Alchemist questions Re: doppelganger simulacrum

[Generic Villain]

Oh the doppelganger simulacrum, how I want to love it. As a GM, I see this as an awesome way to make a recurring villain (ya might as well call it the "Manshoon simulacrum"). Yet, while the concept is fantastic, I'm baffled by the rules.

What exactly is the doppelganger simulacrum (DS)? As written, it is "...a soulless duplicate of [the alchemist's] body, into which he can project his consciousness." Erm, okay... but that doesn't really tell me what the DS is.

Does the DS function like the alchemical simulacrum discovery? If so, the DS has a duration of 1 hour/level, and the DS "...has no magical abilties." Or does it function like the greater alchemical simulacrum discovery? I doubt it, because you have to be 14th level to take that discovery, and only 10th level to pick up the DS discovery.

Also, the pricing is a bit weird. Producing a DS costs a flat 1,000 gp to produce. By contrast, using the lesser/greater alchemical simulacrum discoveries costs 100 gp per Hit Dice. Wouldn't it make more sense to have a DS follow that pricing method?

[Cheapy]

My understanding is that it's just another body of his that he can "move into". It has all the abilities of his main body, but if he dies, he is transferred back to his main body.

And yes...this could make for an interesting villain indeed. And to think alchemists play a heavy role in my current campaign I'm making...

[0gre]

Yeah, definitely confusing. I kind of think it's based on the spell which means you don't get all your powers in the simulacra. Otherwise seems like an easy choice for a 10th level extract. Cheat death!

[Generic Villain]

Cheapy wrote:

My understanding is that it's just another body of his that he can "move into". It has all the abilities of his main body, but if he dies, he is transferred back to his main body.

Oh I really doubt that. I hope that the designers wouldn't make such a grievous error. Because why bother adventuring, when your cart full of simulacrums can adventure in your stead? Just send a couple with your party, when one dies "activate" the next.

I'm with Ogre, I assume it's based on the lesser simulacrum spell. That way, when the alch switches to it, it's nowhere near as powerful as his actual form.

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

Forum search is your friend :D

The pricing is a good question though.

[Generic Villain]

Benchak the Nightstalker wrote:

Forum search is your friend :D

The pricing is a good question though.

Ah, thanks much!

I actually did a search, but for clone master (ala the archetype). Just got a bunch of Star Wars stuff...