Basic Assault Rifle

Weapon (martial, firearm requires Firearms proficiency or special training)

Weight: 8 lb. • Magazines: 30 rounds (standard) • Damage: 2d8 piercing (single shot) • Range: 80/320 ft (short/long) • Ammunition, reload (magazine), two‑handed, heavy*

Attack & Use

• Attack roll: d20 + proficiency bonus + Dexterity modifier (uses Dexterity for attack and damage).
• Damage: 2d8 + Dexterity modifier (piercing) on a hit.
• Critical: On a natural 20, roll damage normally and add one extra 2d8.

Fire Modes

You may switch firing modes as part of a short rest or with a bonus action if you have a weapon manipulation feature allowing it. Changing magazine counts as reloading (see Reload below).

1. Semi Automatic (default).
   • Action: Make one ranged attack.
   • Ammo used: 1 round.
2. 3‑Round Burst.
   • Action: Fire a 3‑round burst. Make three separate attack rolls (they can target the same creature or different creatures within range). Each attack roll is made at 2 to hit.
   • Ammo used: 3 rounds.
   • Notes: If you have Extra Attack, the burst still consumes its action to fire the three attacks (it does not stack with Extra Attack).
3. Full‑Auto Suppressive Fire.
   • Action: Choose one 30 ft. line or a single creature within range. All creatures in the line (or the single chosen creature) must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + Dexterity modifier of the shooter).
     • On a failed save: target takes 2d8 piercing (half on success).
     • Ammo used: consumes 1 round per creature hit (minimum 1, maximum magazine capacity). For a line target, count only creatures hit toward ammo usage.
   • Limitation: Full auto is loud and excessive; using it attracts attention (see Sound & Stealth).
   • Special: Using Full Auto requires the shooter to be trained with Automatic Weapons (DM’s call otherwise use only Semi/Burst).

Reload & Ammo

• Reload: Replacing the magazine is an Action. If you have a spare magazine and a free hand, you may reload as a Bonus Action with a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check DC 10.
• Speedloader / Quick Change: If the weapon has a Quick Change mod, reload as a bonus action automatically.
• Out of Ammo: If you try to fire with no ammo, you may spend an Action to chamber a round from a tracked supply (DM adjudicates).

Jams & Misfires

• Natural 1 on an attack roll: Roll d20 again. On a second roll of 1–3, the weapon jams (misfires).
• Clearing a jam: Use an Action and succeed on either:
  • Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check DC 12, or
  • Intelligence (Tinker’s Tools) check DC 10.
  • On a failure, it takes your next turn to clear the jam (or use a tool/ally to assist, giving advantage).
• Misfire chance increases by +1 on the second jam in the same encounter, and +2 for the third (reset after an hour of maintenance).

Overheat (Sustained Fire)

• Each time you use Full Auto, mark one Overheat point. If you gain 3 Overheat points without a short rest or maintenance, make a Constitution saving throw (DC 12 + number of Overheat points beyond 2).
  • On a failed save: the weapon overheats and is unusable for 1d4 rounds (cooldown), and you take 1d6 fire damage.
  • On a success: weapon works, but you cannot use Full Auto again until you finish a short rest or spend an Action to perform a cooling procedure (Intelligence (Tinker’s Tools) DC 12 to cool immediately).
• A short rest with maintenance (Tinker’s Tools DC 10) clears all Overheat points.

Sound, Concealment & Stealth

• Firing the rifle is very loud: it automatically alerts creatures within 300 ft unless the shooter has a suppressor mod or the DM rules otherwise.
• Attacks made without taking steps to conceal (stealth) grant advantage to saving throws against being located (DM call).

Maintenance & Long-Term Checks

• If you go 24 hours without proper maintenance, the weapon incurs a 1 penalty to attack rolls (stacking) until cleaned.
• Cleaning check: Intelligence (Tinker’s Tools) DC 10 restores normal function; DC 15 if it’s been used in harsh (wet/acid/ash) conditions.

Crafting, Costs & Rarity (suggested)

• Crafting requirement: Smith’s tools or Tinker’s Tools; one who crafts must be proficient with them and have Firearms training.
• Craft DC: Smith’s Tools or Tinker’s Tools check DC 15 plus access to firearm parts and a forge/workshop.
• Base cost: 600 gp (common world variant) — DM can increase for high fantasy settings.
• Rarity: Uncommon to Rare, depending on setting & legal restrictions.

Optional/Modular Upgrades (useful DM economy)

• Suppressor (mod): Costs 150 gp. Reduces sound to standard loudness (not quiet), halves alerted radius, and gives +2 bonus to Stealth checks when firing. Requires Tinker’s Tools DC 12 to attach.
• Optic (scope): +1 to attack roll for long range beyond the short range, or grants advantage on checks to spot targets at long distance. Cost 200 gp.
• Extended/Drum Mag: +20 or +40 rounds. +120 gp / +250 gp. Increases weight and reload time (reload still Action).
• Bipod (stabilizer): Grants +1 to attack rolls when prone or braced; reduces recoil penalties for Burst (apply as 1 instead of 2). Cost 75 gp, attached with DC 10 Tinker’s Tools.
• Armor Piercing rounds: Treats cover as 1 step lower (e.g., three-quarters cover -> half cover). Rare ammo; +50 gp per 10 rounds.

Suggested Balance Notes for DMs

• The rifle is powerful at range; balanced by limiting availability, requiring training, and giving clear drawbacks: loud, heavy, reload cost, jam chance, and overheating.
• If players get Extra Attack or multiattack features, explicitly prevent stacking Burst/Full Auto with class Extra Attack unless you want high fire rates, e.g., say “Burst uses the Attack action and cannot be combined with Extra Attack.”

Quick Reference (for table)

• Attack: d20 + Prof + Dex
• Damage (Semi): 2d8 + Dex (piercing)
• Burst: 3 attacks at 2; uses 3 ammo
• Full Auto: 30 ft line or single target; Dex save DC = 8 + Prof + Dex; fail = 2d8, half on success; ammo per target.
• Reload: Action (bonus action with Sleight of Hand DC10 + spare mag)
• Jam on nat 1 -> reroll 1 3 = jam. Clear: Sleight DC12 or Tinker DC10.
• Overheat: 3 uses of Full‑Auto → Con save DC 13+ → possible unusable +1d6 fire.
• Craft: Smith/Tinker DC15; cost ~600 gp.

Proficiency with a Heavy Crossbow allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

Notes: Ammunition, Heavy, Loading, Range, Two-Handed, Push