Niggling alchemist issues


Round 3: Alchemist and Inquisitor

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

I'm working on a full test thread of the alchemist at the moment, but for now here are some niggling issues and oversights that threaten to take over that thread. Before anyone complains about "What, you've already playtested it?" this is stuff I noticed while trying to make an alchemist character at all.

  • Alchemists can't make potions! He can't cast spells, and he's never given the ability to take magic item creation feats.
  • The "Alchemy" header is a long, rambling block of text which is actually two separate class abilities (with mentions of two others) under one term. Please, at least give us a separate section on how Extracts work, since "Extracts" is in two different tables but there's no bold "Extracts" listing anywhere.
  • It doesn't say anywhere explicitly if using an extract incurs an AoO. I realize that it does, because "in many ways, they behave like spells in potion form" and "an extract is “cast” by drinking it, as if imbibing a potion" but seriously don't make an ability that forces me to look in another part of another book when you can just say "Imbibing an extract is a standard action which incurs an attack of opportunity."
  • Similarly, do not make people look up which items are spell completion and which items are spell trigger. Try this for a rewording: "An alchemist can utilize spell-trigger items (such as staves and wands) if the spell appears on his formuale list, but not spell-completion items (such as scrolls) unless he uses Use Magic Device to do so."
  • Do alchemists need spell component pouches? "Creating extracts consumes raw materials, but the cost of these materials is insignificant—comparable to the valueless material components of most spells." This implies but does not state outright that they do.
  • "Extracts cannot be made from spells that have focus requirements." Then why do alchemists have spells on their extract list that they can't make into extracts? Analyze Dweomer and Detect Thoughts are two I spotted.
  • Does Poison Bomb move? Cloudkill does, but dropping moving clouds with round/level duration every turn is a complete bookkeeping trainwreck.

    I'll add more as I spot them.

  • RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

    This "alchemists are like spellcasters only not" stuff leads to lots of rules issues.

  • Do alchemists qualify for caster feats?
  • Do they qualify for metamagic feats?
  • Do they lose extracts prepared if they are level drained?
  • Do they lose extracts prepared if their int is reduced?

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