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[MindSnap]

I think that the most gunpowder we should get would be barrels for mining/traps, nothing else. I don't really like the techno-dwarf style all that much, but the current machines make sense and are neccessary (eg. aquifers).

[Griz]

firearms that fit in with the rest of the technology in the game world would be quite useless, especially with crossbows being overpowered. you'd have to draft your entire population to get a decent infantry line, and they'd probably all get slaughtered by kobold bowmen anyway.

cannons would be of rather limited use - you'd have to put them outside to prevent the operators from choking on the smoke clouds, and they probably wouldn't be any more effective than catapults/ballistas. they'd be good once the improved siege warfare is in - human armies could bring huge wall-destroying siege cannons, so you'd have a reason to go outside and kill the army instead of just locking the doors and waiting until they get bored.

hand grenades would be great fun, especially if you've played the Myth series.

[frostedfire]

sulfur eh? what about phosphorous?  Can we make incinderaries? fire pits? hmm.. *imagines blofield-esque scene with disposal of one of my nobles down a fire pit for being too snooty*  

Also - difference between guns and rifles.  Guns eg muskets, shotguns etc are a reinforced tube, rifles have grooves down the barrel (you see rifling on that barrel at the start of james bond movies)which spin the bullet round to increase accuracy.  Sorta like in cricket (or a stateside example, QB in gridiron throwing the ball long), putting a spin on the ball as you throw to control where you want it to go  

[Skyrage]

Fireworks!!!

[TalonisWolf]

Well, technically, rockets would fit the time period- the Orient (China for the most part) had discovered gunpowder and had started using rocket-propelled arrows as ammo for some siege engines. In fact, I believe the Mythbusters made one.

In fact, European Powers got their hands upon gunpowder through the Orient.

However, I do believe that more modern firearms and rockets/missiles should be avoided.

[Rimmy, Sniper]

I think it would be awesome to be added into vanilla. I play with Masterwork which has them, and it makes perfect sense!

First, they are hard to make. You actually have to progress through some research before building the workshop and then building them. It's a later game thing and makes ranged combat a bit more interesting.

Secondly, dwarves are all about explosions, mechanical things and contraptions, so why wouldn't dwarves like a metal contraption that exploded through the use of mechanical things?

And lastly, these are MUSKETS we are talking about. Urist McSwat Cancels Kill Azgh Sgbuletinspine : Already fired the 100 bullets in his MG. The dwarves shouldn't progress beyond muskets, flintlock pistols and cannons, unless Toady starts adding in the Space Age. Muskets are rather inaccurate, and in open combat, someone might be able to get off one shot before they are hacked to pieces by the goblins. So it would be best to place a line of musketmen on the walls, and watch as the explosion cascade! Ha!

Actually, talking about explosions, it would be rather cool to see muskets generate smoke, so when used underground, smoke starts to fill the corridors. Could lead to some interesting fights where the dwarves tried to hold off, but were blinded by their own smoke and eaten by Antmet.

[Inarius]

Best necro, I think !

[Destyvirago]

I think matchlock guns fit in nicely in DF. To balance them against crossbows you would need a lot more industry to make the gunpowder and bullets. Accuracy of early matchlock guns was bad as where there rate of fire, so compared to the crossbow the early guns would lose out in that regard. What early guns did have was lots of killing power as they shot a heavy bullet at relatively high speed. Unlike arrows in DF today, that can be parried with weapons and blocked by shields, bullets are basically invisible and should not be parried and should be able to penetrate through shields.

So in short guns should be something you issue to a specialist squad that works best behind fortifications where their slow rate of fire will allow them to survive against a more numerous enemy. The killing power of the guns would make them useful against large enemies and forgotten bests.
Having said that I think it would be best to keep guns somewhat restricted to the dwarf civilizations. I have a hard time thinking the kobolt and goblin civs would have the industry and quality control needed to make guns and gunpowder.

[Rimmy, Sniper]

Argh! Why is there a ton of threads necroing up right now?! And then you get caught out posting in them.