Machinist's Firearms: How Do They Work?

So, I was recently shown lore on how Grimoires work as well as how and why some are specialized for Arcanist and Summoner and some for Scholar, and just what is written and illustrated within.

Being somewhat familiar with the inner workings of RL firearms I'm quite curious as to how guns in the game world function. Now I'd assume that guns such as the Ironworks Repeater and the Gjallarhorn fire ceruleum- and aether-powered blasts respectively but what about the modern Eorzean firearms?

Many of MCH's guns are portrayed as flintlocks but are shown to be fired much faster than a flintlock could be. So is there any actual lore on how these weapons function or how they use ammo and what ammo they use?

Doesn't that thing on your belt convert aether into bullet-like projectiles to be shot out of the gun?

I sorta assumed that was going on, but who knows. I wanna SAY it was mentioned at some point but I'm not sure, don't quote me on it.

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Originally Posted by AskaRay

Doesn't that thing on your belt convert aether into bullet-like projectiles to be shot out of the gun?

I sorta assumed that was going on, but who knows. I wanna SAY it was mentioned at some point but I'm not sure, don't quote me on it.

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The Aetherotransformer? I thought it mainly powered stuff like the Gauss Barrel and the turrets as well as stored them along with ammo. There are NPCs who wield guns with no Aetherotransformer, but I don't remember if they are ever shown using weaponskills.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, it kinda makes sense. The Gauss Barrel cancels out auto-attacks, so I'd guess auto-attacks are actual lead projectiles that would break the Gauss Barrel which is more of an aether shot amplifier?

So, Flintlocks are flintlocks, revolvers and revolvers, and the only thing that'd make any difference on is auto-attack shots, not skills...right?

As far as I know, the firearms work like normal firearms. Yes we can shoot them faster than a real-life flintlock pistol, but chalk that up to gameplay purposes. Plus, a number of MCH weapons aren't flintlocks (Ironworks Magitek Repeater, anyone?), and they have to do with a standardized animation for all guns. Yeah they fire a lot faster than flintlocks / muskets, but would you really like to stand around doing nothing for about a minute while you reload your weapon for each shot?

As for the aetherotransformer, Stephanivien tells you it's used to channel lightning aether; it's basically how our autoturrets function, as well as why Promotion consumes MP. I don't know if the Gauss Barrel has anything to do with that, given "Gauss" is a catchall term for a coil gun. (Brings up more questions than answers.)

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Originally Posted by AskaRay

Doesn't that thing on your belt convert aether into bullet-like projectiles to be shot out of the gun?

I sorta assumed that was going on, but who knows. I wanna SAY it was mentioned at some point but I'm not sure, don't quote me on it.

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Yes, it does. It's explained in the first or second job quest. I can't remember if it transforms part of your aether or part of the aether in the atmosphere, but that is how it functions. I think Gauss Barrel just concentrates that aether further, which is why auto-attacks are shut off, but I could be wrong. I'd have to read through it again. And I don't think all of the bullets are aether-powered; some are still lead. The big difference between machinists and others that use guns (such as Captain Madison) is the aetherotransformer.

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Originally Posted by AnnaMolly

Many of MCH's guns are portrayed as flintlocks but are shown to be fired much faster than a flintlock could be. So is there any actual lore on how these weapons function or how they use ammo and what ammo they use?

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The internal feed mechanism is probably shaped like an infinity symbol, which gives it unlimited ammo.

Basically the guns are straight up firearms. The Aetherotransformer is used to provide power to gadgets by producing Lightning Aether and charge up special ammunition types. For example, the stun shot uses an shot charged with Aetheric Lightning to effectively tazer the target.

Theoretically the speed of fire could be explained as them using lightning aether to ignite the black powder in the bullets. The guns do seem to use bullets regardless of the design.

They could be breech loaders instead of muzzle loaders since the MCH slaps the back of his gun when reloading. Still lead ball and black powder, but probably in paper cartridges for quick loading since the icon is a lead ball not a bullet (iirc?).

The Buff icon however is a bullet.

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Originally Posted by Magis

They could be breech loaders instead of muzzle loaders since the MCH slaps the back of his gun when reloading. Still lead ball and black powder, but probably in paper cartridges for quick loading since the icon is a lead ball not a bullet (iirc?).

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Musketoon type guns look like they break open so I'd assume they are breech load. Carbines...I dunno.

Everything in Eorzea is powered by Aether. So if ur curious as how the guns work. Well think no more i have the answer. its called Magi.... i mean aether. Yes aether :D

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So, I was recently shown lore on how Grimoires work as well as how and why some are specialized for Arcanist and Summoner and some for Scholar, and just what is written and illustrated within.

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Curious about this....source?

is it possible the Mechanist Rifles are clockwork tech? It'd be far more advanced than other examples of eorzean technology (While still being less advanced than Garlemauld's Magitech) and would explain the occasional animations with certain skills where it looks like we're "Loading" the weapon in some kind of mechanical breach opening not unlike the M1 Carbine's slide mechanism. (Could also explain how the "Reload" skill seems to load 5 bullets at once since the M1 also had a 5 round speed loader clip)

Also things like the automatic firing and debuff shots could actually be tapping into the Aetherometer since the "Head Graze" skill looks more like a lazer than a bullet. The Reloaded 5 rounds could be more potent alloy rounds vs the aetheric energy rounds which, as far as my head cannon is concerned, would be more powerful and accurate than the aetheric bullets the Aetherometer produces.

But as all of this is just a combo of theory and head cannon so it's really anyone's guess on the Lore explanation. (Though if the Guass barrel cancels auto attacks for a "Charge Shot" then that could add merit to the aether bullet idea sine it'd be functioning like a Mega Buster attachment.)

I could of swore I read "Feminist's Firearms." when I clicked the thread... However like that, I don't see how either works at all.

I have thought they where like an M1 with a clip feed, which explains why we can load single rounds or 5 rounds at a time, depending on the skill.

As i understood it, we passively generate a single shot after firing the gun (watch for the little animation after you auto attack) directly into the ammo chamber.
However, as that's a bullet generated on the quick, It lacks power. Which is probably also why we have the 50% chance to get the stronger shot without Reloading.

The Aetherotransformer we wear is what generates the special ammo over time by concentrating our Aether into bullet form. If you look at the thing on your hip, you can see a 5 shot clip next to the wrench.
The 5 shot Reload takes a minute to recharge because it takes that long to form the special bullets.
The Aetherotransformer is actually only part of what we wear on our hip, if you look closely at it, its actually a toolbox also, containing the parts for our turrets. The transformer supplies the electricity to the Turret which then tracks our aether signature of the bullets we make to hit their target.

In regards to Gauss Barrel, I feel like the cast time is us forcing the bullet to be created with more focus than the passive generation we use without the Barrel, hence why the shot is stronger but cancels our auto attacks.

That's my 2gil on it >_>

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Originally Posted by Sylve

In regards to Gauss Barrel, I feel like the cast time is us forcing the bullet to be created with more focus than the passive generation we use without the Barrel, hence why the shot is stronger but cancels our auto attacks.

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That still sounds like The Megabuster from the Megaman series to me. lol

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Originally Posted by Magis

They could be breech loaders instead of muzzle loaders since the MCH slaps the back of his gun when reloading. Still lead ball and black powder, but probably in paper cartridges for quick loading since the icon is a lead ball not a bullet (iirc?).

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If you look at the Aetherotransformer on the hip you can see a clip of bullets with metal casings that are seemingly filled with ceruleum. Whether those represent all the bullets we use or merely those charged with special aetheric properties I can't say... It's definitely more than a typical mechanical firearm though.

I always thought that MCH was a watered down Magitek.

As such I think Ceruleum-based "bullets" are at least used since MCH seems to be advanced/different in mechanics compared to its Musketeer base

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Originally Posted by AnnaMolly

EDIT: Now that I think about it, it kinda makes sense. The Gauss Barrel cancels out auto-attacks, so I'd guess auto-attacks are actual lead projectiles that would break the Gauss Barrel which is more of an aether shot amplifier?

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Gauss technology is actually a real thing. (though I dont know if its possible IRL yet) the idea behind it is that the barrel uses magnetism to amplify the velocity of a kinetic projectile. So to answer your question, it most likely uses power from the aethero transformer to power up your bullets. The reason why it cancels your auto attacks could possibly be because a gauss round needs to be charged up for each shot. We might need to use our imagination to assume that this limits gauss powered shots to action skills.

edit: come to think of it. it actually doesnt make much sense that auto attack is canceled. because you could technically still fire a normal round that isnt charged by the gauss barrel.

Ferdinand apparently doesn't use the standard firesand but wind crystal pressurized cartridges to propel its bullets while the Peacemaker uses lightning crystals to increase its shot velocity and so it seems various magitek enhanced type firearms exist but the standard issue low tech firearms run on firesand which is a gunpowder analogue. Garlean's are also apparently the first to pioneer revolvers which allow multiple shots before reloading sometime before they became an Empire.

As a Brd, I have purely magic arrows, and also normal arrows I pull out of nowhere and imbue with magic, and somehow shooting one "procs" the other. My accuracy with a bow has nothing to do with my eyesight or what glasses I wear, but what recycled clothing pellets I meld onto my shoes. I also can't shoot anything more than 30 yards away, just because. So good luck with seriously trying to apply logic in this game.