Defense help against firearm touch attacks?

[Andostre]

Hi gang, I'm building a low-level front-liner for a campaign that I expect to have lots of firearms in it. Since early firearms target touch AC when I'm up close, and I will want to be up close a lot, I'm looking for ways to defend against or mitigate attacks against my touch AC or, specifically, firearms.

Even though I know you should specialize in PF, I'm thinking of taking a class with medium armor proficiency and also keeping my Dex high. Is this a terrible idea?

I know Attacks of Opportunity are important for being up close against ranged attackers, but while being close to the gunner I'm attacking will get me an AoO, I'm still within the first range increment of the gunner behind him.

Are there feats (or even traits) that will help with this? Should I just focus more on a high HP? We are starting at level 1.

Thanks in advance.

[DeathlessOne]

Your best bet is to invest in feats in the early levels to avoid Touch AC ranged attacks. As you get to higher levels, and people get more attacks, you'll want to broaden those means. Once you start using attacks of opportunities to defend against the attacks, you'll want Combat Reflexes to have more chances each round.

Things you may want:
Deflect Arrows
Missile Shield
Vambraces of Defense
Shield Gauntlet Style: Counts as having Improved Unarmed Strike in various instances.
Cut From the Air: Fighter-ish only feat.
Smash from the Air: As Cut From the Air, but also very large objects (like boulders).

[Andostre]

Thanks, DeathlessOne!

DeathlessOne wrote:

Once you start using attacks of opportunities to defend against the attacks

When I mentioned AoOs in my first post, I was referring to a means to more quickly take down opponents making ranged attacks (and reloading) within melee range. Are you talking about ways to use an AoO to raise my defense?

[Taja the Barbarian]

There is the Amulet of Bullet Protection, but it's value is somewhat limited as it takes the same neck slot as the traditional Amulet of Natural Armor: Still a good option if someone in your party can routinely buff you with Barkskin...

[DeathlessOne]

Andostre wrote:

When I mentioned AoOs in my first post, I was referring to a means to more quickly take down opponents making ranged attacks (and reloading) within melee range. Are you talking about ways to use an AoO to raise my defense?

I was mostly referring to using your AoO to make more use of the Cut From the Air feat, as it uses that resource to function. Its a fairly good feat, because you can protect yourself OR an adjacent target from being hit.

If I was building the character, I'd probably start off as a Unarmed Fighter for the first 5 levels (Improved Unarmed Strike) and you can pick up Power Attack anytime while picking up Cut From the Air at level 5. After that, feel free to multiclass out to get whatever Armor Proficiency you want. None of the Unarmed Fighter's abilities require him to be in light or no armor. You can multiclass earlier but that'll delay your ability to grab Cut From the Air. You can just be a regular fighter but you'll lose out on a free style feat (you trade out your first fighter feat for TWO other feats). Some of them are quite good.

Ideally, you want the following feats: Improved Unarmed Strike (or the equivalent), Deflect Arrows, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, and Cut from the Air. That is all you need (feat wise) to ensure that you can easily deal with several ranged attacks made against you per turn.

[I grok do u]

Andostre wrote:

Thanks, DeathlessOne!

DeathlessOne wrote:

Once you start using attacks of opportunities to defend against the attacks

When I mentioned AoOs in my first post, I was referring to a means to more quickly take down opponents making ranged attacks (and reloading) within melee range. Are you talking about ways to use an AoO to raise my defense?

The Cut From the Air feat expends AoOs per use. So combat reflexes allows you use it multiple times per round.

EDIt: I am too slow

Items and abilities that give miss chances like mirror images, various levels of concealment, shadow blending armor, etc. are very helpful against touch attacks.

You'll want to maximize your dex, dodge, and deflection bonuses to AC.

Also look for ways to get DR to help when you do get hit.

Finally, consider investing a bit into the disarm combat maneuver.

[I grok do u]

A brawler is a comparable class, and can also get cut from the air by level 5.

Martial flexibility is nice too.

[Foeclan]

The Gun Tank archetype for Gunslinger gets an ability called Bullet Defection, which lets them add half their armor bonus to their touch AC against firearms. They also get heavy armor. I just finished an Iron Gods game running a Gun Tank/Warpriest and it worked great dealing with firearms.

Bullet Defection (Ex): A gun tank is adept at modifying and using her armor to stop firearm attacks. Starting at 2nd level, a gun tank wearing medium or heavy armor gains half the armor’s bonus plus the armor’s enhancement bonus (if any) as a deflection bonus against any non-siege firearm or splash weapon attack (including the alchemist’s bomb class ability). This ability has no affect on spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities that make a touch attack. This ability replaces nimble.

[DeathlessOne]

I grok do u wrote:

A brawler is a comparable class, and can also get cut from the air by level 5.

A Brawler does not obtain the "weapon training class feature". Weapon Training class feature is a staple ability of the Fighter class and a select few other classes/archetypes such as the Sohei Monk at level 6.

Speaking of the Sohei... That would make a great option as well, though as shown, gets the weapon training later.

[Name Violation]

DeathlessOne wrote:

I grok do u wrote:

A brawler is a comparable class, and can also get cut from the air by level 5.

A Brawler does not obtain the "weapon training class feature". Weapon Training class feature is a staple ability of the Fighter class and a select few other classes/archetypes such as the Sohei Monk at level 6.

Speaking of the Sohei... That would make a great option as well, though as shown, gets the weapon training later.

Characters who lack the weapon training class feature can access weapon mastery feats by taking the Martial Focus feat

[DeathlessOne]

Name Violation wrote:

Characters who lack the weapon training class feature can access weapon mastery feats by taking the Martial Focus feat

This is true. If a Brawler takes Martial Focus as their 5th level feat, they can pick up Cut From the Air with their Martial Flexibility. Otherwise, they have to wait til level 6 in order to pick two feats up at the same time with their Martial Flexibility (using up their swift and move actions for the turn).

[I grok do u]

Yes, I was thinking Martial Focus.

[happykj]

Some spells might be useful if you have spellcaster,eg:bullet shield

If you afraid of getting shot while standing near the gunner, you can choose to disarm instead of attack them as Aoo, though they might 5 foot step away from you and shoot you (or you can combine a charge with a disarm/trip to get close them, and/or Step Up in case if you fail to trip and gunner trying to 5 foot step away)

[Name Violation]

Sunder is also a viable combat maneuver vs guns

[Trokarr]

Snake Style let’s you substitute a sense motive check as an immediate action for your AC or Touch AC.

[Andostre]

Thanks, all! Lots to think about.

[Gol Golarion]

Once you can afford +1 weapons, consider springing for a wand of Mirror Image. You can juice your UMD up, maybe snagging Skill Focus: Use Magic Device and the Dangerously Curious trait if it's not on your class skill list. If CHA isn't your thing, but you have plenty of INT, Pragmatic Activator can help, too.

Guns can pierce armor well enough, but they have to deal with miss chances the same as everyone else.

[Azothath]

I've outlined how to avoid ranged attacks for years (items that can save you)... $1600 for the two items and totally rechargeable via Make Whole if your GM says one burns out.... don't blame me if you have to dodge some thrown dice or a book. Otherwise a wand:Obs Mist(C)1@1 is great, Vanish(I)1@3, Blur(I)2@3, and others can be helpful.
see Mage-killer build. Not so much of a front liner but a hell of a second liner or back line.

[thorin001]

You could do monk. They have a very good touch AC. They also have easy access to deflect arrows. And easy access to snake style, which is very good for dodging touch attacks.

[Diego Rossi]

Trokarr wrote:

Snake Style let’s you substitute a sense motive check as an immediate action for your AC or Touch AC.

It works only once a round and requires a skill investment, but against that attack, it can give a really good AC.

How do you apply it when a single action allows multiple attacks?
As an example, if a high-level mage casts a Scorching ray and fires 3 rays?
RAW, it works only against one, but it seems underwhelming.

[Heather 540]

You'll want to get a Ring of Protection as soon as you can, as well as a dex belt. The Dodge feat is only +1, but it works.

What class do you plan to use? Are you planning to go Str for attack and damage? Because that might split your stats a bit. But you can go Monk and get nice high AC. Just buy some Bracers of Armor to improve your normal AC.

Otherwise, I'd grab either a level of Inspired Blade Swashbuckler for very quick dex to damage (though only with a rapier unless EitR is in play) or 3 levels of Unchained Rogue. That way you can just put your Str at 10 to carry stuff and forget about it.