So i'm running a spelljammer game and people have just made characters, we've got around half the party using guns which i'm happy to give them pistols or muskets at the start but i'm a little worried this makes the other characters (paladin, barbarian and sorcerer) seem a little underpowered in comparison but also feel that giving them magic weapons will go to far in the other direction so not sure what to give them.
why not simply have someone in game hand the paladin, barbarian, and sorcerer pistols too? it can't make things worse and it might lead to a fun moment...
"ya look naked. here! gonna need some way to protect yerself where we're a' goin."
...and then let them decide what to do with them. let the paladin hand it back with a baleful look as if you've insulted their bravery. let the barbarian attach it decoratively to their leathers like another barbarian might collect antlers. let the sorcerer go about trying to add magic to theirs until you're forced to call it an arcane focus. worst case scenario they all say "oh, thanks" and try to use them without proficiency. and even that's a chance for a moment, right? i see your worry is about power balance, but really the game is about story. hopefully giving them a choice to have a little fun with will tip things in favor of story over power. either way, don't overthink it too much. :D
So i'm running a spelljammer game and people have just made characters, we've got around half the party using guns which i'm happy to give them pistols or muskets at the start but i'm a little worried this makes the other characters (paladin, barbarian and sorcerer) seem a little underpowered in comparison but also feel that giving them magic weapons will go to far in the other direction so not sure what to give them.
why not simply have someone in game hand the paladin, barbarian, and sorcerer pistols too? it can't make things worse and it might lead to a fun moment...
"ya look naked. here! gonna need some way to protect yerself where we're a' goin."
...and then let them decide what to do with them. let the paladin hand it back with a baleful look as if you've insulted their bravery. let the barbarian attach it decoratively to their leathers like another barbarian might collect antlers. let the sorcerer go about trying to add magic to theirs until you're forced to call it an arcane focus. worst case scenario they all say "oh, thanks" and try to use them without proficiency. and even that's a chance for a moment, right? i see your worry is about power balance, but really the game is about story. hopefully giving them a choice to have a little fun with will tip things in favor of story over power. either way, don't overthink it too much. :D
unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
tell them you don't like features disappeared quietly in the night: provide feedback!