D&D (2024) IK Gunfighter in D&D 2024

[Remathilis]

So a friend of mine approached me about playing the Gunfighter Class from Iron Kingdoms: Requiem in an upcoming Eberron game. (Yes, I am fully aware about gun rarity in Eberron, but they're still in the PHB and thus allowed). I am using the 2024 rules for reference.

My initial read of this class is that it's very weak compared to a Fighter in 2024. Trick shots are very limited, and most of your other class features are very one-trick pony. Even the subclasses are just more of the same. And since I don't intend to use any firearms other than those in the PHB, I can't help but think its fine, but underpowered. It seems you'd get a lot more mileage out of a battlemaster fighter, between weapon mastery and more superiority dice. Even Mercer's gunslinger subclass on a 2024 fighter seems better.

Anyone have any experience or advice on the class? Am I missing anything? Is it nerfed without the very OP IK firearms? Or am I missing some strange interaction that makes them great?

 

[Piperken]

I can't comment on the Iron Kingdoms gun fighter, but one addition regardless if you do go with it or a different iteration would be to consider The Hat rule from Frontier Scum.

It's like the Shield break rule. You can lose your hat instead of taking damage from a single source i.e. it gets shot or knocked off your head (and likely needs to be repaired).

 

[mellored]

I suggest running it as is, then modifying it after you see it in action.

You can make it a little quest or something, and just increase the trick shot limit until it fits.