[3.5e]Would allowing Crossbow feats to apply to firearms from the DMG break the game?

[evnaz]

Pistol 250 gp 1d10 ×3 50 ft. 3 lb. Piercing
Gunpowder: While gunpowder burns (1 ounce consumes itself in 1 round and illuminates like a sunrod) or even explodes in the right conditions, it is chiefly used to propel a bullet out of the barrel of a pistol or a rifle, or it is formed into a bomb (see below). An ounce of gunpowder is needed to propel a bullet. Gunpowder is sold in small kegs (15-pound capacity, 20 pounds total weight, 250 gp each) and in water-resistant powder horns (2-pound capac-
ity and total weight, 35 gp for a full powder horn). If gunpowder gets wet, it cannot be used to fire a bullet. Bullets: These large, round, lead projectiles are sold in bags of 10 for 3 gp. A bag of bullets weighs 2 pounds..
Pistol: This firearm holds a single shot and requires a standard
action to reload.



One of my players wants to use the resonance pistol from the DMG however, my concern is that it'll be completely out classes by level 6 when other players can make 2 or more attacks a round when he'll only be able to make one because of the reload time,
my idea was to let the firearm count as a form of crossbow that would allow him to pick up the crossbow feats and be effective all throughout the game

[Coidzor]

Only if the rest of them are all crossbow specialists or something.

[ExLibrisMortis]

It wouldn't be overpowered. Crossbows in general are not overpowered, and the pistol isn't so much better than other crossbows, that it becomes an issue.

[mabriss lethe]

Go for it. It won't unbalance anything. I also allow my players to add enhancements to the gunpowder. Ymmv as to whether or not that's a good idea at your table.

[Willie the Duck]

The only way this could break the game is if you also used some 3rd party firearm feats, enchantments, or PrCs that used firearm's lack of quick reloading as a balancing factor.

As they stand in the core rules, firearms are only marginally better than a base crossbow (pistol does what a heavy crossbow does, yet can be more readily be wielded in one hand).

[Bruenin]

For a RAW solution you can put the aptitude enhancement on the pistol and then he can get the hand crossbow focus feat. +1 to hit and free action reloading. Aptitude weapons also give you free proficiency so he won't have to take an exotic proficiency in the pistol. Easiest route would be rogue for the free hand crossbow proficiency.