Lock and Load!: The Gunslinger Class Deck Preview

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Players who joined us last week at Gen Con had an early opportunity to play the Gunslinger, but for those who missed the mayhem, I'm here to deliver everything you need to know about the Gunslinger Class Deck.

One of the first steps I took when preparing to work on the Gunslinger deck was to get my research on. I pored through historical documents (internet wiki) as well as the Pathfinder RPG rules with a singular quest: identify all of the guns we could possibly have, then stuff them all in the class deck. You'll have a full array of lower-technology options such as the Matchlock Hackbut, Wheellock Pistol, and Hand Cannon, as well as examples of the higher end of gunsmithing that Alkenstar might have to offer, by way of the Revolver, Shotgun, and Rifle.

One shot, many kills.

Some of you might be wondering about that Alkenstar reference. Alkenstar is a city-state on the border of the Mana Wastes. Having to survive in that harsh magic-dead region, the alchemists and engineers of Alkenstar invented firearms. In fact, the kingdom still controls the supply of firearms to the rest of Golarion, with 90% of the firearms in the world remaining within its borders. All three of the characters in the Gunslinger Class Deck are from Alkenstar.

Look, ma: no Divine.

Some of you might think of our iconic gunslinger Lirianne as a buccaneer, due to her presence in Skull & Shackles. The Class Deck version of Lirianne focuses more on her history as a shield marshal from Alkenstar that has been flung far from home. Mechanically, she specializes in always having the right gun in hand and making the most of its powers, as well as self-sufficiency to make her a more appealing solo option.

There's a reason she has marshal stars on her holsters.

Each of the three gunslingers in the deck takes inspiration from one of the Gunslinger archetypes in the RPG. Far from home, Lirianne is now a mysterious stranger who roams from adventure to adventure righting wrongs. That inspired me to write a short bit of doggerel (preferably read in your best Sam Elliott impression), which didn't quite fit into the flavor text box for the Mysterious Stranger role card:

When the bad times come, your life's in danger
Then appears the mysterious stranger
Tip of her hat and six shots of her gun
On to her next stop, 'cause your problem's done.

Bring it.

Our next gunslinger was inspired by the Gun Tank archetype. Angban is a dwarf from Dongun Hold, the dwarven fortress in Alkenstar that invented firearms. He is a master of long guns and armor both, making steady progress against the toughest of foes.

Oh, it's already been brought'n.

The third gunslinger is a ratfolk Gulch Gunner whose story is intertwined with Angban's. Both participated gloriously in the Battle of the Warrens, but Skizza's glory has a very different flavor indeed. Skizza is known for his use of bombs and fire, and other alchemical toys. He is tremendously effective, but not the safest of companions.

Not safe for children. Or Veterans.

The class deck includes plenty of new cards, including a new cycle: Ammunition. Like gunslingers in the RPG, card game gunslingers now have the ability to sift through an array of possible options to maximize their shots-to-kill ratios.

Pathfinder really has the most amazing artists, and Gunslinger was the first set in which I personally composed the art order. It was a true high note of my time as a game designer to see the results, so I want to end with callouts to some of my favorite pieces. You can see Ekaterina Burmak's fantastic treatment of Angban above, which delivered on absolutely every detail of my concept and then some. Two other awesome pieces were ally cards done by Suzanne Helmigh:

Illustrations by Suzanne Helmigh

The Gunslinger Class Deck is available August 31. And if you don't already have a Class Deck subscription, there's still time to start your sub with Goblins Fight! and Goblins Burn! and get a pile of goblin promo cards alongside them!

Keith Richmond
Adventure Card Game Designer