Gunpowder (D&D equipment)

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Unofficial rules compendium

Note that the price of gunpowder, guns and explosives have been inflated by about ten times in order to make it rare and exotic. If a "historical" baroque campaign is desired, divide powder prices by one hundred.

Gunpowder is not in itself a new invention, it has been crafted by alchemists for quite some time and used in fireworks and smokesticks. What is new are Firearms; precision weapons made by locksmiths and very expensive, and Explosives; the sometimes unforeseen effects of burning tightly packed and packaged gunpowder.

Making gunpowder is very complicated, requiring Craft (alchemy) and expensive semi-magical compounds. There are three principal ingredients; sulfur from volcanoes, saltpeter from the droppings of large lizards such as dragons or dinosaurs, and anthracite coal found in the very best coal mines. The process also requires a special solution; this can be very fine alcohol, but a earthblood-based liquid refined from natural tar or oil is preferable.

Powder is sold in sealed 15-pound kegs for 150 gp or by the ounce for 1 gp per ounce. One ounce of powder is enough to load a firearm, which gives you 15 reloads to the pound (the rest is lost in handling). Gunpowder that becomes old or wet is not safe to use (see below). A sealed cask will keep gunpowder fresh for decades. A powder horn will keep it fresh for a year. Gunpowder in the open air or in a loaded weapon will stay fresh only for a day.

Accessories

Powder kegs are lead-lined, hermetically sealed, and once used the lead can be conveniently melted into bullets. The keg is complimentary; if purchased separately it costs 2 gp. It keeps powder fresh for many years.

A watertight powder horn (without gunpowder) costs 5 gp and will keep the powder dry under normal conditions. A masterwork powder horn costs 25 gp and, when sealed, will keep the powder dry even in a jungle or underwater.

Casting the bullets is easy and can be done in the field from scrap lead over a simple campfire. 10 bullets weight one pound and cost a two copper pieces.