Hello everyone, I may be bringing an old topic but as we go on I don't quite understand how can be the firearms still this strong. Usually with my group we like to do elaborate research to create strong pg, so we know the basic breaking game class or combo but firearms aren't in the same league. Even with some basic search you find that they can easily break the game (at least for use).
For example:
It's quite easy to have dexterity to the damage (trench fighter 3 or gunslinger 5, so some basic class for who want to use these weapon).
With only this you have the same damage as the meele build, dice+str vs dice+dex. They have to reload but they have many feats, class features, item to do it so it isn't a big problem, they even cause attacks of opportunity to fire or reload but as they use ranged weapon and can use the usual 5 feet step they probably won't (against normal enemy, usually we don't face only colossal monsters who would be a problem for them).
But they aren't on pair with a meele fighter because they use touch attack, even with a brilliant energy weapon you don't get on pair with them (and that's a +3). With touch AC they won't miss, they can get any penalty for deadly aim and such without problem.
But that's only the basic problem, because what I find overpowering is what you can do past this. A friend of mine really like this weapon so I've some builds, but how can be legit something like a dual wielding revolver without the disadvantage of a meele build? The damage could be on pair with a regular fighter but with touch attack and more strike. If we use the paladin build with the dual wielding is even worse.
I am exaggerating? I really can't compare them with other fighting classes, the difference is very big
