Flintlock Weaponry
"Sweat rolled into my eyes, and slicked my shaking hands as I tried to reload my musket. We were trained to reload our firearms quickly, but I wasn't prepared for the carnage of a true firefight"
-Imperial Marine recalls his first ship to ship encounter
Utility
Used almost exclusively for combat, most flintlock firearms are designed for maximum destruction. This makes them almost useless in any situation outside the bounds of carnage. Though originally developed by Imperial tinkerers for use by the Imperial military, the design was quickly copied all over the globe once mass production and distribution to Imperial military began. Many pirates salvage flintlock firearms from slain enemies, and shipments of musket and pistol crates are a common target for them.
The inventors of flintlock technology went on to create the most successful weapon producing companies in the Empire. Smith and Wesley flintlocks are the highest tier you can find within the Empire. Their biggest competition is a small production company on Asmarah, called Kestrel. Kestrel produces the next evolution of firearm, the chambered-cartridge 6-shooters; favored by the Imperial Outriders.
Access & Availability
Flintlock weaponry is the most common form of firearm found among the civilized skylands. Though still not as common as swords, bows, or magic, flintlock weaponry (usually pistols) are carried by most Imperial soldiers, and have become increasingly popular among pirate crews. Most common folk don't have access to, or even really know how to use, flintlock weaponry, and most people seem to be okay with that.
Complexity
Developed over several years and using design ideas from several previous Black Powder weapons, the Flintlock system is a brilliantly simple system.
Discovery
With the Age of Expansion came the accidental discovery of the explosive Black Powder. Once discovered, it was only a matter of time before the Empire began research on weaponizing it; first in the form of bombs and grenades, and then it was found that it could be used to propel objects. Thus cannons were invented. Several years later, a Smith and Wesley began toying with the idea of handheld cannons.
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