack roll against each creature within the cone. Each attack roll takes a –2 penalty, and its attack damage cannot be modified by precision damage or damage-increasing feats such as Vital Strike. Effects that grant concealment, such as fog or smoke, or the blur, invisibility, or mirror image spells, do not foil a scatter attack. If any of the attack rolls threaten a critical, confirm the critical for that attack roll alone. A firearm that makes a scatter shot misfires only if all of the attack rolls made misfire. If a scatter weapon explodes on a misfire, it deals triple its damage to all creatures within the misfire radius.
Early Firearms
Early firearms are typically matchlock, wheellock, or flintlock weapons, and require more finesse and care to use than advanced firearms. Early firearms are muzzle-loaded, requiring a bullet and powder (or other special alchemical substances) to be shoved down the barrel before the weapon is fired. Early firearm ammunition can be loaded from a cartridge, but that cartridge is made of soft material (like paper or cloth) that is torn open so that the contents may be shoved down the barrel.
Table: Early Firearms
| Firearm | Cost | Dmg (S) | Dmg (M) | Critical | Range | Misfire | Capacity | Weight1 | Type2 | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Handed Firearms | ||||||||||
| Buckler gun | 750 gp | 1d4 | 1d6 | ×4 | 10 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 2 | 6 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Pepperbox | 3,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 20 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 6 | 5 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Pistol | 1,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 20 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 1 | 4 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Pistol, coat | 750 gp | 1d3 | 1d4 | ×3 | 10 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 1 | 1 lb. | B and P | — |
| Pistol, dagger | 740 gp | 1d3 | 1d4 | ×3 | 10 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 1 | 1 lb. | B and P | — |
| Pistol, double-barreled | 1,750 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 20 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 2 | 5 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Pistol, dragon | 1,000 gp | 1d4 | 1d6 | ×4 | 20 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 1 | 3 lbs. | B and P | scatter |
| Pistol, sword cane | 775 gp | 1d3 | 1d4 | ×3 | 10 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 1 | 1 lb. | B and P | — |
| Two-Handed Firearms | ||||||||||
| Blunderbuss | 2,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×2 | special | 1–2 (10 ft.) | 1 | 8 lbs. | B and P | scatter |
| Culverin | 4,000 gp | 2d6 | 2d8 | ×4 | 30 ft. | 1 (10 ft.) | 1 | 40 lbs. | B and P | scatter |
| Double hackbut | 4,000 gp | 2d10 | 2d12 | ×4 | 50 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 2 | 18 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Fire lance | 25 gp | 1d4 | 1d6 | ×4 | 10 ft. | 1–4 (5 ft.) | 1 | 4 lbs. | P | — |
| Musket | 1,500 gp | 1d10 | 1d12 | ×4 | 40 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 1 | 9 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Musket, axe | 1,600 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 30 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 1 | 6 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Musket, double-barreled | 2,500 gp | 1d10 | 1d12 | ×4 | 40 ft. | 1–3 (5 ft.) | 2 | 11 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Musket, warhammer | 1,600 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 30 ft. | 1–2 (5 ft.) | 1 | 6 lbs. | B and P | — |
| 1 Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weights twice as much.2 A weapon with two types is either type (wielder's choice) if the entry specifies "or." | ||||||||||
CLl:
Price: 2,000 gp
Weight: 8 lbs.
This weapon fires pellets or a bullet from its trumpet-shaped barrel, making it an effective fowling weapon or close-fighting personal defense weapon. The blunderbuss fires in a 15-foot cone when firing pellets, and has a 10-foot range increment when firing a bullet. A blunderbuss uses a bullet or pellets and a single dose of black powder or a single alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 750 gp
Weight: 6 lbs.
The front of this buckler is fitted with a small, double-barreled gun that can be shot while wearing the buckler. Unlike with a double-barreled pistol, you can only shoot one barrel at a time. You must remove the buckler to reload the gun. Each barrel of a buckler gun uses a bullet and 1 dose of black powder or single alchemical cartridge as ammunition. Because of its awkward construction, a buckler gun is always considered an off-handed weapon.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 4,000 gp
Weight: 40 lbs.
The culverin, also known as a hand bombard, consists of a simple smoothbore tube, sealed at one end except for a small hole used to ignite a gunpowder charge. A wooden stock partially encases the barrel, allowing the wielder to hold it under his arm with relative ease when carrying it. Firing a culverin without support (such as a wall, a window, or a stand) imparts a –4 penalty on the attack rolls, and the wielder is knocked prone. A culverin uses 4 doses of black powder and grapeshot. Note that these statistics simulate only the original, hand-held culverins—their larger descendants are considered cannons and are dealt with in the section on siege weapons.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 4,000 gp
Weight: 18 lbs.
This double-length rifle uses a pair of trunnions to mount its barrel into a swiveling mechanism fastened to a lightweight, two-wheeled carriage. It takes a full-round action to set up the carriage. The carriage has a hind leg, allowing the wielder to wheel the device about and immediately prop it for stability during combat. Unlike other two-handed firearms, you must fire the double hackbut while it is mounted, or else firing it imparts a –4 penalty on attack rolls and the recoil knocks the wielder prone. A Large or larger creature can fire a double hackbut one size smaller than it is without its mounting as a normal two-handed weapon and without the danger of being knocked prone, but takes the normal penalty for firing an inappropriately sized weapon.
Fire Lance
Aura:CLl:
Price: 25 gp
Weight: 4 lbs.
This primitive firearm is nothing more than a long tube that, when ignited, propels a short gout of flame and a javelin. Unlike other firearms, the fire lance is wildly imprecise, and targets AC rather than touch AC. A fire lance is always treated as having the broken condition for the purpose of determining the effects of a misfire. A fire lances uses a javelin and 2 doses of black powder as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,500 gp
Weight: 9 lbs.
This long-barreled firearm has a much greater range than a pistol. A musket uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as its ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,600 gp
Weight: 6 lbs.
This musket features an axe blade at the end of its barrel. It can be used as both a musket and a battleaxe. It is considered a double weapon for purposes of creating masterwork or magical versions of this weapon. If this firearm gains the broken condition, both the firearm component and the axe are considered broken. An axe musket uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 2,500 gp
Weight: 11 lbs.
This musket has two parallel barrels; each barrel can be shot independently as separate attacks, or both can be fired at once as a standard action (the attack action). If both barrels are fired at once, they must both target the same creature or object, and the gun becomes wildly inaccurate, taking a –4 penalty on each shot. Each barrel of a double-barreled musket uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,600 gp
Weight: 6 lbs.
This musket has a warhammer head at the end of its barrel, which allows it to be used as both a musket and a warhammer. It is considered a double weapon for purposes of creating masterwork or magical versions of this weapon. If this firearm gains the broken condition, both the firearm component and the warhammer are considered broken. A warhammer musket uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 3,000 gp
Weight: 5 lbs.
This pistol has six barrels instead of one. The entire barrel housing can be quickly rotated by hand between shots (a free action requiring one free hand), allowing all six bullets to be fired before the weapon must be reloaded. Each barrel of a pepperbox uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or a single alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,000 gp
Weight: 4 lbs.
The single-shot pistol is one of the most common firearms, although in most campaigns it is still rare enough to be an object of envy or curiosity to most. A pistol uses either a bullet and a singe dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 750 gp
Weight: 1 lb.
Less powerful than other firearms, this pistol is small enough to be easily concealed in a jacket or coat. You get a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal a coat pistol on your body. A coat pistol uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 740 gp
Weight: 1 lb.
A combination of a coat pistol and a blade, the dagger pistol can be used as both weapons. The awkwardness of the configuration means you do not gain the bonus on Sleight of Hand checks that either of those stand-alone weapons grants. The dagger pistol is considered a double weapon for the purpose of creating masterwork or magical versions of this weapon. If this firearm gains the broken condition, both the firearm component and the dagger component are considered broken. A dagger pistol uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,750 gp
Weight: 5 lbs.
This pistol has two parallel barrels; each barrel can be fired independently as a separate action, or both can be shot at once with the same action. If both barrels are shot at once, they must both target the same creature or object, and the pistol becomes wildly inaccurate, imparting a –4 penalty on each shot.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,000 gp
Weight: 3 lbs.
Like a miniature blunderbuss, the dragon pistol fires pellets or a bullet from its flared barrel. The dragon pistol fires in a 15-foot cone when firing pellets, and has a 10-foot range increment when firing a bullet. For ammunition, a dragon pistol uses a bullet or group of pellets and a single dose of black powder, or else a single alchemical cartridge (with either bullets or pellets) as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 775 gp
Weight: 1 lb.
A combination weapon, this gun mixes a coat pistol with a sword cane (Advanced Player's Guide 179). The sword cane pistol is considered a double weapon for the purpose of creating masterwork or magical versions of this weapon. The pistol attachment makes the nature of the weapon a little more difficult to hide. An observer must make a DC 15 Perception check to realize that an undrawn sword cane pistol is a weapon rather than a walking stick; the DC decreases to 5 if the observer is able to handle the weapon. A sword cane pistol uses either a bullet and a single dose of black powder or an alchemical cartridge as ammunition. The sword part of the weapon must be drawn in order to load the pistol part of the weapon.
Advanced Firearms
Advanced firearms are more reliable and accurate than early firearms. The ammunition of an advanced firearm takes the form of metal (usually brass) cartridges that are loaded into a chamber rather than shoved down the muzzle.
Table: Advanced Firearms
| Firearm | Cost | Dmg (S) | Dmg (M) | Critical | Range | Misfire | Capacity | Weight1 | Type2 | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Handed Firearms | ||||||||||
| Revolver | 4,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×4 | 20 ft. | 1 | 6 | 4 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Two-Handed Firearms | ||||||||||
| Rifle | 5,000 gp | 1d8 | 1d10 | ×4 | 80 ft. | 1 | 1 | 12 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Rifle, pepperbox | 7,000 gp | 1d8 | 1d10 | ×4 | 80 ft. | 1–2 | 4 | 15 lbs. | B and P | — |
| Shotgun | 5,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×2 | 20 ft. | 1–2 | 1 | 12 lbs. | B and P | scatter |
| Shotgun, double-barreled | 7,000 gp | 1d6 | 1d8 | ×2 | 20 ft. | 1–2 | 2 | 15 lbs. | B and P | scatter |
| 1 Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weighs twice as much.2 A weapon with two types is both types if the entry specifies "and." | ||||||||||
CLl:
Price: 4,000 gp
Weight: 4 lbs.
A revolver is a pistol with a revolving cylinder containing six chambers. Each chamber can hold a metal cartridge, and when one cartridge is shot, the cylinder automatically rotates (no extra hand or action required), readying the next chamber for firing. A revolver uses metal cartridges as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 5,000 gp
Weight: 12 lbs.
This improvement on the musket, featuring grooved barrels, can fire farther and with more accuracy than early long-bore firearms. A rifle uses metal cartridges as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 7,000 gp
Weight: 15 lbs.
The four barrels of this rifle are set into a turnable housing that can be quickly rotated by hand (a free action) between shots. A pepperbox rifle uses metal cartridges as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 5,000 gp
Weight: 12 lbs.
This advanced version of the blunderbuss shoots in a 30-foot cone when firing pellets, and has a 20-foot range increment when firing a bullet (often called a slug). A shotgun uses metal cartridges (loaded with either a bullet or pellets) as ammunition.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 7,000 gp
Weight: 15 lbs.
This twin-barreled shotgun can be shot either one barrel at a time, or both together as one attack. A double shot that fires bullets is inaccurate, and takes a –4 penalty on both attacks. A double shot that fires bullets targets only a single creature and increases the damage of each barrel to 2d6 points (Small) or 2d8 points (Medium) for a total of 4d6 or 4d8 points. A double-barreled shotgun uses metal cartridges (loaded with either a bullet or pellets) as ammunition.
Firearm Ammunition and Adventuring Gear
Those who wield guns have a number of options when it comes to loading their weapons, and often need gunsmith's kits to provide proper care and upkeep for their firearms.
Table: Firearm Gear
| Item | Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemical cartridge, dragon's breath | 40 gp | — |
| Alchemical cartridge, entangling shot | 40 gp | — |
| Alchemical cartridge, flare | 10 gp | — |
| Alchemical cartridge, paper, bullet or pellet | 12 gp | — |
| Alchemical cartridge, salt shot | 12 gp | — |
| Black powder, dose | 10 gp | — |
| Black powder, keg | 1,000 gp | 5 lbs. |
| Firearm bullet, 1 | 1 gp | — |
| Firearm bullet, 30 | 30 gp | 1/2 lb. |
| Bullet, adamantine | 61 gp | — |
| Firearm bullet, pitted | 5 gp1 | — |
| Firearm bullet, silver | 25 gp | — |
| Gunsmith's kit | 15 gp | 2 lb. |
| Metal cartridge | 15 gp | — |
| Pellets, handful | 1 gp | — |
| Pellets, 30 handfuls | 30 gp | 1/2 lb. |
| Powder horn | 3 gp | 1 lb. |
| 1 Does not include the cost of poison compound. | ||
CLl:
Price:
Weight:
An alchemical cartridge is a prepared bundle of black powder with a bullet or pellets, sometimes with more exotic material added, which is then wrapped in paper or cloth and sealed with beeswax, lard, or tallow. There are many types of alchemical cartridges, the simplest being the paper cartridge—a simple mix of black powder and either pellets or a bullet. Alchemical cartridges make loading a firearm easier, reducing the time to load a firearm by one step (a full-round action becomes a standard action, a standard action becomes a move action, and a move action becomes a free action), but they tend to be unstable. The misfire value of a weapon firing an alchemical cartridge increases as listed in each entry.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
This cartridge contains alchemical compounds that, when fired, produce a cone of fire instead of the normal attack of a one-handed or two-handed firearm with the scatter weapon quality. The nonmagical flame deals 2d6 points of fire damage to all targets within the cone of the scatter firearm (DC 15 Reflex save for half). These cartridges cannot be used in firearms that don't have the scatter weapon quality. Because this ammunition forces a saving throw instead of making an attack roll, the misfire rules are slightly different. If you roll a 1 with either of the damage dice, the firearm misfires.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
This mix of black powder and an alchemically treated resin strong enough to survive the shot can only be loaded into a blunderbuss, a dragon pistol, or other scatter weapon. It deals half damage to those hit by a cone attack made with this weapon, but any creature hit by the shot must succeed at a DC 15 Reflex saving throw or become entangled for 2d4 rounds. An entangling shot cartridge increases the firearm's misfire value by 2.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
When a flare cartridge hits its target, it only deals half damage, but the creature struck is blinded for 1 round (Fort DC 15 reduces this to dazzled), and creatures within a 20-foot burst are dazzled for 1 round (Fort DC 15 negates the effect). Flare cartridges are also useful for sending up signal flares. Firing a flare cartridge increases the firearm's misfire value by 2 unless it is fired from a blunderbuss or a dragon pistol, in which case doing so only increases the firearm's misfire value by 1. Flares can only be used to attack single creatures; they do not work as a shot for a cone scatter attack.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
This simple mix of black powder and either pellets or a bullet increases the misfire value by 1.
Salt Shot Cartridge
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
This mix of black powder and rock salt can only be loaded into a blunderbuss, a dragon pistol, or other scatter weapon. It deals nonlethal instead of lethal damage, and increases the misfire value by 1. You can only use it with a scatter weapon's cone attack.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
Black powder is the key explosive component within a firearm that enables it to function, but in larger amounts this alchemical material can be quite destructive on its own as well. A single dose of black powder is enough to power a single shot from most one-handed and two-handed firearms, while 10 doses are required to fire a cannon. Black powder is often stored and transported in kegs (which hold 100 doses), but in this quantity the powder itself becomes dangerous. Exposure to fire, electricity, or a misfire explosion causes black powder to explode—a single keg that explodes in this manner deals 5d6 points of fire damage to anyone within a 20-foot burst (DC 15 Reflex half). Storing black powder in a powder horn protects the powder from explosion.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
The ammunition of most one-handed and two-handed firearms, firearm bullets typically take the form of small balls of lead or some other metal.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 61 gp
Weight: —
These expensive bullets are crafted from adamantine. They ignore hardness 20 or less when attacking objects.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 5 gp1
Weight: —
This ammunition is pitted with a pattern of small pocks into which specially formulated poison compounds can be applied. A poison compound is a derivative of a standard toxin that is alchemically reduced to a solid form. These can be made from any standard injury or contact poison with a Craft (poison) check equal to the poison's DC + 4. The cost of purchasing an already prepared poison compound for the purpose of treating pitted bullets is equal to the poison's base cost + 20 gp. Once crafted, the compound can be pasted into the ammunition's pitted design and allowed to harden. Upon completion, the bullet can be fired from an appropriate firearm, releasing the poison compound into its target upon impact, but the poison's DC is reduced by 2. A pitted bullet cannot be used with an alchemical cartridge.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 25 gp
Weight: —
This ammunition is specifically crafted from silver, and though nonmagical, it is particularly detrimental to lycanthropes, automatically confirming any critical threats against such creatures. A firearm that is shooting a silver bullet takes a –1 penalty on damage rolls (with a minimum of 1 point of damage).
Aura:CLl:
Price: 15 gp
Weight: 2 lb.
This small kit has all the tools a person needs to create, repair, and restore firearms, except for the necessary raw materials. Without such a kit, you cannot properly construct or provide upkeep for firearms.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 15 gp
Weight: —
These sturdier versions of alchemical cartridges serve as the ammunition for advanced firearms. They can hold either bullets or pellets.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
A handful of pellets, along with a dose of black powder, is commonly used as ammunition for one-handed and two-handed firearms with the scatter weapon quality, though rocks or other small bits of hard material can be used in the pellets' place. Using anything other than pellets or alchemical cartridges when firing off a cone attack with a scatter weapon increases the weapon's misfire range by 1 (though this increase can be removed by switching back to standard ammunition).
Aura:CLl:
Price: 3 gp
Weight: 1 lb.
Typically crafted from animal horn, but increasingly crafted from metal in a wide variety of shapes, a powder horn can hold up to 10 doses of black powder. A powder horn protects black powder stored within in it from exposure to fire, electricity, firearm misfires, and water.