Is the Taw Launcher Considered a Gunslinger Firearm or Crossbow?

[Red Griffyn]

Per the subject line, the Taw launcher says:

Designed by conrasu warriors, this complex device resembles a crossbow and fires small wooden bullets known as taws. A system of blades within the launcher can rapidly reshape a taw as it's loaded, allowing the launcher to fire taws of different shapes, such as fléchettes.

So, it's like a crossbow but fires bullets? Sounds like a hybrid crossbow gun to me. So should this be a weapon the gunslinger can use at their proficiency level?

[Castilliano]

Well, it's in the Bow Weapon Group, so it's not a firearm. Nor does it use bullets; taws don't seem to have any gunpowder or such involved. So I'm unsure why you'd think Taw Launchers fire anything except taws, which are just wood as far as I can tell.

Unless it's the flechette part that's misleading, since some real-world bullets spray flechettes. Yet flechettes are a broader term than that, referring to other types of flung or fired blades as well.

So it's just a bow, and one that "resembles a crossbow" which is wording I do not like because that means crossbow rules/feats/class abilities do not apply! (Hopefully there's a quote elsewhere that justifies lumping it into crossbows as a whole, with this mere resemblance only being with the "typical crossbow".)

[Cordell Kintner]

I agree, it would not qualify as a Crossbow, it just looks like one. It's basically a standard crossbow with the Deadly and Modular traits, and an increased damage die. It would be quite a powerful option if it was allowed to count as a crossbow.

[Luis Loza]

This is actually going to be clarified in upcoming errata, but I think it's safe to tell you now. We're changing the language from "resembles a crossbow" to "is a crossbow" so it's clear. Taw launchers are crossbows and work with all of your fun crossbow options. :)

[Ascalaphus]

Luis Loza wrote:

This is actually going to be clarified in upcoming errata, but I think it's safe to tell you now. We're changing the language from "resembles a crossbow" to "is a crossbow" so it's clear. Taw launchers are crossbows and work with all of your fun crossbow options. :)

Awesome!

[Cordell Kintner]

Luis Loza wrote:

This is actually going to be clarified in upcoming errata, but I think it's safe to tell you now. We're changing the language from "resembles a crossbow" to "is a crossbow" so it's clear. Taw launchers are crossbows and work with all of your fun crossbow options. :)

Guess Conrasu Gunslingers will become super common then. Will the ammo stay as Wooden Taws, or are they being changed into Bolts? This is relevant for Magical Ammo.

[Luis Loza]

Their ammo will remain as taws.

[Red Griffyn]

Luis Loza wrote:

This is actually going to be clarified in upcoming errata, but I think it's safe to tell you now. We're changing the language from "resembles a crossbow" to "is a crossbow" so it's clear. Taw launchers are crossbows and work with all of your fun crossbow options. :)

Awesome! Thank you!