Firearm
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Firearms are among the most technologically advanced, and thus rarest, weapons manufactured in modern Golarion. Most gunpowder projectile weapons are manufactured in the magic-bereft city-state of Alkenstar1 and Dongun Hold,2 where advanced engineering, access to raw materials, and necessity have perfected the art over thousands of years.1 Without black powder, the peoples of Arcadia developed in parallel their own firearm technologies focused on compressed air, magic, and skymetals.3
Gunpowder firearms
Over 90 percent of all gunpowder firearms in the world are owned and maintained within Alkenstar itself, but mercenaries, emigrants, and highly profitable trade have spread these weapons throughout the world—if one knows where to look for them. In general, guns manufactured in the massive Gunworks are of basic quality, but more artistic gunsmiths and craftsmen populate Alkenstar City and are more than willing to make custom weapons of higher quality or upgrade existing production-line units.1 In the Impossible Kingdoms of Vudra, the city of Ukhrul is also renowned for manufacturing firearms and other innovative weapons of war.4
The most popular firearm in Golarion is the pistol.5 Examples of other firearms include the musket and the revolver.
Specific firearms
Most firearms are made from the same molds on the production line of the Gunworks, but other weapons are unique and notable in their own right, whether for their sheer size or a specific quality or function.
- Great Maw of Rovagug
- Built for the nation's own defense in 4450 AR, this bombard built into the side of the Hellfallen Cliffs stands guard over Alkenstar.67
Arcadian firearms
Arcadian firearms are unique in their use of magic or air instead of black powder to propel their projectiles.3
Air-powered guns
Star guns
Gunsmiths of ancient pre-Earthfall Arcadia also forged magical firearms from skymetals, known today in legend as star guns. These devices rely on magic instead of black powder as a propellant.3
Beast guns
Advanced firearms
Androffan technology
- See also: Androffan technology
In addition to the projectile-firing weapons natively developed on Golarion, an even smaller number of similar weapons are scattered across places like Numeria, where a spaceships from the distant world of Androffa crashed into Golarion carrying advanced technology. These foreign firearms—including rail guns, rocket and grenade launchers, dart guns, flare guns, and autograpnels—can be extraordinarily powerful compared to their native counterparts.8
Many such technological firearms take forms similar to Golarion's, but instead of firing discrete projectiles, they might unleash continuous beams of energy. These include laser pistols and rifles, death rays, and atom guns.8
Earth technology
Another distant world named Earth has a nation possessing their own advanced firearms.9
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 “Chapter 2: The Inner Sea” in Campaign Setting, 58. Paizo Inc., 2008 .
- ↑ The Inner Sea World Guide, 291. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 “4: Guns Equipment” in Guns & Gears, 166. Paizo Inc., 2021 .
- ↑ “Vudra, the Impossible Kingdoms” in Sixty Feet Under, 73. Paizo Inc., 2020 .
- ↑ “Introduction” in Ranged Tactics Toolbox, 5. Paizo Inc., 2014 .
- ↑ “Chapter 2: The Inner Sea” in Campaign Setting, 59. Paizo Inc., 2008 .
- ↑ “Chapter 5: The World” in Campaign Setting, 203. Paizo Inc., 2008 .
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 “Technological Equipment” in Technology Guide, 20–21. Paizo Inc., 2014 .
- ↑ “Guns, Spirits, and Revolution” in Rasputin Must Die!, 63–67. Paizo Inc., 2013 .