THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE

A Compendium / Add-on for the 5E Gunslinger

class by MATTHEW MERCER

v1.1 2-19

The Gunsmith's Treatise is meant to serve as an in-road for DM's who wish to allow their players to
play the archetype in their worlds, but who might be unsure how to bring gunpowder, firearms, and
that level of technology into their campaigns without severely unbalancing their worlds.

In this Treatise, both players and Dungeon Masters will find ideas on how one can source the raw
materials necessary for gunpowder in and out of shops, additions to existing checks for Tinker's Tools
used for firearm repair and creation, and additional features and potential drawbacks for firearm and
ammunition experimentation.

DESIGNED BY XERO REYNOLDS & JESSE SCHLAM FOR

HAUNTED MOUNTAIN TABLETOP

ART BY XERO REYNOLDS

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other
Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are
property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork
contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.

©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The

Square,Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK .

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.

The Gunsmith's Treatise 1

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

GUNPOWDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
STANDARD AMMUNITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
GUNSMITHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
GRIT EXPANSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
EXPERIMENTATION AND UPGRADING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
- experimentation table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
- upgrading firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SPECIAL AMMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
- enhanced misfire options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
THE ARMORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Gunpowder
“Comprehend Languages? Unnecessary. I find that
'click' and 'boom' are universally understood across
the realms.”
-Malacodah, Tiefling Gunslinger
By default, gunpowder already exists in the DMG (p
267), and is sold in horns or kegs. Additionally, it can
be found in the same section in crude devices such as
light-and-toss bombs, grenades, or sticks of dynamite.
The rules for the damage dealt from these weapons or
standard containers of gunpowder being ignited are
also spelled out. As a DM, you've already got a solid
base to work from if you're not sure where to begin.
But as Mercer rightly points out, gunpowder can still
come at a premium, or be rare enough to cost
ridiculous amounts. This rough brand of black
powder economy can leave the Gunslinger in the
lurch unless they have a large disposable income,
access to a friendly alchemist, or have the know-how
to source the materials themselves to save some coin.
The obvious benefit for the player choosing this DIY
method is the ability to sell their excess black powder
at a profit, provided they can safely get the material to
a venue where they might market it (and provided the
DM is okay with it!).
Gunpowder Pricing per DMG
Gunpowder (Horn) . . . (2 lbs) 35gp
Gunpowder (Keg) . . . (20 lbs) 250gp
In the end, the choice falls to the DM on whether or
not to streamline the player's production of
gunpowder, as just gathering the raw materials may
be enough of a challenge on its own before one
factors in the means to process them.
With that in mind, here are the basics to give DM and
player alike an idea of what to expect, suggested
prices for materials, and where to source the
components.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
GUNPOWDER INGREDIENTS
Saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate) 75% . . . DM Discretion
Softwood Charcoal 15% . . . 1sp per pound
Sulfur 10% . . . 50sp per pound
Graphite Powder . . . used to coat gunpowder
granules, and prevent ignition by static discharge.
(DM's discretion)
Natural sources of Sulfur: hot springs, thermal vents,
volcanic areas, mineral deposits
Natural sources of Charcoal suitable for gunpowder:
any remnants from burning softwood trees
You might notice that saltpeter is the key ingredient in
gunpowder percentile wise, and that we've not
included a price. Why is that?
Well, the honest answer is that saltpeter tends to be
the most time consuming and difficult of the materials
to source. The DM must decide how far along the
development curve their world is when it comes to
gunpowder, and the means to produce it.
To give you an idea, let's look at the natural sources
of saltpeter: alkaline deserts, urine, guano, limestone
caverns, sap from the sunflower plant, tobacco,
spinach, celery, cabbage, and certain soils.
As you can see, saltpeter either requires certain
conditions (the mixture of water through limestone
formations interacting with bat droppings, soil that
has experienced certain plants and growing
conditions, mineral-specific arid climes), or a high
level of skill with alchemy to distill it in minute
amounts from certain plants.
There is also a process called a “nitrate bed” that
utilizes straw, grass, urine, and a time frame involving
months to allow the nitrates from urine to chemically
combine with the other organic material.
3
The resulting calcium nitrate, once dried, is collected
from this niter bed, run through wood ash, and then
allowed to dry to produce gunpowder-grade saltpeter.
It's a pretty involved process for the average
adventurer …
… but not for the enterprising shopkeeper,
particularly if they can charge for the process.
This could be another in-road for the DM. While
things like charcoal simply involve burning some
wood, sulfur itself still has to be processed from the
raw mineral form into usable powder for the mixture.
Mining concerns, alchemist stores, and other
professionals that deal with minerals might offer this
for a modest fee.
There is also the matter of crafting the gunpowder,
and the inherent risks involved. The DM could allow
a player that lacks the alchemist tools proficiency to
instead use Grit to aid in the crafting (see Grit
Expansion section), or have the player roll a check
such as Performance with a preset DC to determine if
they are successful.
Here's an example based on a bog standard DC of 10:
9-2: Failure. Materials are spent, and no
gunpowder is produced.
10 or higher: Success, and requisite
amount of gunpowder is created, based on
the weight of the materials.
20: Critical success, “high grade” gunpowder
created which results in more gunpowder
than the sum weight of the components,
DM's discretion
1: Critical failure. Roll percentile dice. If the
result is 59 or above, the powder is simply
inert. If below, the powder ignites, dealing
1d4 fire damage to any creature within five
feet.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
DM EXAMPLE
The Gunslinger's Player wishes to source some
materials to later bring to an Alchemist in town
that has been known to produce black powder
for cannons used by the local naval forces.
The Party's journey tracking down a young Red
Dragon that's been terrorizing the area takes
them through a natural hot spring before they
can reach the beast's den.
“Oh! Can I possibly collect some sulfur while
we're here?” they ask hopefully.
“You can try,” Replies the DM. “Give me a
Nature check.”
The player rolls a total of 17.
“Okay, you realize from your lessons that the
matte yellowish patina around the edge of
some of the pools is sulfur. Did you want to try
to get some?” asks the DM.
“Easier to get it in town,” offers the Rogue.
“I checked. They're out,” the Gunslinger replies.
“Just give me five minutes to get some of this.”
The DM nods. “As you approach one of the
steaming pools, the rotten egg scent is strong.
The sulfurous deposits rim the sloping walls of
the springs. Give me a straight Dexterity check.”
“Wait, why?”
The DM smiles. “To see whether or not you
manage to keep your footing on the edge, or if
you take a plunge into what is basically
disgusting-smelling boiling water.”
Similar checks can be applied to delving through
caves in search of saltpeter, which in turn might
provoke a quick encounter with whatever creature
doesn't appreciate the intrusion into their home.
4
Standard Ammunition
“I'm sorry … you want me to make ye a cannon
ball, but ye want it no bigger than the end o' me
thumb? Well, it's yer coin.”
-Curin, Dwarf Blacksmith
Believe it or not, the means to produce ammunition
for firearms are already commonplace in Dungeons &
Dragons.
Consider the smithing required to produce bolts,
arrowheads, sling ammo, and ball bearings. It is a
simple enough matter for a blacksmith to produce a
ball of metal, after all. If your campaign utilizes
cannons for instance, then it's more than likely that
said smiths are already familiar with making cannon
grape-shot: heavy-gauge bearings which are only
slightly larger than the average bullet for muzzle-
loaded firearms.
However, knowing how something is made is never
the same as being able to make it. Here, the DM can
play around with the process for players that wish to
craft ammo on their own time and dime.
If the player isn't proficient with blacksmith's tools,
there is still a reasonable way for them to make
bullets with some effort, luck, and ingenuity on their
part.
The Tinker's Tools have been largely simplified
within the Gunslinger archetype to give the player the
chance to repair and even create firearms, so it
follows that they would be useful in creating the field
tools necessary for making more ammo, provided the
player has the components to do so.
Short of having access to a smelter, the player's
optimal choice for making bullets in the field would
be lead. Lead can be purchased in thin sheets at 6cp
per sheet. For field-craft, the Gunslinger would
require:
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
Ammunition Tools
1 small crucible or cauldron
1 metal scoop
1 mold, or mold-tool for shaping the liquid
metal.
Time required: time allotted to bring lead to
melting point, and 10-15 minutes per ball for
cooling once poured into a single mold or mold-
tool cavity.
It's suggested that the DM forego playing into the
real-world risks of handling this toxic metal to
simplify the process, but that's entirely up to the DM.
A performance check can be called for for players that
lack blacksmithing knowledge, and other factors may
improve their crafting. (See Grit Expansion section)
Substandard ammunition may be produced by the
Gunslinger on these checks, and while still usable, the
DM may impose penalties on the player for
essentially cutting corners. An example of this might
be raising the misfire score on a weapon that the
Gunslinger has loaded this ammunition into. (See
Experimentation section)
It should also be remembered here that the Gunslinger
Archetype as written allows the player to craft
ammunition using Tinker's Tools at half the cost of
outright purchasing them. DM's should factor this
in when utilizing these suggestions.
With these guidelines, it's entirely fair to allow a
player to craft ammunition at a campfire when the
party rests. Just keep in mind that thee conditions
aren't ideal, and that the Gunslinger will only be able
to produce so much ammo in a set time frame, unless
they're willing to sacrifice some sleep.
5
Gunsmithing
“A chunk of wood, a length of pipe, and a means to
fire the powder. That's all it is. It's the in-between that
makes crafting a gun either a science, or a more
expensive method of removing your own arm.”
-Ulren Ghast, Human Gunslinger
Built in to the Gunslinger Fighter Archetype is the
ability to use Tinker's Tools to construct new weapons
at the DM's discretion. Experimental weapons such as
Bad News and the Hand Mortar are included in the
Gunslinger's basic Firearms table. Anything beyond
that is up to the DM.
This streamlines the otherwise daunting task of
gunsmithing, where the character would realistically
have to know blacksmithing, engineering, and even
woodcarving to produce a workable weapon. But
there are ways to reward those characters whose
backgrounds might delve into those other disciplines,
and also those Gunslingers who may not have those
particular skills.
While not explicitly stated, based on the idea that a
Gunslinger may repair a broken weapon out of
combat at one quarter the weapon's cost, it stands to
reason that creating the weapon itself is a full cost
job.
For unskilled players, the DM can ask for a
Performance check during crafting, with the chance to
reward the player with an additional bonus effect for
the weapon on high or critical successes. Likewise,
penalties on the crafted weapon such as a higher
Misfire or Reload score might be imposed. (See
Experimentation section.)
There is also the idea that repetition in one's craft
yields skill benefits. At higher levels, the DM may
employ this concept for the Gunslinger when making
simpler weapons to replace existing ones, or to sell
for profit.
Example:
At level 10, the Gunslinger not only has Rapid
Repair for fixing weapons in combat, but should
reasonably have had enough experience with their
work that simple firearms are no great task to
construct.
In this case, the DM may choose to reduce the overall
cost for weapons such as the Palm Pistol (50g) and
Pistol (150g) by a significant amount to reflect the
efficiency and knowledge of the Gunslinger.

It's up to the DM to determine fair value for the

materials and time involved in crafting a new weapon.
For experimental weapon ideas, see the
Experimentation section.

This is also where the DM can reward skilled and

unskilled players alike when it comes to
manufacturing. Here's an example for players that
have previously taken proficiency with Smith's Tools
(or similar Homebrew content, such as the
Blacksmith Feat or Background):

Metalcraft Proficiency
Allows the Gunslinger that has proficiency with
Smith's Tools to reduce the cost of crafting a firearm
by at least one-fifth of the weapon's total cost rounded
up, with the total being left to DM's discretion.

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 6

Grit Expansion
“Burns. Splinters. Entry and exit wound scars. The
perpetual taste of black powder on your tongue, and
the stink of brimstone seared into your lungs.

“Do this long enough, and the litany of knowledge

will be written on your flesh as much as it'll be etched
into your brain.”
-Aurie Ravenvale, Half-elf Gunslinger

Grit is based off of the Gunslinger's Wisdom

modifier, and is used to perform various trick shots,
increase the damage on an attack, and at 10th level it
may be used to quickly repair a gun after a misfire as
a bonus action.

The Class fantasy here is that the Gunslinger is

experienced enough to make split-second decisions in
the heat of battle to perform amazing feats. Said
actions are born of the inherent Wisdom of the
Gunslinger, owing to a lifetime of training, fighting,
and learning what works in the field.

In essence, Grit behaves a great deal like focusing

keenly on a certain task. It functions like everything
from a spell slot to Bardic Inspiration, depending on Focused Crafting
the action involved. But the DM can elect to take this
At level 7, the Gunslinger may spend 1 Grit to add
concept of practice and wisdom a step further to
+1d4 to their roll for a crafting check. It becomes d6
reward the player out of combat.
at 10th level, a d8 at 12th level, d10 at 15th level, and
a d12 at 18th level.
Example:
The player is attempting to create ammunition out of
This of course could also be applied to crafting
combat, and the DM has chosen to employ some of
checks involving making new firearms, or
the suggestions in the ammunition section. They roll
Experimentation. (See Experimentation section) And,
poorly on their Performance check, creating
following on the previous example of a level 10 or
substandard rounds. Bad luck, friend.
higher Gunslinger, the DM might consider:
But consider the benefits of higher levels, and using
that Wisdom in order to give the player a helpful Master Craftsperson
boost. In this instance, the use of a Grit point might be The Gunslinger can spend 1 Grit during a crafting
applied to the crafting check for an additional amount check to make their roll with advantage.
to the roll.

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 7

Experimentation and Upgrading
“Three turns counter-clockwise, one turn one-
quarter clockwise, and one—waitasec...
“Why is this smoking?”
-Druisa the Scorched, Halfling Tinkerer
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Of all the additional material, this section is the most
“crunchy”. It's strongly recommended that DMs and
players discuss the possibility of using these
mechanics prior to gameplay.
One of the great things about the Gunslinger
Archetype is that Matthew Mercer allowed room for
those that love the fantasy of engineers and mad
scientists to have some creative fun. It's that spirit that
inspired this section of the Treatise.
In the write-up for the Gunslinger, the process for
creating new guns is left fairly open-ended. The
player asks the DM about one of the crafted weapons
on the existing chart, and the DM decides what the
player needs to accomplish to make that gun. Simple.
But what about the joy of tinkering? What about the
thrill of chance that pervades the rest of the
Archetype?
That's where Experimentation comes in.
At its simplest, Experimentation is a game of risk vs.
reward. The concept is one of a Gunslinger sitting
down at their bench with a pile of materials, and
setting to work trying to craft something new,
improve upon a design, or see how far the tech can be
pushed.
It also introduces the idea of Schematics, which is
something the DM can offer in stores at varying rates
of rarity, or allow the Gunslinger to produce and sell
for profit as mentioned in earlier sections of this
module.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
Schematics
Schematics are plans that carefully detail how a piece
of firearm technology can be created. They come in
three flavors:
Gun Schematics. These are full designs for a
complete firearm, detailing materials and construction
required.
Firearm Trait Designs. These detail
improvements of a firearm, such as rifling, improved
firing mechanisms, or accessories. They can be used
in Experimentation, Upgrading, or for producing add-
ons for a given weapon.
Specialized Bullets. These detail the materials and
processes for producing rare ammo types. (See
Special Ammo section)
How it works
The Gunslinger declares what kind of weapon they
wish to make: pistol, or long-gun. This sets the
baseline stats of the weapon.
To begin, they must have 2.5x the cost of the base
weapon. This amount covers the additional materials
required for Experimentation
The player then has up to three d100 rolls on the chart
below. These determine the characteristics and final
stats of the weapon. If a player owns a schematic for a
particular trait, they can consider that an automatic
success, and remove 1x the cost of the base weapon
from the Experimentation total.
Levels 3-7: One trait per Experimentation.
Levels 10-15: Two traits per Experimentation
Lvels 16-20: Three traits per Experimentation
The DM may allow Focused Crafting here to adjust
the result depending on the result of the additional die
roll. Example: the level 7 Gunslinger gets a 4 on their
d4 roll, allowing them to add 5 to the total. A Master
Craftsperson could spend the Grit to reroll the result
completely.
8
All weapons created through Experimentation are
considered Prototypes, and can be used to create full
weapon schematics. However, only weapons purpose-
built from full weapon schematics are eligible for
Upgrade, as Prototypes are considered too
temperamental for additional crafting.
While it costs 2.5 times for Experimentation, the
resulting Schematic allows the Gunslinger to make
the weapon again at half the cost it took to develop
it.
Prototypes are still eligible for enchantment.
Individual traits gained through successful
Experimentation can not be turned into schematics, as
they are happy accidents of the process.
• Pistol-type Base Stats:
100g, 1d8 piercing, 1lb 50/200
reload 1, misfire 1
• Long Gun-type Base Stats:
280g 1d10 piercing 8lbs 110/460
Two-handed, reload 1, misfire 2
Experimentation Table
1-2 Failure. No trait awarded.
3-19 Shortened Barrel(s): Reduces range by 10/30
for pistols, 40/100 for long-guns.
20-36 Lengthened Barrel(s): Increases range by
10/30 for pistols, 40/100 for long-guns.
37-49 *Tapered Barrel(s): This trait adds +1
damage for pistols, +2 for Long-guns. +2 to misfire.
50 Failure. No trait awarded.
51-59 Multi-Barrel: roll d8, add result or lower to
reload score. Adds +1 misfire for every barrel over 5
for pistols, over 3 for long-guns, and adds 1lb per
barrel for pistols, 2lb for long-guns.
60-69 +Snaplock device: reduces total misfire score
by 1, with a minimum misfire score of 1.
70 Failure. No trait awarded.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
71-78 Grape-shot Capable: This weapon can fire
grape-shot with no additional penalty. +1 to misfire.
79-82 Explosive Capable: This weapon can fire
Explosive ammunition with no additional penalty. +1
to misfire.
83-86 Alchemist's Delight: this weapon is capable
of firing Noxious, Chewing, and Cloud-shot ammo
types without additional penalty.
87-89 *Rifling: Roll percentile dice twice (lower
number is shortest range) for pistols, roll four times
for Long-guns. Add results to base range, rounded
down to nearest 5 or 0. Bumps damage up by one die
type. 1d8 becomes 1d10, etc. +1 to misfire.
90 Failure. No Trait awarded.
91-94 +Flintlock Device: Reduces total misfire
score by 2, with a minimum final misfire score of 1.
95-97 Breech-loaded: this weapon can switch ammo
types in combat as a Bonus action. +1 to misfire.
98-99 Precision Engineering: The first shot of this
weapon in combat always has a misfire score of 0.
Resets at the beginning of a new combat encounter.
100 Chimera Frame: This weapon has a rotating
cylinder for its barrels, and each barrel is built for a
specific ammo type. The barrels can be rotated to the
desired ammo type as a Bonus action. Minimum of
two barrels when not combined with multi-barrel.
Player chooses ammo types at creation, and the
weapon ignores those ammo type penalties (unless
otherwise stated). +1 to misfire for each barrel over 4
regardless of weapon type.
* denotes traits that can not be combined.
+ denotes traits that can not be stacked.
If the player rolls the same trait on subsequent rolls,
or ends up getting a trait that can not be combined or
stacked with a previous trait, the DM may allow them
to re-roll at least once. If it happens again, it is
considered a failure with no trait awarded for that roll.
9
Experimentation Example:
Sarae is a 12th level Gunslinger, who wishes to
try her hand at crafting something new and
fearsome to deal with an upcoming fight. She sets
to work to craft a long gun with some punch. Her
total cost for the experiment will be 700g.
She gets two Traits for her creation, so she rolls
d100 twice. Her first roll is a 25. That gets her the
Lengthened Barrel Trait. She notes that.
Her next roll is and 82. She asks the DM if she
can use Focused Crafting to bump that a bit, and
the DM agrees. Sarae gets a 6 on her d12 roll,
putting her into the range for the Rifling Trait,
which she prefers. She takes that.
She now rolls her d100 four times for the
increased range Rifling gives, adding the lowest
two rolls to minimum, and highest two to
maximum. Her rolls are 23, 10, 95, and 67.
23+10=33, 95+67=162, or an additional 33/162 to
the base weapon's range. She will round down the
total after adding everything up to the nearest 5 or
0.
Rifling also bumps up the base weapon damage
die from a d10 to a d12, and adds +1 to misfire.
Now Sarae adds all the stats from the Traits to the
base stats for a Long Gun type base. The DM can
assign a weight increase that seems appropriate to
the materials added.
Upgrading Firearms
Any firearm that is not a Prototype is eligible for the
Upgrade process. However, the Gunslinger must have
the appropriate Schematic in order to successfully
implement a new trait.
As Upgrading can serve in place of older Masterwork
Weapon rules, it's suggested that each Upgrade costs
at least 1.5x the firearm's base value.
Like Experimentation, the amount a firearm can be
upgraded depends on the level of the Gunslinger
starting at 10th level.
Levels 10-15: One upgrade per weapon.
Levels 16-20: Two upgrades per weapon.
As noted in the Experimentation Table, certain traits
can not be stacked or combined. However, there is a
Trait available only at Upgrade, and it can be stacked:
Refined Design: Lowers the weapon's misfire score
by 1 (minimum of 1), or increases weapon damage
+1. If stacking, the additional upgrade is 3x the base
cost of the weapon.
Rifling Upgrade Rule: a weapon can only have the
Rifling Trait applied to it twice.
Upgrading does not limit other gear or enchantments
that can be applied to a firearm.

• Sarae's original Long Gun

280g, 1d10 piercing 8lbs 110/460
Two-handed, reload 1, misfire 2

• Sarae's Prototype
700g, 1d12 piercing, 15lbs, 180/720, two-handed,
reload 1, misfire 3

Now, Sarae can create a Schematic of this

weapon, which will allow her to build another for
350g that can be further upgraded. She can also
create Schematics of the weapon Traits for later
use.

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 10

Special Ammo
“If they can cast it, conjure it, or wiggle their fingers
at a book to throw my way, I can damn sure figure out
how to put it in a bullet.”
-Kruhl Dreson, Half-orc Gunslinger
This is naturally best used with Experimentation. As
with Traits or full-weapon Schematics, these ammo
types can have their own blueprints that might be
found or purchased out in the wide world at varying
degrees of scarcity.
If the player wishes to experiment with different
chemical reagents and ammo materials to try to
“discover” these, consider the character's level and
Performance when assigning a DC, as well as any
crafting perks, or other bonuses that might be
available to them.
The results of failure are up to the DM, but given the
dangerous properties of some of these items, damage
to one's health is always an option.
Explosive: A bullet or larger ordnance designed to
explode on impact. Upon a hit, everything within 5 ft
of the target must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC
equal to 8 + Gunslinger's proficiency bonus +
Gunslinger's Dexterity modifier) or suffer 1d8 fire
damage. +3 misfire on any weapon not designed for
this ammo.
Grape-shot: Small bearings encased in a cylinder
that are designed to spread upon leaving the barrel.
Fires pellets in a 30ft. cone for an additional +1d4
piercing damage on top of the weapon's base damage,
requiring a DEX saving throw (DC equal to 8 +
Gunslinger's proficiency bonus + Gunslinger's
Dexterity modifier) for every creature inside the cone.
+3 misfire on any weapon not designed for this
ammo. Negates normal range for the firearm.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
Gag-order Round: A thin-shelled projectile that
shatters on impact, releasing a choking cloud of dust
and glass particles. Upon a hit, the target must make a
Constitution saving throw (DC equal to 8 +
Gunslinger's proficiency bonus + Gunslinger's
Dexterity modifier) or be rendered unable to speak for
1 round. +2 misfire, regardless of weapon type or
trait.
Starlight Round: A simple bullet made from a
heat-reactive mineral that bursts into bright light
when fired. Illuminates a 60 ft area in bright light,
with dim light extending out another 60ft.
Illumination lasts for one minute. If targeting a
creature, on hit the target must make a Dexterity
saving throw (DC equal to 8 + Gunslinger's
proficiency bonus + Gunslinger's Dexterity modifier)
or suffer Blindness until they move at least 10 feet
away from the area. Does not dispel Darkness. +1
misfire regardless of weapon type or trait.
Cloud-shot: A thin-shelled projectile that shatters
on impact, releasing a reactive liquid that instantly
vaporizes and expands into a dense cloud sphere with
a 20 ft radius. The Sphere spreads around corners, and
its area is heavily obscured. It lasts for 10 minutes, or
until a wind of moderate or greater speed (at least 10
miles per hour) disperses it. +2 misfire on any
weapon not designed for this ammo.
Sprite-shot: A hardened mixture of molasses and
a phosphorescent chemical that reacts to heat,
attaching itself to the target and glowing brightly in
low light conditions. Upon hit, target creature is
“tagged”, and can not remove this sticky mass with
non-magical means. All Perception, Investigation, and
Survival checks to see or track this creature have
advantage. Any Attack roll against an affected
creature or object has advantage if the attacker can
see it, and the affected creature or object can't benefit
from being Invisible. Effect lasts for ten minutes. +2
misfire regardless of weapon type or trait.
11
 Noxious Round: A thin-shelled projectile that
shatters on impact, releasing a small cloud of toxins at
the target's location. Upon a hit, the target creature
must make a Constitution saving throw (DC equal to
8 + Gunslinger's proficiency bonus + Gunslinger's
Dexterity modifier) or suffer 1d10 poison damage. +2
misfire on any weapon not designed for this ammo.
Chewing Round: A thin-shelled projectile that
shatters upon impact, splashing a globule of acid on
the target. Upon a hit, the target creature takes 1d6
acid damage as the concoction chews through armor
and flesh.
Special Ammo Combat Rule:
Much like reloading, it takes 1 Action to switch an
ammo type in combat, unless the Gunslinger has
Lightning Reload, or a weapon with the Breech-
loading trait. The character must have one free hand
to change ammo types.
Special Ammo DM note: Given the loose rules
regarding damage types in D&D, it falls to the DM
to decide if these special ammo types also convey
any damage over time effects. For example: an
explosive round does fire damage, but may also set
the target ablaze for a limited number of rounds,
dealing additional fire damage at the start of their
turn.
Enhanced Misfire Options
This section is for DM's that wish to add a bit more
volatility to the standard misfire mechanic, especially
given the wild nature of the special ammo types, and
Experimentation.
Enhanced Misfire takes into account the
unpredictable nature of special ammo properties,
particularly when explosives, acid, or other chemicals
are loaded into the firearm. This alters the level of
risk involved when using non-standard ammunition.
Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE
Enhanced Misfire
If the player's weapon misfires while attempting to
shoot Special Ammo, the DM can ask for an
additional d10 roll. If the player rolls a 1, the Special
Ammo detonates, and the gun can only be repaired
out of combat. The player and all creatures in range of
the Special Ammo's effect are now treated as the
target of any potential damage, status conditions, or
necessary saves.
In the case of Grape-shot, the area of effect becomes
a sphere with a 15 ft radius instead of a cone,
centered on the Gunslinger.
Further Experimentation ideas
If you're familiar with Campaign 1 of the Twitch
show Critical Role, you know that the Gunslinger
character Percy was also been given ample
opportunities for creating other inventions besides
firearms.
While we might produce a module in the future that
covers this concept in a more concrete way, it's best
for the DM to handle this kind of engineering in much
the same way that Matthew Mercer and Taliesin Jaffe
did: by talking through it, and deciding what is and
isn't possible.
The way forward is wide-open for DM's that want a
bit more Mad Science flavor in the Experimentation
phase, particularly for higher level Gunslingers that
want to make something truly unique. Here are some
ideas that you can tinker with, ripped straight from
the best of speculative fiction:
• Chemical battery development for electrifying
weapons, giving Lightning damage.
• Simple mechanical additions to armor and
clothing for physical check bonuses.
• Tech development for improving ocean and
air ships, and their armaments.
• Using gunpowder and alchemist methods for a
poor man's fireball.
• Using the Tinker skills to give more counters
to the perils of magic.
• Building a better Gnoll trap.
12
 The Armory
Purchased Firearms
Name Cost Ammo Damage Weight Range Properties
Key Pistol 25g 2g(20) 1d6 piercing 1lb 30/120 Light, Reload 1, misfire 1
Tanegashima 170g 5g(20) 1d10 piercing 4lbs 70/260 Light, Reload 1, misfire 2
(pistol)
Petronel 180g 5g(20) 1d12 piercing 5lbs 80/280 Reload 1, misfire 1
Short Carbine 250g 5g(20) 1d12 piercing 8lbs 100/460 Two-handed, Reload 2,
misfire 2
Tanegashima 320g 7g(20) 2d8 piercing 12lbs 140/500 Two-handed, Reload 1,
(Rifle) misfire 2
Arquebus 380g 10g(10) 2d10 piercing 30lbs 150/700 Two-handed, Reload 1,
misfire 3
Nock Gun 650g 10g(20) 1d12 piercing 22lbs 120/480 Two-handed, reload 7,
misfire 3

Crafted Firearms
Weapons here should be considered primarily for full-weapon schematics in combination with
Special Ammo and/or Experimentation.
Name Cost Ammo Damage Weight Range Properties
Ill Rebuttal - 10g(6) 2d8 piercing 6lbs 70/220 Alchemist's Delight
Reload 2, misfire 2
Blunderbuss - 10g(10) 2d10 piercing 10lbs 50/240 Grape-shot capable,
Dragon Reload 1, misfire 2
Nine Hells - 15g(20) 2d12 piercing 50lbs 80/280 Two-handed, Chimera
Frame, Reload 9, misfire 4

Additions/Enhancements
Finely-made Scope
70g 1lb
Two-handed firearms only. Taking 1 Action to peer through this carefully calibrated device adds 100 feet
to the maximum range of the weapon. After a shot is fired, an additional Action must be taken to hone in
on a target and gain the range bonus.

Bayonet
30g 5lb 1d10 piercing damage
Two-handed firearms only. Allows the firearm to double as a pike, conveying all benefits of Reach, but
requiring Martial Weapon Proficiency to use without penalty.

Gun Blade
10g 1lb 1d4 piercing damage
One-handed firearms only. Allows the firearm to double as a standard dagger, melee only. Can be
Upgraded to no larger than a shortsword.

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 13

CREDITS
Core concepts, copy writing and game design:
Xero Reynolds

Additional design, play-testing, and feedback:

Jesse Schlam

Cover, layout, and interior art:

Xero Reynolds

For Haunted Mountain Tabletop

Game Design: Xero Reynolds
Producer: Katy Reynolds
www.hauntedmountaintabletop.com

The GUNSLINGER Class Archetype concept and design:

Matthew Mercer

SPECIAL THANKS
Jesse Schlam (for being a brave DM)
Katy Reynolds
Chris Reed
Sean Stephens
John Stephenson
Carissa Schlam
Joe Chaib

Huge thanks and all credit to Matthew Mercer for creating such a unique
and fun class archetype for the rest of us geeks to play with! If ever I get the
chance to thank you in person, the first glass of port is on me.

- Xero

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 14

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the
Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the
dragon ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards
of the Coast product names, and their respective
logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in
the USA and other countries.

This work contains material that is copyright

Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such
material is used with permission under the
Community Content Agreement for Dungeon
Masters Guild.

All other original material in this work is

copyright 2019 by Haunted Mountain Tabletop
and published under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

The Gunsmith's Treatise

A Compendium/Add-on for the
5E Gunslinger Class

First Publication: February 2019

DM's Guild
www.dmsguild.com

For more modules, accessories, or other custom

made tabletop loot, please visit Haunted Mountain
today at
www.hauntedmountaintabletop.com

Haunted Mountain Tabletop THE GUNSMITH'S TREATISE 15