| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
I've searched the forum, but there are too many topics on this archetpype and in none of them I found a precise answer.
So, correct me if I am wrong.
Just reading the archetype: aim the target, enhance the weapon (swift), chant the spell (standard), pull the trigger. The bullet flies and hits touch AC of the target in a range of 20 ft: 1dX damage plus spell effect (ST as usual).
Why this interpretation?
Most of all, because it says "in a spellslinger's hands, they [his firearms] *both* fire projectiles (bullets and pellets) *and* cast magic". But also because it has no sense to me give up 4 schools of magic, shot within 20 ft and risk misfire (for something a simple ray can do in a much more worthwhile and safer manner) if the firearm does not shot anything XD
I listen to your wisdom :)
It's an either/or situation. You can either fire bullets or cast a spell through it, not both. Yes this archetype is suboptimal.
I've nearly finished writing a guide to the spellslinger, there's a discussion topic from a few weeks ago in the forums. I'd link the guide except I'm on my phone.
Thank you. If you can post the link, I'll glad to read your guide. Although I've had interesting answers somewhere else, I'm still dubious about the assumption that using arcane gun is an either/or situation :)
Mainly because the text explictly says "both ... and" exactly in the arcane gun section (not in a generic section). Someone correctly pointed out that nowhere it says "at the same time", but with the same logic I can state that nowhere it says "either ... or".
My other doubt is: should a mage use its arcane gun limitations when firing a spell (range, over all), or not? I think he does, but again nowhere in the text there is this statement (or its contrary).
This archetype, as suggested, is real suboptimal: too much expensive and limited. Using a gun like a "harry potter style" wand is not something to die for, especially at low levels (and with the right traits everybody can buy a pistol at 1st level and use it).
BUT (just my opinion, of course!!) if a mage can fire both a bullet and a spell (so hoping to hit and cause damage even if the spell fails), then his sacrifices (schools, cantrips, arcane bond, spell-like abilities, powers and original spell range) make sense (obviously along with this interpretation - to balance its power - "any spell" refers only to arcane prepared spells, being a wizard archetype).
As I said, I hope to read your guide soon!! :)
Thank you. If you can post the link, I'll glad to read your guide. Although I've had interesting answers somewhere else, I'm still dubious about the assumption that using arcane gun is an either/or situation :)
Mainly because the text explictly says "both ... and" exactly in the arcane gun section (not in a generic section). Someone correctly pointed out that nowhere it says "at the same time", but with the same logic I can state that nowhere it says "either ... or".
My other doubt is: should a mage use its arcane gun limitations when firing a spell (range, over all), or not? I think he does, but again nowhere in the text there is this statement (or its contrary).
This archetype, as suggested, is real suboptimal: too much expensive and limited. Using a gun like a "harry potter style" wand is not something to die for, especially at low levels (and with the right traits everybody can buy a pistol at 1st level and use it).
BUT (just my opinion, of course!!) if a mage can fire both a bullet and a spell (so hoping to hit and cause damage even if the spell fails), then his sacrifices (schools, cantrips, arcane bond, spell-like abilities, powers and original spell range) make sense (obviously along with this interpretation - to balance its power - "any spell" refers only to arcane prepared spells, being a wizard archetype).
As I said, I hope to read your guide soon!! :)
I missed your reply, last month(!).
Link: Spellslinger GuideI really see no justification for being able to shoot AND cast simultaneously. The Eldritch Knight capstone ability allows this, but only on a critical and it costs a swift action. However, I also see no reason for spells cast through a gun to use the limited range of that gun.
Quote from the Arcane Gun description: "Arcane guns are normal one-handed or two-handed firearms in the hands of others, as they were normal firearms before the spellslinger imbued them with magic. In a spellslinger’s hands, they both fire projectiles (bullets and pellets) and cast magic."
And that is correct: a spellslinger can use them to do either of these things. That statement in no way justifies doing both simultaneously. The rest of the description explains how spell casting through the gun works; there is no further mention of shooting bullets.
I think that the archetype is very badly written (see the melee-only weapon properties the Mage Bullets ability can imbue a barrel with - completely unusable unless you hit enemies with that barrel instead of shooting!) and could do with a lot of clarification and be less penalised, but granting them what would effectively be double actions per round is not how I would do it!
Thank you for the link! Don't worry about time, on a forum it has no meaning :P I'll keep your suggestions to build a npc. Obviously just for fun, gnome perhaps...
Nevertheless, one day I'll try to play a spellslinger "in the other way", just to see if he's too powerful or instead balanced as I suppose. Re-reading different threads on this topic, I saw that there's no common understanding (my questions aren't new at all), so nothing better than play-testing. Waiting for someone, someday, who can faq all these doubts!
Thanks again ^_^