Yar people of Pathfinder Messageboards,
So, as many of you know, alchemists don't suffer arcane spell failure when using any sort of armor. This is great news, as it allows the class to use medium and heavy armor without much penalty to its extracts.
That said though, the class is very obviously dex/int based; dex to toss them bombs, and int to make them bombs boom.
So, the question I have is... What armor to use?
Now, as much as it depends, I'm looking for a general answer. Is it safe to assume that I should take some sort of mithral armor, and match the max dex bonus to my dex modifier?
Or hell, not even bother with taking a feat for higher armor proficiencies, and just go with classic Mithral Shirt?
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Create your own mithral full plate. It's treated as medium armor but still need the heavy armor profiiency to avoid attack and armor check penalties etc. Maximum Dexterity bonuses are increased by 2, and armor check penalties are decreased by 3 (to a minimum of 0), and it weighs half the weight of normal full plate.
Thus, mithral full plate would have the following stats.
Mithral Full plate
Cost 10,500 gp, Armor bonus +9, Max Dex +3, Armor check –3, Spell Failure N/A, Speed 20 ft./15 ft., Weight 25 lbs.
Another option would be, if your DM will allow it, apply the "celestial" quality from celestial armor to other armor types, such as full plate, which I did in 3.5.
Thus, you could have "celestial" full plate.
CELESTIAL FULL PLATE
Aura faint transmutation [good]; CL 5th
Slot armor; Price 23,750 gp; Weight 25 lbs.
Description
This bright silver or gold +3 full plate is so thin and light that it can be worn while sleeping without any ill effect. It has a maximum Dexterity bonus of +7, an armor check penalty of –3, and an arcane spell failure chance of 20%. It is considered medium armor and allows the wearer to use fly on command (as the spell) once per day.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, fly, creator must be
good; Cost 13,150 gp
*You could probably lower it to +1 armor, or simply "celestial full plate" without any magic armor bonuses if money is an issue.
Depends on whether you are going to bump dex or not. I just built a high level alchemist and wound up having to go with chain shirt and still bumped into dex limitations with armor. You can really ramp up DEX with mutagens in a hurry.
Jesus Christ, I forgot about Mutagens (especially true mutagen)... Celestial Armor is looking great, but Mithral Chainshirt requires no feats spent.
With the emphasis on getting medium/heavy armor proficiencies, and then also shield proficiencies, a 1 level dip into fighter might not be such a bad idea.
I'm compelled to agree. Certainly the most efficient way of getting the proficiencies (and a bonus feat), but I'm not sure if I want to delay True Mutagen + Two discoveries for Medium/Heavy Armor.
EDIT: Does Celestial Armor require Medium Armor Prof in the first place?
Another option would be, if your DM will allow it, apply the "celestial" quality from celestial armor to other armor types, such as full plate, which I did in 3.5.
Thus, you could have "celestial" full plate.
UuuuUuuUUUuuUUuugh.
Hate this.
Unique magical items are supposed to be unique :I
I know most of them were just mostly rubbish, but don't wreck the ones that are good by plastering them into generic magic items. :<
gnomish workman leather ^^ I should spend some time locating my 2nd edition arms and equiment guide..
Another option would be, if your DM will allow it, apply the "celestial" quality from celestial armor to other armor types, such as full plate, which I did in 3.5.
Thus, you could have "celestial" full plate.
UuuuUuuUUUuuUUuugh.
Hate this.
Unique magical items are supposed to be unique :I
I know most of them were just mostly rubbish, but don't wreck the ones that are good by plastering them into generic magic items. :<
/disagree
Only artifacts should fall under that thought process, otherwise you outgrow those special items when you need two more AC from the Celestial plate, now, make it harder for the characters to increase the enhancement sure, but don't make it impossible. I'm not saying allow plain old MW Celestial plate, since perhaps the creation of it requires that it be that level minimum! The unguents, and mystical alloys used to create it are just to unstable to be created below that power level. Making it more powerful, sure...you just need the tears of a Solar, morning the passing of an evil dictator.
On the other hand...
I hate players feeling like they have an open opportunity to know what every magic item is...I like forcing Knowledge rolls to know about magical properties, or they have to go to a sage and find out what it is...How they automatically think every spell in every splat book is available for them to take.
I loved harvesting organs from creatures to make magic items, I loved keeping track of spell components, finding a spellbook was cool, especially if it contained a brand new spell.
Remember when spells were jealously guarded?
Remember Bazaar of the Bizarre?
+1 magic items, sure, everyone pretty much knows about those, but a vorpal sword, that's an artifact right? What?? Your sister's friend's uncle knows a guy that knows a wizard that can might know the item needed to make one???
Celestial armor - for someone with a lot of dex, which is who it's made for - is bar none the best armor in the game.
Period.
You cannot outgrow it.
I hate players feeling like they have an open opportunity to know what every magic item is...I like forcing Knowledge rolls to know about magical properties, or they have to go to a sage and find out what it is...
Well to identify an item is a spellcraft check -- if you make the check you know the item and it's properties. If you are going to have "sages" be the only ones to know they better be making those checks too -- and the check best not the type that increases just because I'm a higher level or I took a feat to increase my skill bonuses.
I got my fill of arbitrary GM's in second and 3.5 editions thanks all the same.
Celestial armor - for someone with a lot of dex, which is who it's made for - is bar none the best armor in the game.
Period.
You cannot outgrow it.
Yes you can.
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Celestial armor - for someone with a lot of dex, which is who it's made for - is bar none the best armor in the game.
Period.
You cannot outgrow it.
I make the elf champion PrC (forgot the exact name...but it lets you add dex to damage) in 3.5. Dex 18 to start, +2 for racial, +5 for level up, +5 for tomes, +6 item. That is 36 dex...or +13 to ac from dex (and +13 to damage and to hit). Bracers of armor +8 become better options then celestial armor at that point.
I make the elf champion PrC (forgot the exact name...but it lets you add dex to damage) in 3.5. Dex 18 to start, +2 for racial, +5 for level up, +5 for tomes, +6 item. That is 36 dex...or +13 to ac from dex (and +13 to damage and to hit). Bracers of armor +8 become better options then celestial armor at that point.Celestial armor - for someone with a lot of dex, which is who it's made for - is bar none the best armor in the game.
Period.
You cannot outgrow it.
Ok, when you hit level 20 and have stupifying amounts of dexterity, then you've outgrown all armor, I suppose :p
But until then, pound for pound - well, AC for AC - Celestial Armor is pretty much tops for dexterity types.
Actually, you just prove my point - Celestial Armor is still the best armor in the game, only beaten by not wearing armor at all ;p
I got my fill of arbitrary GM's in second and 3.5 editions thanks all the same.
Sorry, every GM is arbitrary, a GM is an arbitrator.
What I meant was that when a PC gets a craft item feat, they automatically assume they know every option there is.
Every GM has the option to make their game their own through their own house-rules, you as a player have the option of not playing in that GMs world.
I'm sorry if you don't like "arbitrary" GMs, play in RAW games, not mine...your choice...
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I make the elf champion PrC (forgot the exact name...but it lets you add dex to damage) in 3.5. Dex 18 to start, +2 for racial, +5 for level up, +5 for tomes, +6 item. That is 36 dex...or +13 to ac from dex (and +13 to damage and to hit). Bracers of armor +8 become better options then celestial armor at that point.Celestial armor - for someone with a lot of dex, which is who it's made for - is bar none the best armor in the game.
Period.
You cannot outgrow it.
Ok, when you hit level 20 and have stupifying amounts of dexterity, then you've outgrown all armor, I suppose :p
But until then, pound for pound - well, AC for AC - Celestial Armor is pretty much tops for dexterity types.
Actually, you just prove my point - Celestial Armor is still the best armor in the game, only beaten by not wearing armor at all ;p
Actually I outgrew it way before level 20. I switched from celestial armor to bracers around level 12. And bracers of armor is armor...it gives an armor bonus after all...okay so it's pushing it...but anyways, yeah for the uber dex characters (this applies to archers and many rogue builds as well), celstial armor can be outgrown.
I'm sure they were waiting 6 years, just for that advice.