[color:"orange"]if there were guns, it would have to modify the general plot so badly[/color]
Technically, guns could be introduced fairly easily into the plot. The Divine One discovered ruins containing rifts to other realms, at least one of which was technologically advanced enough that it could have had guns. One of these rifts was used to banish Damian, who then learned to create his own rifts, and presumably could also find a source for guns.
The problem would be in introducing guns in a manner that was neither lame nor a cliché 'technology bad / magic good' way. Any problems with implementation or balancing could fairly easily tip the game into the lame category.
[color:"orange"]we would lose any traces of our dear old <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />, and thus there would be a howl of disappointment from the majority of <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> fans.[/color]
It would certainly change the story and atmosphere of the game. IMO there is plenty from DD/BD to expand upon for DD2. Maybe the series will start getting tired by DD8 or 9, and an industrial revolution could add some new story possibilities....
Wikipedia -
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
