One Shot One Kill questions

[Unicore]

I really like the way of the sniper path, and the abilities it gives you are very flavorful. A question about One Shot One Kill though:

The way a lot of GMs handle encounter mode, you might be put onto a battle map while avoiding notice, in a situation where you are no where in position to start firing yet. But if you spend your whole first round sneaking into position, you have just lost the only advantage that your way of the sniper gives you. Many GMs will even put you into initiative order before you have fully encountered the enemy because they want the game to be moving in turn order, and the rules about how to handle all of that are fairly loose overall.

Because of that, I think it makes sense to change One Shot One Kill to something about the first time you make an attack in an encounter, rather than leaving the PC at the mercy of the GM as far a battlefield placement.

[Karmagator]

While I agree to some extent, in my experience this should be feasible most of the time as written.

I mean you can spend one or two action sneaking into position and then shoot. You should also observe your position at all times (in dangerous situations), so you have clean shots at possible sources of danger. Nice bit of RP-opportunity there.

[Unicore]

But in PFS for example, it is fairly common to get dropped in a specific set of squares on a map, even before “combat” has begun. You might not even be able to see your enemy and seek is an action that breaks stealth. Are you supposed to just delay? For how long? It just doesn’t feel necessary to hang the primary class feature if the sniper path on rushing to shoot before you are ready.

[Backtospawn]

This seems to be similar to the other Ways though, all the free draws mean nothing in that game. A 10 foot Step won't help much and the Stride of Drifters can't be used unless you perceive enemies.

Why would the Sniper benefit be put on hold while the others are wasted?

But if this is a problem at many tables maybe change so the free actions and the damage can be done "Once until you make your first Strike" would be difficult to word properly though.

The way most tables I've been in usually play I think it's fair than in the encounters where you roll initiative in front of the bads the Gunslinger has their thematic quickdraw reaction time but if your party is ambushing someone the benefit is lost.

[Dubious Scholar]

The other ways at least don't require specific exploration activities to be used at all though.