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Hi all, hope this finds you well. This thread is less about reviewing the gunslinger info (I'll try to do that later) and more about prep for a game to get a better feel for all three of the playtest classes.
So, here's the scenario:
The halfling gunslinger Clint Westleaf gets in a tavern fight and the local authorities tend to operate in pairs (a martial deputy and a magical deputy). Clint's loaded down with plenty of black powder because he needs it to operate his primary weapon. He's a bit rowdy, having fun exhibiting the natural gunslinger attitude and what started as a fight against a typical bar patron turns into an encounter between Clint and the two town deputies. That's when it happens:
Magical deputy casts a fireball at Clint and it hits.
Now... do Clint and the rest of the bar blow up? Is there a percentage chance that the powder ignites causing some damage to Clint and exhausting some of his resources? Or do we simply assume that the black powder is naturally kept in a place unlikely to be ignited by a fireball and similar fiery attacks?
For the sake of ease, I could see just not worrying with the question in the playtest, waiting to find out what they have decided for the complete rules (as this is probably mentioned there). However, I figured I'd throw out the big "What would you do?" to all the GMs out there who may have some wisdom to share. Anyone have a thought? Thanks for your input! I hope everyone's playtests go well!
Edit: By popular demand, the fight between the deputy and the gunslinger moves outside of the bar before the fireball spell is cast. So the bar's safe, how 'bout the halfling :)
It's equipment right? And he is carrying it right? Then much like his clothing and everything else he has it isn't damaged unless he rolls a 1 on his save throw.
Besides what sort of stupid deputy throws a fireball into a wooden bar filled with alcohol?
The type that goes "boom" that's what type.
So the "official" casts a fireball in BAR?
Well, anyhow, I wouldn't let fireball ignite black powder except when direct contact is possible. Normal blackpowder is normally stored in something that is "flash"-proof.
Burning hands or something that lasts a little bit longer than fireball would have a chance to blow stuff up that isn't shielded by something like a backpack.
Pretty sure in a world with fireballs, people would develop containers for gunpowder that are fireball immune.
Similar question
When my Druid cast Heat Metal, what happens to the loaded gun.
Psalmist said fireball, but what about Wall of Fire damage or Fire Strom damage.
When the druid uses Transmute metal to wood, does the gun only get 1 more shot and broken condition, does it take a +2 penalty to be damage from missfire... what happens ?
Do not let me even get started on Reach feat + Rusting Grasp.
This would fall under "Items Surviving Saving Throw".
Unless the descriptive text for the spell specifies otherwise, all items carried or worn by a creature are assumed to survive a magical attack. If a creature rolls a natural 1 on its saving throw against the effect, however, an exposed item is harmed (if the attack can harm objects). Refer to Table: Items Affected by Magical Attacks. Determine which four objects carried or worn by the creature are most likely to be affected and roll randomly among them. The randomly determined item must make a saving throw against the attack form and take whatever damage the attack dealt.
FYI, non-magical carried items are the LEAST likely to get affected based on the chart.
Ok, what happen when they fail there saving throw. Does the Gun-powder explode for extra damage to the person carrying it, does the gun explode from heat metal, does a metal gun turn to wood still work or work and break, or now have more penalties to break.
Nope -- nothing more would happen than what happens to any other such item.
Why? Because it's magic.
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So far Varthanna's answer seems the most comprehensive. I think I'll refer to that if the question comes into play :)
Steering a slightly different direction what do you all think with regards to something such as alchemist's fire? It's not magical so it seems it may follow another set of rules. Also, black powder isn't like the typical items a PC might carry which burn, but don't carry the possibility of exploding.
Thanks for the input everyone, your thoughts are appreciated!
Look the fact that you get hit with alchemist's fire and don't immediately drop to your knees and try to put it out as it burns your face off tells me that this level of verisimilitude just isn't needed or wanted. If the wizard's spell book is ok, and the monk's robes are fine, and the fighter's wooden shield isn't ash I'm not going to worry about the gunslinger's gunpowder.
Just like I'm not too worried about the alchemist carrying all those flasks and vials around.
It doesn't really add anything and doesn't mesh with the rules as provided already.
Besides gunpowder spontaneously exploding when lit isn't correct. It burns really fast but if it has room to do so it just burns. Only when confined in an area like a gun barrel do you have the circumstances to really make it explode in a dangerous way.*
(*other circumstances can apply too but in 'general' open gun powder isn't going to simply blow everyone away)
No problem -- and I am very glad you brought it up. The fashion you did so in was very good as it allowed the issue to be covered, summed up and then moved past. Many times a topic that really needs to be covered gets bogged down in... internet stuff. Consider the "katana FAIL" thread for an example.
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Pretty sure in a world with fireballs, people would develop containers for gunpowder that are fireball immune.
Yep. They already invented clothes, backpacks, bedrolls, rope, paper, oil flasks, glass, arrows, bows, clubs, staves, and a host of other mundane things that are fireproof as long as someone is touching it. I imagine the typical fantasy world is mighty cold in winter, nothing seems to be flammable.
Most Gunslingers of this type carried their powder in small pouches (Look at the ammo pouches on the Iconic Gunslinger) in that case they would leave burns all over her body but not real explosive boom. Same with a leather powder horn. Gunpowder explosions do their damage when in guns or kegs do to projectiles (ie bullets and Keg Fragments) though enough gunpowder exploding could do Concussive damage due to the explosion the gunslinger would have to carry much more than 50 shots to be that explosive.
As far as it being wet most powder horns were airtight, drying off shot would be easy. Now I wouldn't want to load a flintlock in the rain.
So as a wizard if you could hold an action a good hydraulic push spell would at least keep the Gunslinger from loading that shot.