Pistolier (3.5e Class)
Pistolier[edit]
In a time of war, when your primary weapon is destroyed or missing, there is always the sidearm to keep you safe. The Pistolier is a testament to the wonders and the deadly ferocity of the standard pistol. Trained in the deadliest forms of marksmanship, the Pistolier is a master of close, medium, and long range tactics and combat.
Making a Pistolier[edit]
The typical Pistolier is an excellent fighter in almost every situation. Trained to adapt to situations, the Pistolier is usually seen as the first to act calmly and rationally in a time of stress and mayhem. Pistoliers are far and few between and as such have no true claim to fame such as Paladins.
Abilities: The effectiveness of the Pistolier's weapons is dependent upon Dex as most ranged weapons. However a high Wis score is required for most of the Pistolier's abilities.
Races: Any. While every race can adapt to the Pistolier lifestyle, Humans are seen carrying the roll more frequently.
Alignment: Because of their detachment to the world, Pistoliers are usually Chaotic Neutral.
Starting Gold: 4d4×10 gp (125gp).
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | +1 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Point Blank Shot, Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | +2 | +1 | +2 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | +3 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Aimed Shot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | +4 | +2 | +3 | +1 | Pistol Whip | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5th | +5 | +2 | +3 | +2 | Evasion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6th | +6/+1 | +2 | +4 | +2 | Uncanny Dodge (Cannot be Flanked) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th | +7/+2 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Active Reload | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8th | +8/+3 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Trackless Step | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th | +9/+4 | +3 | +5 | +2 | Track | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10th | +10/+5 | +3 | +5 | +3 | Hollow Point | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class Features[edit]
All of the following are class features of the Pistolier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Pistoliers are proficient in the use of Light Sidearms and Tiny Simple Weapons. Pistoliers use only Light Armor and cannot use shields.
Point Blank Shot At first level the Pistolier is given the Point Blank Shot feat giving the Pistolier a +1 Bonus to Attack and Damage rolls with ranged weapons at ranges up to 30 feet.
Bonus Feat At 1st level a Pistolier is awarded a Bonus Feat.
Aimed Shot If a Pistolier studies his victim for 4 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a ranged weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of killing the target. While studying the victim, the Pistolier can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the Pistolier or recognize the Pistolier as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the Pistolier’s class level + the Pistolier’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the Pistolier has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 4 rounds.
If an Aimed Shot is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the Pistolier does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 4 new rounds of study are required before the Pistolier can attempt another Aimed Shot.
Pistol Whip At 4th level a Pistolier is able to make a melee attack with his pistol as a regular attack option. Smashing an enemy with a pistol does 1d6 + Dex Modifier.
Evasion If a Pistolier is in a situation where they have to enact a saving throw to recieve half damage, they instead recieve no damage from a successful saving throw.
Uncanny Dodge At 6th level a Pistolier cannot be flanked.
Active Reload At 7th level the Pistolier can reload as a free action much like the Quick Draw feat in the sense that it does not require time to reload. This rule applies to both combat and non-combat situations.
Trackless Step At 8th level a Pistolier does not leave footprints making it almost impossible to track.
Track At 9th level a Pistolier is as good at hunting his target as well as killing it. Track is given as a bonus feat at this level.
Hollow Point At 10th level a Pistolier knows just as much about his bullets as his guns. Once per day a pistolier can take 5 hours to create up to 20 Hollow Point rounds. Hollow point rounds increase the damage of the weapon by one dice (d6->2d6 or d8->2d8). If the Pistolier is firing at an enemy wearing heavy armor, the Pistolier recieves a -1 on attack rolls as hollow points arent as effective.
Playing a Pistolier[edit]
Religion: Pistoliers tend to worship Fharlanghn the God of Roads and Heironeous the God of Valor due to their affiliations with war and travel.
Other Classes: Pistoliers tend to get along with Barbarians and not so well with dedicated Archers. Due to the affiliations between them, Barbarians tend to live more of a Pistolier's lifestyle, while Archers are shunned due to their inability to adapt to new technology.
Combat: Pistoliers go where they are needed but prefer to stay outside of melee range.
Pistoliers in the World[edit]
| “ | Doesn't seem to matter how far I travel, my destiny is always followed by blood and gunsmoke. The result is always the same every time, mountains of death and debris. | ” |
| —Damian Gunsmoke, Human Pistolier | ||
Pistoliers are far and few between, as such not many are seen and people tend to stay away from the unknown. Pistoliers are usually calm and detached from most of their surroundings and as such people do not tend to bother them. Pistoliers never leave a building or go out into public without their weapons on hand. Pistoliers are wary and tend to harshly judge people they have just met. To a seasoned Pistolier anyone could be the enemy, as such they are usually seen with at least one hand on their weapon at all times when in public.
Daily Life: A normal day consists of traveling and/or fighting. Pistoliers always seem to be on the move. No one is sure if it is because of their paranoia or if Pistoliers are just restless people.
Notables: Damian Gunsmoke, Human Pistolier and founder of the trade.
NPC Reactions: Surprised, wary, and suspicious are good NPC interactions towards a Pistolier.
Pistoliers in the Game[edit]
Pistoliers play a small unnoted roll in major wars spanning the previous fifty years. Since not very many Pistoliers are ever trained, they don't exactly have a major roll in what happens to the world. The only exception being the founder of the Pistoliers, Damian Gunsmoke, who helped revolutionize warfare both technologically and tacticly.
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