A party member of ours is a level 4 Bard. He is contemplating multiclassing to Alchemist at next level.
He does have a +2 Int mod currently, so I don't think there's an issue there, but what would be the best Archetype (if any) and what Feats would complement a Bardchmist who still wanted to be a buffer (and maybe a Crafter)?
In his own words (from another forum I frequent that we organize the game out of):
I'll probably try to focus on buffs and debuffs, winning the fight in our favor without actually doing much besides chucking various grenades and firing arrows every so often
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What is his current build? Archtype for Bard? Buff OR Debuff?
I'd probably go Grenadier Archtype and focus on smoke bombs and focus on using them to tie up the enemy and slow em down. You can add poison and other things to it. Its gonna be a combo that won't be good with just a 2 level dip IMO, but I guess it can kinda work if you go in like 4-6 levels.
He's currently just a Bard, no Archetype, unless his intent to take Masterpieces later on counts. Though I think what he wants to do is just stay as Bard 4, and then go on from there as Alchemist.
He'd like the option to both buff us, and Debuff enemies.
I'll show him the Grenadier archetype and see what he thinks of that.
For a little scenario clarification and such, if it matters, our current party consists of a Barbarian, a Cleric, a Rogue, a Druid, a Sorcerer, A Monk (me), and him as a Bard.
Bardchemist would be very tough, especially the way you want to do it. The thing is, the Alchemist's ability to debuff enemies is heavily dependent on level to increase the bomb DC. With only a +2 Intelligence modifier and multiclassing, most enemies will simply shrug off your bomb's effects. Meanwhile, you are losing out on Bard levels that could also be used for buffing and debuffing, as well as increasing your Bardic Performance and other abilities.
Mixing in crafting just gets harder. My understanding is that Alchemist's can't naturally take crafting feats (other than Brew Potion) because they do not, technically, have a caster level. That leaves you with just your Bard levels, but the levels in Alchemist will be reducing that Caster Level, and by extension reducing the bonus you can place on certain items. Neither class has a bunch of bonus feats, so even if you don't mind the lower caster level the lack of feats may cause an issue.
May I ask, in terms of flavor, what you are looking for here? Are their particular Alchemist abilities that interest you, or is your Bard simply interesting in alchemy? If it is the latter, some ranks of Craft(Alchemy) and a bag full of bloodblock and tanglefoot bags may be a better choice.
Well, it started with items.
He found the Explosion Pocket on the SRD and went "I need that!" and then decided he liked the idea of using explosives all over the place to cover his less than stellar melee abilities while he buffed people.
I had thought that Alchemist extracts counted as spells for the purpose of crafting though.
Maybe I should tell him to just buy a bunch of Alchemist's Fire and call it a day.