Early gunpowder weapons?

Story & Setting
#102

If you are in a situation when you are about to encounter a heavily armored opponent (not general likelihood, but exact knowledge that the enemy is somewhere nearby), why would you not take a píšťala or hákovnice with you, even if it was one shot only? (Or crossbow for that matter) That would not preclude you from wielding the sword thereafter.

Also, being prepared to defend oneself from anticipated attack by having a loaded firearm was not a murder in 1403 as same as it is not a murder today, at least in the Czech Republic (see, for example, decision of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic (17 February 1981), Decision No. 3 To 2/1981, or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_Czech_Republic#Self_defense_with_firearms)

#103

The Oldest Hand-held Firearms from Slovakia
by Daniel Antoni

#104

“Beautiful” Slovak work which uses Polish and German words although there seems to be quite a strong consensus that the origins of words píšťala and hákovnice are actually Czech. It is even more ridiculous when describing the guns from the Plzeň arsenal. I understand that there is strong Slovak national rivalry towards Czechs, but this is just… “beautiful”.

1 Like
#105

Firing tests with a simulated 15th century gun

Medieval manufacture of saltpetre

#106

I actually did not use that article about that test when I wrote my BA about medieval firearms… since it is based on an idea that the weapons got longer with time… And that is not always the case.
And I don’t agree that his tests do support his conclusion. (Iam not saying it is wrong, just that I don’t agree that his experiment prove anything)

I do prefer people using copies of specific weapons and not based on a general idea about weapons.

but thanks for posting. I originally ruled it out, based on another books commends on it… so actually haven’t read it before now. (but can see that is was the correct choice)

#107

I’m seeing 3 different trains of thought here but only one of them seems to make any sense.

  1. Guns were available in limited supply during the time period, were easy enough for a blacksmith to make and were about as effective as longbows and crossbows if not as quick to fire. Historically, they should be in the game in some form or fashion.

  2. Guns are impractical for small skirmishes and due to the cost of powder would not have been used by anyone except kings and very rich lords so they shouldn’t be in the game. Also this idea that guns were much less accurate than bows which I think comes from an overestimation of bows and underestimation of guns.

  3. Guns ruin my ideal of what medieval times look like and I do not want them in my fantasy game…

Personally, I’m of the opinion that if it was something that was around at the time then it would be a disservice to not have them in the game. The devs have said that at some point there could be large scale battles and sieges so why not make it as accurate as possible? Even if the player doesn’t use it, it could still be used by an NPC or something.

#108

if an npc has it you can bet your arse that imma take it from him even if i have to pry it from his cold dead hands.

#109

Clearly when referring to the guns from Plzeň and Tábor Arsenal, the author chose to pick píšťala instead of hákovnice, which were by 1400 two different guns in the Czech lands.

(Short barrel píšťala on top, long barrel hákovnice lower).
http://forum.kingdomcomerpg.com/uploads/default/4298/feab293a115e29a4.jpg

#110

Light field cannon from Kurzetnik 2013

#111

Gunpowder weapons in medieval game “baah” NO !

2 Likes
#112

You should really read a book… or jsut the entire topic.
Gunpowder was used in Europe at least since the end of the 13th century…

So for a historical game set in early 15th century, there should be gunpowder in it… otherwise it is not historical.

3 Likes
#113

I agree…

I find it amazing that people somehow have the assumption that there were never firearms or the usage of gunpowder in warfare during the High/Late Medieval period. Hell, there are several accounts of English Ribauldequins being used against the Scottish and the French by Edward the III.

Edit: However, i can see why Warhorse might have decided to remove gunpowder weaponry from the game, though i wouldn’t mind seeing a cannon or two for one of the siege missions.

Edit 2: As to how effective the Ribauldequins were in Edward the III’s battles… we will never truly know.

#114

As I understand it, we will not get firearms in act one.
Not for historical reasons, but a matter of priority of resources… And that is for me a good reason.

Just hope it will be added later.

1 Like
#115

It’s entirely possible that we’ll see them in the game, just not be able to use them. Which is fair enough; gunpowder weapons may have been in increasingly common use at that time, but I doubt they were easily accessible to every random peasant.

2 Likes
#116

Well, just 18 years after the game takes place, firearms became total game changer on the battle field.

1 Like
#117

Actually they were more accessible than high quality cold weaponry.

Only a member of a guild was allowed to make a sword. The monopoly kept the prices high.

Meanwhile anyone with access to metallurgic equipment (for example for field and house instruments) could start making firearms. This made them relatively cheap.

However, they were still quite cumbersome and thus with very little practical use for “a peasant”. They were being bought in huge numbers for castle armories in order to shoot them from the castle’s safety - which allowed safe reloading.

Use of Wagon Fort by the Hussites after 1421 made it possible to use these heavy, cumbersome, but effective weapons also in the field.

2 Likes
#118

Firearms in the game can be combined with alchemy. Alchemist’s quest - find component of gunpowder, experiments with the composition of the powder + in the smithy protagonist can help to make the gun barrel. It will be funny if at the end of the quest cannon explodes.

6 Likes
#119

Perhaps gunpowder would make a nice addition to end game alchemy, even if it was only used as a placeable/throw-able explosive. I’m no historian but I’d imagine a handheld powder gun would be an expensive, and most probably heavy item for an individual to own and carry around day to day. for larger scale battles though…the noise and smoke of a cannon going off would certainly add to the chaos and drama of it all.

#120

Guns in the game can play the role of quest targets or large stationary object at the siege - as a trebuchet.

#121

Just that in reality an eight year old could use a period píšťala or hákovnice to take down well armored knight. Not to mention the kind of shit a houfnice or tarasnice could do.

The only real problem with these guns is that they take too long to reload. And that is what the shooter has the long knife for.

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