So I was browsing the Basic items list and I came across the Antimatter Rifle. I....don't really remember that ever being a thing? Why is this a thing? How long has this been a thing?
EDIT (2024): Hey guys, this thread is from like seven years ago. Maybe consider making a new thread if this topic interests you after reading through it. Maybe this thread is tired of waking up after five or more returns from the grave....
Yes, D&D has had a long history of Sci-Fi stuff popping up occasionally. These weapons, as well as modern firearms and old school muskets in addition to explosives, are all listed in the DMG. Generally, a PC will not have them but say you want a Mind Flayer Nautilus to come out of a tesseracted limbo space having survived for 10,000 years via cloned brain meats and wanted to give them a little oomph, these give you an option/guideline.
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Sci-fi weapons have been in D&D since at least 1e. I think the original inclusion might be related to the section in the 1e DMG p113 discussing linking and character conversion for AD&D to RPGs called Boot Hill (wild west setting) and Gamma World (Sci-fi setting ... powered attack armor has an AC of -8 :) ).
Does anyone know how to obtain this item? I have a Half- Elf ranger that might be able to use it.
A good start would be to ask your DM to adapt or find an adaptation of "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks" to 5E, adjust it to party's setting (you just need a precarious mountain range in your geography), and run it. I don't know if anti-matter rifles are specifically in the treasure trove, but there's enough artifacts in there to make that Ranger proficient in laser, blaster, anti-matter and plasma munitions.
Does anyone know how to obtain this item? I have a Half- Elf ranger that might be able to use it.
College of creation bards can summon them
College of Creation is limited to a value of 20xBard Level, and all Modern or Futuristic weapons are listed as 'priceless', so before 14th level no chance. At 14th level the GP limit is suspended, though the antimatter rifle only has two shots and you'd have to separately create more ammunition, and presumably the creation bard is still only able to create items they are familiar with (allowing creating other items opens up all sorts of shenanigans, such as "I create a book containing the answer to my question").
Why? Gamma World has the same thing. The Marvel Universe has the same thing. Star Wars AND Star Trek have the same thing. DC Universe has the same thing. More than half of the action anime out there has the same thing...
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D&D has a long history of adding in some sci-fi to the fantasy. The Expedition to the Barrier Peaks that was referenced back when this thread was new was one of the original D&D modules that was first run at a convention in 1976 and eventually updated for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and published under that rules set in 1980. The plot of the module is the adventurers finding a crashed starship in an isolated mountain range and having to battle the robots and aliens in the ship, with opportunities to get such items as powered armor and laser weapons as treasure.
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"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
So I was browsing the Basic items list and I came across the Antimatter Rifle. I....don't really remember that ever being a thing? Why is this a thing? How long has this been a thing?
EDIT: Also comes in Laser Pistol and Laser Rifle varieties.
EDIT (2024): Hey guys, this thread is from like seven years ago. Maybe consider making a new thread if this topic interests you after reading through it. Maybe this thread is tired of waking up after five or more returns from the grave....
They are alternate weapons in the Adventuring Options section of the DMG:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/compendium/rules/dmg/dungeon-masters-workshop#Firearms
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Yeah, they were added recently as options. 9/25/17 Changelog
Yes, D&D has had a long history of Sci-Fi stuff popping up occasionally. These weapons, as well as modern firearms and old school muskets in addition to explosives, are all listed in the DMG. Generally, a PC will not have them but say you want a Mind Flayer Nautilus to come out of a tesseracted limbo space having survived for 10,000 years via cloned brain meats and wanted to give them a little oomph, these give you an option/guideline.
GM of The Bonus Role - We are playing a 5E game set in my homebrew world of Audra check us out Sunday's at 10 AM CST and follow us at the following social media links.
https://www.twitch.tv/thebonusrole
@BonusRole
This weapon came up as an option for the gladiator background starting equipment.
Are you not entertained?
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Sci-fi weapons have been in D&D since at least 1e. I think the original inclusion might be related to the section in the 1e DMG p113 discussing linking and character conversion for AD&D to RPGs called Boot Hill (wild west setting) and Gamma World (Sci-fi setting ... powered attack armor has an AC of -8 :) ).
I found it very entertaining, my gm would probably think it's cool I have this weapon until the first time I use it and roll damage lol.
I have no issues with sci fi in d&d but thought it weird it was even a choice as potential starting gear.
The travesty of this going unappreciated shall not go unavenged.
Does anyone know how to obtain this item? I have a Half- Elf ranger that might be able to use it.
A good start would be to ask your DM to adapt or find an adaptation of "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks" to 5E, adjust it to party's setting (you just need a precarious mountain range in your geography), and run it. I don't know if anti-matter rifles are specifically in the treasure trove, but there's enough artifacts in there to make that Ranger proficient in laser, blaster, anti-matter and plasma munitions.
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College of creation bards can summon them
College of Creation is limited to a value of 20xBard Level, and all Modern or Futuristic weapons are listed as 'priceless', so before 14th level no chance. At 14th level the GP limit is suspended, though the antimatter rifle only has two shots and you'd have to separately create more ammunition, and presumably the creation bard is still only able to create items they are familiar with (allowing creating other items opens up all sorts of shenanigans, such as "I create a book containing the answer to my question").
Is that just because the Gladiator background specifically calls out that the player can start with an unusual weapon of some kind?
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The gladiator background says you can have a unusual but inexpensive weapon , but that makes it more confusing
It feels odd that we have Shortswords, longswords, short bows, daggers, and then out of nowhere: FREAKIN ANTIMATTER RIFLES.
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Why? Gamma World has the same thing. The Marvel Universe has the same thing. Star Wars AND Star Trek have the same thing. DC Universe has the same thing. More than half of the action anime out there has the same thing...
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Well yeah but dnd kinda always seems medieval you know? Just making things seem more modern with ✨Magic✨
👋Hiya, Howdy, And Hello! Wanna hang out? 😁
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D&D has a long history of adding in some sci-fi to the fantasy. The Expedition to the Barrier Peaks that was referenced back when this thread was new was one of the original D&D modules that was first run at a convention in 1976 and eventually updated for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and published under that rules set in 1980. The plot of the module is the adventurers finding a crashed starship in an isolated mountain range and having to battle the robots and aliens in the ship, with opportunities to get such items as powered armor and laser weapons as treasure.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Good to know. Love the signature by the way!
👋Hiya, Howdy, And Hello! Wanna hang out? 😁
{[Get to know me]}