Starting Alchemist

[Shar Tahl]

I was creating a level 1 Gnome Alchemist and was stumped as to the best feat to take at first level. He will be mostly utilizing the bombs and splash weapons. What would be a good starting feat? Point blank shot? Splash Weapon Mastery from adventurers armory?

Also, on the splash weapon topic, does an alchemist with a purchased acid flask add his intelligence modifier to damage with it?

[Anburaid]

Shar Tahl wrote:

I was creating a level 1 Gnome Alchemist and was stumped as to the best feat to take at first level. He will be mostly utilizing the bombs and splash weapons. What would be a good starting feat? Point blank shot? Splash Weapon Mastery from adventurers armory?

Also, on the splash weapon topic, does an alchemist with a purchased acid flask add his intelligence modifier to damage with it?

Yes he does, as part of his throw anything feature. Point blank shot is a decent choice, since it leads to some other good feats for a dedicated bomber (far shot, shot on the run). 3rd level should probably be deadly aim, so you can boost the damage bonus even more.

[Austin Morgan]

Deadly Aim shouldn't work with bombs, as they are touch attacks.

d20pfsrd wrote:

Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all ranged attack rolls to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged damage rolls. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every +4 thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.

[MisterSlanky]

If you're looking bombs, either splash weapon mastery or point blank shot. I personally feel PBS is a little less appealing only because you're talking about a touch attack, but both are solid choices.

[Draeke Raefel]

Point blank leads to precise. Which is good if you ever plan on attacking a foe that is in combat. Even with touch attacks, a -4 to hit is pretty nasty. I'd recommend waiting for precise bombs before you go hitting anything in hand to hand with party members though...

[Anburaid]

Austin Morgan wrote:

Deadly Aim shouldn't work with bombs, as they are touch attacks.

d20pfsrd wrote:

Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all ranged attack rolls to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged damage rolls. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every +4 thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.

CURSES! Right you are, sir. That makes sense, since touch attack ACs are generally very low. So I guess its just far shot and shot-on-the-run that really matter, far shot being particularly useful as grenade-like weapons don't have a very good range.

[Thanatos95]

Personaly I took skill focus(craft[alchemy]) at level 1 with my alchemist, but thats the roleplayer in me.