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Hello! I'm toying around with playing a Savage Technologist for my friend's campaign (for those interested in the world, the WIP guide is here). Short version: the world features a modified version of the Commonplace Guns rule. The houseruled version is that early guns are martial weapons, but advanced firearms are still exotic weapons. In addition, with the advent of the Technology Guide, he has stated that tech firearms are not included in the advanced proficiency, but it can be retrained to include it, provided you have an actual tech weapon to train with. He has also stated that having the Technologist feat would earn a discount on that. We would also be starting at 5th level, with 10000 starting gold to spend on gear.
Keeping these rules in mind, I came up with the concept of a Savage Technologist wielding an adamantine longsword and revolver. THEN the build problems came up.
1) The Savage Technologist does not gain the Gunsmithing feature. I like this choice for the archetype, fits in with the idea of picking up the enemies' advanced weaponry and using it against them. However, that leaves this character in the awkward position of having to rely on others for half his weaponry, and all of his ammunition, in addition to not being able to repair his very expensive revolver. I don't mind being reliant upon a party member with Gunsmithing to help him out. However, the game is still a little while off, so there may not be a party member with gunsmithing. I see three (well, two and a half, really) solutions to this. He could dip Pistolero, which would get him the boons of deeds such as quick clear, a small grit pool, gunsmithing, and a starting firearm. The downside being delayed Barbarian progression, including putting off Crack Shot, the really attractive Savage Technologist ability. The other options are to take either Amateur Gunslinger with the quick clear deed, the only one the character really needs to keep fighting. Either that, or actually take Gunsmithing. This would remove the option of fixing it in the fight, but would make firearms in general easier to keep and maintain, as the GM ruled starting with it means I can start with a firearm he had crafted, at half price. The downsides to this is that it doesn't really fit with the idea of the character, and its a feat used for non-combat purposes which... yeah, see the next one.
2) Limited feats. A level 5 human character has 4 feats. One of those is definitely going towards Technologist, to be able to deal with tech stuff for the party. The idea of the brilliant spellcaster being speechless at seeing a robot then the barbarian going "Actually, its a robot." appeals to me, and there will be advanced tech in this campaign. However, this means that he has THREE feats to play around with. Feat options: Power Attack and Deadly Aim are both getting grabbed, at some point. As mentioned above, Amateur Gunslinger or Gunsmithing are good if the Pistolero dip isn't taken. In addition, Point-Blank Shot (I'm fairly sure 99% of his firearm attacks will be from within melee range) and Precise Shot are good, if only to cancel out the penalties for firing into melee. Even though HE is in the melee.
3) Lastly, I have to say I'm a bit new to barbarians; they never really appealed to me, but this archetype looks amazing and it fits into the campaign world very nicely (the GM is going for a post-apocalyptic magitech sorta feel, with pre-apocalypse tech being a common occurance). I get rage stuff, and what the archetype loses. The thing I am new at, however, is Rage Powers. I have very little experience with them in general. Any recommendations based on what I have?
Thats the extent of my help needed. If you need more information, I can give it to the best of my knowledge.