Those Black Powder gun rules in FH.

[Eclectic Wave]

Anybody using them in the Fantasy hero game? I actually thought alot of the Black Powder rules, including making them all armor piercing. I actually feel that all firearms in Hero should be AP, with all modern armor built to stop bullets being hardened. It's always bugged me that in Hero, the killing damage from a pistol can be stopped with Plate Mail...

[Ternaugh]

The last FH game that we ran, we had wheelocks and matchlocks. The firearms could knock a pretty large hole in many things, especially plate armor (declared by House Rules as an AP, not against magical armors or defenses, for zero cost). The guns required a simple course on operation (WF). Upon firing, it would require about a turn to reload (this is fundamentally faster than real life, where a good rifleman could expect to get off 2 to 3 shots in a minute). So, in close formation, after the first shot, the troopers were basically reduced to polearms and swords. By the way, an archer in the PC group was able to fire and reload each phase (4 of 'em), and to hit most of his chosen targets (Skill levels, due to all of that required practicing). Not so with the riflemen; skill was not really needed at an advanced level with the guns.

From our Badlands/Genshar setting (firearm rules based heavily on ICE's Pirates):
All available weapons use matchlock mechanisms (a tray to hold powder, with a touchhole for the burning match), and are singleshot. All weapons require two hands during reloading. Reloading is a 0 DCV action lasting at least 4 phases. All weapons require a length of burning match. All weapons misfire on a roll of 17 and explode on a roll of 18. Weapons in need of cleaning or in bad repair misfire on a roll of 16 or 17, and explode on a roll of 18. Weapons used in rain misfire on a roll of 16, 17, or 18.

FH's rules about firearms would work well in place of these, though I'd still be tempted to make 'em punch holes in armor.

YMMV,
JoeG

[LordGhee]

Black powder weapons are really normal damage. Modern bullets like the Minnie ball ect are killing. then you get into Ap. you should read the dicussions on the old boards about this. Basicly plate was proofed by being shot by at first (1450+) by crossbow shots at 30 paces or so. after the pistol was developed it was used to proof the armour. check out the old dicussions.

Lord Ghee

[Jkeown]

I've used black powder in Caleon for years. Every system I ever ported it to had them in one form or another. They add a great deal to the setting.