Gorgon Smuggler (Gorgon Gunslinger)

I have played a bit with the gorgon sorcerous heritage I came up but I haven't really played around with the race I made and put on to the same page. So I've decided to do something here and, at the same time, decided to play around a little bit more with Matt Mercer's Gunslinger fighter archetype. So I have no particular character personality in mind here. I did go into the CoH character builder and create something that was a little bit de Rolo-ish.

I think I am going to go with the concept of the gorgon urchin that I used when I created the gorgon archer using Unearthed Arcana warlock stuff. To reiterate, the idea is that there is a sort of ghetto where adventurers, soldiers, priests, or whoever dumps the young monsters that they feel are innocent and thus not responsible for the terrors of the adults. The public image is that this is a safe place where the monsters will be protected and raised properly. The truth is that the individuals within it are frequently abused and taken advantage of. They are also typically not allowed to leave the borders of their sanctuary with the idea that it is for their own protection as if seen beyond the walls it will be assumed that they are monsters.

I already ran the archer as an urchin, so I think I want to twist this a little bit here. I would do them as a Folk Hero, but that's more geared toward a rural background and this is an urban one. For this case, I'm going with a Criminal background of a smuggler variety. The idea being that they smuggle things in and out through the city.

For this I am using a 30 pt spread instead of an array.

1st Level Gorgon Fighter

Str: 8

Dex: 15

Con: 14

Int: 13

Wis: 14

Cha: 14

HP: 12

AC: 14
Gorgon Save DC: 12
Speed: 30ft
Initiative: +2

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision 60ft
Medusa's Blood
Serpent's Mantle

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Cards, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Deception (Criminal) +4
Insight (Fighter) +4
Perception (Fighter) +4
Stealth (Criminal) +4

Background: Criminal

Fighting Style: Defense
Second Wind

Cantrip: Stone Glance

Equipment
Leather
Rapier
Hand Crossbow

Reasoning: My options for build choices are limited here, mostly related to skill choices. The Fighting Style came to be the main thing and turned out a bit odd. The general assumption for a ranged specialist is that you will take the Archery Fighting Style for the increased accuracy, but I instead decided to go with a little bit more defense instead. This doesn't sound like much, but a character with studded leather and full dexterity would be one point off a character in plate mail without it. Some might point out the difference between a +2 bonus and a +1 bonus, but AC is more generally applicable than a bonus to attack with ranged weapons. Instead of a long bow, I have them starting with a hand crossbow and a rapier. The assumption would be they pick up guns later on.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Action Surge (One use), +8 HP (20)

3rd Level - Fighter Archetype: Gunslinger, Firearms Proficiency, Gunsmith, Grit, Deadeye Shot, +8 HP (28)

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Skilled (Athletics, Investigation, Sleight of Hand), +8 HP (36)

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Extra Attack, +8 HP (44)

Reasoning: I considered taking Sharpshooter now, but decided to add a few skills first. One of the great things I like about Fifth Edition D&D is how subclasses and feats fill in the role that multiclassing used to. I am essentially building what would be considered a Fighter/Rogue in earlier editions here, but doing so entirely through the use of Feats. The skills chosen for the feat are based on the idea of things that a smuggler would often find themselves dealing with: climbing around obstacles, looking for signs of ambush or traps, concealing objects or grabbing them.) At this point I've given them studded leather and a pistol. I considered upping to Medium Armor, but with high Dex and the Defense Fighting Style they actually benefit more from staying in light armor.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Gorgon Gunslinger

Str: 8

Dex: 15

Con: 14

Int: 13

Wis: 14

Cha: 14

HP: 44

AC: 15
Gorgon Save DC: 13
Speed: 30ft
Initiative: +2
Grit: 2

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision 60ft
Medusa's Blood
Serpent's Mantle

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Firearms

Tools: Cards, Thieves Tools, Tinker's Tools

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Skilled) +2
Deception (Criminal) +5
Insight (Fighter) +5
Investigation (Skilled) +4
Perception (Fighter) +5
Sleight of Hand (Skilled) +5
Stealth (Criminal) +5

Background: Criminal

Feat: Skilled

Fighting Style: Defense
Second Wind
Action Surge (One Use)
Gunslinger
Firearms Proficiency
Gunsmith
Grit
Deadeye Shot
Extra Attack

Cantrip: Stone Glance
Spell: Statuary Gaze

Equipment
Studded Leather
Rapier
Pistol

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Skilled: Sharpshooter, +8 HP (52)

7th Level - Quickdraw, Violent Shot, +8 HP (60)

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Stealthy, +8 HP (68)

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Indomitable (one use), +8 HP (76)

10th Level - Trick Shots, +8 HP (84)

Reasoning: Sharpshooter provides both the potential for increased damage and the ability to ignore certain common obstacles to a good shot. I considered taking Resilient here to add Dexterity as proficient save, but decided she'd be more focused on staying hidden.

 

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Gorgon Gunslinger

Str: 8

Dex: 16

Con: 14

Int: 13

Wis: 14

Cha: 14

HP: 84

AC: 16
Gunslinger Save DC: 15
Gorgon Save DC: 14
Speed: 30ft
Initiative: +7
Grit: 2

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision 60ft
Medusa's Blood
Serpent's Mantle

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Firearms

Tools: Cards, Thieves Tools, Tinker's Tools

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Skilled) +3
Deception (Criminal) +6
Insight (Fighter) +6
Investigation (Skilled) +5
Perception (Fighter) +6
Sleight of Hand (Skilled) +7
Stealth (Criminal) +11

Background: Criminal

Feat: Sharpshooter, Skilled, Stealthy

Fighting Style: Defense
Second Wind
Action Surge (One use)
Gunslinger
Firearms Proficiency
Gunsmith
Grit
Deadeye Shot
Extra Attack
Quickdraw
Violent Shot
Indomitable (One use)
Trick Shots

Cantrip: Stone Glance
Spell: Statuary Gaze

Equipment
Studded Leather
Rapier
Pistol

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Extra Attack (2), +8 HP (92)

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Dex and +1 Int, +8 HP (100)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, Indomitable (two uses), +8 HP (108)

14th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Acrobat, +8 HP (116)

15th Level - Lightning Reload, Piercing Shot, +8 HP (124)

Reasoning: I considered the Investigator feat, but instead decided to even out Intelligence to 14 and pick up another skill via the Acrobat feat. This is a bit of an odd choice for me since I usually opt to aim at making skills I have use expertise rather than take new skills, but in all honesty, this is just as much an improvement as it expands the characters capability. I considered taking a full bonus to Dexterity and the Investigator feat to get Int up to 14 and double the proficiency bonus on Investigation, but opted for the extra skill instead.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Gorgon Gunslinger

Str: 8

Dex: 18

Con: 14

Int: 14

Wis: 14

Cha: 14

HP: 124

AC: 17
Gunslinger Save DC: 17
Gorgon Save DC: 15
Speed: 30ft
Initiative: +9
Grit: 2

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision 60ft
Medusa's Blood
Serpent's Mantle

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Firearms

Tools: Cards, Thieves Tools, Tinker's Tools

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Acrobat) +9
Athletics (Skilled) +4
Deception (Criminal) +7
Insight (Fighter) +7
Investigation (Skilled) +7
Perception (Fighter) +7
Sleight of Hand (Skilled) +9
Stealth (Criminal) +14

Background: Criminal

Feat: Acrobat, Sharpshooter, Skilled, Stealthy

Fighting Style: Defense
Second Wind
Action Surge (One use)
Gunslinger
Firearms Proficiency
Gunsmith
Grit
Deadeye Shot
Extra Attack (2)
Quickdraw
Violent Shot
Indomitable (Two uses)
Trick Shots
Lightning Reload
Piercing Shot

Cantrip: Stone Glance
Spell: Statuary Gaze

Equipment
Studded Leather
Rapier
Pistol

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +8 HP (132)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Action Surge (two uses), Indomitable (three uses), +8 HP (140)

18th Level - Vicious Intent, Hemorrhaging Critical, +8 HP (148)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Wis, +8 HP (156)

20th Level - Extra Attack (3), +8 HP (164)

Reasoning: These last two Ability Score Improvements went flat to stats, which I generally find rather boring to do, but I wanted a broader range of base capability on this character. At some point I considered putting the Martial Adept feat to add some Maneuvers to the Trick Shots, but eventually opted against in favor of filling out the rogue like abilities.

20th Level Statistics

20th Level Gorgon Gunslinger

Str: 8

Dex: 20

Con: 14

Int: 14

Wis: 16

Cha: 14

HP: 124

AC: 18
Gunslinger Save DC: 19
Gorgon Save DC: 16
Speed: 30ft
Initiative: +11
Grit: 3

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Darkvision 60ft
Medusa's Blood
Serpent's Mantle

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Firearms

Tools: Cards, Thieves Tools, Tinker's Tools

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Acrobat) +11
Athletics (Skilled) +5
Deception (Criminal) +8
Insight (Fighter) +9
Investigation (Skilled) +8
Perception (Fighter) +9
Sleight of Hand (Skilled) +11
Stealth (Criminal) +17

Background: Criminal

Feat: Acrobat, Sharpshooter, Skilled, Stealthy

Fighting Style: Defense
Second Wind
Action Surge (Two uses)
Gunslinger
Firearms Proficiency
Gunsmith
Grit
Deadeye Shot
Extra Attack (3)
Quickdraw
Violent Shot
Indomitable (Three uses)
Trick Shots
Lightning Reload
Piercing Shot
Vicious Intent
Hemorrhaging Critical

Cantrip: Stone Glance
Spell: Statuary Gaze

Equipment
Studded Leather
Rapier
Pistol

Some 5e Builds