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In a campaign that I'm running, one player is running an alchemist. Currently, we are on a dungeon crawl (absolute darkness) and the only source of light for him is the enchanted handaxe that he carries. I couldn't find specifics on mixing bombs (and potions) for him, but surmise that he needs both hands free to make his admixtures. Is this correct?
Bombs are unstable, and if not used in the round they are created, they degrade and become inert—their method of creation prevents large volumes of explosive material from being created and stored. In order to create a bomb, the alchemist must use a small vial containing an ounce of liquid catalyst—the alchemist can create this liquid catalyst from small amounts of chemicals from an alchemy lab, and these supplies can be readily refilled in the same manner as a spellcaster’s component pouch.
the liquide catalyst is already made. but he has to mix the other ingredients for the bomb to work. last time i checked it really hard to mix ingredients in a small vial with one hand.
It is never mentioned. Most of the alchemists actions mimic other actions, such as drinking a potion or throwing an alchemists fire. Both of these can be done with one hand. In addition, throwing a bomb can specifically be used with two weapon fighting, provided that the alchemist has quick bombs.
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Per the FAQ:
Alchemist: If an alchemist has the Fast bombs discovery, can he use Rapid Shot, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, haste, and similar abilities and effects to add more attacks?
As written, yes, all of these apply because fast bombs "functions just like a full-attack with a ranged weapon."
—Sean K Reynolds, 08/18/10
Since you can use two-weapon fighting with bombs if you have the fast bombs discovery, they should only take 1 hand to prep and throw. Just like throwing daggers, etc. (or that is a part of the fast weapons for it to take one hand).
One could also assume that the catalyst and other reagents are already in the vial, just layered. Lots of chemicals have entirely different specific gravity and won't mix unless vigorously shaken or mixed. Add that to the alchemist applying the magical "charge" to the vial and voila! Toss and boom.
One could also assume that the catalyst and other reagents are already in the vial, just layered. Lots of chemicals have entirely different specific gravity and won't mix unless vigorously shaken or mixed. Add that to the alchemist applying the magical "charge" to the vial and voila! Toss and boom.
Or one is in a fragile tube within the other vial, like with glowsticks. Tap, shake, throw, boom! (Now I want to make a crazy raver alchemist who twirls sunrods.)
Edit: Given that every DM I know cringes [1] when the Rapidshot/TWF/ITWF/GTWF alchemist shows up, I don't think it would be unbalanced to say that alchemists' bombs, like bows, require two hands. That's obviously not RAW however.
[1] And sometimes other PCS cringe, if they've discovered that Precise Bombs doesn't help on a miss, and suddenly they're taking massive splash damage from the last attacks at +2. So /that's/ funny...