Technology & Firearms Policies

Technology within Warcraft is as much a wonder to behold as its equally fantastical Magics, and to most citizens of Azeroth, seeing a clockwork rat toy or a dwarfs blunderbuss can be as memorable an experience! The following policies exist to ensure that our players, DMs, and GMs alike have context and direction to base their designs and judgement off of, when making, using, or designing firearms and technology in-game.

For a detailed look at the various technological rules related to specific races, cultures, or types of technology, you can click the Categories of Technology in the Contents below.

## Artificial Intelligence

Engineers might want to automate tasks, and in doing so, create robots or automatons to perform these tasks. By the level of Engineer a character is, they can achieve the following:

* **Apprentice:** Mechanical Automatons (no AI, one automated task)
* **Journeyman:** Multi-purpose Automatons (no AI, many automated tasks)
* **Expert:** Basic AI (very precise commands, inability to process anything other than those predefined commands)
* **Artisan:** Advanced AI (can read visual prompts and interpret the intent of commands, commands don't need to be pre-defined)
* **Master:** Complex AI (can adapt to situations, but is unable to completely solve problems on its own)

## Rulings on Firearms

The invention of the firearm is pretty recent and the intricacies in developing them used to be solely dwarven, but that is no longer the case. Weapon types like the long rifle, blunderbuss, and flintlock pistol have been adapted and expanded by the native inhabitants of Azeroth. Most citizens and even adventurers of Azeroth may not have seen a firearm beyond simple black powder designs, and anything beyond that would be well past affordable to those same citizens. To certain races such as the dwarves, gnomes, goblins, and even forsaken however, firearms are becoming more and more commonplace.

1. Firearm effectiveness and reliability depends on the skill of the gunsmith crafting it. Some limitations apply as certain gun designs are either race specific, or would be difficult to recreate without the proper blueprints or knowledge. (i.e. A Titan weapon, or technology outside one’s race).
2. Please be mindful of the materials you use to create this weapon and the ammo it would take. Specialized ammo is hard to obtain, and costs significantly more than standard ammunition. In cases where firearms use a custom form of ammunition not found commonly in black powder and/or flintlock firearms, that firearm is considered a Complex device.
3. Details into the caliber of the bullet, ammunition capacity, range limits, or rate of fire are also encouraged. We do not wish to limit player creativity either, but if a certain firearm is deemed to infringe on our core concepts, or does not fit the setting in the Warcraft universe as determined by our volunteer team and community, your firearm may be denied or revoked.
4. Black powder and flintlock firearms are all free, and require no tickets or GM approval. Firearms that have additional functions beyond **simple bullet, single shot** black powder or flintlock devices are Restricted, and need a Contact Game Master Ticket to be used. Free firearms include flintlock pistols, a blunderbuss, or various muskets. As always, if you’re unsure, feel free to ask a Game Master or make a ticket anyway!

## Categories of Technology

### **Goblin**

* Goblins are not known for being tremendously good engineers because they blow themselves up so often. The old goblin saying goes “there are old goblins and there are goblin tinkers, but there has never been an old goblin tinker.” Goblin inventions are often bizarre, or appear to be mundane in their use. Goblins are naturally curious and inquisitive, so they will often invent things just to see what happens! This creativity results in failed experiments and discarded technology. That is if they can’t sell it, of course! Destructive, deadly, and dangerous are the words that often describe goblin technology. This technology is in contrast to gnome tech as well.

### **Gnomish**

* Gnomes are known for their ingenuity and innovation in technology. Their designs are complicated and are relatively safe for use. Gnomes are calculating, detailed, and tedious in troubleshooting and creating technology. Sometimes it will take years before a device is put to use by its inventor. Gnome technology is reliable and is higher quality as a result. Gnomes troubleshoot and where a goblin would flee at the mention of gold, gnomes shrug and press on with their projects. Reliable, high quality, and sleek are the words often used to describe gnomish technology. This technology is in contrast to goblin tech as well.
	+ Dwarvish engineers have in recent times been heavily inspired by the new gnomish inhabitants. Steam tanks, gyrocopters, and of course the legendary flying Gunships of the Alliance are all products of original dwarf designs being improved upon by gnomish interference. Within the Alliance at least, it has become near impossible to distinguish the two races' technology from one another.

### **Draenei**

* Draenei technology is known for its advanced nature and other worldly properties. Designs and blueprints are nearly indiscernible to even the most seasoned tinkers in the Alliance. Draenei technology is reliable, safe to use, and focuses heavily on magic (holy, arcane, nature) to fuel it. The most potent and powerful of Draenei technology is fueled by Argunite crystals, but these crystals are rare or are held closely by the Draenei only to be used on the most important of projects. Draenei technology is versatile and can often edge into the other world, but since the fall of their society, the Draenei struggle to keep up in the technological race.
	+ Lightforged **[Forbidden]** - Lightforged technology functions similarly to Draenei technology, but these devices function solely on Argunite that has been imbued with the holy light. This creates potent weaponry or machines geared to fighting fel or death based foes. Lightforged weaponry is complicated and even the most seasoned artificers have difficulty mastering it. Those within the Army of the Light have mastered this Legion-breaking technology, however.

### **Ethereal**

* Similar to Draenei technology, Ethereal technology is known for its advances and magical properties. Designs are rare to find and are safe-guarded but blueprints are usually parted with easily for the right price. However, comprehension is difficult and requires a seasoned tinker to operate. Ethereal technology functions largely on arcane, or mana cells making its use expensive and scarce. Ethereal technology is known to bend the very laws of nature that the mortal races of Azeroth have come to know. Ethereal techno-magical devices crafted by ethereals do not need to subtract a Function or Effect slot, however must still pay the 2 Function slot cost for an Active effect.

### Titan

* Titan technology is mysterious and literally foreign to the mortal races of Azeroth. Learning the language to interpret the blueprints alone could take a lifetime to learn. Titanic knowledge is not easy to come by and is safeguarded by the highest orders within the factions. The limits of titan technology produce wonders and powerful weaponry, but the materials for it are scarce and limited. Titan technology can never be created anew, or from scratch. Blueprints for Titan technology must be found, discovered, pillaged, or otherwise obtained from titan facilities themselves. To understand titan blueprints of Complex or Advanced design, one would need to be a Master in their craft. Unaltered and/or uncursed titanforged races do not suffer this limitation.

### Orcish [Iron Horde]

* **Forbidden.** Iron Horde technology is a mixture of goblin technology and orcish savagery. These machines are powerful in their destructive capabilities and orcish oversight has diminished the complications with failure. Iron Horde, or Iron Star technology is reliable, strong, and destructive. Blueprints for this technology are safeguarded by the Blackfuse Company and the Kor’kron.

### Undead [Forsaken, Scourge]

* The technology of the undead reflects the image of its creators, grotesque and brutal. These machines are often fueled by the carnage of battle and put the living at a great disadvantage. Fueled by the corpses of the fallen or plague technology, the machinations of the undead are tactical in their use. With the fall of the Lich King, Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken have saved what blueprints they could during the long campaign. Plague technology is safeguarded under the Apothecary Society.

### Demonic [Burning Legion]

* The Mo’arg, Eredar artificers, cunning Nathrezim engineers, the Legion is home to a whole host of diabolical machines of death, destruction, and ruin. Brimming in their cores lay pure, raw fel magic, powered through the souls of slain mortals on their unending crusade. Legion technology tends to be destructive, spread some manner of fel corruption, and is surprisingly reliable. Demonic blueprints and designs are near uninterpretable to mortal minds, save the few who dabble in fel and know the dark languages of the Burning Legion. Warlocks, Demon Hunters, and well studied Masters in their trade are capable of reverse engineering or making use of demonic technology. Others however, would find it impossible. Demons themselves, as well as player characters aligned with the Burning Legion do not suffer this issue.