First I want to say I like the Alchemist class. However I, like many people have some concerns.
1: The discoverys. I like the customization potential, but you dont get enough to be effective. As is, you only get 4 before level 20, and the first is at level 4. Also, why does the capstone ability give 2 regular discoveries in addition to the grand one? At level 20 they are a little to late to be very helpful. My proposal is to take the 2 regular discoveries off of Grand discovery and put them into the regular level progresion. Also, make the first discovey at level 1. That way people that want to start with infusion can, people that want a different bomb element can, ect.
2: Being a spontanious caster. Personaly this seems a little off. The idea of the class as i see it is somone that is experimenting with chemicals. YOu even establish that in the fluff that he is a expert at the regular alchemy. So why would a guy like that not write down his recipies? I think the Alchemist should use a spellbook(call it a grimoire to be appropriate)for his formulas. He dosent have that many potential ones anyway, so i dont think its that harmful.
3: Bomb range increment. Ive been assuming its 10 ft as standard for most thrown items. Is that correct? Also, could bombs be thrown with a sling to improve that? The text says they are just 1 ounce of liquid so that seems possible.
4: Mutagens. Why do the mutagens have an effect on other people when the extracts and bombs become inert when not in the alchemists possestion?(even if it is just a save agains nausea)
5: The "meta potion" discoveries. Why are there so many discoveries that effect potions, when as is, the alchemist cant make potions? Either he should get brew potion as a free feat, or let those discoveries affect he extracts.
6: The infuse mutagen discovery. It says its intended purpose is to let you craft different types of mutagens to keep on hand. Unless i missed something, there are no different types, just the discoveries to make your mutagen better.
7: the stink bomb discovery. The discription of this one says it creates a stinking cloud for 1 round. However, all the other Cloud spell discoveries say they last for 1 round/level. Is this a typo or is it deliberate?
8: level 0 extracts. Im sure this one is just a cut and paste typo, but the extract description says the Alchemist starts with 4 level 0 formulas.
"An alchemist begins play knowing four 0-level
formulae and two 1st-level formulae of his choice, chosen
from the alchemist formulae list."
Sorry for the wall of text, i get a little wordy sometimes...