List of Alchemist Changes


Advanced Player's Guide Playtest: Final Playtest

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

Alchemist Changes
I've looked through the new pdf to try and make a comparison between the old and new alchemist so we know what differences to be trying out. Now presenting in the order they appear!

Alchemy
-Material components are consumed when the extract is used, rather then created.
No more gambling by creating costly extracts on the chance they'll be used that day.

-Formulae are now kept within a formula book. Each level you learn one new formula. You may add formulae to the book just like a wizard adds spells to their spell book. ie. scrolls, spell books, formula books. Only spells that are on the extract list.
Opens up the whole extract list rather then having to pick and choose. Loss off the formula book no longer a devastating proposition, but as inconvenient as a wizard would deal with.

Bombs
-Creating and throwing a bomb now requires a standard action. This provokes an AoO.
You can now move and make bombs in the same turn. Mobility!

-Bomb range clarified to 20 feet.
Much closer to real life grenades as James pointed out.

-Bombs are clarified as being a weapon for the purpose of feats
ie. Point Blank Shot and Weapon Focus

-Clarification regarding the effects of a critical and Vital Strike on bombs.
Nope no multipliers here folks.

-Direct hit damage and splash damage remain the same. However a Reflex save can be made for half against the splash damage. Save DC is 10 + 1/2 alchemist leve + Intelligence modifier
I know my GM was wondering about that frequently.

Brew Potion:
Brew Potion (Ex): At 1st level, alchemists receive Brew Potion as a bonus feat. An alchemist can brew potions of any formulae he knows (up to 3rd level), using his alchemist level as his caster level.

A much asked for addition, very thematic and useful.

-Mutagen has been bumped up from an initial +2 enhancement bonus of your choice to +4 alchemical bonus
A change similar to the size bonus for druids during wildshape.

-While the mutagen is in effect you receive -2 for the appropriate stat. Str - Int, Dex - Wis, Con - Cha.
No more pesky Cha damage!

Discoveries
-Discoveries are now at every even level. You may not take the same discovery multiple times unless stated. Bomb discoveries do not stack unless noted.

-All unstated saving throws for a bombs effect are DC 10 + 1/2 alc level + Int mod

Combine Extracts:
When the alchemist creates an extract, he can place two formulae into one extract. When the extract is consumed, both formulae take effect. This extract has a level two levels higher than the highest level formulae placed in the extract. An alchemist must be at least 8th.

Alchemical metamagic anyone?

-Delay Bomb: You may only have one bomb delayed at a time.
No more bomb bag. For the best really

-Explosive Bomb: Now catches the main target on fire for an additional 1d6 damage.
Normal fire effect.

Fast Bomb:
An alchemist with this discovery can quickly create enough bombs to throw more than one in a single round. The alchemist can prepare and throw additional bombs as a full-round action if his base attack bonus is high enough to grant him additional attacks. This functions just like a full-attack with ranged weapon. An alchemist must be at least 8th level before selecting this discovery.

Just what the Dr. ordered for proper damage!

-Greater Mutagen now grants a +6 enhancement bonus and +4 enhancement bonus to two different stats. Take the penalty to both mental stats.
I note it's an enhancement bonus instead of the alchemical bonus in normal mutagen. Likely just a typo. This has been clarified to be alchemical. source

-Grand Mutagen now gives +8 / +6 / +4 enhancement bonuses. Penalty to all mental stats.
Same presence of enhancement vs. alchemical language.

Potent bombs:
The damage dealt by an alchemist’s bomb increases by 1d6. An alchemist can select this discovery more than once, its effects stack.

A nice source of scaling damage, as well as a good filler discovery now that there are twice as many acquired.

Precise bombs:
Whenever the alchemist throws a bomb, he can select a number of squares equal to his Intelligence modifier that are not affected by the splash damage from his bombs.

The people have spoken, and here the discovery is. No more lynch mobs forming when the alchemist takes out his bombs.

If I've missed any changes please point them out! Let's get to testing.

Dark Archive

Hey, nice feedback there, Dr. Scipio! I didn't realize at first glance how much the class has been revised, but I have to say ALL of those are very good "tweaks" and make sense!

Now, as ordered, to create Filge the Alchemist! Behold the power of his Zombie Bombs! ;)

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

My party in CoT is gonna be grateful for Precise bombs. Two rogues and splash damage do not mix.


Am I the only one who thought of a Fighter making a 2-level dip in Alchemist?

Liberty's Edge

Scipion del Ferro wrote:
My party in CoT is gonna be grateful for Precise bombs. Two rogues and splash damage do not mix.

Yeah, no kidding. Makes me seriously consider explosive bombs now too, since it wouldn't be wiping out the entire party.

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

Kevin-Éric Bouchard wrote:
Am I the only one who thought of a Fighter making a 2-level dip in Alchemist?

Nope, even a one level dip sounds good to me. Since alchemists don't have any chance of spell failure, and only need 1 hand free for bombs. Might as well wear full-plate and a tower shield. Getting Weapon Spec bomb would help damage a lot too.

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Or a back-mounted bomb catapult ! :)


Gorbacz wrote:
Or a back-mounted bomb catapult ! :)

A gnome alchemist in your backpack?

Shadow Lodge

Even more than a dip wouldn't be too bad would it? A fighter/alchemist seems like a very nice combo. Or a ranged focus ranger/alchemist.

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

I personally wouldn't dip too much so you aren't sacrificing too many caster levels. You will also be losing out on discoveries and bomb damage in exchange for feats and BAB which the alchemist can't use to increase bomb damage. Except Weapon Spec which you could get with the first level.

Liberty's Edge

Kevin-Éric Bouchard wrote:
Am I the only one who thought of a Fighter making a 2-level dip in Alchemist?

That's not a bad idea at all...mutagen for +4 STR, bombs, and some failure free spells = win IMO

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

Oh oops. I was thinking of an Alchemist taking a 1 lvl dip into fighter and he was talking about a fighter dipping into Alchemist.

Liberty's Edge

Scipion del Ferro wrote:
Oh oops. I was thinking of an Alchemist taking a 1 lvl dip into fighter and he was talking about a fighter dipping into Alchemist.

While the extra armor would be nice, it seems that a Fighter X/alchemist 1 (or 2) would be a better fit...at least in my humble opinion.

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

I'm surprised more people aren't excited for the change regarding creating and throwing bombs.

Dark Archive

Xpltvdeleted wrote:
Scipion del Ferro wrote:
Oh oops. I was thinking of an Alchemist taking a 1 lvl dip into fighter and he was talking about a fighter dipping into Alchemist.
While the extra armor would be nice, it seems that a Fighter X/alchemist 1 (or 2) would be a better fit...at least in my humble opinion.

Fighter 4/Alchemist X is how I'd stat up Geralt the Witcher...

Liberty's Edge

Scipion del Ferro wrote:
I'm surprised more people aren't excited for the change regarding creating and throwing bombs.

bombs are fun and all, but i really liked the Dr. Jekyll vs. Mr. Hyde aspect more than anything...im glad they fixed it enough to make it a viable option.

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but is there a chance my List of ??? Changes posts could be stickied? Just to make it easier for people coming to this board to find out what's been updated.


I've spent over half my lunch break trying to locate all these post that highlight the changes made to the APG classes.

I second these being stickied.


Hexcaliber wrote:

I've spent over half my lunch break trying to locate all these post that highlight the changes made to the APG classes.

I second these being stickied.

It would be 100x more awesome if some one would just update the classes on d20pfsrd.com.

*Edit: Which apparently doesn't have the Alchemist or Inquisitor anyway...

RPG Superstar 2011 Top 4

That would be useful, but it wouldn't help someone who wants to know what was changed from the old version.

Hexcaliber I made all the thread titles exactly the same "List of (class) Changes" so you can just do a ctrl+f search on the page to find the one you want.

...cept for Oracle.


Scipion del Ferro wrote:

That would be useful, but it wouldn't help someone who wants to know what was changed from the old version.

Hexcaliber I made all the thread titles exactly the same "List of (class) Changes" so you can just do a ctrl+f search on the page to find the one you want.

...cept for Oracle.

Fair point...

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