I'm making a sniper concept and trying to figure out the best way to go about the mechanics of it.
Using Free Archetype, which is an objectively better combatant for a Sniper build: Ranger with Gunslinger feats or a Gunslinger with Ranger feats?
At a glance, it seems to me that the Gunslinger has a few more varied gun tricks and attack accuracy, but the Ranger has better damage, defenses, hit points, and skills.
What are your own thoughts on the matter? We're thinking of playing around level 10 or so if that matters. At the moment I'm leaning towards using the jezail, so that I can tank Strength and keep my save stats and Intelligence high for Monster Hunter and Recall Knowledge skills to use with Hunt Prey.
Also looking for advice on effective action consolidation. So far I'm looking at Hunt Prey/Recall Knowledge with Monster Hunter; Regrip/Reload (unless I use the jezail); Take Cover or Hide/Reload with Covered Reload; Draw/Strike with Quick Draw; Reload/Strike with Risky Reload; Stride, Step, or Sneak/Reload with Running Reload; and Hit the Dirt!/Strike with Leap and Fire.
Deadly/fatal works better with higher accuracy, so your class should factor into your choice of gun.
There's some campaign dependant stuff to consider. Hunt Prey gives better range into high level levels, and Hunt Prey works best when you use it before combat. So generally outdoor campaigns with big open areas and lots of scouting/tracking opportunities will favor the ranger.
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Do you want to immediately take out an enemy from stealth before the combat even starts? Or attack from great distance? Or just deal as much damage as possible in a single shot?
There's plenty of things you could call a "sniper". What's your goal here?
Edit: Also does it HAVE to be one of those class combinations? Or is there any leeway? Could you take another archetype instead (or in addition, since you start at level 10 you can reasonably have 2 archetypes already).
Do you want to immediately take out an enemy from stealth before the combat even starts?
That'd certainly be nice, but I don't intend it to be the focus since it is not likely to come up often. Also, gotta' let the other players have some fun.
Or attack from great distance?
I'm used to playing spellcasting snipers, so 120 foot minimum range is what I'm accustomed to.
Or just deal as much damage as possible in a single shot?
This more than the previous suggestions are what I think I'd like.
There's plenty of things you could call a "sniper". What's your goal here?
To make a badass rifleman.
Also does it HAVE to be one of those class combinations? Or is there any leeway? Could you take another archetype instead (or in addition, since you start at level 10 you can reasonably have 2 archetypes already).
I really wanted to see what a gunslinger/ranger combination was capable of, and would like to keep the primary focus of the thread on that, but I'm not opposed to alternative suggestions--especially if they can get a similar outdoorsy rifleman feel.
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Hm... not sure I like this class combination, to be honest. The best "one shot" feats are redundant because both classes get them (Sniper's/Hunter's Aim and Penetrating Shot/Fire).
Gunslinger has superior accuracy and action economy through Slinger's Reload and Risky Reload. Also Hair Trigger and potentially Stab and Blast if someone does come closer than you're comfortable with.
Ranger has additional Precision Damage and ... maybe Gravity Weapon? But using either costs an action to set up, using both puts some serious strain on your action economy unless you can scout ahead effectively. Having an animal companion is also nice, but again, the action economy of reload weapons makes using an AC rather tricky.
I'd probably say Gunslinger is better at being a Sniper overall, simply because it has one whole subclass is about being a Sniper and supports this playstyle much better.
Having a "pure" Ranger or Gunslinger with some other archetype will probably give you a better result than combining the two.
I think the best damage (or close to it) would probably be a Sniper Gunslinger with something like Wizard Dedication for lots of True Strikes and/or Inventor for Megaton Strike. Add in some Rogue or Assassin for Sneak Attack and preferably be a Halfling with Distracting Shadows so you can hide behind your allies to have a very good chance of targeting a flat-footed enemy each round. But there's not much of a outdoorsman feeling to that, of course.
The extra damage from Gravity Weapon is significantly more relevant in a class with an innate +2 to attack so I would go for Sniper Gunslinger.
Another cool thing you can do as a Sniper gunslinger is grab a Rogue dedication for the surprise attack feature. It makes your first turn of combat way more consistent, specially level 9 onwards.
You can also grab a spellcaster dedication and spam True Strike all day.
I suppose the extra range of Hunt Prey will usually only matter in fights where you get to choose your opening position, and you'll usually be able to mark a prey ahead of time for those.