What's an Alchemist to do?


Advice


Specifically a Promethean Alchemist. They can't throw bombs and they can't "hulk out" with a mutagen. So all that's left are the Alchemists' Extracts. But the Homunculus has that covered already: it can make and use them.
Where does that leave the Alchemists themselves? What do they actually do? Make constructs all day?


Promethean Alchemist is on the weak end of the alchemist spectrum.

If you're looking to play on those themes, you're better off with Construct Rider or Homunculist, imo.

You can always pick up the Promethean Disciple discovery later. It's not worth trading away so much to get.


Most archtypes are Not worth taking this is a perfect example. Most take away far too much for flavor or concept. I have played a few and while the idea seems cool on paper in game they suck compared to a base class.


Having a homunculus preparing means you can prepare twice as fast if prep time is an issue. If you have infusion both you and your homunculus can pass the out at the same time too.

I could see an instance for a character that sends out the homunculus with his companions while crafting or researching not too far away.


Keep in mind you can always buy back Mutagen as a discovery, so this is only a major tradeoff for 1st level characters or builds who are really starved for Discoveries/Feats. That said, it's a pretty bad archetype in general and mostly outclassed by the Homunculist which offers similar benefits at a lower cost. The Promethean Disciple discovery is kinda neat for low-level NPC's, but for PC's anyone who wants it can pick it up at the 6th level and you probably won't want to blow your wealth on constructs before then anyways.


Actually the description states you cannot get mutagen or cognaten as discoveries. There is one nice bonus... You're free to do whatever you want. A lot of doors are opened that would be redundant or useless with the regular alchemists. I personally like to go medic as I think you can go chirurgeon with this. The companion is a good medical delivery system. You could also be more skill monkey.


Forgot about that one. Just another reason why it's outclassed by the Homunculist, which can take mutagen as a discovery to replace the lost class feature.


Dasrak wrote:
Keep in mind you can always buy back Mutagen as a discovery, so this is only a major tradeoff for 1st level characters or builds who are really starved for Discoveries/Feats. That said, it's a pretty bad archetype in general and mostly outclassed by the Homunculist which offers similar benefits at a lower cost. The Promethean Disciple discovery is kinda neat for low-level NPC's, but for PC's anyone who wants it can pick it up at the 6th level and you probably won't want to blow your wealth on constructs before then anyways.

This archetype says it can't take mutagen at all.


Okay, I've got a question that I haven't seen answered, but this might not be a bad thread to bring it up in: cognatogens vs. mutagens. For the most part, the write-ups indicate they're just about the same, except you trade physical stats for mental stats with the cog'. Fine, great, got it, no worries. But: why does the cognatogen actually dump "2 points of ability damage to the ability score penalized by the cognatogen" onto any poor sap who wants to use one? (/Ultimate Magic/, pg. 15) The mutagen doesn't, there's nothing in the APG or UM errata to indicate there's not supposed to be that pretty big damn difference, so what the hell? :-/

LB


Lady Bluehawk wrote:

Okay, I've got a question that I haven't seen answered, but this might not be a bad thread to bring it up in: cognatogens vs. mutagens. For the most part, the write-ups indicate they're just about the same, except you trade physical stats for mental stats with the cog'. Fine, great, got it, no worries. But: why does the cognatogen actually dump "2 points of ability damage to the ability score penalized by the cognatogen" onto any poor sap who wants to use one? (/Ultimate Magic/, pg. 15) The mutagen doesn't, there's nothing in the APG or UM errata to indicate there's not supposed to be that pretty big damn difference, so what the hell? :-/

LB

Whoops, never mind; turned out I'd spelled it wrong, originally...once I got the right spelling, I found quite a few entries. ;->

Never mind! :D

LB


Lady Bluehawk wrote:

Okay, I've got a question that I haven't seen answered, but this might not be a bad thread to bring it up in: cognatogens vs. mutagens. For the most part, the write-ups indicate they're just about the same, except you trade physical stats for mental stats with the cog'. Fine, great, got it, no worries. But: why does the cognatogen actually dump "2 points of ability damage to the ability score penalized by the cognatogen" onto any poor sap who wants to use one? (/Ultimate Magic/, pg. 15) The mutagen doesn't, there's nothing in the APG or UM errata to indicate there's not supposed to be that pretty big damn difference, so what the hell? :-/

LB

They probably think that 'balances' out the fact that boosting your int (the best use of cognatogen) boosts your bomb damage, your splash damage, and your side effect DCs by +2, not to mention your knowledge skills by double that.

And, since you have access to a lesser restoration extract, it's generally not too big a deal to fix yourself right up afterwords. That said, personally I would just get the ring of inner fortitude and convince the GM to ignore the recent errata.

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