Was looking to try out the Grenadier archetype. Backstory is that he is a Blackjacket, and so I also want at least 4 levels in the Druman Blackjacket fighter archetype (so I can get it's signature ability, there's another Blackjacket in the party, so I don't really need 8 levels in it, though if I end up with them I won't complain). The Mutation Warrior archetype seems like it would really help with this (I'm assuming that the Mutagen stacks). My question is what would be an optimal build given these constraints?
Should I just stick with 4 fighter levels to get the most out of my bombs/extracts? Are there any feats that I'm unaware of that would increase bomb damage?
Ideas?
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The Mutation Warrior's Mutagen ability just gives you the ability to make a mutagen as an alchemist of the same level. This probably means that your fighter levels would stack with your alchemist levels for determining the duration of your mutagen, although I don't see specific language in the archetype indicating this I think it would be reasonable.. It doesn't let you use two mutagens simultaneously, nor double the strength of your mutagen.
Fighter/Alchemist certainly works. I've got a half orc Unbreakable Fighter 1/ Beastmorph Alchemist 5 at the moment in PFS. But if you take more fighter levels you delay access to the stronger alchemist abilities and limit your bomb damage. You might be better off just sticking to Fighter with Mutation Warrior and Druman Blackjacket archetypes (which do stack with each other).
I can't think of much in the way of feats that boost bomb damage. The feat Splash Weapon Mastery is quite useful but Grenadier already gets a similar ability. You can also take weapon focus and weapon specialisation feats for Bomb, if you meet the prerequisites (which of course you will if you have 4 fighter levels). Or be a gnome with the Pyromaniac alternate racial trait, which lets you treat your Alchemist level as one higher for the purpose of fire bomb damage only.
the fighter levels and alchemist levels wouldn't stack. Each would have their own mutagen.
If you're going 4 levels of fighter what are you wanting out of the alchemist class that is worth going into at lv5?
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You could go Mutagenic Mauler Brawler for levels in a mutagen that does stack with alchemist levels. Your brawler levels are also treated as fighter levels for purposes of feats prereqs, so you'd still have access to any fighter only feats (or monk only feats for that matter).
I'm not sure how useful it would be, but since neither ability says it stacks they don't stack. Plus when looking at discoveries you'd only use the levels of the class granting the discoveries.
the fighter levels and alchemist levels wouldn't stack. Each would have their own mutagen.
Hm. I'll have to see if I can get that houseruled then. Thanks.
If you're going 4 levels of fighter what are you wanting out of the alchemist class that is worth going into at lv5?
Bombs, Mutagen, and Extracts? I'm not necessarily going 4 fighter then the rest alchemist. I will probably stagger them.
You could go Mutagenic Mauler Brawler for levels in a mutagen that does stack with alchemist levels. Your brawler levels are also treated as fighter levels for purposes of feats prereqs, so you'd still have access to any fighter only feats (or monk only feats for that matter).
It's the Blackjacket Tactics ability of that fighter archetype that I'm looking for, not necessarily any fighter only feats. Otherwise I probably would take that.
Mutagen you have in the fighter class.
Which lv 1 extracts at caster level 1 at lv5 is worth going alchemist?
Which lv 2 extracts at caster level 4 at lv8 is worth going alchemist?
Is having a 1d6+int attack int times per day at lv5 worth alchemist?
Is having a 2d6+int attack int+ times per day at lv8 worth alchemist?
Cause if you're excited about bombs and extracts then you shouldn't be going 4 levels of fighter first. Especially since that ability isn't really even that good. And if you're just wanting to hit things then I'd think going more fighter would be more worth, but going alchemist for just hitting things isn't crippling.
The Blackjacket Tactics ability allows teamwork feats to work even when only one person has the feat. The caveat is that they must be within 30 feet of each other. So while technically any ranged weapon will do, having a weapon that can extend significantly beyond that is a bit of a waste. I happened to like the idea of bombs, and they work well with the theme.
which teamwork feat is worth not being a good alchemist?
Or
which alchemist abilities are worth gaining at a -4 level?
Pathfinder doesn't reward taking 4 levels of one class then multiclassing into an entirely different one in most cases. So; ways of getting the effects you want without that multiclass.
A brawler or other class with an ability like martial flexibility (warsighted oracle, free-style fighter, eldritch scrapper sorcerer) can pick up a combat feat for a minute. Teamwork feats are combat feats. The advantages over the blackjacket fighter archetype are that you can do it with a smaller dip, as little as 1 level, and it only takes a move action to set up.
If you want the bombs especially you could stick with the blackjacket past level 4 but use variant multiclassing into alchemist to get bombs from 7th level.
If you want to combine a little spellcasting with armor and variable teamwork feats into one class, a spirit dancer medium could do. Take the legendary influence feat and set one teamwork feat to each spirit - that gives you 6 different teamwork feats you can use.
Pathfinder doesn't reward taking 4 levels of one class then multiclassing into an entirely different one in most cases. So; ways of getting the effects you want without that multiclass.
If you want the bombs especially you could stick with the blackjacket past level 4 but use variant multiclassing into alchemist to get bombs from 7th level.
I had completely forgotten about that. Thanks!