Greetings.
My Alchemist has just reached level 9 as he slogs his way through the Emerald Spire. My intention is to play him through the Spire, and then continue on (eventually) by running him to level 20 through a retirement arc module that will be run in my area within the next year.
Here are my questions:
If you gain an increase in CON at level 9 (through a belt) are the bonus Hit Points gained only from that point forward, or are they recalculated back to level 1, thus gaining a small chunk of Hit Points?
I am considering taking 2 levels of Witch as a dip, mostly for the Hex feature that I can take advantage of when not throwing my bombs. My idea is to also take the Feat, Extra Hex in order to get Cackle, Fortune, and Misfortune. Is there an archetype or patron that would be useful for a bomb throwing alchemist? Mostly looking for support capability.
Regarding the Familiar gained by the Witch, it lists its Hit Dice as equal to the Masters level. So, if I took my first level of Witch at level 10, the familiar would effectively be an equal level familiar (10), and gaining all the abilities as such. Any interesting familiar choices, or archetype choices? An interesting option would be a flying familiar with sneakiness. Doesnt really need to be combat oriented.
Also, I have a pile of gold (about 20k) and am leaning towards upgrading my INT headband and adding CON to my DEX belt (assuming the HP bonus is retroactive). Anything else I should consider in high end items?
Thanks for all your help!
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CON question, Yes.
Example:
Bob is level 10. Bob has a CON of 10. As a d8 class, Bob has 53 HP.
Bob buys a CON belt. Bobs HP increase by 10.
Regarding familiars:
Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher.
Hit Points: The familiar has half the master's total hit points (not including temporary hit points), rounded down, regardless of its actual Hit Dice.
Regarding items:
Bracers of Falcon’s Aim
Aura faint transmutation; CL 3rd
Slot wrists; Price 4,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
Each of these crimson leather bracers is emblazoned with the image of a soaring golden falcon scanning the ground for easy prey.
They continually grant the wearer the benefits of the aspect of the falcon spell, though without the spell’s physical transformation.
Aspect of the Falcon (Spell):
You take on an aspect of a falcon. Your eyes become wide and raptor-like, and you grow feathers on the sides of your head. You gain a +3 competence bonus on Perception checks, a +1 competence bonus on ranged attacks, and the critical multiplier for your bows and crossbows becomes 19-20/x3.
Thanks Eponine. Regarding the Bracer's of Falcon's Aim, I do believe those are not legal in PFS play. I will double check that though.
Just a note for posterity, ALL permanent stat increases are retroactive, so a higher Int gives you more skills. And temporary increases to Con are "retroactive" as well.
EX if you cast Bear's Endurance (and had no belt) or made a Con Mutagen, you'd get 18 more HP.
Benefits from permanently increased ability scores are retroactive.
I don't understand the logic of dipping into witch. That hurts all of your class abilities and doesn't really give you much benefit. Nearly all hexes require a standard action and as a bomb-throwing alchemist, you already have plenty of things to do. The alchemist discovery you get at higher levels are better than nearly all witch hexes. If you want a familiar, you can get Tumor Familiar.
So wait, raising your INT gives you more skills as well, retroactively?
For example, each level I add my Skills Per Level + my INT bonus and multiply that figure to get the number of Skill points I should have spent? If thats true I will be much more skillful.
1 skill point per level for every 2 points of Int.
Also, I am wondering if I am doing something wrong with how I gain my extracts each level. Per the Advance Players Guide:
An alchemist may know any number of formulae. He stores his formulae in a special tome called a formula book. He must refer to this book whenever he prepares an extract but not when he consumes it. An alchemist begins play with two 1st-level formulae of his choice, plus a number of additional forumlae equal to his Intelligence modifier. At each new alchemist level, he gains one new formula of any level that he can create. An alchemist can also add formulae to his book just like a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs, pages, and time requirements. An alchemist can study a wizard's spellbook to learn any formula that is equivalent to a spell the spellbook contains. A wizard, however, cannot learn spells from a formula book. An alchemist does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them.
So, do this mean that once I can learn a 2nd level formulae that I only learn one? Or is there some bonus for my INT modifier as well?
You learn 2 + INT mod at 1st level. Every additional level, you learn a single new formula.
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Caveat on the headband of INT.
While it does, in fact give you skill points retroactively, they are fixed to a single skill (or single set of skills for +4 & +6 headbands.) determined when the headband is made. Because skill points are limited by your level, if you have any points in that skill, those points are wasted.
So effectively, when you buy a head band, pick one skill, you always have your level in points in that skill.
It is in the description of the INT headband.
Re: Familiar
The familiar's "level" is seperate from it's hit dice.
If you take your first level of witch at level 10, you will have a first level familiar (with regard to powers granted by the witch class.) that is a 10 HD creature.
OK, more questions.
For clarification, my Alchemist is a Mindchemist who focuses on throwing bombs so I don't craft mutagens.
Can you explain why the rogue is a good splash class?
Can you explain how alchemical allocation works? And what are a couple premium potions that I should purchase to use with it. I like the idea of Extend Potion, but am not sure which potions I should use it on.
