So I'm building a "Big Game Trophy Hunter" for PFS, unfortunately the Trophy Hunter Archetype isn't available for play, but it doesn't mean I can't still fluff it as a Gunslinger. I've never played a gunslinger before, but I did read the Gunslinger guide.
Basically what I'm trying to accomplish is to become something like the character Roland Tempo from the Lost World of Jurassic Park. To have the gun skill of a gunslinger, but the hunting and tracking skill of the Ranger.
My thoughts is I'd use the Ranger to get to Favored Enemy and Favored Terrain, and then take the rest as Gunslinger. Now, I'm not trying to go for a min/max build, but I'm also not trying to gimp myself.
If you could wait a few levels, the horizon walker PrC can give you plenty of rangerish stuff. Before then you just need a few decent skills - don't dump intelligence, spend your traits appropriately and you're there.
You'd need 6 levels before the PrC and gunslinger 5 is a decent break point, so you could sneak in one level of ranger or druid for added wilderness ability.
You know I haven't looked at the Prestige Classes in a while. I'll give that one another look.
A good option for you would be a Cavalier(Spellscar Drifter) with Order of the green, it gives you favoured terrain, track bonus, some gunslinger stuff and the normal cavalier things as well.
That's a pretty neat archetype and all, but it goes against the Trophy Hunter concept, as a Trophy Hunter often goes after challenging game, and not just tainted game. Oddly enough, PFS rulebook states that archetypes that give the Amatueur Gunslinger feat are not available for organized play, but the online checker says that the Spellscar Drifter is available despite this.
Dipping Ranger is not really necessary - Gunslingers already have Survival as a class skill, and being Wis-based they make excellent trackers out-of-the-box.
I have played a big-game hunter Gunslinger before, so here are some ideas, take 'em or leave 'em:
Tengu is a fantastic race, not only for the +2 Dex +2 Wis, but also because they get +2 Perception +2 Stealth (very useful for a hunter), Carrion Sense (which lets you track down any beast you don't kill right away, as well as having other uses,) and low-light vision. My GM also allowed me to use the Exotic Weapon Training trait to get proficiency in nets, lassos, and bolas, although they aren't Eastern weapons so that doesn't work RAW. Extra bonus, bite attack means you always provide a flank.
Musket Master archetype is almost a must-have, since obviously you want to be using the a nice big gun to take down the kind of game you're going for. This is one of the best archetypes, I highly recommend it.
The trait Nature's Mimic will give you Knowledge (nature) as a class skill and an extra +1 on it, to help you identify your quarry.
The trait Highlander will give you Stealth as a class skill and an extra +1 on it, to help you sneak up on your quarry. Combined with your high Dex (and the tengu's Sneaky trait if you go that route) you will be a great scout.
For feats, I just went pretty standard - Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot.
3 mana, 4 attack, 2 defense, destroy an enemy minion with 7 or more attack. :)
RumpinRufus wrote: Dipping Ranger is not really necessary - Gunslingers already have Survival as a class skill, and being Wis-based they make excellent trackers out-of-the-box.
I have played a big-game hunter Gunslinger before, so here are some ideas, take 'em or leave 'em:
Tengu is a fantastic race, not only for the +2 Dex +2 Wis, but also because they get +2 Perception +2 Stealth (very useful for a hunter), Carrion Sense (which lets you track down any beast you don't kill right away, as well as having other uses,) and low-light vision. My GM also allowed me to use the Exotic Weapon Training trait to get proficiency in nets, lassos, and bolas, although they aren't Eastern weapons so that doesn't work RAW. Extra bonus, bite attack means you always provide a flank.
Musket Master archetype is almost a must-have, since obviously you want to be using the a nice big gun to take down the kind of game you're going for. This is one of the best archetypes, I highly recommend it.
The trait Nature's Mimic will give you Knowledge (nature) as a class skill and an extra +1 on it, to help you identify your quarry.
The trait Highlander will give you Stealth as a class skill and an extra +1 on it, to help you sneak up on your quarry. Combined with your high Dex (and the tengu's Sneaky trait if you go that route) you will be a great scout.
For feats, I just went pretty standard - Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot.
I was originally expecting to go Human, but Tengu is an interesting choice for sure. My only concern with Tengu is losing the extra feat, and grit. Also there's that little thing about me playing a anthropomorphic crow who wields a gun and kills big things for sport...
I was already set on musket master (I just can't see a respectable big game hunter with a pistol, at least not in the early days).
I wasn't expecting he'd need to (or be willing to) capture creatures alive, so I'm not worried about net's or Bolas.
Just found out there is actually a feat called Big Game Hunter. Pretty good, too!
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