Basic Pistol

• Weapon type: Martial, ranged
• Damage: 1d10 piercing
• Range: 30/90 ft. (short/long)
• Properties: Ammunition (revolver cylinder, 6), Loading (one shot per attack), Two‑handed? No (can be used with one hand), Light.
• Weight: 3 lb.
• Proficiency: Proficiency with martial ranged weapons applies.
• Ability: Attack rolls use Dexterity.

Attack & criticals

• To hit: d20 + proficiency bonus + Dex modifier.
• On a natural 20: critical roll weapon damage dice twice (so 2d10) and apply other critical effects as your table uses.
• On a natural 1: treat as an attack failure, see Malfunction / Jam below.

Ammunition & Reloading

• Capacity: 6 rounds (cylinder).
• Reload (normal): Replacing/rotating a full cylinder takes 1 Action.
• Speed reload (risky): Attempt a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check against DC 15 to reload as a Bonus Action.
  • Success: cylinder reloaded (you fire on subsequent turns).
  • Failure: the pistol jams (see Malfunction).
• Partial reloads: not mechanically tracked unless your table wants to track individual rounds; you may allow "load 1 2 rounds" as a DM call (DC and time vary).

Malfunction / Jam

• Trigger: On a natural 1 when firing, or when a Speed Reload check fails.
• Effect: The pistol is jammed; it cannot fire until cleared.
• Clear jam: spend 1 Action to attempt a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Strength (Athletics) check vs DC 10.
  • Success: pistol cleared.
  • Failure: still jammed, must spend another Action to try again.

Recoil (controlling follow-up shots)

• If you fire more than once in the same turn (for example, via Action Surge, Crossbow Expert-like features, or TWF house rules), each additional shot after the first incurs 2 to attack rolls (cumulative).
• Control recoil: you can make a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check vs DC 12 as a free/bonus action (DM call) to avoid the 2 penalty for that extra shot.
  • Fail: take the penalty; Crit on natural 1 still triggers jam rules.

Aiming / Steadying (optional tactical rules)

• Steady Aim (optional bonus action): make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check vs DC 12.
  • Success: gain +2 to attack rolls with the pistol until the end of your turn (or ignore half cover for that shot).
  • Failure: no benefit, you still used the bonus action.

Special: Precision Shot (optional)

• If you spend your Action to make a single aimed shot (no movement beyond 5 feet), treat it as a Precision Shot: add +1d4 to damage. DM can make this a class/feat feature if desired.

Suggested Balance notes (DM tips)

• Treat this like a hand crossbow / light martial firearm in terms of rarity and proficiency expectations. It deals slightly more than a shortbow/hand crossbow (1d10 vs 1d6/1d8) but has ammunition limits and reload risk to balance it.
• If you allow cross-class rapid fire features or feats, enforce the recoil checks to keep pistols from becoming too spammable.

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

Notes: Ammunition, Light, Loading, Range, Vex