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View Full Version : [PF] Gun Mage Hybrid Class Brainstorming help



Logic
2015-06-03, 08:59 AM
So playground, I have been trying to create a Gun Mage Hybrid class (Magus/Gunslinger) similar to this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?215730-PF-Homebrew-Archetypes-Pathfinder-Archetype) and this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?269513-PF-Black-Powder-Witch-%28Gunslinger-Witch-Magus-hybrid-base-class-PEACH%29) previously by other Playgrounders.

The problems I have with the former is it doesn't quite go far enough in the gun ways; it is a Magus archetype for a reason. My issues with it are as follows:

RAW issues (gives up spellstrike, yet the mechanics use spellstrike with guns)
Magus Saves (Good Fort and Will. The class I envision should be a Good Ref and Will)
Magus Skill list and skill points (no gunslinger skills here at all)
Front loading of the class (Arcane pool, Grit pool, Spell Combat, Amateur Gunsmithing all at level 1)
Dead levels at 2nd and 13th (Both Arcane Pool and Grit pool should probably go to level 2 instead)
Not enough deeds to choose from (1 deed at 1st level, another at 11th; unique deeds at 7th & 16th)
MAD (Dex, Int, Wis)
The default Magus capstone ability doesn't seem all that useful to a gun mage.


And I have some possible solutions to the above problems:

Reword the 4th level ability Arcane Spellshot and replace all instances of Spellstrike with Arcane Spellshot
Change the saves to the desired ones (good Ref and Will)
Give up one of the Magus bonus feats to gain 4 Skill points/level and some of the Gunslinger's class skills
Move arcane pool and Grit pool to the dead level 2 (the first dead level in the Gun Magus Archetype (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?215730-PF-Homebrew-Archetypes-Pathfinder-Archetype))
Gain deeds as a gunslinger of your level, -4 or -5
Change the key attribute for Grit to INT (this is my least favorite solution to the MAD problem)


The problems I have with the latter class (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?269513-PF-Black-Powder-Witch-%28Gunslinger-Witch-Magus-hybrid-base-class-PEACH%29) is that it doesn't lend itself to much customization (IMHO) as it feels too much like the character depicted in the opening picture. Most of the hair powers are things I would want to give up completely, while shooting guns with feet barely makes sense in the world of Bayonetta, let alone the world we've been presented with and how firearms currently work. The class also appears to have some serious balance issues. While I'm not looking for a perfectly balanced class, I'd like a Gun Mage class to top out at the border of tiers 2 and 3.

So playground, would anyone care to help me build a hybrid class, the Gun Mage?

Yes, I am aware of the Spellslinger (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/archetypes/paizo---wizard-archetypes/spellslinger) Wizard archetype, but the cost to gain guns and one new trick is 4 banned schools and all of your cantrips but 2, which are now first level spells. Which is WAY too high IMHO.

Again playground, I would like your help!