Old West Weapon characteristics wanted...

[Glabutz]

Ok, I should have wrote this on the other genre board, but it is also some kind of general discussion. I hope...

So, I'm playing an old west scenario in 25 hours, but I don't have any characteristics for 1875 rifle or shotgun, or I don't recognize them in FREd. I bought the old Western Hero, but like someone told me on the Other Genre BOard, the guns are les effective than FREd's ones.

Does anyone have updated characteristics ?

Thanks.

[misterdeath]

No idea if they're updated, or 4th edition, but there's some stuff here http://geocities.com/blademaster01757/westernarms.html

D

[Glabutz]

Thanks.

But it looks like it is 4th Ed...
:(

[Old Man]

If you're playing in it, it doesn't matter too much. Just get what you think is cool for your character.

If you're running it it doesn't matter either as long as you're consistant.

[Captain Obvious]

The guns are less effective than the ones in FREd because FREd has more modern weapons, whereas Western Hero's weapons use black powder and didn't have as much punch. You can pretty much use the weapons straight out of Western Hero without a problem. The only difference between them and 5th edition would be point cost, which doesn't matter in a heroic level game anyway....

[Glabutz]

Ok. I'll try that.

But if I remeber well, FREd gives the Comt Peacemaker as an exemple.

[misterdeath]

Well, one thing you have to remember is that current rounds use smokeless powder (usually nitrocellulose based) instead of black powder. Smokeless powder produces more energy.

from http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm

A "cowboy" load is about 760 fps while a maximum load is 950 or so fps with 225 grain slugs. Is that enough to drop the damage from the book? Dunno.

The .45 in 5th edition (2d6 -1) etc is higher than the d6+1 from 4th edition. Steve seems to have shifted up by caliber instead of energy.

Hmmm, in that case...

You could use the closest equivalents (.45 peacemaker, 12 sawed off, and well, I'd go with a 2d6 + 1 stun mod, assault rifle type thing for a '73 winchester (which basically used pistol rounds, but from a longer barrel which gives higher velocity, hence more damage). Use the other stats per the first link I found (ammo, cost, etc)

Found a nifty timeline of black powder http://footguards.tripod.com/06ARTICLES/ART28_blackpowder.htm

D

[Toadmaster]

The weapon stats in Western Hero are about the same, the only differance is the .45 ACP magically now does almost the same damage as the .44 Magnum, and more than the .357 and .41 Magnums, all of which are significantly more powerful in in the real world, oh yeah, also the 120mm cannon almost doubled in damage. You are better off sticking with the 4th stats until DoJ comes up which a rational coherant method for assigning damage as existed in the 4th ed. If you want more death use the optional rules or add a DC across the board. Personnally I thought Western Hero had the best gun rules of the 4th ed products.

[gewing]

I have to agree here.

I'd rate the '73 winchester as a1.5- 2d6-1, out of a rifle it is similar to a .41 magnum in a pistol, iirc.

Especially the high velocity hunting load.

For the .45-70, etc, about the same damage, with a +2 stun mult, or a little more damage with a +1.

1.5-2 times the bullet weight at about the same velocity as a .44 magnum in a pistol, off the top of my head.




Originally posted by Toadmaster
The weapon stats in Western Hero are about the same, the only differance is the .45 ACP magically now does almost the same damage as the .44 Magnum, and more than the .357 and .41 Magnums, all of which are significantly more powerful in in the real world, oh yeah, also the 120mm cannon almost doubled in damage. You are better off sticking with the 4th stats until DoJ comes up which a rational coherant method for assigning damage as existed in the 4th ed. If you want more death use the optional rules or add a DC across the board. Personnally I thought Western Hero had the best gun rules of the 4th ed products.