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Bullets (Firearm)

Bullets (Firearm)

Category: Ammunition
Weight: 1 lb. per 20 bullets
Cost: 4 GP per 20 bullets
Weapon Type: Firearm ammunition

Description​

Firearm bullets are small, dense projectiles made of lead or other heavy metals, designed to be fired from firearms such as pistols and muskets. Each bullet is carefully crafted for optimal accuracy and stopping power.

Usage​

Ammunition: Bullets are consumed when fired from firearms. Each attack with a firearm expends one bullet. After combat, you can recover half of your expended bullets by spending 1 minute searching the battlefield.

Loading: Loading a bullet into a firearm requires the Loading property rules for that specific weapon.

Bullet Construction​

Materials:

  • Lead: Most common, dense and malleable
  • Iron: Cheaper alternative, harder but less dense
  • Silver: Specialized bullets for creatures with vulnerabilities
  • Cold Iron: Effective against certain fey and fiends

Manufacturing:

  • Cast in bullet molds for consistent shape
  • Filed and polished for accuracy
  • Sized specifically for different firearm calibers
  • Quality control ensures reliable performance

Types and Variations​

Standard Bullets:

  • Basic lead projectiles for general use
  • Good balance of cost and effectiveness
  • Suitable for most combat situations
  • Standard ammunition for military forces

Specialized Ammunition:

  • Silver Bullets: Extra cost, effective against lycanthropes
  • Cold Iron Bullets: For supernatural targets
  • Hollow Point: Increased damage against unarmored targets
  • Armor Piercing: Designed to penetrate heavy protection

Practical Considerations​

Storage:

  • Store in dry conditions to prevent corrosion
  • Use bullet pouches or ammunition boxes
  • Keep separate from gunpowder for safety
  • Count carefully to track remaining supply

Field Maintenance:

  • Check for deformation before loading
  • Clean recovered bullets before reuse
  • Discard damaged or compromised ammunition
  • Maintain tools for emergency bullet casting

Economic Factors​

Cost Analysis:

  • More expensive than traditional arrow ammunition
  • Specialized materials increase costs significantly
  • Bulk purchasing reduces per-bullet price
  • Local availability affects market pricing

Supply Chains:

  • Manufactured in specialized workshops
  • Requires skilled craftsmen and quality materials
  • May be scarce in frontier or primitive areas
  • Military contracts can affect civilian availability

Combat Effectiveness​

Ballistic Properties:

  • High velocity and kinetic energy
  • Effective against both armored and unarmored targets
  • Superior stopping power compared to arrows
  • Consistent accuracy with proper firearms training

Tactical Advantages:

  • Penetrates most armor types effectively
  • Creates devastating wounds on successful hits
  • Psychological impact on enemies unfamiliar with firearms
  • Effective at both close and medium ranges