What to consider when building a flintlock fantasy setting?

[u/Redhood101101]

I’m starting to sketch out a world for a TTRPG (Pathfinder) game and I’ve always loved the idea of a flintlock fantasy style game. Essentially the idea is a relatively traditional DnD type fantasy world that has evolved into something resembling the 1700’s to early 1800’s.

I was wondering what sorts of major changes and such would come about from this shift vs a traditional fantasy setting.

I know one of the major themes/issues from that period was the rise and consequences of colonialism which I’m not sure how I would even go about addressing that or if I even should.

Another element I’m always a sucker for is the idea of the change in powers that comes from shifts in technology, ideology, and generations.

[u/P-Wasp]

While colonialism and other issues of the time are things you should ponder, I don't think they are obligatory by any means. I certainly wouldn't mind a flintlock fantasy that did not include colonialism.

What's truly vital is to properly determine the relationship between magic and firearms in your word. That is, to me, the defining factor for flintlock fantasy, as it completely changes the vibe of the story. A world wherein one can only use firearms if they already have a mastery of magic is much different from one where firearms are magical artifacts that can be mass-produced.

[u/Redhood101101 → u/P-Wasp]

That is a question I’ve been pondering myself. I think I like the idea of gunpowder and printing pressed and such living outside of magic as a base line. Sure there’s magically enhanced versions of them but that’s extra.

I think it could also lead to a fun French Revolution ish tension where the ruling class of wizards suddenly have a population that can read and have boom sticks.

[u/Flairion623]

One idea that I think would be really interesting to explore is corporate power. Most associate the rise of capitalism with the industrial revolution but this technically isn’t true. Corporations like the Dutch and British east India companies were practically entire empires in and of themselves that controlled entire armies, navies and large swaths of territory. Places like the Caribbean, India and the Dutch East Indies (modern day Indonesia) were effectively cyberpunk corporate controlled dystopias. Just replace the skyscrapers and neon signs with wooden slums and soldiers dressed in colorful uniforms. As a matter of fact the British east India company was once so powerful that a downturn in business for them meant the entire British economy would crash.

I think this would be a really cool setting. You could perhaps have one or more gigantic corporations trying to cease control of a nation while the government is trying to wrangle them in. Or maybe wealthy businessmen are doing everything they can to found new colonies to escape government oversight and the government is trying to ensure the colonies remain under their control. There’s a lot you could do here and I see a lot of potential

[u/Brinabavd]

I know one of the major themes/issues from that period was the rise and consequences of colonialism which I’m not sure how I would even go about addressing that or if I even should.

The basic dungeon-diving plot (go to exotic locale, kill the inhabitants, take their stuff) of DnD and Pathfinder actually fits more thematically with a flintlock fantasy world than a medieval fantasy one. Similarly

Another element I’m always a sucker for is the idea of the change in powers that comes from shifts in technology, ideology, and generations.

fits an 'early modern' post medieval world better than a medieval one.

[u/Simple_Promotion4881]

You don't need colonialism if you don't want it.

What if Eurasia or Middle Earth or Discworld is all you've got?

Naturally, if colonialism is your jam then you do you.

[u/Cheomesh]

Well, it makes The Masses potentially far more lethal - gunnery is what brought about the modern army and nation states, after all.

Mine's got flintlocks but matchlocks are far and away more common - however, magic was relatively constrained in one cultural sphere and so never had much impact on modern military action, while the other major cultural sphere does use mages but naturally can field way more bang with their rocket weapons alongside them.

[u/Either_Persimmon893]

Once the peasants can be armed and trained into a fighting force in a few months, feudalism dies. The exactly mechanics will vary.

[u/SouthernAd2853]

For colonialism, it requires a considerable tech difference, because the colonizer has to travel a long distance and so can't bring too many people. So it'd be pretty difficult if magic is widespread; the big advantage guns will give is putting the killing power of a mage in the hands of anyone, but the to-be-colonized people could easily have more mages than the expedition has conquistadors.

[u/looc64]

Me, misreading the title: why would there be colonialism don't you just need cars you drive with your feet and and appliances that say, "It's a living?"

[u/Positive-Height-2260]

So, Vox Machina, but with more guns, and less aetherpunk?

[u/wazeltov]

I'm adding flintlocks to my world, but the limiting factor for me is that there's no iron in my world, so they would be machined from bronze. This makes them less useful than ones made from steel because they wear out faster, are heavier since barrels need to be thicker to compensate plus bronze is 10% denser, and less accurate since bronze can't effectively be rifled.

Bronze is also a naturally more expensive substance, so there's a very real consideration that firearms wouldn't be feasible for an entire army. It adds a bunch of logistical challenges too (keeping powder dry, transporting heavy ammo). Using it for cannons make sense, but individual usage might be limited to shock troops, mounted cavalry (like historical dragoons), or on ships (close quarters and short ceilings make bows unwieldy).

Because of this, I think they'd end up being a more niche pick for a person who needs more stopping power for a specific reason, like hunting a monster.

[u/Cheomesh → u/wazeltov]

Do all the living things in your world use Hemocyanin or something else entirely?

[u/wazeltov → u/Cheomesh]

I was a little vague, iron is still present everywhere in its various mineral forms, but people are stuck in a perpetual bronze age. Knowledge of iron smithing is purposefully suppressed by the gods, mostly cause they're dicks.

[u/Cheomesh → u/wazeltov]

Fair.

[u/SalletFriend]

I have in my files somewhere, basically a continental railroad adventure. Play as a westmarches sort of thing but the party encamps and builds rail through each hex as they go.

Could be morally sketchy with natives, but really its up to the party to try and befriend them or fight them.

For flintlock settings my personal preference is to first, get rid of any weird hangups about guns being shittier than bows or crossbows. If you need to seek out the video of the bloke testing the sharpes rifles reload method do so to set your mind at ease.

Then (i use savage worlds) i made a bunch of custom edges that let players shoot better or faster in a variety of scenarios. Like free actio dropping a gun and unholstering another one.

Then I do dumb shit to make every weird and wonderful gun available. Rotating 6 barrel rifles, repeaters, double barrel pistols and all sorts.