Muskets are muzzle-loaded long guns found in TL4--the "shot" half of "pike and shot" warfare. Early musket designs include matchlocks (using matches to light black powder), whereas late TL4 sees flintlocks (which use flint and steel).
Timeline[]
Muskets supplanted the much less accurate, more niche "gonnes" of late TL3, and survived through TL4 with their ability to penetrate heavy armor. They are eventually replaced by muzzle-loading rifles in mid to late TL5 due to the latter's better accuracy, range and power.
Note that the rifle exists (primarily as a hunting tool) in late TL4, but its rifled barrel took longer to reload and clean. Once breechloading rifles take the scene, muskets become effectively obsolete.
Military Use[]
From Ming Dynasty China to the Napoleonic Wars, from bright-coated line infantry to rabble pirates, the musket (in one form or another) is a major weapon of almost every TL4 battlefield. Muskets are used extensively alongside fellow soldiers wielding pikes (to protect from cavalry charged), and muskets themselves sometimes had weaponized gun mounts, such as the bardiche (effectively a long axe).[1]
Reloading[]
Well-trained troops (or your average musket adventurer) will certainly want to master the art of rapid reloads using Fast-Draw (Ammo). While the musket is unlikely to be reloaded in turn-based combat, it can be useful in larger-scale setpieces, such as sieges!
| Category | Action Type[note 1] | Reload[note 2] | Fast-Drawn[note 3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzleloading | Gonne | 30 | 30 |
| Musket, Matchlock | 60 | 50 | |
| Musket, Wheel or Flintlock | 40 | 30 | |
| Pistol, Matchlock | 45 | 36 | |
| Pistol, Wheel or Flintlock | 20 | 16 | |
| Rifle, Matchlock | 90 | 80 | |
| Rifle, Wheel or Flintlock | 60 | 50 | |
| Rifle, Flintlock with Grease Patch[note 4] | 42 | 35 | |
| Breechloading | any long gun | 10 | 8 |
Careful Reloads[]
Taking time to carefully pack a muzzle-loading musket can increase accuracy. Doubling the loading time for a musket (or muzzle-loading rifle) gives +1 to Accuracy![2]
Mounted Reloads[]
One can reload while mounted if they have the mounted reload technique, although they'll be limited to a straight line unless they also have hands-free riding!
In Melee[]
Unlike high-tech weapons, muskets are built robustly, and can be used effectively in melee, swinging as a two-handed mace--this does swing+4 crushing.[3] One can also strike with the butt (as a staff). Of course, once bayonets become popular, any good musketeer simply learns to use the gun as a spear![4]
Mysterious Absence in Some Timelines[]
It is best to assume that any late TL4 worldline that doesn't have black powder weapons has some sort of shenanigans keeping them banned (as appears to be the case on Yrth), that the divergent technology it so good that it makes little sense to develop black powder weapons, or there is some cultural dynamic that discourage the refinement of such weapons.[5]
Views on Muskets and Dragons[]
"In essence, the musket is the weapon that dragons fear most. It represents the technological turning point when a common human with minimum training can do serious damage to a dragon at long range." --Dr. Tailor
"The idea that dragons fear gunpowder and by extension the musket is laughable. It just takes the refinement of one spell to where it functions as if it is in wild mana to end any danger: Reverse Missiles. If you want proof just look at the near echo Wyvern. Took Infinity two years (1900-1902 local time) of the reality at P9 to realize what was going on. The absent of gunpowder weapons would have sent up a red flag and it would never had gotten that P9 and would have been Z from the get go." -- Queen Tamait
"It may be in Infinity's best interest to determine which dragons are proficient mages, and to what degree." -- Dr. Tailor, addendum
"Proficient? Who says Dragons have to be proficient mages? Look at their sizes in mythology and think of the magical power needed to make something that is obviously insanely heavy able to fly. Flight requires so much magical power that using Reverse Missiles would be akin to a modern hunter using a bow and arrow.[note 5] And that is assuming some deity of theirs isn't giving out an innate ability like free candy samples which they seem to be already doing with regards to Flight.-- Queen Tamait, rebuttal
Non-Combat Use[6][]
As muskets are black powder weapons, any properly-stocked musketeer will have a ready supply of firestarting material.
Notes[]
- ↑ The type of "action", or mechanism, used in loading and/or firing the shot.
- ↑ in Seconds/Turns
- ↑ Using the Fast-Draw (Ammo) skill
- ↑ A greased fabric wrap that allows quick reloads
- ↑ Flight requires Magery 2, is very hard, takes 5/3 energy, and is 2 spells deep into its college. Reverse Missiles by contrast only requires Magery 1, is only hard, takes 7/3 energy, and is 2 spells deep into its college.