Focused Sniper (Barbarian/Gunslinger)

In the world there exists a certain sect of marksmen specialists–ones who possess a lethal accuracy whether they are standing 2 feet from their enemy or 300 feet. With the ability to draw upon a powerful state of mind called focus, the focused sniper counts among their ranks both archers and gunslingers alike. Through the use of talents and deeds, focused snipers can drop their targets from a hidden vantage point in the dead of night, or from the back of a moving cart in the blight daylight. (Original Concept by Christos Gurd)

Primary Class: Barbarian.

Secondary Class: Gunslinger.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The focused sniper may select three gunslinger skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal barbarian class skills. The focused sniper gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The focused sniper is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all firearms, and with light and medium armor.

Focus (Ex): At 1st level, a focused sniper can enter a state of complete focus, sacrificing her defensive capabilities for accuracy. A focused sniper can enter focus for a number of rounds per day equal to her focused sniper level + her Wisdom modifier. Temporary increases to Wisdom, such as those gained from spells like owl’s wisdom, do not increase the total number of rounds that a focused sniper can focus per day. A focused sniper can enter focus as a free action. The total number of rounds of focus per day is renewed after resting for 8 hours, although these hours do not need to be consecutive. While in focus, a focused sniper gains a +2 insight to her attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons (this counts as precision damage), as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves. In addition, she takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. A focused sniper can end her focus as a free action.

By spending 1 grit point, a focused sniper can do one of the following.

• Double the range increment of her ranged weapon for 1 round, or

• Enter focus when at half hit points or less without making the required concentration check, or

• Give herself a +4 competence bonus on Stealth checks for 1 round.

As the focused sniper takes damage, it becomes more difficult to enter and maintain her focus. When the focused sniper takes damage greater than half her total hit points, she must make a successful concentration check to enter focus. The DC for this concentration check is equal to 10 + 1 for every 5 points of damage taken. The focused sniper can only make this check once per combat. If the focused sniper is healed and her current hit points are greater than half her total hit points, she can again enter focus without having to make a concentration check, as normal. A focused sniper can otherwise focus multiple times during a single encounter or combat. If a focused sniper falls unconscious, her focus immediately ends. Focus counts as the rage ability for the purpose of feats that affect rage, such as the Extra Rage feat. This ability replaces rage.

Grit (Ex): At 1st level, a focused sniper gains the gunslinger’s grit ability. If she chooses the gunslinger’s deeds talent, she can spend grit to accomplish deeds as normal. In addition, a focused sniper can spend grit to enhance her focus ability. This ability replaces the barbarian’s d12 Hit Dice.

Signature Weapon: At 1st level, a focused sniper gains one of the following ranged weapons of her choice: blunderbuss, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, longbow (composite), longbow, musket, pistol, repeating crossbow, shortbow (composite), or shortbow.

If the focused sniper chooses a firearm as her signature weapon, the weapon is battered, and only she knows how to use it properly. All other creatures treat her gun as if it had the broken condition. If the weapon already has the broken condition, it does not work at all for anyone else trying to use it. This weapon can only be sold for scrap (it’s worth 4d10 gp when sold). In addition, the focused sniper gains Gunsmithing as a bonus feat.

If the focused sniper chooses a ranged weapon other than a firearm as her signature weapon, the weapon is treated as masterwork. All other creatures treat her weapon as a normal and mundane, and can only be sold for its listed price. She also gains Craft Arms and Armor as a bonus feat.

In addition, as a swift action, a focused sniper can spend 1 point of grit to inscribe one piece of ammunition (bullet, arrow, or bolt) with a tiny personal rune as arcane mark spell. A successful DC 20 Knowledge (local) check identifies the origin of the ammunition as belonging to the focused snipers and establishes a reputation as a deadly enemy. This ability replaces Medium Armor Proficiency and Shield Proficiency.

Focus Talents: As a focused sniper gains levels, she learns to use her focus in new ways. Starting at 2nd level, a focused sniper gains a focus talent. Every two levels beyond 2nd, she gains another focus talent. Some focus talents require the focused sniper to be focused, while some of these talents require the focused sniper to take an action first. Unless otherwise noted, a focused sniper cannot select an individual talent more than once. Focus talents count as rage powers for the purpose of the Extra Rage Power feat. A focused sniper can choose any of the following focus talents.

Blinding Precision:The focused sniper gains Blinding Critical as a bonus feat. The focused sniper must be at least 14th level and have the focused precision talent to select this talent.

Bloody Precision:The focused sniper gains Bleeding Critical as a bonus feat. The focused sniper must be at least 10th level and have the focused precision talent to select this talent.

Bury the Bolt (Ex): When using a crossbow, the focused sniper with this talent can target the touch AC of an enemy within her first range increment.

Close-Ranged Sniper:The focused sniper gains Point Blank Shot as a bonus feat. If the focused sniper already has Point Blank Shot, she can choose either Far Shot or Precise Shot instead. At 6th level, the focused sniper also gains Point Blank Master as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet its prerequisites.

Crippling Precision: The focused sniper gains Crippling Critical as a bonus feat. The focused sniper must be at least 12th level and have the focused precision talent to select this talent.

Crossbow Slinger (Ex): The focused sniper treats a crossbow as a firearm for the purposes of using the gunslinger deeds and gun training. If the focused sniper has the hard draw talent, she cannot select this talent. The focused sniper must have the bury the bolt and gunslinger deed talents to select this talent.

Focused Precision: The focused sniper multiplies her precision damage on a critical hit while in focus. If sniper has the sure shot talent and the blinding precision, bloody precision, or crippling precision talents and successfully hits a target while in focus (but does not score a critical hit), she can apply the effects of one precision talent as if she had made a critical hit. The target can avoid this effect by making a successful Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 the focused snipers level + her Wisdom modifier). The focused sniper must be at least 8th level to select this talent.

Gun Training (Ex): The focused sniper gains the gunslinger’s gun training ability and can select one specific type of firearm (such as an axe musket, blunderbuss, musket, or pistol). She gains a bonus equal to her Dexterity modifier on damage rolls when firing that type of firearm. Furthermore, when she misfires with that type of firearm, the misfire value of that firearm increases by 2 instead of 4. She can select this talent an additional time every four levels beyond 6th (10th, 14th, and 18th), and picks another type of firearm, gaining these bonuses for those types as well. The focused sniper must be at least 6th level to select this talent.

Gunslinger Deeds: The focused sniper selects two deeds from the gunslinger’s list of 1st level deeds. She treats her focused sniper levels as gunslinger levels for the purposes of these deeds. The focused sniper can select this talent once at 2nd level, and again every four levels of focused sniper she possesses (6th, 10th, etc.). Each time this talent is selected, she chooses two deeds of each subsequent level (3rd, 7th, etc.) up to 15th level deeds at 18th level or higher.

Hard Draw (Ex): The focused sniper adds considerable draw to his crossbows to increase its power. A focused sniper adds her Strength modifier to damage rolls when using a heavy crossbow and half her Strength modifier to damage rolls when using a light crossbow. If the focused sniper has the crossbow slinger talent, she cannot select this talent. This talent has no effect on hand crossbows.

Primal Focus: The focused sniper chooses a barbarian rage power. For the purpose of qualifying for this rage power, her effective barbarian level is equal to her focused sniper level –3 and she uses her focus in place of rage. The focused sniper must be at least 4th level to select this talent. A focused sniper may select this talent an additional time for every four levels of focused sniper she possesses.

Reflexive Shot (Ex): The focused sniper can take a shot at an opponent about to engage her in melee combat. Whenever an opponent first engages the focused sniper in melee combat, she can as a swift action, make one ranged attack at her highest attack bonus. If the attack is successful, she deals damage as normal. Once the attack is made, she drops her weapon to the ground and can draw a melee weapon and engage in melee combat as normal. The focused sniper must be wielding a loaded crossbow or firearm to use reflexive shot. The focused sniper must be at least 6th level and have the Quick Draw feat to select this talent.

Shot in the Dark (Ex): The focused sniper gains Prone Shooter as a bonus feat. In addition, the focused sniper takes no penalties to Stealth checks while making ranged attacks from a prone position. The focused sniper must have the sure shot talent to select this talent.

Sure Shot (Ex): While in focus, a focused sniper can use a full-round action to make an attack against an opponent who is up to three range increments away. The opponent is treated as flat-footed against this attack. This attack bypasses any damage reduction the target might have. If the target has uncanny dodge, it retains its damage reduction against this attack.

Versatile Precision: The focused sniper gains Critical Mastery as a bonus feat. The focused sniper can spend 2 grit points while using sure shot to increase the save DC of her critical feats by 4. The focused sniper must be at least 14th level and have two precision talents (blinding precision, bloody precision, or crippling precision) to select this talent.

This ability replaces the rage powers gained.

Deadly Sniper (Ex): Starting at 7th level, a focused sniper decreases the range increment penalties of her ranged attacks by 2. At 10th level, and every three focused sniper levels thereafter (13th, 16th, and 19th level), she reduces her penalty by an additional 2. This replaces damage reduction.

Greater Focus (Su): At 11th level, when a focused sniper enters her focus, the insight bonus to her attack and damage rolls increases to +4 and the morale bonus on her Will saves increases to +3. This ability replaces greater rage.

Indomitable Will (Ex): This is exactly like the barbarian ability of the same name, except that if functions while in focus instead of rage.

Tireless Focus (Ex): Starting at 17th level, a focused sniper is no longer becomes fatigued at the end of her focus. This ability replaces tireless rage.

Death From Afar (Su): At 20th level, when a focused sniper enters focus, she ignores all range increment penalties, and her maximum range with any weapon is increased by 30 feet. In addition she increases the precision damage granted by her focus to +8. This replaces mighty rage.

Table: Focused Sniper