Topic: Musket vs. Arquebus

I saw somewhere that there is some advantage that Musket has over an arquebus. But I can't find it. Muskets are a lot more encumbering and have the same range and damage. Why would you want a musket?

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

As far as I can tell, RAW, there is no advantage.  I feel like the arquebus should have a range increment between the pistol and the musket, if you want to house rule it so there is a good reason to choose a musket.

I think mechanically/strategically, one would choose the musket if setting it up in advance and trying to strike a target from a distance. The arquebus is good for adventuring and getting a shot off into melee - and shortening the range of the arquebus would lean into this.

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

I checked my own gear sheet that I made based off the LotFP rules, and I have a note that Muskets ignore the first 5 points of armor at all ranges. I could not find that in the rule book, but it doesn't seem like a house rule I would come up with...so maybe I found that somewhere in the official rules or an a FAQ somewhere?

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

¶They ignore 5 points of Armor at short range (at all ranges for muskets).***

The rule is on page 159, under "Matchlock", which lists most of the general firearm rules.
This makes it a good weapon for battlefields (and maybe wilderness travel) but not so much for most "dungeon" locations.

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

while muskets were heavier and bulkier, they could reload faster, had better range and accuracy, and allowed for bayonet usage - advantages that may make them preferable in some RPG weapon systems. But overall the differences were minor.

Last edited by magdalena (2023-08-17 06:16:12)

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

I am doing some house ruling atm. Historically the Musket was better that the Arbequs and was an improvement… but I’m going to use the Arbeques as a heavier and harder hitting weapon. My game is set during the era of the English Civil War so flintlocks are more common.

As per raw it requires a fork to stabilise it to avoid a -2, it can’t mount a bayonet but it does +2 damage, throwing a larger ball. Again, historically not the case but doing that here.

I’m having all firearms ignore armor based AC bonuses, instead introducing a 1, 2 or 3 pt DR, with minimum damage always being applied if the DR would stop it completely.

In my setting the musket is lighter, more mobile, can be turned into a spear to ward off Calvary. The arbeques would be the heavy hitting gun designed to really punch into the enemy for deadly effect… even a minimum damage roll does 3 hps. A roll of 2 or 3 is lethal against most men… unless they have armor that is.

Last edited by AussieHelaman (2023-12-02 01:06:06)

Re: Musket vs. Arquebus

The musket and the arquebus are both historical firearms, but they were used in different time periods and had distinct characteristics.
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