What's the Point of the Capacity Trait

[Baelor the Bard]

So as I understand it, reloading takes at least one interact action, and switching to another barrel of a firearm with the Capacity trait also takes one interact action. So why use a firearm with the Capacity trait? If you're a Gunslinger especially, switching barrels doesn't allow you to use your special reload action. As I'm reading it now, the Capacity trait seems more like a deficit than an advantage, which seems to be counter to how a multi-chambered firearm should work. Am I reading this correctly, or have I mistaken something?

[Red Griffyn]

Supposedly there is errata to allow all the reload actions to work with capacity. So you don't 'lose' anything. I do agree it is a pretty useless trait though. It only helps dual weapon wielders because they don't need a free hand to 'reload'. However, I fail to see how pulling a hammer or shifting my arm 1 inch should require an interact action to make use of capacity.

If they have a mechanism to 'reload' a repeating crossbow without an interact action, surely someone could have made a similar mechanical device to 'switch barrels' or have a clip of ammo. At this point the only 'firearm' that can reload as expected are air repeaters which have 1D4 damage and are bottom of the pile.

Essentially its a virtually useless trait in the name of balance because guns have fatal dice so folks can't be allowed to fire 2+ times a turn without being very high level, investing way to many feats, or having the feels bade waste of 1-2 actions per turn to reload their weapons (vs. other ranged/melee martials who can freely fire/swing away).

Paizo should have provided the gunslinger class with one or more of the following options to help reduce the burden of reload:

- A dual reload feat (1 action for 2 reloads).

- A non-capstone quickened feat (say L10 or L12) that lets you reload only.

- A free action or reaction reload class feature at L7ish (similar to the spellshot's advanced deed). Limit it to once a turn, maybe at the end of your turn so all those reactions/must have a loaded shot abilities can reliably work.

[aobst128]

They allow you to not have dual weapon reload and will work with other special reloads.

[Arachnofiend]

A lot of the non-standard guns are more useful for non-gunslingers IMO. The slide pistol is a very attractive option for a Pistol Phenom Rogue, for example.

[aobst128]

Arachnofiend wrote:

A lot of the non-standard guns are more useful for non-gunslingers IMO. The slide pistol is a very attractive option for a Pistol Phenom Rogue, for example.

You have to get proficiency with it first though. Regular flintlock is probably gonna be the rogues best option.

[Arachnofiend]

As much as I hate the nonsense of Rogues still not having full martial proficiency, gun proficiency is pretty simple for a human. Getting a firearm from unconventional weaponry should be about as uncontroversial as a katana.

[Squiggit]

What culture are slide pistols common in?

[aobst128]

Yeah depends on what the dm considers uncommon or "from another culture". I'd personally count any uncommon weapon eligible for unconventional weaponry. I'm not sure if that's the intended use for it though.

[Ventnor]

Squiggit wrote:

What culture are slide pistols common in?

Alkenstar.

[Candlejake]

Michael Sayre has confirmed that capacity weapons are supposed to work with reload feats. That clarification alone makes them valuable again imo. Best way to dual wield guns.

That said i think dual weapon reload should work with slingers reload as well. Or be completely different. I kinda hate this feat tbh. I agree that there should be a feat to reload two guns with one Action. In that case it would even be okay if it didnt work with the slingers reload.

[Tonya Woldridge]

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