## What Is a Gunslinger? The Gunslinger is a warrior who relies on precision, quick reflexes, and nerves of steel to overcome their enemies. While Fighters master the traditional weapons of the battlefield, Gunslingers specialise in something far more explosive and unpredictable: firearms. At first glance, a Gunslinger might appear to be little more than an adventurer carrying a gun. In reality, their abilities require discipline, confidence, and an understanding of how to exploit the opportunities created by powerful but demanding weapons. Firearms can inflict devastating injuries, but their effectiveness depends upon the person wielding them. A skilled Gunslinger must understand how to aim, maintain their weapons, manage ammunition, and remain composed when facing enemies determined to close the distance. Some Gunslingers are wandering gunfighters who travel from settlement to settlement. Others are bounty hunters, soldiers, spies, lawkeepers, criminals, or professional killers. Some carry carefully maintained weapons passed down through generations, while others constantly experiment with different firearms and fighting techniques. Unlike conventional archers, Gunslingers possess specialised abilities that allow them to perform extraordinary feats of marksmanship, survive dangerous confrontations, and deliver devastating critical hits. What unites them is their ability to make split-second decisions when everything around them descends into chaos. A Gunslinger does not simply fire a weapon. They understand when to take a chance, when to hold their nerve, and when a single well-placed shot can change the outcome of a battle. --- ## Life by the Gun Gunslingers often live dangerous and unpredictable lives. Their abilities naturally attract professions where violence and uncertainty are common. Many find themselves working as mercenaries, bounty hunters, bodyguards, soldiers, investigators, or adventurers. Others wander because remaining in one place for too long might attract enemies from their past. Firearms also distinguish Gunslingers from ordinary warriors. These weapons represent a different approach to combat, relying upon explosive force, mechanical precision, and equipment that must be understood and maintained. For some Gunslingers, their firearm is simply a tool. For others, it becomes an important part of their identity, representing their independence, reputation, or the circumstances that led them into a dangerous profession. A particular pistol, revolver, musket, or rifle might have been inherited from a mentor, taken from a defeated enemy, constructed through careful craftsmanship, or carried through countless battles. However, owning a powerful firearm does not automatically make someone a Gunslinger. Their abilities come from understanding how to use those weapons under pressure, particularly when a single mistake might prove fatal. Many Gunslingers develop a reputation for confidence and independence. Their profession often places them at odds with powerful individuals, criminal organisations, military authorities, or other dangerous opponents. Some become respected protectors, while others are feared as ruthless killers. A Gunslinger's reputation often depends less upon the weapon they carry than upon what they choose to do with it. Whatever their origins, Gunslingers learn one important lesson: when survival depends upon a weapon, knowing how to use it is just as important as possessing it. --- ## Quick Draw and Weapon Mastery One of the defining characteristics of a Gunslinger is their ability to react before their enemies. This is represented by **Quick Draw**, an ability gained at first level that improves their readiness during dangerous encounters. Quick Draw grants Advantage on Initiative rolls, making Gunslingers particularly effective at acting early in combat. This reflects the importance of speed and awareness in a fighting style where the first successful shot may determine the outcome of a confrontation. The ability also improves how quickly a Gunslinger can draw or stow their weapons. They can handle two eligible weapons in situations where another character would normally manage only one, allowing them to switch equipment or prepare multiple firearms more efficiently. Gunslingers also gain access to **Weapon Mastery**, representing their specialised understanding of ranged weapons and the techniques associated with them. Different firearms possess different mastery properties that influence how they behave during combat. Some are designed to interfere with enemy movement, while others can weaken an opponent's next attack or create advantages for subsequent shots. The Gunslinger's training allows them to make effective use of these properties, improving their tactical options beyond simply inflicting damage. They also receive a **Fighting Style**, allowing them to further specialise their approach to ranged combat. Together, these abilities establish the Gunslinger as a skilled and adaptable combatant from the beginning of their adventuring career. --- ## Risk Dice One of the defining abilities of the Gunslinger is their willingness to take chances when the situation demands it. This is represented by **Risk Dice**, a resource that allows them to perform extraordinary combat maneuvers. Beginning at second level, Gunslingers gain four Risk Dice, initially represented by d8s. These dice can be expended to perform special techniques that improve their attacks, defences, movement, or ability to overcome dangerous situations. Expended Risk Dice are recovered after completing a Short or Long Rest, allowing a Gunslinger to regain their fighting resources throughout an adventuring day. As they become more experienced, Gunslingers gain additional Risk Dice and increase the size of the dice they use. This makes their maneuvers increasingly effective as their abilities develop. Several maneuvers are available to all Gunslingers. **Bite the Bullet** allows a Gunslinger to gain Temporary Hit Points, representing their determination to withstand punishment and remain effective during a dangerous confrontation. **Blindfire** grants temporary Blindsight, allowing the Gunslinger to perceive nearby creatures without relying entirely upon ordinary vision. **Dodge Roll** allows them to reposition themselves without provoking Opportunity Attacks while also reloading a ranged weapon. This makes it particularly useful when enemies threaten to overwhelm their position. **Grazing Shot** allows a Gunslinger to inflict limited damage even after missing a ranged weapon attack, ensuring that an unsuccessful shot can still have an effect. **Maverick Spirit** improves the Gunslinger's chances of succeeding on certain mental ability checks and saving throws, reflecting their confidence and determination when faced with difficult circumstances. **Skin of Your Teeth** allows them to improve their Armour Class against an incoming attack, potentially turning a successful strike into a miss. Unlike many martial abilities that focus exclusively upon dealing damage, Risk Dice provide options for survival, mobility, precision, and adapting to unexpected dangers. The class does not require players to choose only a small selection of these standard maneuvers. Gunslingers have access to the class's maneuver options, while their chosen subclass can provide additional techniques. Managing Risk Dice is an important part of playing a Gunslinger. Spending them aggressively may provide immediate advantages, but conserving them can leave valuable defensive options available when a dangerous encounter takes an unexpected turn. --- ## Firearms and Their Properties Firearms are central to the Gunslinger's identity. Unlike conventional weapons, firearms introduce additional considerations involving ammunition, reloading, range, and specialised mechanical properties. The Gunslinger has access to a selection of firearms that can represent different levels of technological development. Early firearms include pistols, muskets, and blunderbusses, while more advanced equipment might include revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. The weapons available depend upon the technological development of the campaign setting and the equipment permitted by the Dungeon Master. Each firearm offers different advantages. Some are suited to fighting at relatively short distances, while others allow their wielder to engage enemies much farther away. Certain weapons deliver powerful individual shots, while others emphasise repeated attacks or specialised ammunition. Many firearms also possess properties that distinguish them from conventional ranged weapons. The **Reload** property limits how many attacks a weapon can make before it must be reloaded. Other properties influence the weapon's effective range, handling, or ability to perform particular attacks. Firearms also have a distinctive relationship with damage. Under Mage Hand Press's firearm rules, weapons possessing the Firearm property do not ordinarily add the wielder's ability modifier to their damage rolls. This differs from many conventional ranged weapons, such as bows, which typically benefit from Dexterity when determining damage. However, firearms frequently compensate through their damage dice and other specialised properties. At higher levels, the Gunslinger gains abilities that overcome this limitation, making their ranged attacks increasingly dangerous. Choosing the correct firearm is therefore an important part of the class. A Gunslinger must consider the distance to their target, the number of attacks they expect to make, and the tactical advantages offered by their weapon. A skilled Gunslinger does not need to use the most powerful firearm available. They need to understand which weapon will be most effective in the situation they face. --- ## Critical Shot and Gut Shot One of the Gunslinger's greatest strengths is their ability to deliver devastating critical hits. This is represented by **Critical Shot**, gained at second level. Unlike most adventurers, who normally score a Critical Hit only when rolling a natural 20, Gunslingers develop the ability to achieve critical hits more frequently with ranged weapons. At second level, they score a Critical Hit on a natural roll of 19 or 20. This improves at ninth level, when the range expands to 18 through 20, and again at seventeenth level, when rolls of 17 through 20 can produce critical hits. This increasing precision makes the Gunslinger particularly dangerous during prolonged combat, as more of their successful attacks have the potential to inflict extraordinary damage. At fifth level, they gain **Gut Shot**, an ability that makes these critical hits more dangerous. When a Gunslinger scores a Critical Hit with a ranged weapon against a creature of an appropriate size, the projectile can become lodged in the target. An affected creature has its movement reduced and suffers Disadvantage on its attack rolls until it removes the projectile or the effect otherwise ends. This means that a critical hit does more than simply inflict additional damage. It can interfere with an enemy's ability to move and fight effectively, creating advantages for the entire adventuring party. At the same level, Gunslingers gain **Extra Attack**, allowing them to make two attacks whenever they take the Attack action on their turn. Together, these abilities allow Gunslingers to deliver consistent ranged damage while creating opportunities for devastating critical hits. A powerful enemy might be capable of surviving several gunshots, but a fortunate critical hit can dramatically change its ability to continue fighting. This relationship between accuracy, damage, and battlefield disruption is one of the defining characteristics of the class. --- ## Skill, Survival, and Nerve Although Gunslingers specialise in ranged combat, their survival depends upon more than accurate shooting. They must understand how to position themselves, recognise dangerous situations, and respond quickly when enemies threaten their safety. Most Gunslingers benefit from fighting at a distance, where they can take advantage of their firearms without exposing themselves unnecessarily to melee attacks. However, not every Gunslinger remains far behind the front line. Some deliberately fight at shorter distances, trusting their reactions, mobility, and defensive maneuvers to keep them alive. Others favour careful positioning and concealment, attacking from places where retaliation is difficult. At seventh level, Gunslingers gain **Evasion**, allowing them to avoid or reduce damage from certain effects that require Dexterity saving throws. This makes them particularly effective at surviving explosions, magical attacks, and other dangers that can be avoided through quick reactions. At eleventh level, **Overkill** significantly improves their offensive capabilities. Through this feature, Gunslingers can add their ability modifier to damage rolls with ranged weapons that would not ordinarily receive it. This is especially important for firearms, which normally do not benefit from that modifier. At thirteenth level, they gain **Cheat Death**, an ability that allows them to survive an attack that would otherwise reduce them to unconsciousness. Rather than falling immediately, the Gunslinger can remain standing and recover a portion of their Hit Points, reflecting their extraordinary determination and ability to survive seemingly fatal situations. Their relationship with Risk Dice also improves through **Dire Gambit**, gained at fifteenth level. This ability restores an expended Risk Die whenever the Gunslinger rolls Initiative or scores a Critical Hit, rewarding their ability to act decisively and make successful attacks. At eighteenth level, **Deft Maneuver** allows them to perform an additional maneuver through a special Bonus Action, making their Risk Dice even more flexible during combat. These abilities ensure that experienced Gunslingers become more than dangerous marksmen. They develop into exceptionally capable survivors who can continue fighting through circumstances that might overwhelm ordinary warriors. --- ## The Power of a Headshot At the height of their abilities, Gunslingers become capable of delivering attacks of extraordinary precision. At twentieth level, they gain **Headshot**, one of the class's most devastating features. When a Gunslinger scores a Critical Hit with a ranged weapon, they can turn that attack into a Headshot. Against a creature with 100 Hit Points or fewer, this attack can kill the target outright. Against a creature with more than 100 Hit Points, the Headshot instead inflicts an additional 10d10 damage of the weapon's type, representing a devastating strike that can seriously injure even extraordinarily powerful opponents. This ability is limited in how frequently it can be used, although an experienced Gunslinger can restore its use by spending Risk Dice. Headshot represents the ultimate expression of the Gunslinger's fighting style. Throughout their adventures, they learn to rely upon precision, quick reactions, and the willingness to take calculated risks. At the height of their career, these abilities culminate in the capacity to deliver a single shot with extraordinary consequences. Even a dangerous monster or powerful supernatural enemy may discover that one carefully placed bullet can prove decisive. --- ## The Gunslinger's Place in an Adventuring Party In most adventuring groups, the Gunslinger serves as a specialised ranged combatant capable of delivering powerful attacks and disrupting dangerous enemies. While heavily armoured companions engage opponents directly, the Gunslinger can identify threatening targets and attack them from a distance. This makes them particularly effective against enemies that are difficult for melee characters to reach. Flying creatures, distant spellcasters, enemy archers, and opponents occupying dangerous positions can all become vulnerable to a skilled Gunslinger's attacks. Their expanded Critical Hit range also makes them effective against powerful enemies, while Gut Shot can interfere with an opponent's ability to move and attack. Risk Dice provide additional tactical options. A Gunslinger can improve their chances of surviving an incoming attack, reposition themselves during combat, or inflict damage despite missing an important shot. Certain subclasses also provide additional ways to support companions or influence the battlefield. A White Hat can defend allies and discourage dangerous enemies, while a Trick Shot can use unusual firing techniques to reach opponents protected by cover. A Spellslinger can supplement gunfire with magical abilities, while a Secret Agent excels at covert operations and gathering information. Outside combat, Gunslingers can fulfil a variety of roles depending upon their background and training. Some are experienced trackers or bounty hunters who specialise in locating dangerous individuals. Others possess skills associated with espionage, deception, investigation, or the maintenance and use of firearms. Their effectiveness often comes from preparation and awareness. A Gunslinger who recognises danger early may be able to position themselves, prepare their weapon, and strike before an encounter becomes a serious threat. Although they may lack the heavy armour and endurance of a conventional frontline warrior, their ability to deal damage from a distance makes them valuable members of an adventuring party. --- ## Gunslinger Subclasses As a Gunslinger grows in power, they develop a specialised approach to gunfighting represented by their subclass. At third level, a Gunslinger chooses one of six subclasses, each providing different abilities and techniques that influence their approach to combat. ### Deadeye The Deadeye represents the ultimate precision marksman. These Gunslingers believe that one carefully placed shot can accomplish more than an entire volley of poorly aimed gunfire. Their fighting style emphasises patience, accuracy, concealment, and the ability to strike opponents from positions where retaliation is difficult. At third level, Deadeyes gain **Eagle Eye**, a maneuver that allows them to spend a Risk Die after missing a ranged attack, potentially turning the unsuccessful shot into a hit. They also gain **Sharpshooter's Stance**, a technique that allows them to fire effectively while Prone and return to their feet more efficiently. As they become more experienced, Deadeyes develop additional abilities that improve their use of concealment. They can hide while positioned close to the ground and become more difficult to locate when firing from concealed positions. They also gain techniques that allow them to reposition themselves when enemies fail to hit them. At higher levels, their precision reaches extraordinary heights. Through **Focused Shot**, an experienced Deadeye can sacrifice the opportunity to make multiple attacks in exchange for a single carefully aimed shot that becomes a Critical Hit if it successfully strikes its target. For players who enjoy snipers, careful positioning, and the satisfaction of landing one decisive attack, the Deadeye offers a specialised approach to ranged combat. ### High Roller The High Roller treats combat like a game of chance. These Gunslingers are gamblers who believe that fortune favours those willing to risk everything when the opportunity presents itself. Their abilities revolve around calculated gambles, deception, and accepting dangerous consequences in exchange for potentially extraordinary rewards. At third level, High Rollers gain **Poker Face**, reflecting their experience with gambling and their ability to read or mislead others. They also gain **Liar's Dice**, an unusual maneuver that turns damage into a contest of bluffing between the player and Dungeon Master. Through this ability, a High Roller can conceal a damage roll and announce a result. The Dungeon Master must decide whether to challenge the claim, potentially allowing the Gunslinger to inflict greater damage or exposing their deception. This creates a distinct approach to combat in which confidence and psychological manipulation become part of the character's abilities. As they grow more powerful, High Rollers develop additional techniques that allow them to recover Risk Dice by accepting greater danger during attacks. They also become more capable of relying upon their luck when resisting harmful effects or avoiding incoming damage. At higher levels, they can gamble the effectiveness of their critical hits, potentially transforming an already powerful attack into something far more devastating. However, failure can reduce the effectiveness of an attack, making each decision a genuine risk. For players who enjoy gambling, unpredictable outcomes, and characters who thrive when the odds appear unfavourable, the High Roller offers one of the most distinctive approaches to the Gunslinger class. ### Secret Agent The Secret Agent combines exceptional marksmanship with espionage, infiltration, and covert operations. These Gunslingers understand that information can be just as dangerous as a loaded firearm. Defeating an enemy may depend upon discovering their plans, gaining access to restricted locations, or manipulating events before open conflict becomes necessary. At third level, Secret Agents gain **Operative Training**, granting additional skills and specialised equipment suited to covert missions. Their training includes the use of disguises, thieves' tools, and a magical technique known as **Concealed Shot**, allowing them to incorporate a measure of supernatural deception into their operations. They also gain **Parting Shot**, a maneuver that allows them to make a ranged attack while using certain defensive or movement actions. This gives Secret Agents considerable flexibility when attempting to escape danger or move through hostile territory without abandoning their offensive capabilities. As they become more experienced, these Gunslingers develop stronger abilities associated with infiltration and deception. They can adopt disguises quickly, become more reliable when attempting to persuade or mislead others, and use supernatural techniques to escape threatening situations. At higher levels, they gain **License to Kill**, allowing them to expend Risk Dice to inflict additional damage through precisely executed attacks. A Secret Agent might operate as a royal spy, intelligence officer, bounty hunter, infiltrator, or independent operative whose loyalties remain carefully concealed. For players who enjoy investigation, stealth, deception, and precise ranged attacks, the Secret Agent offers an effective combination of social and combat abilities. ### Spellslinger The Spellslinger combines firearms with arcane magic, creating a fighting style that merges gunpowder and spellcasting. Unlike most Gunslingers, whose extraordinary abilities come primarily from martial training and instinct, Spellslingers learn to manipulate magical energy alongside their weapons. At third level, they gain access to limited Wizard spellcasting, using Intelligence to understand and control their spells. Their magical training focuses on spells that complement their existing abilities, providing additional offensive and defensive options during combat. They also gain **Bang, You're Dead!**, which includes magical techniques associated with conjuring gunfire and enhancing ranged attacks through spells. One of their distinctive abilities involves the **Finger Guns** cantrip, allowing them to produce magical ranged attacks without depending entirely upon conventional ammunition. As they become more experienced, Spellslingers learn to combine spellcasting with their ordinary attacks. Through **Spellshot**, they can replace one attack during the Attack action with the casting of an appropriate Wizard cantrip. This allows them to alternate between firearm attacks and magic during the same action. Their abilities also make them particularly effective against enemy spellcasters. At higher levels, **Counter-Mage** provides techniques that interfere with an opponent's ability to maintain concentration and helps the Spellslinger resist hostile magical effects. This creates a combat style that rewards understanding both firearms and spellcasting. For players who enjoy magical gunfighters, arcane sharpshooters, and combining traditional weapons with supernatural power, the Spellslinger offers a distinctive approach to ranged combat. ### Trick Shot The Trick Shot transforms extraordinary marksmanship into an art. Where other Gunslingers focus on striking their targets directly, Trick Shots specialise in manipulating the path of a projectile to achieve results that would appear impossible to an ordinary shooter. Their abilities revolve around ricochets, unusual firing angles, and the creative use of firearms. At third level, Trick Shots gain **Creative Trajectory**, allowing their ranged weapon attacks to ignore Half Cover and Three-Quarters Cover. This makes them particularly effective against enemies who attempt to protect themselves behind obstacles or defensive positions. They also gain **Ricochet**, a maneuver that allows them to spend a Risk Die after missing a ranged attack, potentially turning an unsuccessful shot into a hit. As they become more experienced, Trick Shots develop increasingly spectacular techniques. Their abilities improve their handling of firearms, allowing them to reload more efficiently and demonstrate exceptional skill through impressive displays of gunplay. They also learn to interfere with incoming ranged attacks, using their own weapons to protect companions from dangerous projectiles. At higher levels, their mastery of ricocheting shots becomes extraordinary. A single successful attack can potentially continue toward additional enemies, allowing one projectile to threaten multiple opponents. The Trick Shot rewards players who enjoy creative positioning, unusual attacks, and making effective use of the surrounding battlefield. For these Gunslingers, marksmanship is not simply about striking a target. It is about understanding every possible path a projectile might take before reaching its destination. ### White Hat The White Hat represents the heroic gunfighter who uses their skills to defend others and confront injustice. These Gunslingers often follow a personal code of conduct, believing that strength carries a responsibility to protect those who cannot defend themselves. Some serve as lawkeepers, guards, or wandering champions. Others operate outside established authority, particularly when the law itself has become corrupt or unjust. Although they wield deadly weapons, White Hats often prefer to subdue enemies when possible rather than resorting immediately to lethal force. At third level, they gain **Lay Down the Law**, a maneuver that allows them to protect a companion with Temporary Hit Points and respond with a ranged attack when that ally is threatened. They also gain **Steely-Eyed Aura**, which helps themselves and nearby companions resist the Frightened condition. These abilities establish the White Hat as a protective combatant who uses their firearms to defend others rather than focusing exclusively upon dealing damage. As they gain experience, White Hats develop additional ways to control dangerous opponents. Through **Reach for the Skies**, they can use a Critical Hit to attempt to force an enemy into surrender, temporarily preventing the creature from acting if the technique succeeds. Their other abilities allow them to interfere with enemy movement and strengthen the protection they provide to nearby companions. At higher levels, they become exceptionally effective guardians, gaining improved defensive abilities and more powerful techniques for subduing opponents. For players who enjoy heroic gunfighters, wandering lawkeepers, and characters who believe that courage should be used in defence of others, the White Hat offers a distinctive combination of marksmanship and protection. --- ## What It Feels Like to Play a Gunslinger Playing a Gunslinger is about precision, confidence, and taking calculated risks. You are primarily a ranged martial combatant, but your abilities provide tactical choices that go beyond simply attacking enemies every turn. Risk Dice allow you to adapt to changing circumstances. You might spend a die to improve your chances of landing an important shot, gain additional protection against an incoming attack, or reposition yourself when an enemy moves dangerously close. Your expanded Critical Hit range also makes every attack potentially significant. Unlike characters who rely entirely upon consistent damage, a Gunslinger can create dramatic moments through fortunate rolls and carefully timed abilities. This becomes increasingly important as you gain levels, particularly when your attacks begin to inflict additional effects through Gut Shot and other features. The class also rewards preparation. You must consider which firearm is most appropriate for an encounter, how much ammunition you have available, and whether the surrounding terrain provides opportunities for concealment or better positioning. A Gunslinger can support many different character concepts. You might play a mysterious wanderer who rarely speaks, a bounty hunter pursuing dangerous criminals, a charming gambler who treats danger as entertainment, an experienced spy, a talented marksman, or a wandering champion who defends isolated communities. The six subclasses provide further opportunities for character development, allowing your Gunslinger to specialise in precision, gambling, espionage, magic, extraordinary trick shots, or protecting companions. Although the class is associated with firearms, its identity extends beyond the weapons themselves. A Gunslinger is ultimately defined by the decisions they make when danger approaches and whether they possess the confidence to act when hesitation could prove fatal. --- ## Should You Play a Gunslinger? The Gunslinger is an excellent choice for players who enjoy ranged martial combat but want more tactical options than simply attacking every turn. You may enjoy the class if you like: - Firearms and gunfighting - Powerful ranged attacks - Risk Dice and specialised combat maneuvers - Delivering devastating Critical Hits - Tactical positioning and quick reactions - Managing ammunition and choosing suitable weapons - Characters who rely upon precision and confidence - Gunfighters, bounty hunters, spies, gamblers, outlaws, and lawkeepers - Different firearms with specialised properties and mastery abilities - Martial characters who can survive through skill and determination You may prefer another class if you are looking for extensive traditional spellcasting, straightforward melee combat, or a heavily armoured warrior designed to stand directly in front of dangerous monsters. The Gunslinger also requires an understanding of firearm properties, Risk Dice, and the abilities granted by their chosen subclass. Players who enjoy managing resources and making tactical decisions will generally find more opportunities to use the class's distinctive abilities. The availability of firearms is another important consideration. A Gunslinger depends upon specialised equipment, and the types of weapons available may vary considerably between campaign settings. For players who want to face impossible odds with a steady hand, a loaded firearm, and enough nerve to gamble everything on one final shot, few classes capture that fantasy better than the Gunslinger.