Big thanks to Silent Saturn for inspiring this idea. I believe this archetype compliments my photographyst archetype in terms of Old West flavor. Enjoy!
Often mistaken for swindler and con man, this enterprising alchemist makes his living traveling from town to town selling his potions to those with serious health problems.
Snake Oil
At 1st level, an Snake Oil Salesman discovers how to create snake oil that he can imbibe in order to heighten his physical health at the cost of his personality. It takes 1 hour to brew a dose of snake oil, and once brewed, it remains potent until used. A Snake Oil Salesman can only maintain one dose of snake oil at a time—if he brews a second dose, any existing snake oil or mutagen becomes inert. As with an extract or bomb, a dose of snake oil that is not in an Snake Oil Salesman’s possession becomes inert until an alchemist picks it up again.
When a Snake Oil Salesman brews a dose of snake oil, he selects the benefits of one of the following spells—either remove paralysis, delay poison, or resist energy. It’s a standard action to drink snake oil. Upon being imbibed, the snake oil causes the alchemist to grow pallid, granting him a +2 natural armor bonus and the constant benefits of the selected spell for 10 minutes per alchemist level. In addition, while the snake oil is in effect, the Snake Oil Salesman takes a –2 penalty to one of his mental ability scores. If the grants remove paralysis, it applies a penalty to his Intelligence. If it grants delay poison, it applies a penalty to his Wisdom. If it grants resist energy, it applies a penalty to his Charisma.
A non-alchemist who drinks snake oil must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the alchemist’s level + the alchemist’s Intelligence modifier) or become nauseated for 1 hour—a non-alchemist can gain the benefit of snake oil, but only for one minute. An alchemist can gain the effects of another Snake Oil Salesman’s snake oil if he drinks it. (Although if the other alchemist creates a mutagen, the effects of the “stolen” snake oil immediately cease.) The effects of a mutagen and snake oil do not stack. Whenever an Snake Oil Salesman drinks snake oil, the effects of any previous snake oil immediately end.
This Replaces Mutagen. Mutagen can later be selected as a Discovery.
Persistent Snake Oil
At 14th level, the effects of a dose of snake oil last for 1 hour per level.
This replaces Persistent Mutagen.
So effectively you remove status ailments with your mutagen instead of buffing yourself.
Though I think Alchemist get most of the ailment removing spells... (can't remember if they are a single spell or what)
Oh! Maybe it could replace bombs instead and make it have mercies similar to a Paladin's Lay On Hands!
I am again biased on this.
This is just a rough idea at this point. Thanks for the feedback.
Its pretty narrowly focused, so you'd have to expand it, but I like Benly's idea of HP gain. Good luck.
Hmm it still feels more like a Bomb replacement.
This basic mechanic is this. Mutagens add +4 to a physical ability score. It's the equivalent to bulls strength, cats grace, or, bears endurance, only the duration is 10 minutes per level instead of one minute per level. They are also 2nd level spells just like remove paralysis, delay poison, and resist energy.
My thought was to simply replace the usual benefits with different ones, but as Ciaran Barnes said, it is too narrowly focused.
Here's an idea for a solution. Instead of adding the benefits of one level 2 spell, why not 2 level one spells? Examples:
-Jump and Expeditious Retreat replace +4 to Dexterity
-Enlarge Person and Magic Weapon replace +4 to Strength
-Endure Elements and Mage Armor replace +4 to Constitution
I like the idea of the extra hit points + immediate action status remover.
If you want, also remove bombs (or reduce bomb damage to 1d4) and add mercies to it every odd level.
Maybe some alternate class skills too. I can see a snake oil dealer using Bluff, and maybe Diplomacy, Disguise, and Intimidate....and maybe Perform.
Maybe the ability to make temporary potions?
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Pretty weak as is. Nice flavor though. I thought from the title it'd be something that made allies or enemies believe they were better off than they were. Illusionary hp, etc
I like Cheapy's idea!!!!
Placebo effects for the win!
Hmm so many concepts/ideas for a single piece of flavor...
Pretty weak as is.
I agree sadly. But I recognize the potential to make something of this old western type of person. If anyone has the proclivity to remake this archetype from scratch then have at it.
It certainly has given me some ideas for my "Surgeon"/"Healer" Archetype.
Dr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener...
Wow... just Wow... I am speechless...
Also, the player should be encouraged to name each of his tonics. Sure, you could call those "agility tonic", "might tonic", and "endurance tonic", but Professor Salid's Spring-Heel Leg Tonic, Dr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener, and Dr. Fang's Guaranteed Body-Health Tonic all sound like things I'd sure love to swill down! :D
Well done! Excellent naming.
Dr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener. if you've been "enbiggened" for more than 4 hours please contact your local adept.
Dr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener. if you've been "enbiggened" for more than 4 hours please contact your local adept.
I hate you right now....
Dr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener. if you've been "enbiggened" for more than 4 hours please contact your local adept.I hate you right now....
fair enough
fair enoughDr. Whorveston's "Sure-Fire" Vigorous Embiggener. if you've been "enbiggened" for more than 4 hours please contact your local adept.I hate you right now....
I thought it seemed like an old west viagra ad...
I thought it seemed like an old west viagra ad...The promotion of "masculine vigor" was a common claim of classic patent medicines. So, yes, it was deliberate.
True... so very true...
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I don't know whether to be honored or embarassed to be credited as having originally inspired this.
Honestly, though, the idea of a PF "snake oil salesman" makes me think of an Alchemist who casts off Charisma instead of Intelligence and takes inspiration from the Bard, and the "face" aspects of the rogue.
I do like that this is a pretty simple archetype that only replaces one class feature, thus allowing it to be combined with other archetypes. I'm pretty sure a player could be a Snake Oil Salesman and a Photographyst at the same time for extra Old West hijinks.
Arcanemuses, since you're taking cues from me already, how about a Cavalier archetype that mimics a Pony Express rider?
Arcanemuses, since you're taking cues from me already, how about a Cavalier archetype that mimics a Pony Express rider?
Dang it, Silent Saturn! Okay! Now I'll have to go research that lol!
Pony Express sounds like a ranger archetype.
Maybe give it Courier's Bond in place of Favored Enemy and Hunter's Bond. The mount would get boosts to Speed and extended duration to hustle and forced march, also take non-lethal damage instead of lethal damage when hustling or forced marching. Eventually DR/- against hustling and forced marching damage.
Replace track with a bonus to Knowledge geography and Survival checks to avoid getting lost.
Maybe replace Knowledge dungeoneering with Linguistics?
Full Disclosure: All of my knowledge of the Pony Express is from watching the Young Riders.
Here's a though to tie in both the idea of a snake-oil working because you believe it does, and making use of a good charisma, aside from "merely" helping bluff and diplomacy.
The elixers have primary effect, with an Int based alchemical effect, plus a lesser effect granting a morale bonus based on Cha.
For ecample, the "Dr. Willandacro's Melancholy Tonic" grants a alchemical bonus to Will saves equal to 1/2 Alchemist level + Int, and also a morale bonus to Acrobatic checks equal to Cha.