Alchemist Bombs vs. Spell Resistance and Underwater combat

[Fractured DM]

Hey guys two questions;

Are the Alchemist Bombs affected by Spell Resistance? If so what does the Alchemist roll to bypass it?

What is the roll required for magical fire underwater to function to allow the Alchemists to use their bombs underwater?

Thanks
FDM

[deadman]

Nope, bombs are not spells so SR does not apply. And underwater combat with bombs just sounds like a BAD idea. You probably couldn't even throw it much farther than you're splash radius before it exploded. I guess if you had delayed bomb you could use them like depth charges though.

[Happler]

The problem with alchemist bombs and underwater combat is this:

Standard alchemist bombs are fire damage and are considered supernatural.

From the underware combat section of the PRD:

Quote:

Fire: Nonmagical fire (including alchemist's fire) does not burn underwater. Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described. A supernatural fire effect is ineffective underwater unless its description states otherwise. The surface of a body of water blocks line of effect for any fire spell. If the caster has made the caster level check to make the fire spell usable underwater, the surface still blocks the spell's line of effect.

So, to start with, you would have to use one of the discoveries to change your bombs from fire. Even if you did that, since they are ranged items, you would take a -2 to hit per 5' distance in addition to other range increment minuses.

[Eric Clingenpeel]

Fractured DM wrote:

Hey guys two questions;

Are the Alchemist Bombs affected by Spell Resistance? If so what does the Alchemist roll to bypass it?

What is the roll required for magical fire underwater to function to allow the Alchemists to use their bombs underwater?

Thanks
FDM

As far as I've seen there is only one bomb discovery that states it can be used underwater. The immolation bomb from Ultimate Combat.

And as the others have said the alchemist's bombs are supernatural.

CRB wrote:

Supernatural Abilities (Su): Supernatural abilities are

magical but not spell-like. Supernatural abilities are not
subject to spell resistance and do not function in areas
where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic
field). A supernatural ability’s effect cannot be dispelled
and is not subject to counterspells. See Table 16–1 for a
summary of the types of special abilities.

Table 16–1: Special Ability Types

Supernatural
Dispel No
Spell resistance No
Antimagic field Yes
Attack of opportunity No

Dispel: Can dispel magic and similar spells dispel the effects of
abilities of that type?
Spell Resistance: Does spell resistance protect a creature from
these abilities?
Antimagic Field: Does an antimagic field or similar magic
suppress the ability?
Attack of Opportunity: Does using the ability provoke attacks
of opportunity the way that casting a spell does?