Double-Barreled Muskets: a Range Increment Question

[Dixie Landoe]

Hello everyone! I have a question for which I, after searching for a little while on the forum, have not been able to find a clear answer. Why is the double-barreled musket given a range increment of only ten feet?

I have been playing a musket master gunslinger in Society play for a little while now, and have focused on the double-shot feat to give her two attacks as a full-round action with her gun. She doesn't fire each barrel at once, but rather individually in sequence as per the feat. (Granted this wasn't as effective as I'd hoped, but that's another story) However, this was built on the premise that each barrel should theoretically be able to fire with the same range (40' increment) as a single-barreled musket.

One theory (given to me by a friend) is that they gave the double-barreled musket such a short range increment because the weapon was intended to be used more as "Grandpappy's old double-barreled shotgun" - more like a home defense tool than a battle gun. I don't use the weapon that way though, I never fire both barrels simultaneously, and I feel that the severely reduced range increment is unjustly applied. I also admittedly feel that it's unfair to cost 1000 gold more than the single-barreled musket if it's not going to have the same range increment.

I have been playing my character this way ever since she could afford the double-barreled musket (range increment of the gun as being 40'), and the GMs at my gaming store have accepted it. I don't want to cheat, but I feel like my case is just. Do y'all have any advice or ideas?

Thanks for your suggestions,
Dixie

[MacGurcules]

It appears to be an error, but it's never been officially corrected. It doesn't really make sense to give it a shorter increment than a double barreled pistol (which has the same increment as a regular pistol, incidentally). If they wanted it to be a blunderbuss/shotgun, it seems like it would have been described that way.

When it comes up, my group uses the same increment as the regular musket.

[CanisDirus]

Just noticed the range thing while building a musket master, so I'm giving this thread a polite bump.

[Pathfinder Design Team]

FAQ: http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1g1#v5748eaic9quu

Double-Barreled Musket: Is the range increment for a double-barreled musket 10 feet? A single-barreled musket's range increment is 40 feet.

"10 feet" is an error, and will be fixed in the next printing of Ultimate Combat. The correct range increment is "40 feet."

[CanisDirus]

You guys and gals rock - thank you! :)