Black Powder Researcher

The battlefield is alive with the sound of explosives, and none are louder than the roar of firearms. Already a master of explosives, black powder researchers take things a step further with their study of firearms. Intrigued and excited by the potential of these unique weapons, black powder researchers live for the moment of explosions, never satisfied until something blows up.

### **Weapon and Armor Proficiencies**

Black powder researchers are proficient with all simple weapons and firearms. They are also proficient with light armor and bucklers.

This alters the alchemist’s weapon and armor proficiencies but does not stop them from selecting the combat scientist archetype.

### **Gunsmith (Ex)**

At 1st level, a black powder researcher gains one of the following firearms of their choice: blunderbuss, musket, or pistol. Their starting weapon is battered, and only they know how to use it properly. All other creatures treat their 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 starting weapon can only be sold for scrap (it’s worth 4d10 gp when sold). The black powder researcher also gains Gunsmithing as a bonus feat, although they can craft bullets, pellets, and black powder for a cost in raw materials equal to 1% of the price rather than 10%.

### **Quintessential Grit (Ex)**

A black powder researcher can spend quintessence in place of grit.

This ability alters quintessence.

### **Alchemical Deeds (Ex)**

At each listed level, the black powder research gains the listed deeds:

*Gunslinger’s Reflexes:* At 1st level, the black powder researcher gains an uncanny knack for knowing how to avoid attacks. As long as the black powder researcher has at least 1 point of quintessence, they do not provoke attacks of opportunity for firing or reloading a firearm.

*Quick Clear:* At 1st level, as a standard action, the black powder researcher can remove the broken condition from a single firearm they are currently wielding, as long as that condition was gained by a firearm misfire. The black powder researcher must have at least 1 point of quintessence to perform this deed. Alternatively, if the black powder researcher spends 1 quintessence to perform this deed, they can perform quick clear as a move action instead of a standard action.

*Speedloader:* At 3rd level, as long as the black powder researcher has at least 1 quintessence, they reduce the action needed to load a firearm as long as it would be able to be loaded as a full action or quicker; from a full round to a standard, standard to move, and move to free action.

*Ricochet Shot:* At 5th level, the black powder researcher can make a surprise attack, being able fire a shot at a wall or piece of solid terrain, and have it ricochet off. When they do, they use the square immediately in front of the wall or piece of solid terrain to determine line of sight to a target, and this square is considered the new origin square of the attack, although their attack roll takes a -2 penalty. The attack uses that square to determine the effects of cover, and the black powder researcher’s own square to determine the effects of concealment. The black powder researcher can make this shot as long as they have at least 1 grit point. When making this shot, they can spend 1 quintessence to ignore the effects of all cover or concealment. The black powder researcher must choose to spend the quintessence before they make the attack roll.

In addition, the black powder researcher can select deeds or gun masteries (legendary gunslinger) in place of discoveries, treating their black powder researcher level as their gunslinger level for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites.

This ability replaces throw anything and poison resistance +4.

### **Boomstick (Ex)**

At 2nd level, the black powder researcher must select the explosive weapon discovery and can only use it on ammunition which can be loaded into a firearm. When using this discovery, their attacks deal full damage to swarms.

### **Chemist’s Trigger (Ex)**

At 2nd level and every four levels afterwards, the black powder researcher reduces the misfire rate of any firearm they wield by 1 (to a minimum of 0).

This ability replaces poison resistance +2 and +6.

### **Gritty Research (Ex)**

At 3rd level, whenever a black powder researcher rolls initiative, they gain 1 point of gritty quintessence which can only be spent on a deed or quintessence surge. Gritty quintessence lasts for 1 minute or until spent. Once a black powder researcher has gained gritty quintessence from this class feature, they cannot do so again for 5 minutes. At 6th level and every six levels thereafter, this ability grants an additional gritty quintessence upon rolling initiative.

This ability replaces swift alchemy and instant alchemy.