Firearms (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)
Definition
Firearms is the skill of hitting what you aim at when it matters: drawing fast, shooting straight, clearing a jam, and knowing when a gun makes a situation worse. It also covers the parts nobody films, like buying a weapon that cannot be traced and getting rid of one that can. Guns occupy an awkward place in Kindred conflict. They are devastating to mortals and merely inconvenient to vampires, since bullets deal Superficial damage that halves against the undead. That gap is the whole tactical point: a firearm ends a fight with hunters, police, or ghouls quickly, and buys you distance from a Kindred who would win a grapple.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Are guns useful against other vampires?
They are useful for control rather than killing. Superficial damage halves against Kindred, so shooting buys distance, breaks a charge, and forces Rouse Checks to mend.
Can a firearm kill a vampire?
Not on its own. Once a vampire is out of Health the damage becomes a problem, but destruction needs fire, sunlight, or decapitation. A gun gets you to that point.
Does carrying a gun risk the Masquerade?
It risks the mortal legal system, which is worse in some cities. A traffic stop with an illegal firearm puts a vampire in custody until dawn, which is its own death sentence.