Best class for supporting a Gunslinger

[Trei0]

I will be playing PFS with a friend of mine on a regular basis and he will be making a Gunslinger

I really enjoy most support classes and haven't really ever been much for straight damage dealers. I built a Skald last night and that was fun, but there isn't much for the Skald to support for anything but melee classes.

Being that I enjoy pretty much all support class, what would be the best support class to play along side my buddys Gunslinger?

[waltero]

Someone who can cast Abundant Ammunition is nice as well as someone who can keep foes from getting next to the gunslinger.

[redward]

Any class that can use wands of Abundant Ammunition and Jury-rig (the latter as a readied action) and cast Named Bullet.

Sorcerer should work well.

[Azih]

Warpriest? Got a crazy amount of weapon buffs, cleric spells, and also meaty enough to keep foes away from the ranged, lightly armoured gunslinger.

[Fromper]

redward wrote:

Any class that can use wands of Abundant Ammunition and Jury-rig (the latter as a readied action) and cast Named Bullet.

And Air Bubble. Guns can work underwater if you've got that spell. I've seen it come up in PFS.

[ARGH!]

Bards are awesome support characters when coupled with the whole party, but they also help slingers, who appreciate the damage boost after getting a good many attacks with rapid shot, and can use wands of abundant ammunition. They can do all of this without crippling their own efficiency in any way, too.

[Trei0]

ARGH! wrote:

Bards are awesome support characters when coupled with the whole party, but they also help slingers, who appreciate the damage boost after getting a good many attacks with rapid shot, and can use wands of abundant ammunition. They can do all of this without crippling their own efficiency in any way, too.

Think Bard > Skald for party?

[ARGH!]

From what I have seen, a Skald is a Bard with a more narrow focus. Yes, they can be better with the right party composition (lots of martials), but they loose out on some of the versatility that makes the Bard so enjoyable to play.

The reason that I recommend Bard over Skald with a Gunslinger in question is that, not only is the Bard more versatile overall, but they give more to the gunslinger specifically, as the Skald offers nothing.

[Silbeg]

I would say that a good support character for a Gunslinger would be someone who is a melee combatant, and can keep the bad guys off the GS. Even though a 'slinger is a full BaB class, with d10 hp, they work best in "squishy" mode.

Make that a "tank" character.

Actually, thinking about it... something like this would work well -- a fighter (or other class) with a reach weapon and combat patrol. Enlarge person would be icing on the cake. (15' reach) - even better would be with the feat that stops people from moving with the AoP

[Bigdaddyjug]

The feat Silbeg is referring to is Stand Still.

I agree that a straight bard is probably the best compliment to a gunslinger, and a party at large. If you've got every major role filled (tank/melee DD, healer, arcane caster, ranged DD), then a bard slides into that party nicely and helps everybody out.

[Azih]

Warpriests seem to have the feats to be able to pull that off Silbeg and have other buffs besides. Maybe Warpriests are the best support class for squishy ranged characters?

[countchocula]

Umm another gunslinger?

[Trei0]

Maybe I'll rebuild my Skald into just a Bard, I just liked the uniqueness of the Skald. Bard was a bit too vanilla for me.

[Abraham spalding]

Bard and alchemist since the alchemist can quick build all sorts of ammunition for the gunslinger.

[Trei0]

Abraham spalding wrote:

Bard and alchemist since the alchemist can quick build all sorts of ammunition for the gunslinger.

Such as?

[Zwordsman]

Bard kinda support, or, an aoo defender. Either a martial or bars with a whip. MAybe look at stalwart defender from that, and just become his wall attacking and or tripping anything that tries to catch him, while if bard, using support stuff.

Full bard will bnet better suppoort but less aoo to hit. But also nets you a few aoe attack spells, gunslinger is pretty focused shooting

[Magda Luckbender]

An Evangelist Cleric would be an effective companion. You'd get Inspire Courage plus full casting, a domain, and weak channeling. Perhaps worship Erastil for the glory of serving Old Deadeye, and incidentally for the Plant(Growth) domain. Threaten AoOs in a 50' diameter at will. This gives the gunslinger a good screen against melee foes. The Gunslinger should be shorter than the Cleric, so as not to provide soft cover when standing in front of the enlarged Evangelist.

[Abraham spalding]

Trei0 wrote:

Abraham spalding wrote:

Bard and alchemist since the alchemist can quick build all sorts of ammunition for the gunslinger.

Such as?

provided you aren't into society play the alchemist gains a bonus on making alchemical items and makes them faster than anyone else. So he can build the alchemical cartridges and such that a gunslinger wants during down time and at the end of the day.

[Demoyn]

Any class that can cast AoE damage spells and thus "accidentally" keep targeting the gunslinger.

[KuntaSS]

Be a sylvan bloodline sorcerer, or lunar oracle. Take boon companion.

Both provide a great meatshield to help try to keep the 'slinger out of melee. The Sylvan Sorcerer will mostly use control spells to help the party stay in an advantageous position so he can keep on shootin.

The oracle is more useful for buffs and all the other cleric staples. Plus it can put enemy spellcasters into a rage which is great because casters are a gunslingers worst enemy. (more likely to have ac bonuses to touch, more likely to be invisible or have total concealment, more likely to be flying overhead and out of range of touch AC attacks) Plus the Moon Bridge ability is just plain cool.

[Fromper]

You know, everyone keeps recommending stuff that works mechanically with a gunslinger. The fact is that just about any two classes will work mechanically with each other. Some need more help from their allies than others (rogues and ninjas need flank buddies, barbarians need healing, etc), but gunslingers don't really need that much extra help. So just come up with a concept based on character personalities and go with it - just about any class will work.