I never see gunslingers using a blunderbuss, always muskets or pistols.
However, in my next campaign the GM has mentioned it will be quite urban/dungeon based: he specifically said close quarters.
Maybe in the tight spaces and corners of such an environment, a blunderbuss gunslinger can shine.
Any good feats, archetypes ,etc I should look out for? Any tips or tricks?
Thanks!
I played one in 'We be Goblins'
He was AWESOME!!! ^_^
Only a level one... one night adventure, so no real advice other than loving the blunderbuss :D
If you are going for the scatter weapon quality, you are going to go Mysterious Stranger.
Your stat priorities: CHA, DEX, CON, (INT/WIS/STR)
For those last three, choose whether you want skill ranks, will saves and perception checks, or carrying capacity.
The main reason: You can use Dragon's Breath cartridges reliably. After fifth level, you IGNORE misfire a number of times per day equal to your charisma modifier. You add your charisma modifier to damage. It is expensive, yes, but when you need repeated absolute damage to cover an area, why not? Spend your grit to get CHA + 2d6 + any weapon enhancements.
I will recommend you take the Dragon pistol as it will be easier for you to rapid reload. You CAN still get something like full attacks off with a wand of reloading hands on a Blunderbuss, but it's trickier. The crunch of it is that a Blunderbuss is just too hard for a nonMusket Master to reload.
Another peculiar quirk about scatter weapons: They are more likely to misfire the fewer creatures you have in your cone. If you are fighting hordes of the undead, this is the best weapon quality you could muster. Each additional target reduces your chance of rolling all 1s or 2s.
Get your UMD high enough that you can use wands and possibly even scrolls reliably. A wand of Named Bullet and you can demolish any encounter in two rounds. One round to cast the spell on a pellet, the other to get into range and fire it. It crits, you gain grit, and if you used your dragon pistol, it crits for x4. You can't use this with a scatter shot, but you can still load single shots into a scatter weapon, it's just that you have a greatly reduced range increment. It's fine for a blunderbuss too, although you only have a x2 critical, which I think is an error either on the part of the dragon pistol or the blunderbuss (why should the bigger weapon have the smaller threat?) Anyway...
That said, Musket Master is a lovely second. You will be able to focus on a Blunderbuss and get a full attack and get dex to damage. You won't be as fantastic with those lovely alchemical cartridges.
If you go for the Stranger, focus on getting away without getting AOOd on reloads. Dodge, Mobility, Deft Shootist Deed will make sure you can take your scatter weapon pot shots in close range. Thereafter, take your damage dealing feats and your extra shot feats if as you wish.
For the Musket Master, you'll need rapid reload Blunderbuss even though you have RR Muskets. Otherwise, it's much the same if you're focused on close range.
When you get to 7th level, you can focus on the Targeting deed. My favourite trick is to use the Flare cartridges with targeting the head for a double dose of saves against suck.
As said above, remind your compatriots that you are not a flank buddy by including them in your cone when they mess up. That's my preferred (CN) method of teaching a lesson.
So basically... don't use a blunderbuss.
actually, just because you are using a pistol doesn't mean you can use a shield: Without a free hand, how would you reload?
So, you use a buckler, which specifically states that using a bow, crossbow, or two handed firearm does NOT incur a penalty while using it.
So, everyone should have a buckler anyway, not just pistol users.