Gunslinger versus archer?

[Grimmzorch]

So as the topic states how does the gunslinger compare to the archer?

[blackbloodtroll]

Archer has the range, and more money.

[Grimmzorch]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

Archer has the range, and more money.

But the gunslinger has the touch AC at close range so that balances out right?

[Maezer]

Grimmzorch wrote:

But the gunslinger has the touch AC at close range so that balances out right?

Archery gets many shot. And I think of some importance the bow never breaks itself. But I think they are reasonably comparable if you excluded double barreled guns and the stupidity that is over-sized firearms.

Doubling your attacks per round or rapid fire gigantic guns can shift everything out of proportion.

[Cheapy]

The general consensus is that if you are looking for damage, the archer is still far better due to many shot.

[Blue Star]

I think that being able to use Two-weapon fighting using pistols would put them on par or above bows at shorter ranges.

[Callarek]

Blue Star wrote:

I think that being able to use Two-weapon fighting using pistols would put them on par or above bows at shorter ranges.

Probably not sustainably, what with the reloading limitations, needing an empty hand. And not until at least 5th level, since the archer gets rapid shot and Str mod added to damage, and probably not once the archer reaches a BAB of +6 and manyshot.

Guns have a lower (usually) touch AC within their first range increment.
Bows have a longer range increment, can front load damage easier, and handle multiple attacks per turn better.

Rapid shot is easy to do, wound after round, with a bow. Not so much with firearms, unless you have a job lot of them, at a price apiece higher than a strength adjusted longbow.

Add-in enhancement costs, where arrows receive teh enhancement from the bow, like bullets do fromt he gun, but needing multiple guns, that each need to be enhanced, to support higher numbers of attacks per round....

Basic arrows cost 5 cp each, basic bullets cost, at best, 1 sp apiece PLUS black powder cost of 1 gp per shot.

The Gunslinger version of weapon training adds more damage at 5th level, Dex mod instead of +1, but the archer has more readily accessible sources of pumping damage.

Deadly Aim can apply to both

Point Blank Shot applies to both

Str mod can be applied to bows, frequently running not too far from the Gunslinger's Dex mod, and being able to be applied earlier.

Archer can get 2 shots at first level, using rapid shot.
Gunslinger could, if he can afford a second gun, get two shots using Two-Weapon Fighting.
However, the archer can keep doing it every round, while the Gunslinger would have to reload both weapons (or geta revolver) to do it again.

Manyshot, at 6th level, gives the archer yet another damage source. It essentially gives that first shot the equivalent of an automatic critical (x2, applied separately) if it hits.

[Blue Star]

Advanced firearms changes that a lot. Also, you could theoretically purchase a double pistol.