I am playing in a Kingmaker game and taking leadership and I wanted to build a ragechemist for some time and decided to build it as a cohort. Does this build look okay for 20 point buy?
Str 17 (+2 racial bonus)
Dex 13
Con 14
Int 16 (+1 boost at level 4)
Wis 8 (Wis or Cha and I think I should dump something other than Cha)
Cha 10
Level 1 Barbarian (Hurler)/4 Alchemist (Ragechemist)
Race Half Elf
Feats: Toughness, Throw Anything, Brew Potion, Power Attack, Master Alchemist
Abilities: Low-light vision, Keen Senses, Elven Immunities, multitalented, adaptability, rage 6 rounds/day, bomb 2d6 7/day, poison resistance +2, mutagen, rage mutagen.
Discoveries: Infuse Mutagen, Feral Mutagen
Note: I kinda wanted to build a hulk style character and this is what I came up with. The formulae list is full of self buffs like bombers eye, longshot, enlarge person, and bull's str. When utilizing Rage Mutagen, Bull's Strength, Enlarge Person, and Rage I can push the strength to 33. Is it worth it?
Playing the Ragechemist as a cohort is a great way to have some fun with the Archtype without worrying about the -2 Int/Will penalties. (A comatose cohort is much better than an unconscious PC). And with that Will save, you will go comatse.
However, I believe the FAQs state that the Rage Mutagen's +6 to STR replaces the Mutagen's +4, rather than stack. But a STR 29 is still damn good.
No, +2 str is not worth the insane penalties. But it's a cohort, so...who cares, right? Just hope you're ok with dragging around his limp body all the time. I'd rather have a cohort that was conscious to contribute to every fight, but whatever you prefer.
Playing the Ragechemist as a cohort is a great way to have some fun with the Archtype without worrying about the -2 Int/Will penalties. (A comatose cohort is much better than an unconscious PC). And with that Will save, you will go comatse.
However, I believe the FAQs state that the Rage Mutagen's +6 to STR replaces the Mutagen's +4, rather than stack. But a STR 29 is still damn good.
The Rage Mutagen is an alchemical bonus whereas the barbarian's rage is a morale bonus to str, bull's str is an enhancement and enlarge person is a size modifier. So 17+6 alchemical+4 enhancement+4 morale+2 size=33. Mathematically it all stacks, and she'll fall unconcious after her int drops to 0 if she gets hit 7 times during the effects of the mutagen. Falling unconscious is a problem, but she doesn't need the boosts all the time, plus it's kingmaker so 1 hour in game is next to nothing.
The Rage Mutagen is an alchemical bonus whereas the barbarian's rage is a morale bonus to str, bull's str is an enhancement and enlarge person is a size modifier. So 17+6 alchemical+4 enhancement+4 morale+2 size=33. Mathematically it all stacks, and she'll fall unconcious after her int drops to 0 if she gets hit 7 times during the effects of the mutagen. Falling unconscious is a problem, but she doesn't need the boosts all the time, plus it's kingmaker so 1 hour in game is next to nothing.Playing the Ragechemist as a cohort is a great way to have some fun with the Archtype without worrying about the -2 Int/Will penalties. (A comatose cohort is much better than an unconscious PC). And with that Will save, you will go comatse.
However, I believe the FAQs state that the Rage Mutagen's +6 to STR replaces the Mutagen's +4, rather than stack. But a STR 29 is still damn good.
Consider figuring out some means to enhance wisdom and will. If you boost that save high enough, you raise the chance of never suffering the penalties at all.
Picking up the trait Indomitable Faith to gain a +1 trait bonus to Will, and probably picking up Iron Will at the next feat, maybe drop toughness for Iron Will. Spend the starting cash on a cloak of resistance and try to pick up the vestigial arms and Parasitic Twin so if the ragechemist would get knocked out the twin gets knocked out instead. Plus I can make potions of owl's wisdom for cheap. So even with the -1 penalty to wis, if i take iron will, +3 on will saves, plus bonuses from cloak of resistance. Also Rage gives +2 on will saves. This is just my thinking process, with a potion of owl's wisdom I can net a +5 without cloak of resistance, +6 with, and +8 while raging.
Playing an half elf (Dual Minded) will give you a "free" +2 will.
It will also allow you to take Ancestral Arms (I don't know if this replaces Dual Minded).
Ooh I hadn't even thought of that, I sort of wanted the adaptability to get skill focus Alchemy for free, but at level 5 a +15 craft alchemy check isn't too bad for a 16 int character. That one actually helps out a lot, thank you.
There's always the Amplified Rage teamwork feat if you have a barbarian in your group that you can convince to also take the feat both he and your cohort will be rocking +8 STR +8 CON on their basic rage
It's been too long, but I should at least reply with what happened. This build did work... a little too well. The gm let me use explosive missile to turn steel cannonballs into bombs. At Alchemist 5/Barbarian 2 in the first army fight we got to see what this was capable of. Using everything available to boost range a cannonball got thrown over 200ft into the second range increment at a troll that failed its saving throw from the hurling ability. 20d6 falling damage+small object of 2d6+16 (str mod maxed out*1.5)+6 from power attack (-2 to hit, +6 to damage for two handed)+3d6 bomb totaling to 22d6+22+3d6fire. Needless to say that troll was paste.