Matchlocks {1450s-1500s}

The first small arms — firearms designed differently from cannon — were matchlocks. A matchlock is smaller than a hand cannon and incorporates an S-shaped mechanism that attaches to the side of the gun at a center pivot. The top half of the mechanism, or lock because it locks back, clamps a length of slow-burning fuse, or slowmatch. To fire, the shooter pulls back on the bottom half of the mechanism, which pivots forward to push the match through the touch-hole. Matchlocks are muzzle-loaders: reloading one requires eight turns for a pistol or 12 turns for a musket.

Item type

Weapon, Ranged

Pistol

Damage: -1 (8 again)
Ranges: 10/20/40
Capacity: 1
Strength: 2
Size: 2/L
Cost: •••

Musket

Damage: 0 (8 again)
Ranges: 40/80/160
Capacity: 1
Strength: 3
Size: 4
Cost: ••••