Partly inspired by the gunslingers of the Dark Tower series, I decided to make a gun wielding samurai archetype, which I call the Gun Soul. I'm still not 100% sold on the name, but it seemed appropriate for the archetype.
Gun Soul (Samurai Archetype)
The gun soul samurai forgoes traditional samurai weapons in lieu if using firearms. Like traditional samurai, they believe their weapon of choice to be an extension of their very soul. It becomes a very part of them, and not simply a weapon in their hands. They aim with their eye. They shoot with their mind. They kill with their heart.
Gun soul samurai must choose The Way of the Gun in place of their Order.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Gun souls are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all firearms, and light armor. They do not gain proficiency with medium or heavy armor, nor with shields, katana, naginata, or wakizashi.
Gifted Firearm (Ex): At 1st level, a gun soul is gifted by his order with a firearm (either a pistol or a musket). This weapon is both a symbol of the gun soul's duty and a focus for much of his talent. He cannot sell this weapon. If the gun soul's gifted firearm is destroyed, the gun soul loses this weapon for 30 days while a replacement firearm is crafted for him. During this 30-day period, the gun soul takes a -1 penalty on weapon and damage rolls.
He also gains the Amateur Gunslinger and Gunsmithing feats. The gun soul uses Charisma in place of Wisdom for determining grit points from the Amateur Gunslinger feat, or levels of the Gunslinger class. This ability replaces Mount. Note: With GM approval in campaigns using advanced firearms, the gun soul may start with a revolver or rifle.
Order (Ex): The gun soul must choose The Way of the Gun.
Weapon Expertise (Ex): At 3rd level, a gun soul gains an unparalleled expertise with his chosen firearm. At 3rd level, the gun soul selects a specific firearm (such as an axe musket, blunderbuss, musket, or pistol), which is typically (but not always) the firearm gifted to them from their order. The gun soul can draw the selected weapon as a free action as if he had the Quick Draw feat. In addition, whenever he threatens a critical hit with the selected firearm, he gains a +2 bonus on the confirmation roll. Finally, his samurai levels stack with any fighter levels he possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisits for feats that specifically select his chosen firearm, such as Weapon Specialization. This replaces the standard Weapon Expertise option.
Swift Powder (Ex): At 4th level, the gun soul gains Rapid Reload for his chosen weapon (such as pistol or musket) as a bonus feat. At 14th level, each time the gun soul issues a challenge, he may reload a wielded firearm as a free action. This ability replaces Mounted Archer.
Blaze of Glory (Ex): At 5th level, the gun soul gains the ability to rally his allies. As a standard action, he can give an encouraging speech which grants all allies within 60 feet a competence bonus on their saving throws against fear equal to his Charisma modifier and a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls for a number of rounds equal to his gun soul level. If an ally within range is under the effect of a spell or ability that causes him to be frightened or panicked, he can immediately make another saving throw to resist the effect (if allowed).
At 10th level, and every five levels thereafter, these bonuses increase by +1. This ability replaces Banner.
Bonus Feat: At 6th level, and every six levels thereafter, a gun soul gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat or grit feats. The gun soul must meet the requirements of these bonus feats.
True Grit (Ex): At 14th level, the gun soul gains a number of grit points equal to his 1 + his Charisma modifier (minimum 1 for Cha) and gains the use of two gunslinger deeds. He can select any deed that a gunslinger of his gun soul level -4 could use. At 17th level, and every three levels beyond 17th, the gun soul gains another point of grit and another gunslinger of his level -4 could use. If he already has levels in gunslinger, he gains a bonus to the maximum amount of grit he can have each day, equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) but gains no extra grit at the start of each day.
The Way of the Gun
Gun soul samurai swear themselves to The Way of the Gun. This order is an elite group of gunslinging warriors which emphasizes duty, honor, and loyalty. This code extends not only to the gun soul's lord or patron, but also to his comrades and family. Gun souls who follow The Way of the Gun are among the most respected and feared warriors in he land.
Edicts: The gun soul must remain loyal to his allies and must always work to further the aims of the group. He must show courage in the face of danger. He must take no action that would cause harm or hardship to those who cannot defend themselves.
Challenge: Whenever a gun soul declares a challenge, he receives damage reduction 1/- against attacks made by the target of his challenge. This DR increases by +1 for every four levels the gun soul possesses.
Skills: A gun soul adds Heal (Wis) and Perception (Wis) to his list of class skills.
Order Abilities: A gun soul who belongs to The Way of the Gun gains the following abilities as he increases in level.
Luck of the Draw (Ex): At 2nd level, the gun soul can ignore a firearm misfire a number of times per day equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum 1). He can use this ability as a free action.
Guns of My Father (Ex): At 8th level, the gun soul exchanges his gifted firearm to his order and receives a masterwork firearm of the same type.
Additionally, when wielding this firearm or the firearm chosen for the Weapon Expertise ability, the firearm gains the Brutal 1 weapon quality (see below). At 14th level, this increases to Brutal 2, and at 20th level, increases to Brutal 3.
Aim True (Ex): At 15th level, the gun soul can use his years of training and focus to make the perfect strike. When he uses this ability, the gun soul makes an attack as normal. If the attack hits, it is a critical threat. The gun soul must roll to confirm the critical as normal. The attack deals the maximum amount of damage, although additional dice from weapon qualities, sneak attack, and additional dice from a critical hit are rolled normally. The damage from this attack ignores any damage reduction the target might have and also causes the target to become blinded, deafened, sickened, or staggered for 1d4 rounds (the gun soul's choice). Making this attack is a standard action. The gun soul can use this ability once per day.
Weapon Quality:
Brutal: A brutal weapon's minimum damage is higher than that of a normal weapon. When rolling the weapon's damage, reroll any die that displays a value equal to or lower than the brutal value given for the weapon. Reroll the die until the value shown exceeds the weapon's brutal value, and then use the new value.
For example, if a Madsen Light Machine Gun (from Pathfinder #71: Rasputin Must Die!) has the Brutal 1 property, you roll 2d6 for damage as normal, rerolling any die result of 1 until the die shows 2 or higher.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I like this, though I think with a bit of tweaking it'll easily be able to fit into being a Multiclass Archetype (Wiki, Current Thread) as it reminds me somewhat of the existing Cavalier/Gunslinger combination that's been created (link). Taking some ideas from this, you should be able to get up to 15th level deeds and a full grit pool.
With that said, I think most of the abilities you've traded seem like fair swaps.
I'd suggest your version of weapon expertise apply to a chosen type of firearm instead of a chosen firearm, thus allowing a gun soul who dual wields to quick draw both of his pistols/revolvers/whatever.
I think the secondary ability for swift powder could even come online earlier, though I'm guessing you mean it to replace greater banner.
Guns of My Father I don't particularly like as in some campaigns it may be bit immersion breaking for a character to suddenly swap guns, also he has the gunsmithing feat, he can upgrade his firearm to masterwork for 300 gp. The brutal property may have functioned well in D&D 4e, but I don't think it'll work that well in PF, I'd suggest simply just giving the gun soul Dex to damage with his chosen type of firearm at 8th level.
Aim True - I'd suggest a reflex or fort save (10 + 1/2 level + Cha mod) for the rider effect.
I'd suggest your version of weapon expertise apply to a chosen type of firearm instead of a chosen firearm, thus allowing a gun soul who dual wields to quick draw both of his pistols/revolvers/whatever.
That's actually what I was going for, but I could have chosen my wording better. I'll update that soon. Thank you.
Guns of My Father I don't particularly like as in some campaigns it may be bit immersion breaking for a character to suddenly swap guns, also he has the gunsmithing feat, he can upgrade his firearm to masterwork for 300 gp. The brutal property may have functioned well in D&D 4e, but I don't think it'll work that well in PF, I'd suggest simply just giving the gun soul Dex to damage with his chosen type of firearm at 8th level.
Agreed. After I had posted this, I realized that the chances of an 8th level character having still not upgraded it to a masterwork for only 300gp would be pretty slim. I had considered making it a +1 weapon, and possibly giving it some other quality, but I'm still not sure. I also agree on the Dex damage in place of Brutal.
Thanks for the input!