If a gunslinger wanted to fire two pistols at once (the character would be 3rd level), would he want the Two-Weapon Fighting or Rapid Shot feat?
Rapid Shot would allow you to make a second shot with a single weapon (not with two different weapons) at a -2 penalty. (Note the wording "full-attack action with a ranged weapon", implying one weapon, not two.)
Two Weapon Fighting would allow you to make a second shot with a second weapon at reduced penalties. Ergo, using two pistols (one handed weapons) without the feat would incur a -6/-10 penalty, but using two pistols with the feat would only incur a -4/-4 penalty.
Ultimately, I think you can use these two together, effectively stacking the penalties but getting 4 shots out of a BAB of +5 or less at a -6/-6/-6/-6 penalty.
I say this as TWF rules take effect whenever you use two weapons to gain extra attacks in a round, and Rapid Shot only requires that you take a full attack action with a given weapon in a round. Therefore, since TWF as a full-round attack (aka, full-attack action) is the same as making a full attack action with two separate weapons in the same round, you should be able to use Rapid Shot with TWF.
Pick up some revolvers?
That would be ideal, but I'm limited to Early Firearms, and only have a 3rd-level character's starting 3,000 gp to work with. :(
Rapid Shot would allow you to make a second shot with a single weapon (not with two different weapons) at a -2 penalty. (Note the wording "full-attack action with a ranged weapon", implying one weapon, not two.)
Two Weapon Fighting would allow you to make a second shot with a second weapon at reduced penalties. Ergo, using two pistols (one handed weapons) without the feat would incur a -6/-10 penalty, but using two pistols with the feat would only incur a -4/-4 penalty.
Ultimately, I think you can use these two together, effectively stacking the penalties but getting 4 shots out of a BAB of +5 or less at a -6/-6/-6/-6 penalty.
I say this as TWF rules take effect whenever you use two weapons to gain extra attacks in a round, and Rapid Shot only requires that you take a full attack action with a given weapon in a round. Therefore, since TWF as a full-round attack (aka, full-attack action) is the same as making a full attack action with two separate weapons in the same round, you should be able to use Rapid Shot with TWF.
Actually, you would get 3 shots at -4/-4/-4. Using rapid shot only gives you the one extra attack, not one extra attack per weapon.
Pick up some revolvers?That would be ideal, but I'm limited to Early Firearms, and only have a 3rd-level character's starting 3,000 gp to work with. :(
You can dip into witch, take the hair hex and reload with your extra "hand" once per day.
With magical knack you can boost that to 3 minutes per day. Depending on how you read the description of white-haired witch, you can use that for an always-on prehensile hair.
The other option is to take 2 levels of alchemist and get the vestige arm discovery.
If you want to go straight gunslinger, you can take weapon cords. That way you would be able to fire 2 guns every other turn. When you get a free feat, you ca take quick-draw so that you can fire them every turn.
Actually, you would get 3 shots at -4/-4/-4. Using rapid shot only gives you the one extra attack, not one extra attack per weapon.
I think that might be an issue of interpretation
When making a full-attack action with a ranged weapon, you can fire one additional time this round. All of your attack rolls take a -2 penalty when using Rapid Shot.
Which I interpret at one extra attack with any weapon you use to make a full attack action, and since TWF essentially allows a full attack action with each weapon, I would think that allows an extra attack with each weapon as well. But talk with your DM and figure it out.
Either way, Pistols are one-handed weapons which, with TWF, still equates to a -4 penalty on all attacks. Stack that with the -2 penalty on all attacks from Rapid Shot, and the total penalty is still -6.
Master_Crafter if you're DMing, you're free to read it as you would like, however, in my game we read it as the one extra attack, not one per weapon. The feat as written doesn't read one additional time per weapon, just one additional time.
As I said, it is an issue of interpretation. My group reads it one way, yours reads it the other. I think both are valid, but either way the DM must agree.
So talk with your DM.
I'll agree with you on that...:)
Actually, you would get 3 shots at -4/-4/-4. Using rapid shot only gives you the one extra attack, not one extra attack per weapon.I think that might be an issue of interpretation
When making a full-attack action with a ranged weapon, you can fire one additional time this round. All of your attack rolls take a -2 penalty when using Rapid Shot.Which I interpret at one extra attack with any weapon you use to make a full attack action, and since TWF essentially allows a full attack action with each weapon, I would think that allows an extra attack with each weapon as well. But talk with your DM and figure it out.
Either way, Pistols are one-handed weapons which, with TWF, still equates to a -4 penalty on all attacks. Stack that with the -2 penalty on all attacks from Rapid Shot, and the total penalty is still -6.
Oh, you are right about the -4 on the two-weapon fighting, I made the assumption that the off-hand weapon was light, but I guess pistols are always one-handed weapons, and not light. As far as rapid shot, I'm positive that the Rules as Written state that you get only one extra attack per turn, and not per weapon. It is fine if you GM it differently in your game, but I am somewhat obsessed with RAW at the moment, as I am starting up a Pathfinder Society group, and GMing PFS means that I have no room for GM interpretation and must carefully determine what RAW is on each issue I adjudicate.
Using a double-barreled pistol (1,750 gp) in addition to your starting pistol (free) lets you get off three shots with Rapid Shot and Two-Weapon Fighting. At 4th or 5th level, replace your starting pistol with another double-barreled pistol, then take Improved Two-Weapon Fighting at 7th for five shots (Rapid Shot to fire twice with one pistol, two off-hand shots with the other pistol, reload first pistol, fire first pistol).
As others have mentioned, Rapid Reload and alchemical cartridges make reloading a free action and weapon cords let you retrieve a "dropped" weapon as a swift action. Eventually, you probably want a glove of storing.
There is always quick draw and weapon cords.
Unfortunately, you can't benefit from both for the same weapon. Either the weapon is held in/tied to your hand, in which case you can't "draw" it, or it's holstered, in which case you have to take an action to tie it to your wrist with the weapon cord.
