I have an alchemist and I was considering getting vestigial arms, but after reading up on it, it seems that 4-weapon fighting isn't possible, but two two-handed weapon fighting is allowed. So what I really want to know is what are the real benefits of having four arms?
P.S. My alchemist is more of a bomb chucking alchemist than a Mr. Hyde mutagen type one, and I am going to be delving into firearms.
The real question really is: what is the coolest/most useful things you can do with four arms?
The benefits are extra arms to hold stuff, like a shield or throwing items (maybe you don't have quickdraw yet?), and also the ability to use a manufactured weapon and still use the claw attacks feral mutagen grants you as secondary natural attacks by not having the clawed hands occupied. I think you're better off eschewing a manufactured weapon altogether and just using the 3 primary natural attacks if doing Mr. Hyde anyway. But you're not, so that's not even important..
Biggest drawback to 3-4 arms is possibly needing to customize your magical armor in order to wear it.
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It's nice if you ever find yourself dropping stuff all the time, or as an alternative to quick draw. Have your two melee weapons in your upper hands and use your lower ones with your bow, for example.
I'm not sure if this is RAW, but it might let you carry a reach weapon and a normal weapon, and thus threaten every square within 10' of you.
Very handy for throwing bombs and not being left empty-handed during opponents' turns, as I believe using bombs requires both hands.
This is way late to the party but I disagree. Their is a feat that lets you use all those arms.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/multiweapon-fighting-combat
... What do you mean. Discoveries are like Rogue Talents in a sense just part of the class. You could then take a feat to augment it. I mean as long as you quality you can take the feat to use your muiltiple arms.
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I have an alchemist and I was considering getting vestigial arms, but after reading up on it, it seems that 4-weapon fighting isn't possible, but two two-handed weapon fighting is allowed. So what I really want to know is what are the real benefits of having four arms?
P.S. My alchemist is more of a bomb chucking alchemist than a Mr. Hyde mutagen type one, and I am going to be delving into firearms.The real question really is: what is the coolest/most useful things you can do with four arms?
TWF using kukri, with a shield, while holding an extract.
It's a massive penalty, so I wonder if it's worth trying to make, but I think you could two-weapon fight with two-handed weapons.
You can do...
a really impressive juggling act.
the most realistic genestealer cosplay in Con history.
some truly intricate cats cradle.
dueling banjos all by yourself.
I have a question to ask regarding a four armed Ragechemist PC.
Currently, the character is using a pair of Greatswords and TWF, and dealing some pretty sick damage (1.5xStrength on each attack).
Now from what's been happening on some other threads, there seems to be a downer on using two handed weapons in TWF. So would this be considered not as per the rules?
Thanks.
I'm not too sure if I'm going to disallow the character, as I'm taking over someone else's game (I don't want to get into the "but he said it's ok" thing). But it's still good to know.
Cheers.
Yeah, I'll let it go. Besides, the character's fun.
You can use a two handed weapon and a shield and still have one hand free for extracts, infusions or a wand.
Is there any particular reason you cant use more than one shield?
If not having 2 tower shields starts to sound worth the feats. (With 4 arms)
I did this character before as a theory craft, but it was a vivisectionist;
Four arms, tentacles galore, the tusked trait as a half orc.
Wielded two two-handed weapons, bit, and then smacked around with tentacles until out of attacks. I DON'T think there's a limit on the amount of times you can take tentacle, besides the sheer limit of discoveries/level you get.
Is there any particular reason you cant use more than one shield?
If not having 2 tower shields starts to sound worth the feats. (With 4 arms)
You can wield as many shields as you have hands.
However, shield bonuses don't stack.
The best use is to get claws on each hand. The extra arms don't give extra attacks but you can use your two 'weapon' attacks [unarmed] and substitute those extra arms claws for them. You end up with 4 claws at full BAB each round.
2 claws + 2 unarmed attacks = 4 attacks. 4 claws = 4 attacks. No extra attacks from arms.
The best use is to get claws on each hand. The extra arms don't give extra attacks but you can use your two 'weapon' attacks [unarmed] and substitute those extra arms claws for them. You end up with 4 claws at full BAB each round.
2 claws + 2 unarmed attacks = 4 attacks. 4 claws = 4 attacks. No extra attacks from arms.
...no, that is the exact kind of thing that This FAQ is made to prevent.
That unarmed strike equivilance thing is completely unfair, and it completely falls apart with even a basic inspection. This is the attack routine (before bonuses are added) of punch/punch/claw/claw
-2/-2/-5/-5
Note that all put only one of those attacks gets 1x strength and power attack damage. All the rest only get 0.5x.
Now, here is what you suggest for clawx4
0/0/0/0
And all get full damage bonuses.
Why is it so hard for people to accept that the designers want, for purely balance reasons, to only allow you to get 2 hands worth of work?
The best use is to get claws on each hand. The extra arms don't give extra attacks but you can use your two 'weapon' attacks [unarmed] and substitute those extra arms claws for them. You end up with 4 claws at full BAB each round.
2 claws + 2 unarmed attacks = 4 attacks. 4 claws = 4 attacks. No extra attacks from arms.
Couldn't you have a race that begins with 2 claw attacks, like Tengu or Tiefling or Catfolk, and get 4 claws that way?
No, that's exactly what that FAQ says. You can never end up with more attacks than you could without the extra arms. Everyone can make two unarmed attacks plus their natural attacks.
The minuses are irrelevant as the FAQ is only talking about the number of attacks. And as to 'what the designers want', it was clarified to work as I said in the thread about the FAQ when it came out by those 'designers'. If you don't like it, take it up with them.
Couldn't you have a race that begins with 2 claw attacks, like Tengu or Tiefling or Catfolk, and get 4 claws that way?The best use is to get claws on each hand. The extra arms don't give extra attacks but you can use your two 'weapon' attacks [unarmed] and substitute those extra arms claws for them. You end up with 4 claws at full BAB each round.
2 claws + 2 unarmed attacks = 4 attacks. 4 claws = 4 attacks. No extra attacks from arms.
That's one way to get it. Easiest is catfolk, start with claws and their racial feat[Catfolk Exemplar] that grants a pair of claws.
Is there any particular reason you cant use more than one shield?
If not having 2 tower shields starts to sound worth the feats. (With 4 arms)
You can wield as many shields as you have hands.
However, shield bonuses don't stack.
So two tower shields would only be useful in that you could use one as cover and still have the shield bonus. Oh well, my dreams of +18 shield bonus will cry in a corner.
So two tower shields would only be useful in that you could use one as cover and still have the shield bonus. Oh well, my dreams of +18 shield bonus will cry in a corner.Is there any particular reason you cant use more than one shield?
If not having 2 tower shields starts to sound worth the feats. (With 4 arms)
You can wield as many shields as you have hands.
However, shield bonuses don't stack.
Heavy Shield (+2 shield), Shield Focus (+3), Greater Shield Focus (+4), +5 enhancement (+9), Improved Shield Bash and +5 Defending Shield (+14)
You can get pretty close with just one.
the whole arm thing is pretty meh, since you can't use them for much other than shield holding.