Weapons for the Enemy

I’ve now detailed just about all of the equipment that the Constables will carry with them into the Mansion, but I may yet include some original hand drawings, or at least links to the images on Wikipedia.  What remains now is to detail the other weapons that can be found in the mansion, to say nothing of the ammunition needed, and logical supply points. 

I’ve already handed a revolver off to Dawson Richter, the evil potion doc, and I decided he would be something of a scoundrel on the run, before being taken in by Baron Larksley and discovering the Hyde formula.  The best example of a scoundrel’s gun, not least of which is cheap, is the British Bulldog.

“British Bull Dog Revolver,” Wikipedia, last updated 29 January 2012, retrieved 15 March 2012, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Bulldog_revolver.

Designed by Philip Webley & Son in 1872, the gun is cheap, with an American version used in the assassination of President Garfield.  The gun cost 10 dollars, making anarchism frightfully affordable.  It was manufactured, and copied by gun smiths all over the Atlantic, it was only ever intended to a pocket revolver, and may thus be even less accurate than the Beaumont Adams that the PCs will be using.

The Bull Dog uses chambers 5 .44 Short rimfire, .442 Webley, or .450 Adams cartridges.  While I despaired of using ammo from another gun in the Beaumont Adams’, the .442 Webley is exactly the same ammo link as that above.  Meaning I can defensibly put a box of bullets on Dawson Richter’s corps and the PCs can employ the bullets without requiring his poorly sighted gun.  It should probably function identically, but with maybe 20 yards of threat, then 80 yards max before the bullet lacks force to harm the target.

Putting a relatively recent pocket revolver into the hands of the scamp Richter is one thing, but I wanted to ensure that the PCs had an edge, weak though it be.  Baron Larksley is a nobleman, and thus inclined to show off his martial nature by displays of weapons both military and sport hunting.  But no weapon was going to be as advanced as the 1870s current weapons that the PCs would be using.  Fortunately most of the Wikipedia gun articles link to their predecessor’s articles.

Behold the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle-Musket, in service from 1853 to 1871 in the UK and her colonies, this weapon is most likely the weapon used by Baron Larksley while he served abroad (see his character brief above).  While I doubt he could have taken his true service rifle, it would come to hand for him and his servants easily enough for a display.  A trusted servant could have been assigned to wield it against the PCs the minute the Baron become aware of them.

Weight 9.5 pounds (4.3 kg) unloaded

Length 55 inches (1,400 mm)

Cartridge .577 ball

Calibre .58 inches (15 mm)

Action Percussion lock

Rate of fire User dependent, Usually 3+ rounds a minute

Muzzle velocity 900 ft/s (270 m/s)

Maximum range 2,000 yards (1,800 m)

Feed system Muzzle-loading

Sights adjustable ramp rear sights, Fixed-post front sights

The Muzzle loading aspect is a problem, but its high range in the solution.  The Hydes will only use this weapon when they have a clear line of shot and easy access to retreat.  For record, the ball was 34 grams, which is still 0.07 pounds!  This makes ammo supply again fairly easy, as bulk will be the issue long before weight.  1 pound equals 14 ammo balls.  The 3 rounds a minute suggests AD&D 2.0 rules, specifically 3 rounds (of time) per ball, with the quick reload feat, if it does anything, shaves one round (of time) off of each shot.  A gunpowder horn is necessary to reload, and I know the PCs can think of better uses for it than using an old service musket.

Military surplus is all well and good, but it is hardly the best choice for a nobleman to defend his territory from girl scouts, or lawful authorities.  Hunting rifles are still much more likely to recommend themselves to the out-of-their-minds Hydes.  I'm just having trouble locating good sources at the moment.  More tomorrow.