Rapid Reload as a Prerequisite for Crossbow Mastery

[Ugly Jed Peeps]

In Ultimate Combat, Paizo wrote:

Rapid Reload (Combat)

Choose a type of crossbow (hand, light, heavy) or a single type of one-handed or two-handed firearm that you are proficient with. You can reload such a weapon quickly.
Prerequisites: Weapon Proficiency (crossbow type chosen) or Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearm).
Benefit: The time required for you to reload your chosen type of weapon is reduced to a free action (for a hand or light crossbow), a move action (for heavy crossbow or one-handed firearm), or a standard action (two-handed firearm). Reloading a crossbow or firearm still provokes attacks of opportunity.

In the Advanced Player's Guide, Paizo wrote:

Crossbow Mastery (Combat)

Prerequisites: Dex 15, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Reload, Rapid Shot.
Benefit: The time required for you to reload any type of crossbow is reduced to a free action, regardless of the type of crossbow used. You can fire a crossbow as many times in a full attack action as you could attack if you were using a bow. Reloading a crossbow for the type of crossbow you chose when you took Rapid Reload no longer provokes attacks of opportunity.

Here's my question:

Would Rapid Reload (pistol) qualify as the prerequisite for Crossbow Mastery?
AFAICT, it would, but reloading your crossbow would still provoke attacks of opportunity.

[Nefreet]

Your pistol wouldn't benefit from having Crossbow Mastery, though.

If you just mean so you can use a Crossbow as a backup weapon, I say go for it.

[Ugly Jed Peeps]

Actually, I'm looking at the Bolt Ace archetype. The crossbow would be the main weapon (able to reload it as a free action with Crossbow Mastery) and the pistol would be the backup weapon (able to reload it as a free action using Rapid Reload and alchemical cartridges). And as long as I retain 1 grit point, reloading the crossbow does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

[kestral287]

Looks legit to me. I'm kind of in the camp of "why would you bother instead of just carrying two crossbows", but it's meeting the pre-req.

[Nefreet]

<insert obligatory quip about the Bolt Ace being a messy jumble of mismatched class features that results in the inability to use Deadly Aim with Crossbows>

Sure. Go for it =)

[Ugly Jed Peeps]

Nefreet wrote:

<insert obligatory quip about the Bolt Ace being a messy jumble of mismatched class features that results in the inability to use Deadly Aim with Crossbows>

It is, isn't it? ;-)

But regarding Deadly Aim, did you mean "ineffectiveness with" or is the Bolt Ace truly unable to use it with crossbows?

[mplindustries]

There are specific rules exceptions that allow guns to use Deadly Aim despite being touch attacks. Bolt Ace makes Crossbows use touch attacks, but does not add any special language that allows them to continue working with Deadly Aim.

[That Crazy Alchemist]

I think Nefreet is referring to Bolt Ace's first grit ability Sharp Shoot, which allows you to make a touch attack with a crossbow. However, Deadly Aim does not work for touch attacks, with a specific exclusion for firearms, but not crossbows. You can still use deadly aim, just not with Sharp Shoot. So: "ineffectiveness with", yes.

[Nefreet]

^ both of those

[Ugly Jed Peeps]

The Bolt Ace has to spend 1 grit point to resolve 1 crossbow attack as a touch attack. I don't think doing so will be the norm for my attacks.

[Nefreet]

Cool beans.

I have a Cleric-1/Bolt Ace-4 I'll be playing this Tuesday.

It's been fun, but it really could have been written better.

Enjoy yours!

[That Crazy Alchemist]

Ugly Jed Peeps wrote:

The Bolt Ace has to spend 1 grit point to resolve 1 crossbow attack as a touch attack. I don't think doing so will be the norm for my attacks.

True, but it's food for thought in case you were thinking of using Signature Deed with it. A very common mistake with Bolt Ace's.