Hello everyone, so I'm looking at building a gun wielding eldritch archer. I plan on starting as an half elf with exotic proficiency firearms and amateur gunslinger. My question is this, is there any limit to the cost of the bonded weapon an eldrich archer starts with?
I want to start with a dragoon pistol I think.
I'm pretty sure that you have to buy whatever ranged weapon you want to use as your Bonded weapon...
Similar to the Kensai Magus getting EWP and Weapon Focus, but it doesn't supply you with the weapon.
There is no specified limit, so anything that doesn't piss off your GM is legal. A 1500 gp dragoon pistol may just manage that, though.
I'm curious; how are you going to pay for more than a couple of the 30 gp dragoon cartridges that are the only ammo your dragoon pistol will fire?
To be honest I don't actually plan on shooting it that much until a higher level. Crafting would reduce the cost to 15gp/3 rounds so it wouldn't be that bad for occasional use. Mostly the character will probably be spamming acid splash with a flask in hand for 1d3+1.
At higher levels the cost shouldn't matter as much and I plan on using spell cartridges for the most part.
That sounds sensible. Be sure to mention the part about not shooting it much at low levels to your GM when you ask if they object to the free dragoon pistol.
Gunsmithing is a feat required to craft bullets and it reduces the cost to 10% (with no crafting roll required). Actual gun archetypes usually get it for free, but eldritch archer doesn't.
If craft (firearms) was a skill you'd be right Meirril. Have you got an example of that - anywhere?
Spellslingers, both musketeers, spellscar drifters, gun chemists, steel hounds, holy guns, gun smugglers, gunmasters, and toxic sniper archetypes and the black powder inquisition all get gunsmithing for free outside the gunslinger class.
Keep in mind that the Eldritch Archer has the same limitations as a Wizard with a bonded weapon: if you aren't holding your weapon you must succeed on a concentration check to cast spells. This severely limits your ability to use a cheaper backup weapon like a bow and makes the gun-using Eldritch Archer an extremely questionable build at low levels. It's great once your over the early-level hump and can afford to use firearms consistently, but at low levels the cost in feats and GP is crippling.
Keep in mind that the Eldritch Archer has the same limitations as a Wizard with a bonded weapon: if you aren't holding your weapon you must succeed on a concentration check to cast spells. This severely limits your ability to use a cheaper backup weapon like a bow and makes the gun-using Eldritch Archer an extremely questionable build at low levels. It's great once your over the early-level hump and can afford to use firearms consistently, but at low levels the cost in feats and GP is crippling.
I know, fortunately because you don't need a free hand for ranged spell combat and because you can use your hand holding the gun to perform somatic components you can workaround it somewhat.