[quote=@Lord Orgasmo]
[@WXer] If you can come up with a [i]good[/i] reason, you could probably convince me to start with a pistol. 

[/quote]

Well, I'm currently leaning towards a man-at-arms working for a merchant guild that sells firearms. Just shoot and pistolwhip his way to glory, convincing the nobles to buy his guild's wares and become rich enough from commissions and retire.