S̶w̶o̶r̶d̶&̶S̶o̶r̶c̶e̶r̶y̶ Guns

D

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Guns are better suited to visual media like comics, anime, or movies.
They're boring to write about because they make combat repetitive.
Example:
Jack shoots at Tom.
Tom takes cover behind a wall.
Tom exposes himself and returns fire.
Jack takes cover.

And so on.
In traditional combat scenes, especially in genres like fantasy or historical fiction, there's a lot of emphasis on the skill, strategy, and physical prowess of the combatants. Martial arts, swords, spears, and bows allow for a detailed description of each movement, creating a choreography where each action and counteraction can be vividly portrayed. Firearms, on the other hand, often simplify this choreography into mere pulling of triggers and ducking for cover.

Moreover, they are difficult to balance. Either they are written as superfluous, and a cultivator can stop a bullet with their hand, be immune or even cut them in half with a sword, or they are so powerful that they make anyone a lethal threat (somewhat like in real life).

In contrast, primitive firearms like arquebuses introduce an element of suspense and strategy due to their limitations. Their slow reload times and unreliability can create tense moments in battle, where every shot counts and combatants have to carefully consider their actions. This reintroduces a level of personal skill and strategy into combat, aligning more closely with the narrative style of many fantasy stories.
You didn't prove anything. You just wrote it boring without any strategy involved. Guns require movement, too. And you can heighten the excitement by having people fumble mags, mess up loading the rifle only to be charged with a bayonet, etc. It is probably just that the stories you read made them boring.
 

MatchaChocolate69

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You didn't prove anything. You just wrote it boring without any strategy involved. Guns require movement, too. And you can heighten the excitement by having people fumble mags, mess up loading the rifle only to be charged with a bayonet, etc. It is probably just that the stories you read made them boring.
I don't need to prove it. That was just a summary of a gunfight. This is the reason why firearms are so rare in fantasy novels.
I'm waiting for examples of fantasy novels that use guns in an interesting way. There are some, but very few.
 

RepresentingDesire

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In traditional combat scenes, especially in genres like fantasy or historical fiction, there's a lot of emphasis on the skill, strategy, and physical prowess of the combatants. Martial arts, swords, spears, and bows allow for a detailed description of each movement, creating a choreography where each action and counteraction can be vividly portrayed. Firearms, on the other hand, often simplify this choreography into mere pulling of triggers and ducking for cover.
The same is true for swords and other melee weapons, magic can literally be written the same way. The weapon doesn't matter, only how creative the set pieces (weapon, choreography, fighting setting/place) are used.
 
D

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I don't need to prove it. That was just a summary of a gunfight. This is the reason why firearms are so rare in fantasy novels.
I'm waiting for examples of fantasy novels that use guns in an interesting way. There are some, but very few.
It's because authors have no imagination. I can write a summary of a sword fight like that too.

Tom slashes Jerry with a sword.
Jerry dies.
 

RepresentingWrath

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Jack shoots at Tom.
Tom takes cover behind a wall.
Tom exposes himself and returns fire.
Jack takes cover.
Jack slashes at Tom.
Tom parries with a spear shaft.
Tom exposes himself and returns with a thrust.
Jack parries with a shield.

If you exclude everything that makes combat interesting, it will become boring, yes.
 

MatchaChocolate69

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The same is true for swords and other melee weapons, magic can literally be written the same way. The weapon doesn't matter, only how creative the set pieces (weapon, choreography, fighting setting/place) are used.
On the surface, it might seem that way, but when you try to write a gunfight, you'll realize that they are actually different and firearms impose a rigid pattern of conflict.


I want to frame this.

No, I will frame this.
:cool:
 

RepresentingWrath

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On the surface, it might seem that way, but when you try to write a gunfight, you'll realize that they are actually different and firearms impose a rigid pattern of conflict.
I'm not trying to attack you, nor do I actually like gunfights. Yes, a lot of gunfights are so-so, but it's not because gunfights are boring. It's because they are harder to write. I can be wrong, but I will say my opinion nonetheless. In gunfights, tension matters a lot more. And tension is a lot harder to write than simply describing how people exchange flurry of strikes.

Anyway, the fight of two snipers can be extremely interesting if you focus on emotions and surroundings. If you simply describe how they lie down, doing nothing, it will be boring. If you describe how sweat from their forehead is dangerously close to pouring into their eyes, making them potentially losing eyesight for some time, it will add to the tension, and make it interesting. So, if you apply the same method you do when writing a sword fight, and concentrate on describing the action, the gunfight will become boring.
 

AnonUnlimited

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-_- stop debating subjective stuff like whether something is “interesting.”

Some people find slice of life interesting while other more cultured individuals find that watching paint dry is better than anything slice of life.
 

MatchaChocolate69

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I'm not trying to attack you, nor do I actually like gunfights. Yes, a lot of gunfights are so-so, but it's not because gunfights are boring. It's because they are harder to write. I can be wrong, but I will say my opinion nonetheless. In gunfights, tension matters a lot more. And tension is a lot harder to write than simply describing how people exchange flurry of strikes.

Anyway, the fight of two snipers can be extremely interesting if you focus on emotions and surroundings. If you simply describe how they lie down, doing nothing, it will be boring. If you describe how sweat from their forehead is dangerously close to pouring into their eyes, making them potentially losing eyesight for some time, it will add to the tension, and make it interesting. So, if you apply the same method you do when writing a sword fight, and concentrate on describing the action, the gunfight will become boring.
You have a point.
I used the wrong term. It's not boring, but static. You're right when you say that a gunfight can be made more interesting with tension, and I liked the example you gave. I believe that gunfights are less dynamic and more static. There needs to be a lot of work on tension and psychology, as a single shot can be fatal. On the other hand, melee weapons allow for more room to maneuver.
 

Ellieporter

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Imo, its hard to write guns if you don't know what type of gun do you want the characters to have...

In a medieval fantasy, you can't have them pull out gloc-9's or even a 9mm... That would be insane.
 

RepresentingWrath

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You have a point.
I used the wrong term. It's not boring, but static. You're right when you say that a gunfight can be made more interesting with tension, and I liked the example you gave. I believe that gunfights are less dynamic and more static. There needs to be a lot of work on tension and psychology, as a single shot can be fatal. On the other hand, melee weapons allow for more room to maneuver.
They are definetely more static on average. You still can incorporate a lot of movements, since there are grenades, flanking, the cover can be destroyed, and so on. It can't quite compare to melee combat, and you still have to focus on a different thing, but mobility is not non-existent.

Another thing with guns I forgot to mention, is that guns allow for more uneven fights. If it's not some kind of super high fantasy, but a low fantasy, it's really hard to make a reader feel the difference in strength. Because not everyone watch Skallagrim or Shadiversity, or some similar channel. Not everyone can picture in their head why, for example, a simple plate armor is such a huge boost to combat abilities, and why it's so hard to win against a fully armored knight. But everyone can picture why a small pistol is weaker than a rifle, especially if the fight is not inside of a small room. A person with a pistol has to close the distance, because they can't aim, pistol is accurate, but not as accurate. And you don't have enough time to aim. At the same time, while you try to close the distance, you are vulnerable.

The difference in ammunition is also important. If author pays attention to ammo, it also can change the way the battle is written. Example, you have two squads. Both with some kind of submachine guns. One group has grenades and 4-5 mags. The other group has 1-2 mags. Both groups can't retreat. Are they going to be stationary? One group probably will be stationary. But the other one is constantly moving.

I will end this with saying that melee combat is less static. No questions here, no denial. But as I said, it's not like all gunfights are sniper duels. Yes, you sacrifice some mobility, but you gain more tension. And obviously all of it is only my opinion.
 
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