I'm interested in the gulch gunner class, as the idea of getting up close and personal with enemies and shooting them in the face is pretty cool, and brings to mind gun-fu fights with a high-risk, high-reward mechanic.
But the more I think about it, how do you not, y'know, die immediately? Since the gulch gunner provokes AoOs from shooting adjacent targets and you need to be adjacent to get the most of your damage, I'd imagine you'll be taking a lot. However, I've never made a defensive character and I have literally no idea how you make a character that is supposed to survive being in melee range all the time. What's the standard way of going about increasing your survivability? Magical armor, certain potions, feats, or is it just a playstyle thing?
Deft Shootist Deed
With that, you don't provoke AoOs when you fire in combat. Otherwise, smart manuvering with team mates, combined with a healthy appreciation of magical defenses.
Wouldn't that prevent me from regaining grit to begin with, since I need to provoke to get the grit?
Also what magical defenses, that's what I'm asking. I don't understand how to build these things; I can't even make an effective level 5 character for godsake.
I'm running a Gulch Gunner through Reign of Winter right now. I took the archetype as a Goblin with the DM's approval, so my Dex wound up being +2 higher than normal. I'm playing him as a close range fighter specializing in the Dragon Pistol and scattershot cone attacks, culminating in Improved Snap Shot at lvl 9 (AoO that are 15ft cones? Yes please!). Here's what I've learned thus far.
- You need to focus a bit more on defense than normal. You'll eat a lot of AoOs in an adventuring day, so prioritize getting good light armor and a Mithral Buckler as soon as you can, as well as Dex-boosting gear.
- A single gun attack can provoke twice (reloading as a move action, shooting as a standard), but you only get grit back when you provoke an AoO from shooting. Also, keep in mind that free actions generally don't provoke AoOs, so once you can free action reload you can avoid the relaoding AoOs. (I could use some confirmation on this.)
- Use the Flash and Shock deed judiciously. It gives you a +4 to AC until the start of your next turn against the target of your gunshot for the cost of 1 grit. And hey, you can immediately get back 1 grit if the creature makes an AoO! (To clarify, my group's interpretation of Flash and Shock is that you pay the cost and receive the benefit as part of declaring the attack, so the AC boost applies against the enemy's AoO.)
- You are correct that the Deft Shootist Dead would prevent you from regaining grit via AoOs. However, you can always choose not to use any feat you know.
This should be do-able. With Muzzle Flash you get +4 AC vs your target. What weapon are you planning to use? If you use a 1-handed firearm, you could consider taking 2 levels of monk: Master of Many Styles archetype. Your bonus feats will be Crane Style and Crane Wing.
When you fight defensively, you'll take -2 to attack rolls and get another +4 dodge bonus to AC (assuming you have 3 ranks in acrobatics, shouldn't be a problem). You'll also be able to deflect 1 melee attack per round, taking no damage from it.
Other than that... good luck I guess. get the usual ranged feats, point plank shot, precise shot, rapid shot.
As far as magical protections... whatever your allies will give you. Displacement would be ideal.
Alright, What i would do is pick up dodge/mobility. Look for anything that ups ac vs AoO
Then pick up Snake style. Why? Because you can hit them back if they miss you! gunkada!
Never played a gulch gunner and really think it is an inferior archetype, but basing on my experience with a pistolero who sometimes had to be on the front line there are some suggestions.
1) buckler, get one about level 8 and keep it's enchantment up.
2) if your combat DEX is over 26 (it's easier than you might think) vacillate at least 3 times about taking off the celestial armor to take advantage of the extra DEX bonus.
3) always check to make sure you include the nimble class bonus in your AC.
4) before you buy a +3 (+4 if you want to live dangerously) enchantment to your pistol, buy a +1 agile melee weapon. (there will be times when you need a melee weapon and the agile enchant is the way to go).
5) comb the bestiaries for every monster with combat reflexes (cough **devils** cough), make a list of them and see note 4 when fighting them.
Oh wow, more responses. I was honestly starting to get a bit worried.
I hadn't considered dipping monk, which does sound cool for doing the gun fu thing. However, I must ask, how do I do the feat progression, then? I had originally thought 1 Rapid Shot (mandatory), 3 Point Blank Shot (need it for others and I'm up close anyway), 4 Rapid Shot (also mandatory), then 5 Deadly Aim (need damage), Precise Shot (always in melee anyway) or Weapon Focus (for Snap Shot at 7).
If I go the dodge/mobility route, or dip two levels in monk, what should my feat progression look like and when should I dip the levels? Right away? After 3 so I get my powder burns deed first? After 5 so I have gun training sooner?
Also, I don't see where it says reloading as free prevents AoOs. Where can I find that?
Lastly, if I do get an agile melee weapon, when do I take weapon finesse?
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