I’d say there should be a tool proficiency involved. Maybe tinker? Maybe something else as appropriate like carpentry. Id keep damage low-ish, just because I don’t want them crafting a bunch of no-spell slot fireballs (which is probably how I’d treat it in terms of blast size). I guess these would be a lot harder to transport and use, but still. There’s no gunpowder RAW, because in a world with magic, why would you need it? So anything you do, I’d suggest being careful about giving them too much. You can always decide you want to let it be more powerful (they found a better gunpowder or something) but taking things away if you make it too strong is hard. Then I’d say probably anyone caught in it would make a save for half damage. Calculate it like a save DC as if the person who made it cast a spell (8+proficiency + ability modifier).
Id also make it pretty finicky. Heavy, and they would need to track the weight. Dangerous to transport. Can’t get it wet. If they got one in a cart and a mage hits the cart with a fireball, that could set it off. But that’s me, I’m old school and don’t like guns in my D&D. If you want to Make it easier for them to use, you certainly could.
Looking at other alternatives that are readily available (in this case I mean "printed in the PHB"), Alchemist's Fire costs 50gp (one week's work to craft for an alchemist) for a weaksauce 1d4 fire damage. Even in the most ideal situation it'll rarely deal even 3d4 damage to a creature before it gives in and takes the action to put it out, but being a bit clever you can throw it at flammable objects to create a bigger and deadlier fire. DC 10 save.
Basic poison 100gp, and adds 1d4 to a melee weapon for 1 minute, or three pieces of ammunition. Again 3d4 in case of ammunition, so let's use that as a good base for craftable damage. Also is DC 10 save.
Holy Water is cheap at 25gp for 2d6 damage to a fiend or undead, also thrown 20 feet much like the alchemists fire.
d4's are pretty boring to roll multiple's of, but up to 3d4 is almost like 2d6 which is holy water (or greatsword) damage and pretty decent. Naturally it'd have to be an aoe of some sort, which would be powerful compared to those options above, in particular since thematically save vs half damage seems fitting, which could justify a doubling of the price of poison. But if you're the type of group who accepts gunpowder in your fantasy world, you might as well undersell it to make it a bit more common, as pricing it at more than 100gp can seem overly punishing. So maybe something like:
100gp worth of materials, careful measurements, and a moderately safe container = Can be thrown up to 20 feet, dealing 2d6 thunder damage in a 5' radius when landing, DC 10 Dex for half damage. You want a bigger boom, double the price to add either +5' radius, or +1d6 damage, or +2 DC. Double again and again and again to make a huge boom, or just find a high level wizard to cast a proper Evocation spell.
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New to DM'ing. The party is fascinated with crafting traps and explosives. Example: a keg of gunpowder wrapped with ball bearings held by fabric.
3 questions:
- What proficiencies or requirements other than materials should it require?
- How would you go about calculating damage?
- How would you calculate it's likelihood for success?
I’d say there should be a tool proficiency involved. Maybe tinker? Maybe something else as appropriate like carpentry.
Id keep damage low-ish, just because I don’t want them crafting a bunch of no-spell slot fireballs (which is probably how I’d treat it in terms of blast size). I guess these would be a lot harder to transport and use, but still. There’s no gunpowder RAW, because in a world with magic, why would you need it? So anything you do, I’d suggest being careful about giving them too much. You can always decide you want to let it be more powerful (they found a better gunpowder or something) but taking things away if you make it too strong is hard.
Then I’d say probably anyone caught in it would make a save for half damage. Calculate it like a save DC as if the person who made it cast a spell (8+proficiency + ability modifier).
Id also make it pretty finicky. Heavy, and they would need to track the weight. Dangerous to transport. Can’t get it wet. If they got one in a cart and a mage hits the cart with a fireball, that could set it off. But that’s me, I’m old school and don’t like guns in my D&D. If you want to Make it easier for them to use, you certainly could.
Looking at other alternatives that are readily available (in this case I mean "printed in the PHB"), Alchemist's Fire costs 50gp (one week's work to craft for an alchemist) for a weaksauce 1d4 fire damage. Even in the most ideal situation it'll rarely deal even 3d4 damage to a creature before it gives in and takes the action to put it out, but being a bit clever you can throw it at flammable objects to create a bigger and deadlier fire. DC 10 save.
Basic poison 100gp, and adds 1d4 to a melee weapon for 1 minute, or three pieces of ammunition. Again 3d4 in case of ammunition, so let's use that as a good base for craftable damage. Also is DC 10 save.
Holy Water is cheap at 25gp for 2d6 damage to a fiend or undead, also thrown 20 feet much like the alchemists fire.
d4's are pretty boring to roll multiple's of, but up to 3d4 is almost like 2d6 which is holy water (or greatsword) damage and pretty decent. Naturally it'd have to be an aoe of some sort, which would be powerful compared to those options above, in particular since thematically save vs half damage seems fitting, which could justify a doubling of the price of poison. But if you're the type of group who accepts gunpowder in your fantasy world, you might as well undersell it to make it a bit more common, as pricing it at more than 100gp can seem overly punishing. So maybe something like:
100gp worth of materials, careful measurements, and a moderately safe container = Can be thrown up to 20 feet, dealing 2d6 thunder damage in a 5' radius when landing, DC 10 Dex for half damage.
You want a bigger boom, double the price to add either +5' radius, or +1d6 damage, or +2 DC. Double again and again and again to make a huge boom, or just find a high level wizard to cast a proper Evocation spell.
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.