I'm... actually trying very hard to remember a fantasy setting that went to hell because of firearms.
So far I'm drawing up blanks, just good settings... warcraft, warhammer, might and magic, almost every final fantasy...hell, even magic the gathering had guns at one time.
Fable.
I'm all for new weapon types, but can you even imagine how badly it would handle given Bioware's "no versatility" stance? You'd just have to stand there and try to reload with some goon hacking off your face because you can't switch to a melee weapon.
Fable.
Because of firearms.
Fable went to hell because the franchise itself is dog****.
And Toad's streak of blatantly weird threads continues. Good times.
I could definitely see the Qunari further developing their gunpowder and technology in order to further combat mages. Equipping all of their warriors with even single shot muskets would go a long way toward strengthening their army.
I really don't get why people are so against guns. It's like people seem to think that once guns are introduced armor will suddenly become useless, the game will go first person, and all magic will die out while dudebros take over Thedas. I get that it's high fantasy, I do, but is it really such a bad thing for there to be technological progress in regards to weapons? Say what you will about Fable but I liked the fact that moving forward through the centuries made things change in the world.
Personally, I don't think introducing guns will kill the series. I think that it will just add another weapon you can use to the rogue class. As people here have already pointed out, early guns were kinda shite so it's not like people are gonna drop their swords and platemail and start grabbing all the hand cannons they can get their hands on. Really, I'd like to see it as a part of an expanding of the battle options available. Add early style guns as another weapon available to rogues, spears and lances to warriors (something I really don't get why you hardly see as options in fantasy games), and something besides a staff for mages. I dunno, rings or some type of magic enhancing gauntlet would be nice.
Hey we had space magic in ME3 why can't we get thermal clips in DAI lol, but really the Qunari probably have lyrium based explosives like the one the dwarf in DA:A makes as his formula is based off the Qunari one or something if I remember rightly.
So while they have cannons and such they probably have to mine a ton of lyrium to operate use and maintain them effectively and it would be a high cost to use such a weapon so it would be used in only limited roles. Now a cross bow that has magic tipped bolts I could see being a mass produced item just have to have a mage enchant the bolts 
Fable.
Fable went to the crapper because the game promised a billion things it failed to deliver on (as Molyneux games tend to do).
The addition of guns and the combo's they added to the combat was one of the few highlights of the game.
Hey we had space magic in ME3 why can't we get thermal clips in DAI lol, but really the Qunari probably have lyrium based explosives like the one the dwarf in DA:A makes as his formula is based off the Qunari one or something if I remember rightly.
So while they have cannons and such they probably have to mine a ton of lyrium to operate use and maintain them effectively and it would be a high cost to use such a weapon so it would be used in only limited roles. Now a cross bow that has magic tipped bolts I could see being a mass produced item just have to have a mage enchant the bolts
Actually, no. It is the real gunpowder. There are few tips in the game. In DA2:
Firest we have this:
- Those horn-heads in Kirkwall have a powder. That explodes. And it's just dust, no lyrium, no demons. Anyone can use it.
And then, more about explosives in Thedas :
- A powder the Tevinters call "sela petrae," and a small amount of drakestone (sulfur ?).
- Is it just a potion? Is there anything more to this ritual? Tell me about his formula.
- No, no ritual. Just mix the ingredients up and... boom. Justice and I are free.
And for those asking why gunpowder if there is magic.
Another one from the game:
- A mage's power... in anyone's hand?
- The Qunari use it sparingly. Released to everyone, I could not imagine the chaos.
Thedas could at least get rid of those pesky mages. 
Guns in Dragon Age? No, that would be terrible game design that would break the experience and make all other weapons obsolete. You ever wonder why modern armies don't use swords or bows and arrows anymore? I'll give you a hint: Guns win.
Doesn't magic please you enough? Far more interesting than conventional modern weapons and more true to fantasy.
No no no no. Categorically no. Guns ruined Fable.
Most fantasy settings start to stutter when guns get added. They only really work in tightly controlled mediums, like books and movies, and even then they don't add anything to the story except for variety. Admittedly, Dragon Age has problems with being too cliched, but guns are not the way around that.
No no no no. Categorically no. Guns ruined Fable.
Most fantasy settings start to stutter when guns get added. They only really work in tightly controlled mediums, like books and movies, and even then they don't add anything to the story except for variety. Admittedly, Dragon Age has problems with being too cliched, but guns are not the way around that.
Guns didn't ruin Fable. Peter Molyneux ruined Fable. I actually liked Fable 2 (which added guns) because it had more variety in weapons and much better combat than its predecessor. Unfortunately, the improved combat was one of the only positives to the actual game. Otherwise, it was a creative mess with so many issues and half-baked ideas that it was impossible to fix.
Really, so far the paranoia that guns will ruin dragon age seems completely unfounded. Most fantasy settings that have guns are good, with the sole exception being terrible because of everything except the guns.
Really, so far the paranoia that guns will ruin dragon age seems completely unfounded. Most fantasy settings that have guns are good, with the sole exception being terrible because of everything except the guns.
What are "most fantasy settings that have guns are good"? I cannot think of any reputable fantasy settings that have any guns.
What are "most fantasy settings that have guns are good"? I cannot think of any reputable fantasy settings that have any guns.
Warhammer is one of them. Seems reputable.
What are "most fantasy settings that have guns are good"? I cannot think of any reputable fantasy settings that have any guns.
Warcraft, Warhammer, might and magic, age of wonders, almost every final fantasy game, the older magic the gathering sets and certain D&D and pathfinder suplements, from the top of my head.
Guns didn't ruin Fable. Peter Molyneux ruined Fable. I actually liked Fable 2 (which added guns) because it had more variety in weapons and much better combat than its predecessor. Unfortunately, the improved combat was one of the only positives to the actual game. Otherwise, it was a creative mess with so many issues and half-baked ideas that it was impossible to fix.
I was more referring to Fable 3. For some reasons, the existence of guns in that games is particularly egregious. Either way, anecdotally, it seems to me that the introductions of guns was negative (for both 2 and 3).
What are "most fantasy settings that have guns are good"? I cannot think of any reputable fantasy settings that have any guns.
Personally, there are a few fantasy settings I like that have guns, like Warcraft, FF and the Lightbringer series. I wouldn't call Warhammer fantasy. The things with these is that you can remove the guns and nothing changes. Guns add nothing to the setting or the plot in fantasy, save a bit of variety.
Warhammer is one of them. Seems reputable.
I don't know about the franchise as a whole, but certainly the MMO wasn't reputable and is no longer in existence.
Warcraft, Warhammer, might and magic, age of wonders, almost every final fantasy game, the older magic the gathering sets and certain D&D and pathfinder suplements, from the top of my head.
Reputable in terms of popularity? Perhaps? Not a fan of Blizzard personally and I think WoW is a terrible MMO compared to those that came before it. Also, Orcs are aliens from another planet? What's up with that? Final Fantasy, in general, is a terrible franchise that has been in decline steadily since FFVII. I also wouldn't use JRPGs as the shining example of fantasy with guns, as they have largely fallen out of favor compared to their western counterpart.
This is certainly a highly-debatable and subjective topic. When I think of great fantasy games, I immediately gravitate towards The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, LOTR (even if the games have historically been bad), etc.
I was more referring to Fable 3. For some reasons, the existence of guns in that games is particularly egregious. Either way, anecdotally, it seems to me that the introductions of guns was negative (for both 2 and 3).
Personally, there are a few fantasy settings I like that have guns, like Warcraft, FF and the Lightbringer series. I wouldn't call Warhammer fantasy. The things with these is that you can remove the guns and nothing changes. Guns add nothing to the setting or the plot in fantasy, save a bit of variety.
Agree to disagree then. Guns, to me, were not the issue with Fable. The combat was the only redeeming quality of Fable 2 and Fable 3. It was the underwhelming story, lack of true choices, and just overall a very disappointing game. So much potential, yet it was all wasted. Perhaps Fable will be better with Peter Molyneux out of the picture, although Fable Legends looks horrendous.
I've never personally been a fan of Warcraft pre-WoW or post-WoW. I don't like RTS' and I certainly don't like themepark MMOs either. FF is a strange franchise that leans back and forth between fantasy and science fiction. As I told the poster above, it has been in decline since its peak with FFVII. It's arguable there hasn't been a quality FF game since.
I'd also state that it depends largely on the genre. Warcraft was an RTS and so was Warhammer if I'm not mistaken. FF was a turn-based RPG where guns and combat weren't remotely realistic anyways. Trying to implement guns in a real time combat RPG setting? I think you'll find it's a bit more difficult to justify from a gameplay standpoint.
Fantasy with guns used to be somewhat interesting by breaking Fantasy cliche but is a bit tired now.
I mean adding the sort of early firearms that might plausibly turn up in the near future of the DA universe probably wouldn't have all that many problems, simply because they wouldn't be all that spectacular weapons. They'd just be slow firing, high damage crossbows, I guess.
Going for effectively a 17th century or later setting, and losing the medieval style trappings, would be interesting, but that would require leaving the Dragon Age behind.
Personally, there are a few fantasy settings I like that have guns, like Warcraft, FF and the Lightbringer series. I wouldn't call Warhammer fantasy. The things with these is that you can remove the guns and nothing changes. Guns add nothing to the setting or the plot in fantasy, save a bit of variety.
Reputable in terms of popularity? Perhaps? Not a fan of Blizzard personally and I think WoW is a terrible MMO compared to those that came before it. Also, Orcs are aliens from another planet? What's up with that? Final Fantasy, in general, is a terrible franchise that has been in decline steadily since FFVII. I also wouldn't use JRPGs as the shining example of fantasy with guns, as they have largely fallen out of favor compared to their western counterpart.
This is certainly a highly-debatable and subjective topic. When I think of great fantasy games, I immediately gravitate towards The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, LOTR (even if the games have historically been bad), etc.
Guns and fantasy are not incompatible. The problem is, if you want a scenario where melee weapons are still widely used you'll have to limit firearms technology to flintlock pistols and muskets, which are basically useless in what you might call "adventuring combat". Add anything more powerful, and the question "Why the hell do people still use swords" doesn't have a convincing answer. Ship cannon are much less of a problem since they replace nothing that usually identifies a fantasy scenario, and they are technologically much simpler than personal firearms so that having them doesn't result in a technological inconsistency.
Anyway, adding personal firearms to the DA world would have very limited benefits compared to the problems it would cause, lore-wise and from a gameplay perspective, so it's best to leave them out of the picture.
QUNARI have them. Dwarves have basic lyrium-based explosives. First they'd need to develop cannons, then make them hand-held as muskets, then insane levels of refinement and experimentation before creating even an inaccurate firearm. Especially when you account for magic. People create to cover gaps in potential, and if magic can already do it why invent something else (especially something as volatile as explosives)? And unlike weapons, the mages can be controlled by okay I don't know why I am bothering to approach this logically since anything with reason will probably see this as a foolish suggestion, so dinosaur lemon salads.
The claim was made that guns "ruin" a fantasy setting.
None of the settings mentioneded can be considered "ruined" with their contuining popularity and being almost a house-hold name when asked for an example of the setting. Opinions on them may vary, but they are still popular and continuing settings.
Also minor nitpick, guns have been in warcraft since the RTS days of warcraft 2, warcraft 3 if you count personal ones.
Well if we are to be technical, what will work in an RTS (guns) will not necessarily work in an RPG. FF is a bad example as it has been historically turn-based, and the combat and how weapons work were never realistic to begin with.
Guns in RPGs such as the Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age? Much more difficult to justify as they would have an impact on the combat and likely would obsolete other tools due to being more effective than more traditional weapons.
QUNARI have them. Dwarves have basic lyrium-based explosives. First they'd need to develop cannons, then make them hand-held as muskets, then insane levels of refinement and experimentation before creating even an inaccurate firearm. Especially when you account for magic. People create to cover gaps in potential, and if magic can already do it why invent something else (especially something as volatile as explosives)? And unlike weapons, the mages can be controlled by okay I don't know why I am bothering to approach this logically since anything with reason will probably see this as a foolish suggestion, so dinosaur lemon salads.
Well if we are to be technical, what will work in an RTS (guns) will not necessarily work in an RPG. FF is a bad example as it has been historically turn-based, and the combat and how weapons work were never realistic to begin with.
Guns in RPGs such as the Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age? Much more difficult to justify as they would have an impact on the combat and likely would obsolete other tools due to being more effective than more traditional weapons.
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