Gunpowder Wrangler (Gunslinger/Cavalier)

Some knights weren't meant to wear shields, swing swords, and take part in jousting matches. Instead, these brave souls forsake armor and boring edged weapons to learn the not-so-subtle art of mounted firearms combat. A gunpowder wrangler learns to ride like the wind while keeping his mount's movements nimble, and of course his mount learns to ignore those extremely loud sounds that come from above it. The wrangler also is a master at quickly teaching his allies great tactics mid-battle, and is therefore a great leader. (Original Concept by Unknown)

Primary: Gunslinger.

Secondary: Cavalier.

Alignment: Any. 

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The gunpowder wrangler selects three cavalier skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal gunslinger class skills, one of which must be Handle Animal. The gunpowder wrangler gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The gunpowder wrangler is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all firearms, with light armor, and with shields (except tower shields).

Mount (Ex): At 1st level, a gunpowder wrangler gains the cavalier’s mount ability, treating her effective druid level as equal to her gunpowder wrangler level –3 (minimum 1). In addition, a gunpowder wrangler gains Mounted Combat as a bonus feat without needing to meet the prerequisites. This ability replaces the bonus feats gained at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th levels.

Stable Gallop: At 1st level, a gunpowder wrangler’s mount gains Stable Gallop* as a bonus feat. This replaces the Gunslinger’s Dodge deed gained at 1st level. (*Animal Archive)

Nimble Steed (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, as long as the gunpowder wrangler’s mount is not carrying a heavy load, it gains the benefits of her nimble class feature. This ability modifies the gunslinger’s nimble class feature.

Tactical Training (Ex): At 5th level, the gunpowder wrangler receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. She must meet the prerequisites for this feat. While the gunpowder wrangler is adjacent to or riding her mount, she grants all teamwork feats she possesses to her mount. Her mount does not need to meet the prerequisites of these feats. At 9th level, and every four levels thereafter, the gunpowder wrangler receives an additional teamwork feat as a bonus feat. This ability replaces gun training.

Deeds: This is exactly like the gunslinger’s ability of the same name, except that the gunpowder wrangler swaps seven deeds for the following deeds.

Intimidating Sunder (Ex): At 1st level, whenever a gunpowder wrangler makes an Intimidate skill check to demoralize, she can spend 1 grit point as a swift action to make a ranged sunder attempt with her firearm against the target at a –4 penalty. The gunpowder wrangler may attempt to sunder any one item held or worn by the target. If the attack is successful, she deals an amount of bonus damage to the sundered item equal to 1/2 her gunpowder wrangler level. She also gains a bonus to her Intimidate check equal to her bonus damage. If the attack fails, she makes the Intimidate check as normal. This deed cannot be used to disarm the target. The grit point must be spent before the check is made. This deed replaces the deadeye deed.

Gritty Challenge (Ex): At 3rd level, as long as the gunpowder wrangler has at least 1 grit point, she can challenge a foe in combat. This is exactly like the cavalier's challenge ability, except that a gunpowder wrangler can use her challenge with melee or firearm attacks. This deed can be used once per day at 3rd level, and one additional time per day every four levels thereafter, to a maximum of five times per day at 19th level. This deed replaces the utility shot, bleeding wounds, and death’s shot deeds.

Dust and Cover (Ex): At 3rd level, a gunpowder wrangler can spend 1 grit point as a swift action to create a cloud of concealing dust for a number of rounds equal to the gunpowder wrangler’s Wisdom modifier. The gunpowder wrangler must make a DC 20 Acrobatics check to create a cloud in his square, or a DC 30 Acrobatics check to create a 15-foot cloud centered on him. If successful, a dust cloud appears in the desired area that functions like a fog cloud spell. If the gunpowder wrangler fails the check by 5 or more, she is flat-footed until the beginning of her next turn and no dust cloud is created. A dust cloud can only be created in a terrain where dust and dirt are commonplace (typically Desert, Mountain, Plains, and Underground), and is subject to GMs discretion. This deed replaces the pistol-whip deed.

Disarming Shot (Ex): At 7th level, a gunpowder wrangler can spend 1 grit point as a swift action to attempt a disarm combat maneuver at range with her firearm against a single opponent within the first range increment of the firearm. For the purpose of this disarm attempt, the gunpowder wrangler is considered to have the Improved Disarm feat. Attempting to disarm an opponent in this manner imposes a –4 penalty on the attack. The gunpowder wrangler can attempt as many disarm maneuvers in the same round as she has firearm attacks. This deed replaces the targeting deed.

Charging Dismount (Ex): At 15th level, a gunpowder wrangler can make a Ride check to dismount from her moving mount as a free action, provided that she still has a move action available that round. The Ride check DC is determined by the mode of movement the mount is using, as shown on the table below.

If the Ride check is successful, the gunpowder wrangler lands on her feet and can move her speed as a move action, using the same mode (walk, hustle or run) as her mount. This deed can only be used with land-based mounts, or flying mounts if they are no more than 5 feet off the ground. It does not function with water-based mounts when underwater. While dismounting, the gunpowder wrangler can make a single firearm attack as a standard action against a single target with the listed bonus to the attack (see above). This attack is considered a charge action. This deed replaces the slinger’s luck deed.

Table: Gunpowder Wrangler