| Kyle Linger |
This hit me last night at about 5 AM. Basically a few idle thoughts about the noted mechanics.
First of all, Grit. I think the general consensus so far is that it's far too limited a resource, and although you can recharge it doing so is very uncommon. At level 20, a Gunslinger would have 20 (Base) + 5 (Natural) + +5 (Inherent) + 6 (Enhancement) = 36 Wisdom = 13 Grit points. Note that this is if he dumps every single point into Wisdom, which would leave his Dexterity sorely lacking. This might seem like a lot, until you look at the Bard's performance allotment (minimum 22 times a day at level 20, with +0 charisma).
Now obviously neither of these characters (Wis-only 'slinger and no-Cha Bard) would never see play, but it does illustrate the issue - Gunslingers need more grit, or an easier way to recharge it. My mind immediately went to making it a per-encounter mechanic, but Paizo is wanting to avoid those to differentiate themselves from 4th edition, which is fine. And then my mind wandered somewhere strange - 3.5 psionics.
If you have 1 or more power points available, you can meditate to attempt to become psionically focused. The DC to become psionically focused is 20. Meditating is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. When you are psionically focused, you can expend your focus on any single Concentration check you make thereafter. When you expend your focus in this manner, your Concentration check is treated as if you rolled a 15. It’s like taking 10, except that the number you add to your Concentration modifier is 15. You can also expend your focus to gain the benefit of a psionic feat—many psionic feats are activated in this way.
Once you are psionically focused, you remain focused until you expend your focus, become unconscious, or go to sleep (or enter a meditative trance, in the case of elans), or until your power point reserve drops to 0.
What the heck does that have to do with Gunslingers, you ask? Well the way I see it, Grit points represent your ability to be calm and collected in a pitched battle, allowing you to pull off shots that would otherwise be impossible. Adding a way to regain Grit points out of combat would make sense, as the character could calm herself and be ready for the next challenge. I'm not saying it should be a carbon copy of psionic focus - there'd be no skill check involved, and it would therefore take longer. I'm thinking 1 minute per grit point (the Gunslinger could move, travel, eat, etc. during this time, but take no strenuous actions. No dice rolls basically), with a feat to reduce the time taken:
Swift Focus (Grit)
With a few deep breaths, you regain your composure and steady your hands.
You may regain a grit point as a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
Normal: Regaining a grit point takes one minute.
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As far as Deeds go, a lot of work needs to be done here. Someone (who's name escapes me now, sorry) suggested that instead of simply getting every deed at the requisite level, a Gunslinger should pick her deeds, like Alchemist discoveries or Rogue talents. This is a good idea, as it would make one gunslinger differ from another in more ways that their 1st level weapon choice, but there is an issue - discoveries and talents are always active/usable, and don't rely on a point pool. Deeds would have to be more powerful to make up for this - I think the best way to handle it would be to give each deed a passive effect that is active as long as you have 1 grit point remaining, as well as an active effect that costs grit. For example:
Leap for Cover - Level 1 Deed
Passive: As an immediate action in response to an attack, you can drop prone. This grants you a +4 AC bonus against the triggering attack, and a +2 bonus to your reflex save.
Active: By spending a grit point, you may move half your speed as part of this action. You are still targeted by the attack, even if you end your movement outside the area of effect or in total cover.
Or:
Pistol Whip - Level 3 Deed
Passive: You are adept at using your guns as impromptu melee weapons. Pistols deal 1d8 B (x2 crit), and muskets deal 1d10 B (x2 crit). While wielding a firearm, you are considered armed in melee and may make attacks of opportunity with your pistol whip attack. Making a ranged attack still provokes attacks of opportunity.
Active: By spending a grit point, the gunslinger may add her ranged enhancement bonus, as well as any applicable enchantments, to her pistol whip attacks for one round.
Those are probably unbalanced as all heck, but I only wanted to illustrate the concept. Anyways, that about does it for my thoughts. Just wanted to get them out here before I forget.