Does the alchemist's confusion bomb require a save?

[Kahn Zordlon]

confusion bomb:

Spoiler:

Confusion Bomb* (Su): The alchemist's bombs twist the target's perception of friend and foe. A creature that takes a direct hit from a confusion bomb takes damage from the bomb and is under the effect of a confusion spell for 1 round per caster level of the alchemist. Reduce the amount of normal damage dealt by the bomb by 2d6 (so a bomb that would normally deal 6d6+4 points of damage deals 4d6+4 points of damage instead). An alchemist must be at least 8th level before selecting this discovery.

confusion spell:

Spoiler:

School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 3, sorcerer/wizard 4

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M/DF (three nutshells)

Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)

Targets all creatures in a 15-ft.-radius burst

Duration 1 round/level

Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes

This spell causes confusion in the targets, making them unable to determine their actions. Roll on the following table at the start of each subject's turn each round to see what it does in that round.

d%

Behavior

01–25

Act normally

26–50

Do nothing but babble incoherently

51–75

Deal 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand

76–100

Attack nearest creature (for this purpose, a familiar counts as part of the subject's self)

A confused character who can't carry out the indicated action does nothing but babble incoherently. Attackers are not at any special advantage when attacking a confused character. Any confused character who is attacked automatically attacks its attackers on its next turn, as long as it is still confused when its turn comes. Note that a confused character will not make attacks of opportunity against any creature that it is not already devoted to attacking (either because of its most recent action or because it has just been attacked).

thanks! gather information 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

[InversionComplex]

DM: *checks notes* "You don't find out anything relevant. But you do heat a rumor that the local magistrate is looking for adventurers."

[Kahn Zordlon]

lol. I follow up on the lead, letting the magistrate know that we are a hearty band interested in knowledge rather than coin.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

[InversionComplex]

DM: "The magistrate informs you of a mage preforming bizarre experiments in a nearby village. It is nearing harvest season, and he wants your group to guarantee the safety of this year's crop."

Seeing as how the bomb puts a target "under the effect", it seems to bypass a save.

[Deadmanwalking]

Yeah, it looks like the bomb replaces the Save with the Touch Attack to hit with the bomb. Nice trick. Of course, anything attacking it will still get attacked thereafter...so the most powerful part of confusion (which as an area spell, makes the enemy all kill each other) is lost...but it's stil very nice.

[StreamOfTheSky]

You have to make a ranged touch, and it only affects a single target. The power of the confusion spell is hitting lots of people, to greatly increase the chance of someone rolling "attack nearest creature" and starting a giant backstab-brawl (as the confused person attacked now must attack back, and so the cycle begins...). To do this w/ confusion bomb, you need to have fast bombs and use up a bunch of them for the day. With only one target confused, the chances of it actually hindering that foe much are small. Definitely more useful on casters and archers.

That's how it's balanced, though.

[Kahn Zordlon]

Thanks for responses. We'll make sure farmer Brown's crop is safe this season. :')