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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ For reference, getting gunpowder slightly damp actually increases its power until you get it so wet it won't light. Water is very good at soaking up heat and turning it into pressure (hence why we build steam engines). An excessively damp environment could still cause manufacturing issues like you suggest though. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 21, 2016 at 19:19
  • $\begingroup$ @Perkins - ooh, neat, I didn't know that. I was assuming wet enough to have trouble lighting, it's true. Although even being more powerful an explosive might be its own kind of problem, if the gun in question isn't equipped for the extra explosive power in its bullets and that causes other problems - maybe it can be one more reason for guns to be dropped as unreliable in this world. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 21, 2016 at 19:33
  • $\begingroup$ It could be an issue. Although most guns will have enough of a safety margin to be able to handle it. I've seen powder hammers malfunction due to the extra pressure from old cartridges that had been stored in a damp environment though, and some semi-automatic weapons don't cycle correctly unless the amount of power in the round is almost exactly right. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 21, 2016 at 19:43