# Need D&D rules for modern weapons

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [February 26, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477 "2013-02-26T23:31:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/1 "2013-02-26T23:31:40Z")

</div>

I am running a 2nd edition D&D campaign where I propose to send the characters to an alternate version of modern LA. Do any of you gamers know of a (preferably free) system for converting modern firearms into the D&D game? Thanks for the assistance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/2 "2013-02-26T23:35:25Z")

</div>

I found that 2.0 and 3.0 were mostly back-and-forth compatible, so if you picked up a copy of D20 Modern, that should get you in the right ballpark. For instance, here’s a [link](http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/modern/smack/weapons.html#rangedweapons) to the d20 Modern SRD.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/3 "2013-02-27T00:03:12Z")

</div>

I would also suggest d20 Modern, although some of the rules for automatic weapons are covered by feats, which don’t exist in 2E.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/4 "2013-02-27T00:22:50Z")

</div>

Ethilrist & Hogarth: Thanks for the recommendation. It looks pretty useful.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/5 "2013-02-28T14:07:18Z")

</div>

D20, IMHO, is not a good system for modern weapons. The rounds are too long - six seconds may not be that much in a sword fight, but it’s enough to empty a magazine in a gunfight. You need a system with 1 second combat rounds, like GURPS.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-d-d-rules-for-modern-weapons/651477/6 "2013-02-28T18:22:04Z")

</div>

> [@Alessan](#):
>
> D20, IMHO, is not a good system for modern weapons. The rounds are too long - six seconds may not be that much in a sword fight, but it’s enough to empty a magazine in a gunfight.

Six seconds? Pshaw. The original poster is playing 2E D&D, so 1 round is actually a full minute long!