Oy vey!
I'm very new to this, this is my first proper character really.I want a Plaguebringer ( http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-ratfolk/plague -bringer-alchemist-ratfolk ), Vivisectionist ( http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---a lchemist-archetypes/vivisectionist ).
So the idea is, I want a character with high stealth, very dodgy, who scampers around to the back of the enemies for flanking and sneak attacks etc. He's also going to apply his disease to as many enemies as possible while he's there. Thing is though, I'm having trouble building him. I don't get to use bombs or mutagens, and I have +2 Int, +2 Dex, -2 Str due to being a Ratfolk. I would like to use mostly natural weapons with http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/sharpclaw-combat-ratfolk , as well as http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/tailb lade, and the Toothy trait from Half-Orcs (because of the adopted trait) which is a bite attack, and just dig in and infect as many things as possible really.
I need help building him is all, really. I'm afraid the low strength will hurt me too much, even if I take Weapon Finesse. I'm also doubtful as to the use of the Plague Vial anyway, if it only lasts for 10 minutes, and can only be used once a day, what's the point? That's like one fight... Even with the Sticky Poison discovery, which lets me retain the disease up to a number of times equal to my Int modifier, that's still going to run out pretty quickly, especially if I make a full attack against the same target (there's like, 4 stacks gone?)
With a 20 point buy, my stats so far are 8 STR, 18 Dex, 13 Con, 18 INT, 7 Wis and 11 Cha. That was a draft though, so I'm assuming get more str? Even with Weapon Finesse?
This is much harder than I thought it'd be...
I reworked the numbers to get
13 Str, 18 Dex, 11 Con, 18 Int, 7 Wis, 7 Cha.
Better?
If you pick up an Agile weapon, you get to add your DEX to melee damage instead of STR, so you don't have to worry about a STR penalty at all outside of carrying capacity.
What is an agile weapon?
Agile is a +1 enchat allows Dex to replace your damage instead of strength
And if you're using claws and bite, you can get it on an Amulet of Mighty Fists for "only" 5000 gp, since the amulet does not require a +1 first like a normal weapon does (so a weapon would cost 8000 for +1 Agile, 300 for masterwork, and xx price of the weapon). Should mean you can nab it at least one level earlier than you could have an agile sword.
I'm very new to this, this is my first proper character really.I want a Plaguebringer Vivisectionist.
Might I suggest curbing your enthusiasm, and playing something more, shall we say: "normal"? It's quite a task to control a character with a complex set of skills and tactics, without ever having played something a bit more straightforward.
So the idea is, I want a character with high stealth, very dodgy, who scampers around to the back of the enemies for flanking and sneak attacks etc.
A Rogue could do this too. A Ranger would probably be even better at it (minus the Sneak Attack, obviously).
I have a goblin dex-based Viv. Beastmorph alchemist, using claws and bite (via feral mutagen; I use a gauntlet covered hand for unarmed when not in mutagen, and now I can use Undead Anatomy for backup claws/bite). It works well now, it would have sucked at level 1 (I got to come in at level 4, iirc, and DM let me blow half my wealth on the amulet). But it is quite possible if you aren't at low levels for too long.
And if you're using claws and bite, you can get it on an Amulet of Mighty Fists for "only" 5000 gp,
They lowered the price to 4000 a few months ago.
Ah, right. Well, I started out before that change, though. :)
I did at least gift myself back the 1000 gp, though I could have used it a LOT more back then.
I need help building him is all, really. I'm afraid the low strength will hurt me too much, even if I take Weapon Finesse. I'm also doubtful as to the use of the Plague Vial anyway, if it only lasts for 10 minutes, and can only be used once a day, what's the point? That's like one fight... Even with the Sticky Poison discovery, which lets me retain the disease up to a number of times equal to my Int modifier, that's still going to run out pretty quickly, especially if I make a full attack against the same target (there's like, 4 stacks gone?)
1. It's not once a day for the disease vial, it's one vial allowable at any given time. So you Create a vial in 1 hour, use it, then create another vial once the effects of the first vial wear off.
2. The disease vial effects last 10 minutes/ per level. So of your level 1, it's only 10 minutes. If your 12th level, it lasts 2 hours (12 th level X 10 min= 120 min= 2 hrs). So, it lasts quite a bit of time.
You know what, I might end up not going Vivisectionist and just staying as a bomb/potion throwing man. I'm set on Plaguebringer though! Any recommendations for being a "smart" plaguebringer? If not
How do you get the money for those things! Don't you only start with like 100gp?