Historical campaign questions.

[Sletchman]

Due to me bowing to peer pressure [like all the cool kids], I've agreed to run a high fantasy 17th century "privateering" and "motivation experts" game.  While this isn't a big drama [I'm nabbing a few rifles from this board and I'm fairly covered for melee weapons - just need some pistols and cannons] I've come across a hitch or two.

Firstly for cash I'm giving them 0.01 x existing cash [So spending cash x spending cash], and I'm also using the cash and carry system.  With this I've noticed that even without historical, no one can afford a lifestyle above 7.  Even with 10 cash you end up with $10, 000, well short of the required level.  How does one support that lifestyle mission to mission?  I'm also not sure of how much to charge for firearms [melee weapons I can just modify the existing street value in the book].

Next what should I substitute computers for on the classes that have it?  I can let electronics stay because the game is set in a modified Iron Kingdoms setting, and I'll use electronics for certain game specific items.

Finally I'm not sure if I should alter proficiencies, or just rename them.  Blunderbuss = shotgun, cannon = tactical [or indirect depending on usage perhaps?], that just leaves SMG unused.  But does a blunderbuss fire like a shotgun? Or is it still used as a rifle?  Any help / ideas / suggestions are much appreciated.

Note: Privateering and Motivational Expertise in this case means piracy and thuggery.

Oh one final thing, how does subdual damage work for destruction of an object?  One othe players is a Centaur Thug with Hammer Supremacy and a huge hammer, he deals a stupid level of subdual damage, but does this effect a door?

[Deral]

I think a big part of the Cash n' Carry system is selling of equipment, either between missions or otherwise, if they managed to get their hands on an enemy's (read:victim's) ship largely undamaged, they might be able to find themselves set for a little while, money-wise (until the wanna-be Jack Sparrow with 1 prudence gets ahold of it). But I honestly don't have a lot of experience with that quality.

As for the hammer, however, don't forget you can do lethal damage with a weapon that deals subdual damage, the penalty to hit doesn't mean much against a door. Against something else, well, I suppose it represents the difficulty in getting the angles right, to smash an object with a hammer you're really a lot better off with a very resistant force opposite your blow, like the floor.

Edit:
As for proficiencies, it really depends on how prevalent the weapons will be, if you feel they're less worthwhile to players as proficiencies, make them easier or broader, I say. (And I thought a blunderbuss fired more like, well, a beehive round- but I've got no real authority there).

And the computers switch is a strange one too, but since Computers as a skill doesn't allow for much outside of directly computer-related things (meaning there aren't any applicable checks you need to make up for since- lets assume- Hacking conflicts are out), so, again, if your players feel short-changed, maybe you could work with their respective characters and replace with with a skill that suits them, though that does leave it a little open.

[TheAuldGrump]

17th C. cannon were still pretty much limited to LoS. Indirect fire was done using the mortar - while similar to modern eyes the means of targeting was rather different.

Elevation was still done using quoins - disks slipped into place to adjust the angle. The elevation screw was just coming into very limited use. (wow - my spellchecker actually accepted the word quoins... but not spellchecker. )

As for computers... something that would handle navigation and chronometrics, possibly along the lines of a 'jack's cortex. Cyriss, the Maiden of the Gears seems a likely link.

The Auld Grump

[Krensky]

Cannon like you're talking, land or naval, should be done with Vehicular.

[MilitiaJim]

There were old analog computers like the Antikythera mechanism.

You could also use the "Computers" skill to cover navigation with sextant and such.

[Sletchman]

Cannon like you're talking, land or naval, should be done with Vehicular.

I let vehicular cover shipbound cannon, and tactical cover emplaced cannon, just made things simpler.  I also let computers be renamed navigation, and covers all forms of locating where you are on a map.  I'm also letting it be used for interacting with an Orrey.

[Krensky]

The only difference, in general, between naval and field artillery of the times in question was the mount. Pick one proficiency for both and use that.

[Gentry]

Isn't the fact that naval artillery is moving while firing a significant difference in application?

[Krensky]

Isn't the fact that naval artillery is moving while firing a significant difference in application?

What proficiency do you feel covers a tank destroyer's 90mm cannon?

Based on the book, it's vehicular, even if it's mounted on a tow carriage.

Considering that a 12lb gun is operated and serviced the same way whether it's in a field mount or a naval mount, and that it has nothing in common with the other tactical weapons, it's a vehicular weapon.

[Sletchman]

Isn't the fact that naval artillery is moving while firing a significant difference in application?

What proficiency do you feel covers a tank destroyer's 90mm cannon?

Based on the book, it's vehicular, even if it's mounted on a tow carriage.

Considering that a 12lb gun is operated and serviced the same way whether it's in a field mount or a naval mount, and that it has nothing in common with the other tactical weapons, it's a vehicular weapon.

That makes sense.  One of my players is toting a 2lb cannon as is personal armament, so I made that tactical, just judging by its application.

Edit: I'm not actually sure on the weight, but its one those 1.5" bore swivel guns, that he carries around.  I guessed that a 1.5" lead ball would be about 2lb, but I'm almost certainly off.

[TheAuldGrump]

A swivel gun was often used as a form of punt gun - firing shot similar to a very large blunderbuss. They were also used as harpoon guns starting in the mid 18th century - in the case of the harpoon gun the weight of the harpoon and rope was a much larger amount than I would have thought - around forty pounds (?!) - by then they were flintlocks rather than matchlocks. Range of around forty yards, give or take.

More typically a half pound to a pound each for shot and powder rather than two pounds. One of the main uses, odd as it may sound, was in navigation - the echo from a shot would give an idea of how far from land, important in the fog. A primitive, seat of the pants, sonar. (No echo = good. Echo = Too close to the cliffs!)

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* Guess who really likes swivel guns.

*EDIT 2* Something that I cannot stress enough - blackpowder guns are loud! If you don't wear ear protection then you will damage your hearing. Gunners in any period into the early Twentieth Century are likely to suffer a penalty to any tests involving listening. Gunner's Lung was another problem - sucking sulfurous acid into your lungs is bad, and if the air is foggy that is exactly what you are doing.

[Sletchman]

*EDIT 2* Something that I cannot stress enough - blackpowder guns are loud! If you don't wear ear protection then you will damage your hearing. Gunners in any period into the early Twentieth Century are likely to suffer a penalty to any tests involving listening. Gunner's Lung was another problem - sucking sulfurous acid into your lungs is bad, and if the air is foggy that is exactly what you are doing.

The Centaur Thug who wields said weapon learnt his lesson when he fired it while deep in a smugglers cave and defeaned the entire party.  It was pretty hilarious watching them try to coordinate their looting efforts without the aid of paper or speech.

Interesting point about the harpoon, as he actually mentioned wanting to use it as a harpoon launcher in future.

[OverNinja]

That makes sense.  One of my players is toting a 2lb cannon as is personal armament, so I made that tactical, just judging by its application.

Strange when I first read this I thought of this: Ordnance QF 2 pounder.
Anti-tank gun firing a 2-pound projectile.
Maybe I've been thinking of WWII stuff too much lately.

[TheAuldGrump]

*EDIT 2* Something that I cannot stress enough - blackpowder guns are loud! If you don't wear ear protection then you will damage your hearing. Gunners in any period into the early Twentieth Century are likely to suffer a penalty to any tests involving listening. Gunner's Lung was another problem - sucking sulfurous acid into your lungs is bad, and if the air is foggy that is exactly what you are doing.

The Centaur Thug who wields said weapon learnt his lesson when he fired it while deep in a smugglers cave and defeaned the entire party.  It was pretty hilarious watching them try to coordinate their looting efforts without the aid of paper or speech.

Interesting point about the harpoon, as he actually mentioned wanting to use it as a harpoon launcher in future.

I will flex my Google Fu and see what I can dig up.... Back in a few.

About The Columbia's swivel guns - on a site about Disney? Includes notes on echo location and shot size.

Swivel Guns and Irons - a site about whaling.

Oooh! Purty! I wish that I could afford one.

Hern Iron Works Replicas... One of the oddities about blackpowder guns - replicas are often more expensive than the originals. The originals were produced in large numbers, and most often can no longer be fired. Replicas are individually made, and are in much better condition. My favorite Brown Bess belongs to a man who paid less than three hundred dollars for it.

Enough to start you off - I ran with swivel gun charge for the search.

The Auld Grump

[Sletchman]

Interesting read about the whaling.  I also figured the shots would be heavier, still the damage value I came up with hasn't been an issue, I am admittedly dreading the day he decides to use a harpoon on people, and do a MKs Scorpion impression.