Inspiration for Vaylah (Firearms)

Colin Chapman · Sep 1st 2008, 12:49pm

One of my favourites; the Duck's Foot Flintlock Pistol. Essentially a one-handed multi-barreled volley gun that acts as a primitive short range shotgun, firing four (rarely more) barrels at once in a spread:

[Blocked Image: http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/jpg/two_inch_duckfoot_141.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://website.lineone.net/~da.cushman/duckfoot2.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://website.lineone.net/~da.cushman/duckfoot3.jpg]

A seven-barreled flintlock volley gun (all seven barrels fire at once, so you can imagine the recoil!):
[Blocked Image: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/images/560/E/86/E8623.jpg]

The Indian jingal (called a t'ai-ch'iang in China). Essentially a heavy, oversized musket with a barrel upto 10' long, firing shot that weighed an average of 1lb. It was crewed by 2-5 men and fired from a rest (usually a tripod or a man's shoulder). While powerful and long-ranged it was slow and cumbersome to use, and fairly inaccurate.
[Blocked Image: http://www.chinesefirearms.com/30206/history/jingal2.jpg]

Scott Jones · Sep 16th 2008, 1:35pm

Funny thing,...we're actually in the midst of dealing with the rules concerning firearms combat even now....

One of my players in the early playtests wasted vast amounts of time trying to get multi-barrel pistols made for him....

Fun stuff...

Scottie

Drohem · Sep 16th 2008, 1:51pm

I'd never seen a multi-barrel flintlock pistol before. That's pretty darn cool!

Colin Chapman · Sep 16th 2008, 2:17pm

Multi-barreled flintlocks weren't all that uncommon, really. Obviously, of those most were simple double-barreled, but triple-barreled and quad-barreled were not unheard of, and generally had a rotating barrel set so that the next shot was simply a matter of turning the barrels so the next loaded one was in line, cocking and firing again.

Later, there were even flintlock revolvers, such as this 1818 flintlock revolver by Collier:

[Blocked Image: http://www.horstheld.com/Collier-m.jpg]

Not surprising given that you're talking about a firing mechanism that was in use for over 200 years.

cheers!
Colin

Sherbie · May 12th 2010, 3:27am

I like the idea of multi barrel rifles, but wouldn't it be simpler to just stuff a single barrel rifle with multiple small bullets (buckshot)?

Also I think that if you could arrange a cooperation between a good locksmith and a gunsmith you could create a nice black powder revolver.

[Blocked Image: http://www.vapa.org.au/Images/black%20powder%20rev.jpg]

Oh and I once heard a story about an italian lord who had four muskets installed into his shield. Before going to battle he'd load them and have a little surprise ready for anyone who'd think that a man with melee weapons was useless in mid-range combat.

Some other interesting designs:

Those hunting muskets were barely used, but regardless look rather effective
[Blocked Image: http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2009/6/68%20Rifle%20Axe%20Collection.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/pirates/bordaxerifle.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.flayderman.com/Q299.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://s158562511.onlinehome.us/BlogImages/Pistol_Ring.jpg]
(that's actually concept art of assassins creed 2)
[Blocked Image: http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/A/Assassins%20Creed%20II/Everything%20Else/hidden-blade-gun-marketing--article_image.jpg]

Aaron de Orive · May 12th 2010, 10:31pm

I love those pictures. Amazing what gunsmiths came up with, huh? You gotta have some of those Vaylah weapons in your campaign, Sherbie!

Sherbie · May 13th 2010, 7:38am

That's some more of those multi barreled guns, hidden weapons or generally curious weapon configurations:
militaryphotos.net/forums/show…cal-uses-of-the-same-ones

Some of those are semi/automatic but are good examples for how self made weapons can look like:
englishrussia.com/index.php/20…hechen-self-made-weapons/

I could imagine that the really cheap weapons are probably carved from a piece of crystal with simple tools with a lot of wood parts?
Depends on how easy smelting works, either way it'd be lower quality crystal that requires lower temperatures.

Not technically valyah, as it uses air as propellant, but still an interesting curiosity I found:
[Blocked Image: http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/images/hannusch-cover-web.jpg]
Those ball flask rifles seemingly were used near the time that people still used muskets, but fired incredibly fast in comparison and were used by some militaries too (I can imagine they lost pressure over time though, and it took quite a bit of pumping to get it functional. I could imagine that if here was some other source of pressurized gas in Dardunah it'd be easier yet.

There was a japanese inventor around 1800something who invented a stylish air rifle too.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KunitomoAirGun.jpg

Originally posted by Aaron de Orive
I love those pictures. Amazing what gunsmiths came up with, huh? You gotta have some of those Vaylah weapons in your campaign, Sherbie

I'll see about it, but it'd certainly be an interesting addition as a super special loot item (maybe from an intercepted weapon transport belonging to some lords army), or as an interesting (but expensive) special "high-tech" apparatus that can be purchased.

Sherbie · Aug 27th 2010, 4:16pm

Since I pretty much killed this thread with ancient airpressure rifles, I shall revive it!

Goddamn Musket Katar
[Blocked Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Philot/Stuff/Shard/1235587878240.jpg]
I have no clue where I found that but GODDAMN!

Culverin
[Blocked Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/EarlyCoulevrines.jpg/800px-EarlyCoulevrines.jpg]
These weapons are rudimentary muskets of the past, mostly used on horseback for driveby shooting!

Chinese Rocketlaunchers
The Huolongjing seems to be a whole ancient book devoted to the teachings of gunpowder warfare, and listed many many creative ways of using it against enemies.

Hand Mortar
[Blocked Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Hand_mortar.png]
The 'hand mortar' is a firearm that was used in the late 17th century and 18th century to throw fused grenades.
NOW we're talking!

(looking for more)

Scott Jones · Aug 27th 2010, 9:43pm

Damn! I LOVE the musket Katar!!!!!

WOOOT!

Scottie

Inspiration for Vaylah (Firearms)

Inspiration for Vaylah (Firearms)

Great firearm designs

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