Daelen wrote:
So, I had this idea tonight and can't seem to get the image out of my head of a character whirling around a battlefield firing off his pistol and/or slashing and stabbing foes left and right. I have personally seen this done with a Dawnflower Dervish Bard/Mysterious Stranger to some interesting effect, but I wonder if its doable going straight Gunslinger, maybe even without archetype. Obviously Quick Draw would be necessary, as would Rapid Reload. Am I just crazy or does this have some merit?
I am working on a similar character after recently starting Pathfinder for the first time. After playing 4th Ed D&D for a while, PF has been very refreshing. My own concept is more of a swashbuckler first and a gunman second, though the primary class is Gunslinger (currently Level 2).
I am working my way up to Level 6, then moving into the Duelist Prestige Class for a few levels before reaching at least Level 11 in Gunslinger. By 18th Level, assuming the campaign makes it that far, I should have the character set to Level 11 Gunslinger / Level 7 Duelist.
Here's my Ability Array at Level 1, though your mileage may vary:
Race: Human
STR 10
DEX 18 (16 +2 Racial)
CON 12
INT 14
WIS 14
CHA 8
Level 1:
1 Rank in Perform: Dance.
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Dodge.
Level 2:
1 Rank in Perform: Dance.
Level 3:
Feat: Dervish Dance. Now you can use a scimitar and immediately gain +4 to damage rolls. Additionally, the scimitar is considered a light weapon for purposes of feats and class abilities. This is key at level 7.
Level 4:
Ability: +1 Dexterity. DEX 19.
Gunslinger Bonus Feat: Mobility. Needed as Duelist prerequisite, and the Dodge Bonus to AC stacks with your Gunslinger's Dodge vs. Opportunity Attacks.
Level 5:
Feat: Rapid Reload or Quick Draw. You'll need both either way.
Level 6:
You don't get too much here, but you do get your Nimble +2 which only makes your Dodge Bonus to AC higher.
Level 7:
Multiclass: Level 1 Duelist.
At Level 1 that INT 14 has given you +1 to AC. You've received two consecutive bonuses to AC now. You also get a +1 to scimitar damage from Precise Strike.
Feat: Now grab either Rapid Reload or Quick Draw, depending on which one you did not grab at Level 5. If you took both of them at 4 and 5, you don't meet the requirements for Duelist. Now you can draw and re-holster your pistol to keep that hand free or take pot shots at ranged enemies.
Level 8:
Ability: +1 Dexterity. DEX 20.
If you go Level 2 Duelist, you gain the ability to parry. You also get another +1 to AC because of INT in addition to +2 Initiative, and another +1 to Initiative as well as Attacks and Damage, due to your higher DEX.
Not considering enhancement bonuses on weapons, your attack with scimitar is: BAB +8 (Gunslinger 6 + Duelist 2) DEX +5 = +13.
Not considering enhancement bonuses on weapons, your damage with scimitar is: 1d6+7 (DEX 5 + Duelist 2).
Not considering enhancement bonuses, leather armor would be giving you AC 10 + Leather 2 + Nimble 2 + Canny Defense (Duelist) 2 + DEX 5 + Dodge 1 = 22. When you trigger opportunity attacks, your AC becomes 30 (Mobility 4 + Gunslinger's Dodge 4) at the cost of 1 Grit Point. If you want to use Studded Leather, raise that to 23 and 31 respectively.
Level 9:
Take Level 3 Duelist. Now Enhanced Mobility gives you another +4 vs. Opportunity Attacks. You're now AC 34 or 35 vs. OA. Scimitar damage goes up one when using Precise Strike.
Feat: Weapon Focus in Scimitars. Now you get another +1 to attacks.
Level 10:
Level Gunslinger to 7. You get new Deeds. Not much else. This level is somewhat of a dead zone aside from the BAB going up as you don't even get any increases to your Saves.
Level 11:
This is the sweet spot. Level Gunslinger to 8, and you get your Bonus Feat while also getting your Level 11 Feat. You can choose Weapon Specialization in scimitar to add another +2 damage. Deft Shootist to no longer provoke OA (defeats your insane AC vs. OA's. though), or take Weapon Focus in Pistols to get +1 when shooting. Extra Grit wouldn't hurt either, since you'd be doubling your Grit Pool from 2 to 4. That means more Gunslinger's Dodge. Either way, pick two.
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Now you can change the order around and take Duelist at Character Level 8 so that you get the two feats at once by going back to Gunslinger at Character Level 9, but the Duelist Prestige Class will be the one enhancing your swordplay abilities as well as your map control (movement). At Gunslinger Level 5 you received your Dex Bonus to Firearm damage, and not much other than Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization will raise that by much more, whereas more levels in Duelist will add directly to your scimitar damage during Precise Strike.