Bow Use Modification: Firearms

Archers have access to a skill, which allows them to use a bow.  As fun as using a bow is, it doesn't necessarily fit the genre some people wish to play in.  I have thus invented a way to modify the "Bow Use" skill to include using guns.

First, here is the skill "Bow Use"
You may use a bow. Your arrows are spell packets with 12" of ribbon attached to the end. They may be blocked by a weapon or shield. Your bow will come unstrung after you fire six shots, or after it is hit with a weapon. You must spend 5 seconds concentrating while roleplaying that you are restringing it before you may fire again.

Now, here is the modification for Firearms.

You may also use firearms. Your arrows are spell packets, which may be blocked by a weapon or shield. Your weapon will need to be reloaded/unjammed after you fire six shorts or after it is hit by a weapon. You must spend 5 seconds concentrating while roleplaying that you are reloading/unjamming the firearm before you may fire again.

Firearms needed to be blocked by weapons and shields, or else it would be far to overpowered. The only actual mechanical change is that the packets no longer require streamers. This makes it a little more wieldy, but isn't a game-breaking change.

The trade-off comes from the size of the rep. A one-handed firearm should be no longer than 14" in length. A two-handed firearm cannot block with one hand, and must be no longer than 36" in length.

In order to make it as safe as possible, the "barrel" portion of the gun should be the part that contains the pipe core with closed cell foam on top of it. The handle can be attached as necessary, in order to avoid pipe joints. Because of this, the weapon can never be held by anything but the handle in order to block (for safety reasons). All parts of the gun must be covered in closed cell foam, with an open cell foam crush tip at the end of the barrel.

I highly advise making the guns look as unreal as possible, since this game is played in public places, and brandishing a realistic looking weapon is going to grab the attention of the police. By making the weapon look outlandish, you reduce the possibility of someone thinking it's a real gun and calling the police. And when all else fails, simply carry a bow around in public, on accounts of the gun "disturbing the dream."