Vivisectionist Alchemists in PFS Play

[Davechan]

Apologies if this has been asked previously, tried searching but couldn't find anything on it, but I have a quick question about Vivisectionist Alchemists in PFS. Alchemists in PFS gain Extra Bombs at 1st level in place of Brew Potion, but as Vivisectionist Alchemists don't get the Bombs class feature, they are ineligible for the Extra Bombs feat. I would assume this means they do not get the bonus feat at 1st level. I was wondering if they would instead get a different bonus feat at this level? I don't think they necessarily need it (I see either Brew Potion in the original or Extra Bombs in the PFS variant to be nice little extras rather than essential class features), but it just struck me while I was flicking through Ultimate Magic.

[ithuriel]

Until an official ruling is made:

-before the APG was out and extra bombs existed alchemists instead had dodge as a bonus feat.

-one of the Venture Captains suggested Weapon Focus (war razor) as fitting the archetype theme.

I don't think there has been any official word yet, but if you as a GM wanted to allow a player one of those as a temporary filler until we hear otherwise I don't think anyone would complain too much. As a player though you might or might not play with an empty feat slot on a table by table basis depending on the prerogative on the GM.

[Davechan]

Were I GMing I'd probably go for something similar myself. I do like the idea of the war razor! Thankfully for the timebeing my Vivisectionist is just one on an ever-increasing list of cool concepts - and to be honest I actually prefer "proper" bomb-throwers anyway and will probably go for one of them first. ^_^

(My Vivisectionist idea is an Ossiriani Forlorn Elf embalmer, going Vivi/Master Chymist, with the self-mummification discoveries. Vivisectionist just seemed perfect for a creepy mortician with a suspiciously good knowledge of anatomy!)

[The Grandfather]

Well spotted Davechan.
At the moment the vivisectionist gets nothing to compensate for that loss. However, I am sure it is an easy fix. With PaizoCon GenCon etc.con going on you might have to wait a bit for an answer.

I hope you bring up the question again if you don't get an official answer.

[waltero]

Initially Josh had given alchemists Dodge, before that was changed to extra bombs. Maybe non-bombers could get Dodge again?

[BTLOTM]

I don't mean to raise up an old issue, but I did find the answer to the question, and this was the page I found when I searched for it, so I figured I'd post it here.

"Vivisectionist alchemist gains Skill Focus (Craft [alchemy] or Knowledge [nature]) in place of Brew Potion at 1st level"

Quoted from the resource page.

So they still have a (I think?) mostly useless throw anything feat, but they do get a skill focus at least, which is more useful then a dead class feature.

[bartgroks]

BTLOTM wrote:

So they still have a (I think?) mostly useless throw anything feat, but they do get a skill focus at least, which is more useful then a dead class feature.

They still get Throw Anything and the attendant IQ bonus to splash weapon

Damage. Not as useful as it is for the bomber but enough to make the vivisectionist a mighty slayer of swarms.