I am starting a new campaign as DM and one of my players is working with an Aarakocra Gunslinger. As I'm planning out their adventure and sessions, the thought crosses my mind.
If he's airborn and fires something bigger than a pistol, does the blowback actually move him? How far? Which guns push him back which distance?
This would mostly be for flavor, but I could definitely see times where it would come into combat/gameplay. Thoughts?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM and World-Builder. Obsessed with the story.
"But, did it look cool?" - Ozaka, Tabaxi Paladin, impaled upside down on a dungeon wall.
How about this: would you see any issue with me adding this in for flavor? Would anyone be upset by having their character move a space back because they used a blunderbuss while airborne?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM and World-Builder. Obsessed with the story.
"But, did it look cool?" - Ozaka, Tabaxi Paladin, impaled upside down on a dungeon wall.
The recoil wouldn't be enough to push you back a significant distance in my opinion; it's going to be very close to the amount of force the creature on the receiving end gets. Sure, it might push your arms a fair bit, but it takes a significant amount of force to push a medium-sized humanoid, and the main reason ammunition pierces people is because the force is concentrated into a very small area.
How about this: would you see any issue with me adding this in for flavor? Would anyone be upset by having their character move a space back because they used a blunderbuss while airborne?
Well, I mean, it would be interesting if it was their first time firing a firearm while airborne and afterwards let them comphensate for the recoil. As we're talking about a gunslinger, they're probably very familiar with firing a gun (and flying.) So, maybe just narratively impress upon him recoil and the difficulty of keeping steady, without putting any sort of mechanics onto it. After all, as an avian, the character control over their airborne movement and doesn't rely on friction between their feet and the ground for stability.
I am starting a new campaign as DM and one of my players is working with an Aarakocra Gunslinger. As I'm planning out their adventure and sessions, the thought crosses my mind.
If he's airborn and fires something bigger than a pistol, does the blowback actually move him? How far? Which guns push him back which distance?
This would mostly be for flavor, but I could definitely see times where it would come into combat/gameplay. Thoughts?
DM and World-Builder. Obsessed with the story.
I wouldn't think the blowback would move him more than 2 feet, so less than 1 square.
The official rules make no mention of recoil from firearms.
How about this: would you see any issue with me adding this in for flavor? Would anyone be upset by having their character move a space back because they used a blunderbuss while airborne?
DM and World-Builder. Obsessed with the story.
The recoil wouldn't be enough to push you back a significant distance in my opinion; it's going to be very close to the amount of force the creature on the receiving end gets. Sure, it might push your arms a fair bit, but it takes a significant amount of force to push a medium-sized humanoid, and the main reason ammunition pierces people is because the force is concentrated into a very small area.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Even my "less than 2 feet" estimate is more about keeping balance than on actual push.
Ask the aaracokra player if they are cool with the idea.
Well, I mean, it would be interesting if it was their first time firing a firearm while airborne and afterwards let them comphensate for the recoil. As we're talking about a gunslinger, they're probably very familiar with firing a gun (and flying.) So, maybe just narratively impress upon him recoil and the difficulty of keeping steady, without putting any sort of mechanics onto it. After all, as an avian, the character control over their airborne movement and doesn't rely on friction between their feet and the ground for stability.
Thanks, y'all. Good thoughts all around.
DM and World-Builder. Obsessed with the story.