Gonnestafe (3.5e Equipment)

Gonnestafe

Exotic Two-Handed Projectile Critical: 19-20/x2 Range Increment: 50ft Type: Bludgeoning or Piercing Hardness: —
Size	Cost1	Damage	Weight1	hp
Fine	*	—	*	—
Diminutive	*	—	*	—
Tiny	*	—	*	—
Small	500gp	1d4/1d4 Staff \ 2d6 Bullet	6 lb.	—
Medium	500gp	1d6/1d6 Staff \ 2d8 Bullet	12 lb.
Large	1000gp	1d8/1d8 Staff \ 2d10 Bullet	24 lb.	—
Huge	*	—	*	—
Gargantuan	*	—	*	—
Colossal	*	—	*	—
The SRD only gives a means to determine costs and weights of weapons for Large and Small versions based on the Medium weapons. Any other supplied values are the author's best determination.

Loading a Gonnestafe is a two-full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. Loading a Gonnestafe normally requires two hands. Firing a Gonnestafe from a mount requires a Ride (DC 10) check.

A gonnestafe will misfire on a roll of 1. A misfire simply means the gonne does not fire, and can be fired normally (without reloading) the following round. Gonnestafes take a -4 penalty to attack when firing in wet and rainy conditions.

Enhancements

A Gonnestafe is a portable, powder-based artillary weapon. They are usually made of a bronze or steel cannon mounted onto a solid wooden shaft. Metal shafts are also common. Matchcord or magical fire is used to light the powder through the "touch hole" (a small hole drilled in the side of the barrel into the powder chamber). The common way of firing a gonnestafe is a series of three steps.

• Fill the powder chamber with powder (using both hands) and place the bullet in the chamber.
• Prepare the gun under your arm, and aim - while holding the matchcord (or other source of heat) in your other hand.
• Touch the matchcord to the touch hole and the gun will fire.

Gonnestafes can also be operated by two people for a faster rate of fire. One can aim, while the other puts a flame to the touch hole. Gonnestafes can also be lit by a source of magical or alchemical fire (such as a tindertwig or a burning hands spell, or Pirate Sorcerer's Ray of Heat spell). Gonnestafes require either powder and shot, or Cartridges (3.5e Equipment) to fire.

If desired, a gonnestafe can be used as a regular staff in melee combat. To this end, they are often built with a brass, bronze, or steel spearhead on the end opposite the Gonne. This also helps to plant the gonne in the ground (if the gonne is being operated like a mortar).

Realism Rules - Optional

• Mishaps: Gonnes for gonnestafes are cheap to make. Unskilled crafters are likely to make less-than perfect gonnes. Misfires in this variant occur on a roll of 1 or 2. When the gun misfires, roll an extra d10. If this second d10 also comes up as a 1 or 2, then the gun is cracked or otherwise damaged, and is must be replaced. If a player attempts to fire the gonne again, the gonne barrel explodes, dealing 2d6 fire damage to the wielder, and 1d6 damage to everyone within 5'. Masterwork weapons reduce misfires and mishapds to a d10 roll of 1, rather than 1-2, to illustrate the superior craftmanship.

• Accidental Firing: A Gonne that comes into contact with any source of fire or magical fire immediately fires in the direction it is facing.

• Fouling: The gonne can be fired a number of times before requiring cleaning. The gonne can be fired d6 times, after which the gonne will misfire in increments of +2 (so after firing d6 times it will misfire on a roll of 1+2, and after 2 d6 firings, it will misfire on a roll of 1+2+2, and so on).

• Other: A player using a gonnestafe can cover the end of the gun with a waterproof skin to reduce the penalty for firing in wet or rainy weather to -2. This cover does not need to be removed before firing.

Other Material

• Someone else (Watsyurname529) did some sort of Dart Staff. I used that as sort of template for this.
• Also, this draws heavily from the Heavy Repeating Crossbow. This weapon has weights and damage drawn straight from the Heavy Repeating Crossbow.
• If you are interested in powder weapons in a fantasy setting, take a look at Pirate-Sorcerer's contributions.

• History of Gonnes and black powder
• Modern Gonnes (an oxymoron indeed)
• An excellent set of firearms related rules

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