I've got a few questions about three Picaroon deeds: Gun Feint, Lightning Reload, and Precise Strike. Sorry for all the questions. But if I'm going to take this archetype, I want to make sure I have the mechanics worked out.
First off, let me start by saying that I know Picaroon isn't optimal, because you can't reload a pistol with another weapon in your hand. But I plan to play as a switch hitter. Engage pistol at distance (which I know is a small range) then go to melee. But I have backstory... and it just seems like a fun character to play. I'm thinking combat will be fun even though it's not that strong of a class.
But this leads me to some major questions about deeds and how they would function. I'll try to group the questions under each of the different deeds.
Gun Feint
1) Gun Feint says that a player can "feint instead of attacking with her firearm as part of a full attack". What does "as part of a full attack" mean? What I'm trying to figure out is, do I still get to attack this round? Or is this action (deed) actually a full attack action and I cannot do anything else? Meaning I cannot attack. I'm think it's the latter and this deed replaces any chance for combat. But if it doesn't that's great and advantageous.
2) In the scenario above, if I do get to attack... and I choose to attack with my melee weapon, is it considered a Two Weapon attack? Normally feinting isn't considered an attack action, so I would think not. Because I use the pistol to feint and the melee weapon (likely rapier) to attack, is this Two Weapon fighting and incurring the penalties that go along with it. The reason this is very important is because duel wielding a rapier and pistol incurs -4 to attack if you Two Weapon attack.
3) Can I perform the Gun Feint deed if my pistol is empty? Don't think the rules require the gun to be loaded. But the spirit of the law may omit this. However, if the opponent never saw me fire the pistol, how would he know it's empty? But maybe I'm missing something and there's a clear ruling on this.
Lightning Reload
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one. But want to ask just to make sure.
4) With Lightning reload, I can reload as a free action (will have Rapid Reload). If my BAB is at +11, with means I can make attacks at +11/+6/+1, can I make all 3 attacks with a full-attack action? I would think yes, but want to make sure. Being able to do so would at least even out the pistol getting used way less than the rapier. And being able to fire off multiple shots at range seems really fun!
Precise Strike
This is a major one!!!
5) The Precise Strike deed says "To use this deed, a swashbuckler cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield other than a buckler". Does this mean that I simply cannot Two Weapon fight and use the Precise Strike deed. Meaning I can't Precise Strike with my rapier and also attack with my pistol. Or is it saying that I cannot have the pistol in my hand at all? That I must only have a single light/one-hand weapon equipped. This is obviously a pretty major question. Because if it's the latter and I can't even have the pistol in my hand... then it gives me the headache of having to sheath the pistol. Precise Strike seems it would be a major tool if you want to cause decent damage as a Swashbuckler.
Quick Clear
6) To use this deed, do I have to have a hand free? I'm not sure if you have to have a hand free to fix a broken firearm. And if you do, would it apply to this deed.
I think that's about it. Sorry for all the questions. I tried to number them to make it easy for you guys to answer. I appreciate any clarifications, feedback, and help! Thanks!
3) Can I perform the Gun Feint deed if my pistol is empty? Don't think the rules require the gun to be loaded. But the spirit of the law may omit this. However, if the opponent never saw me fire the pistol, how would he know it's empty?...
I can't answer the rest of them, but this one to me makes sense both RAW and RAI. As you say, your opponents have no way of knowing if the pistol is loaded or not. And the deed doesn't specify that you need to have the gun loaded, nor that it uses up a shot. (Compare it to the deed where you put a hot gun barrel against a wound to stop bleeding - which specifies that it does use up ammunition.)
I can't answer the rest of them, but this one to me makes sense both RAW and RAI. As you say, your opponents have no way of knowing if the pistol is loaded or not. And the deed doesn't specify that you need to have the gun loaded, nor that it uses up a shot. (Compare it to the deed where you put a hot gun barrel against a wound to stop bleeding - which specifies that it does use up ammunition.)
The only way I could see it not count is if you shot at the opponent so they know you are no longer loaded. But even then, in the heat of battle, if someone points a gun at you... you'll likely flinch. If you are good at feinting... you could probably sell (fool) the opponent that he's about to get shot. So maybe it would work even if the pistol is empty. I like it!
Added a question about Quick Clear. Think I know the answer (that you don't have to have a hand free), but I could be wrong and thought I'd answer along with all the other deed questions.
1) you give up one attack of a full attack, so you can make the rest of your attacks.
2) you only take two weapon fighting penalties if you use two weapons to gain extra attacks.
3)yes
4)yes
5)you can hold the pistol but not use it (including gun feint).
6)apparently you don’t need a free hand to use quick clear, seems odd to me but there’s nothing in the rules about requiring a free hand to use that ability.
Thanks for the clarity! So from what I'm gathering, the answer to every question is a positive one (an advantage for this character).
1) I can keep attacking after Gun Feint if I have the BAB. AWESOME!
2) No Two Weapon penalty for gun feinting with the pistol then attack with my rapier. NOICE!
3) Can use Gun Feint with an empty pistol. OH YEAH!
4) If I have Rapid Reload feat, the Lightning Reload deed will allow me to shoot through my full BAB attacks. ZOMG!
5) Can use Precise Strike with rapier, but still have pistol in my other hand. THE BEST EVER!
6) Can quick clear with a rapier and pistol in my hands. MEH! ;p
But just to make sure I'm clear on the mechanics of #1.
1) I take it that if I have +11 BAB, then the feint takes place of the +11 attack, but I can still use my rapier for the plus +6 and +1 attacks. Correct?
And I take it that I could use the feint for any of those 3 attacks. But if I want the 2nd & 3rd attacks to get the benefit of feint, then obviously I use it as the 1st attack. Correct?