Blunderbuss

Game Stats

• Maximum Range: 30 yds.
• Aimed Range: 10 yds.
• Damage: 3d6 (impaling)
• Reload time: 2 rounds
• Secondary: none
• Concealable: no
• Civilian Carry: no

Description 

The blunderbuss is a black-powder weapon that fires multiple spherical lead shots with each discharge.  It is a powerful close-quarters weapon, but its close-range nature means it sees only specialized use in the Harkanian army.  Blunderbusses are generally hand-made on an individual basis by expert gunsmiths, although individual guilds may have standard "patterns."  Because of this individuality there is no real "typical" blunderbuss, but an average weapon is anywhere from 24 to 34 inches in length.  Small blunderbusses can be fired one-handed, although doing so produces wildly inaccurate results except at point-blank range.

Method of Operation

A blunderbuss is a flintlock weapon in the style of an arquebus, but it has a shorter and wider barrel that accommodates multiple balls (a typical discharge being about 6 to 9 individual balls).  When the weapon is fired the load of shot naturally spreads in a conical pattern.  This makes the blunderbuss more likely to hit than a single-shot weapon, since it can hit a target even if the shooter's point of aim is slightly off.  If the shooter's aim is true, the impact of multiple simultaneous hits in the center of the spread is devastating

Advantages

The blunderbuss provides enormous short-range firepower and is relatively forgiving of poor aim.  It suffers from the same accuracy problems of all smooth barreled ("smooth-bore") black-powder weapons, but makes up for these shortcomings by firing multiple shots per discharge.  It has the highest damage potential of any of the firearms commonly carried by individuals in Harkania.  These characteristics make the blunderbuss a popular civilian weapon, used for defending everything from wagons to homes, and for fowling.

Even the longer hunting-style blunderbusses are shorter than a typical arquebus, which makes them well suited to use in cramped quarters such as houses (or inns) or ships.  A small blunderbuss can be fired one-handed like a pistol, but the great amount of powder necessary to propel multiple lead shot means that all blunderbusses require two hands to aim effectively.  Even so, they offer a compromise between the size of a pistol and an arquebus, while providing greater firepower than either.

Disadvantages

A blunderbuss' short barrel (and the fact that the shot load tends to hit itself while traveling down the barrel) makes the blunderbuss a relatively short-ranged weapon.  Its maximum theoretical range is about 30 yards, with an effective range of about 10.  The fact that a blunderbuss requires two hands to use effectively yet has a short effective range means it is not well suited to open combat.  A line of troops armed with blunderbusses would be cut down by an opposing line armed with arquebuses before the blunderbusses could bring their superior firepower to bear.

Variants

Like all black-powder weapons, blunderbusses can take advantage of alchemical powder and alchemical shot.  The most unique alchemical shot available to the blunderbuss is the so-called "net shot," an enchanted canvas "bean bag" containing a weighted thaumically enhanced net.  When fired, the bean bag breaks open and releases the thaumic net, which spreads itself out to entangle the target.

Party Associations

Monica Jasmine acquired a short-barreled blunderbuss in Nuln.  In dangerous situations she liked to keep it loaded in a specially designed quiver - not so much to avoid the appearance of traveling armed as to misdirect her opponents' expectations.  The blunderbuss was her go-to weapon in close combat situations, and she often fired it at point-blank range in a single motion after drawing it from the quiver on her back.

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