Change firearms back to officially optional rules, please.

Quote from naylortristan79 >>

 Crossbows get crossbow master it allows you to use bonus action as an additional crossbow attack as well as ignoring loading not sure about bows though

Crossbow Expert, but yes, that's what I mean, the progression is the same. Bows just need Sharpshooter. In terms of available feats, the selection is similar or worse for bows and crossbows.

Fair enough - although Heavy Crossbow and Long Bow can both benefit from 2nd aspect of Great Weapon Master so you can add proficiency bonus to damage (I think).

 Honestly, I think in most builds longbow (with sharpshooter) is going to be better than any firearm or crossbow, because it ignores 1/2 and 3/4 cover (which will reliably put its DPR above a heavy crossbow if 1/2 cover is present, which is very common) and has nonsensical range (full effect out to 600'). Second best is probably the heavy crossbow, because at least 100' is a range outside of most monster's immediate 'eat your face' range. Yes, a musket or dual hand crossbows can get higher dpr at close ranges, but those ranges are terrible.

Just say no?

In my experience,  learning to say no to player requests that don't fit your world or would be disruptive is a valuable skill for a DM to have. 

If you don't want fire arms, don't have them. 

I have a standing ban on warforged and artificers simply because I don't like the vibe. 

You're allowed to do that

I’m letting them in for my mega world but depending on the setting so I’m currently running pirates they are very available but if it’s elven central there are more bows than guns. Also I sub crossbows for guns but yes warforged is a no. Also bans on some subclasses

I wonder why the modern firearms had their damage bumped up so much. If the revolver had the same damage as the pistol (1d10) but had 6 shots and slightly longer range that would be enough of an advantage to make it appealing. Also, it seems unrealistic that the shotgun and revolver have the same damage. I am mostly commenting on game mechanics and not physics of guns piercing armor etc...

I'm helping my son build an artificer (who is using +1 Repeating Shot w/ a pistol) and it would be nice to have other non-OP firearms that he can use (we watch Vox Machina so he is inspired by Percy much like others). I suppose that we can flavor bows / crossbows into firearms but just don't get why the firearms have to be so out-of-whack with other weapons in the game.

I guess I'd rather that there were a set of feats (like what exists for melee weapons) that could let you build up your expertise to get to these DPR tiers -- with sufficient commitment and levels -- and this would create better balance in my somewhat naive POV.

Yea it’s kinda nuts that a shotgun does worse stat wise to a revolver, I feel like giving it a consistent aoe would make it more distinctive.

I am just old school.  I prefer no guns.  It is not about the mechanics of the game.  To me it just does not fit in my D&D world.  

It is just about the feel of it.  

Quote from Drog2270 >>

I am just old school.  I prefer no guns.  It is not about the mechanics of the game.  To me it just does not fit in my D&D world.  

It is just about the feel of it.  

Early D&D had guns. Or at least, one adventure did. Firearms have since been included since AD&D, whether in optional supplements or the DMG. 2024 might be the first time guns were included in the Players Handbook, but they have a long history within D&D, particularly in the Forgotten Realms and Spelljammer settings. I think firearms in Eberron is new to 5e, but I am not sure about 4e.

More to OP's complaint in another thread, but D&D firearms well predate Critical Role.

Quote from Drog2270 >>

I am just old school.  I prefer no guns.  It is not about the mechanics of the game.  To me it just does not fit in my D&D world.  

It is just about the feel of it.  

 Same.

Quote from Furrybeardedmonk_198654 >>

Quote from Drog2270 >>

I am just old school.  I prefer no guns.  It is not about the mechanics of the game.  To me it just does not fit in my D&D world.  

It is just about the feel of it.  

 Same.

 Mine is set in steampunk feel so I allow them but only to 1 or 2 members of the party