So here is my first foray into archetype design. Been running a Renaissance-styled, psuedo-Caribbean game for a bit and decided to try my hand at a new archetype. I present the Tercio, a fighter that switch-hits between a musket and a polearm. So far, only things I'm worried about are Tercio's Tenacity being too strong and that the feat Quick Draw is too essential to this build. Might replace Tercio's Tenacity with something that synergizes better with a switch hitter build. Accepting all comments, concerns, and questions.
The tercio is a master of warfare with a pike and musket, firing opening volleys at an enemy before charging in with his weapon.
Armor and Weapon Proficiencies: The tercio loses its heavy armor proficiency and gains a proficiency in all muskets.
Sleeve Trooper: At 1st level, the tercio gains the Amateur Gunslinger feat as bonus feat and begins the game with a battered musket identical to the one gained by the Gunslinger. This ability replaces the 1st level fighter bonus feat.
Bonus Feat: In addition to combat feats, a tercio can elect to take grit feats or a gunslinger deed of his level or lower.
Pike and Shot: Whenever the tercio hits an enemy with his musket, it gains a +1 damage bonus to all attacks made by reach weapons in the following round against that enemy. Multiple attacks with a musket do not add more damage. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd and replaces Bravery.
Armor Training: At 3rd level, a tercio can add his Dexterity bonus to his musket damage. In addition, as long as the tercio is wearing light, medium, or no armor, it gains use of the following deed.
Tercio's Tenacity: Whenever a tercio is hit by a ranged touch attack, he can spend one grit point to add half his fighter level (minimum one) to his touch AC. This must be used before the attack is rolled.
This ability replaces Armor Training 1,2,3, and 4.
Weapon Training: As the fighter class feature, but the bonuses only apply when wielding firearms and reach weapons. This ability replaces Weapon Training 1, 2, 3 and 4.
EDIT: Almost forgot, this is a Commonplace Guns setting. If that helps a bit.
A quick little bump
I like it. Nice to see the period getting some arhetype love, and pole-arm archetypes that don't suck are something I like to see.
One formatting thing: Armor Training improves his Musket accuracy first off, then moves into the AC buff. I think renaming Tercio's Tenacity to something more defensive is also better.
Thanks. It's for my semi-Renaissance, psuedo-Caribbean setting. You bring up a good point with the formatting. Any name suggestions?
One thing I'm a bit worried about is that it's too focused on dealing damage, rather than cool, interesting things.
Change Armor Training to Tercio Training or Gunsight or similar, and Tercio Tenacity to Defensive Technique or similar…
* Also it should probably say targeted rather than hit:
"Whenever a tercio is [i]targeted[/i[ by a ranged touch attack, he can spend one grit point to add half his fighter level (minimum one) to his touch AC. This must be used before the attack is rolled."
* I think Pike and SHot is cool, but as written it applies to all reach weapons, whereas I think it should only apply to the tercio's reach attacks. Just because he shot someone with a gun doesn't make that victim more prone to other people's attacks. Or does it?
As for more interesting abilities…
What have we got. A pole-arm and a musket.
- First off you are going to need Quick draw or similar to change between weapons without having to drop them.
- Maybe a critical with the musket increase the critical threat or gives a bonus to critical confirmation to the pole-arm.
- In terms of not straight up damage, weave in some combat maneuver stuff - trip with pole arm, shoot with musket and vice versa… Bonuses to CMB essentially…
Some of these could be abilities or deeds…
Love to see what a harpoon and pistol combo warrior might be able to do, though the recent thread on just how a harpoon works makes me nervous. But imagine the throw harpoon, strike target, pull victim closer, shoot with pistol. That would be cool - particularly if it was as part of iterative attacks...