Suggestion: Spellslinger Archetype

[CrypticSplicer]

While I've been thinking about how to make reloading more fun for the gunslinger I hit on an idea for an archetype that would merge spellcasting and gun/crossbow use. I call it the Spellslinger, and it revolves around the ability to allow you to interact to reload a weapon as a free action whenever you cast a spell. Some potential further feats in the archetype are a variant of Bespell Weapon, a variant of the Eldritch Archer's Magic Arrow, and the spellcasting archetype feats.

I think it's ultimately a weaker version of the Eldritch Archer, but the action economy and flexibility would feel really good.

[Verzen]

Spellslinger was an archetype in pf1e. Im hoping its a thesis for wizard instead... give them a gun.. sacrifice. Spell to release energy beams.

[Old_Man_Robot]

Verzen wrote:

Spellslinger was an archetype in pf1e. Im hoping its a thesis for wizard instead... give them a gun.. sacrifice. Spell to release energy beams.

That would be a nice, purely additive, option for Wizards.

No need to prepare combat spells, just prepare utility and CC, but burn them as needed for damage.

Throw in some metamagic to change shots to cones and lines at higher levels, maybe a damage bonus based on the level of the spell.

Done.

[Alchemic_Genius]

Homebrew plug #3 for me, but I've already have the thesis bit written down for spellslinger.

The spellslinger thesis I made grants proficiency with all martial and simple firearms, and it scales with the wizard weapon proficiency. It also allows a wizard to craft a staff that functions as a simple firearm rather than a quarterstaff

As far as shooting your spells through your gun, I feel this could be a metamagic feat that takes an action, but grants a circumstance bonus equal to your weapon's item modifier onto spell attack rolls. Imo, this idea could and should be expanded to all casters, or at least to all wizards, and it makes a magic staff feel a bit more cool and important

[CrypticSplicer]

I think I've accidentally sidetrack my own thread from the outset by naming the archetype the same as the PF1 archetype. So, do people think a differently named archetype built around getting to reload when casting a spell sounds interesting? Is it too strong?

[Alchemic_Genius]

CrypticSplicer wrote:

I think I've accidentally sidetrack my own thread from the outset by naming the archetype the same as the PF1 archetype. So, do people think a differently named archetype built around getting to reload when casting a spell sounds interesting? Is it too strong?

Imo, interesting, probably not too strong. I imagine it would be similar to eldritch archer. We already have a number of "combine two activities at a 1 action discount. A "reloading spell" feat would basically result in a gun using caster that has cast + strike as their typical routine, and wizards with bows haven't exactly busted the metagame with that very same routine

[The Raven Black]

Eldritch archer works for a crossbow wielding Gunslinger BTW ;-)

[DrakoVongola1]

Alchemic_Genius wrote:

Homebrew plug #3 for me, but I've already have the thesis bit written down for spellslinger.

The spellslinger thesis I made grants proficiency with all martial and simple firearms, and it scales with the wizard weapon proficiency. It also allows a wizard to craft a staff that functions as a simple firearm rather than a quarterstaff

As far as shooting your spells through your gun, I feel this could be a metamagic feat that takes an action, but grants a circumstance bonus equal to your weapon's item modifier onto spell attack rolls. Imo, this idea could and should be expanded to all casters, or at least to all wizards, and it makes a magic staff feel a bit more cool and important

That then becomes an option that any caster has to take, every caster that doesn't use a gun is mathematically inferior to one that does because of the up to +3 bonus

[Alchemic_Genius]

DrakoVongola1 wrote:

That then becomes an option that any caster has to take, every caster that doesn't use a gun is mathematically inferior to one that does because of the up to +3 bonus

Oh, looks like I forgot to add in the bit on my idea, but my recommendation for expanding it was also to make it weapon agnostic, so Gandalf can get a bonus from his +3 Staff of Deux Ex Machina or whatevs just as much as that cool sniper elf from the 1e books could aim a spell through her scope