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Can an Alchemist take Ability Focus[Bomb]? If so would one feat cover all bombs, or would you need a separate feat for each type of bomb?
I know that a Witch needs to take Ability Focus for each individual type of Hex (Ability Focus[Slumber], Ability Focus[Evil Eye], etc). The rules for Bombs are written a little differently though, so I'm not sure. Covering all bombs with one feat seems kind of strong. On the other hand, I recall that a 3.5 Warlock could take Ability Focus [Eldritch Blast] and have it apply to any saves generated by various blast shapes or essences. Bombs seem a little like eldritch blast in some ways, so it makes me wonder.
Honestly, I'm not sure it would be terribly overpowering. Spell Focus can eventually get to a +2 bonus to an entire school of magic, which can end up being fairly potent. I can see this being like SF + GSF for Evocation.
That said, I don't recall seeing Ability Focus ever being applied to an entire collection of abilities, so that makes me leery.
...damn...I'm gonna be late for work.
*vanish!*
Can an Alchemist take Ability Focus[Bomb]?
I was going to say no, since I think a Bomb is more like a weapon than a special attack (See: Weapon Focus) but when I looked at it again, it says:
"Thrown bombs have a range of 20 feet and use the Throw Splash Weapon special attack."
Ability Focus applies to one of the creature's special attacks, so I guess, as written, you could take Ability Focus: Splash Weapon.
Since it's a Monster Feat, it would need DM approval.
My two cents -- each type of bomb with a saving throw ("plain", Stink Bomb, Frost Bomb, etc.) is a separate special attack, so Ability Focus would only apply to one of the bomb types.
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Can an Alchemist take Ability Focus[Bomb]? If so would one feat cover all bombs, or would you need a separate feat for each type of bomb?
I know that a Witch needs to take Ability Focus for each individual type of Hex (Ability Focus[Slumber], Ability Focus[Evil Eye], etc). The rules for Bombs are written a little differently though, so I'm not sure. Covering all bombs with one feat seems kind of strong. On the other hand, I recall that a 3.5 Warlock could take Ability Focus [Eldritch Blast] and have it apply to any saves generated by various blast shapes or essences. Bombs seem a little like eldritch blast in some ways, so it makes me wonder.
Ok, I know this is a bit different, but I think its the closest answer you'll find until Paizo answers it.
If a warlock selects Ability Focus (MM 303) and chooses for it to affect his eldritch blast, does it still apply when he uses a blast shape or eldritch essence invocation?
Yes. Whether the warlock is using a frightful blast, an eldritch cone, or an utterdark eldritch doom, Ability Focus (eldritch blast) increases the save DC by +2.
This is an example of one ability that can be used in different ways, very similar to an alchemist's bombs. And they allowed the EB to be the focus of the feat and allowed it to apply to it various forms, so I'm thinking the same should be said of the bombs.
That's my 2 cents.