I am an dedicated player of the Alchemist class. I like to focus on using bombs because I like to blow enemies and buildings up.
Unfortunately, I can find only 1 archetype, the Grenadier from Pathfinder Society Field Guide, that actually supports the use of bombs.
Has anyone know of any books that have a bomb-focused Alchemist Archetype or have made one themselves.
There's a goblin archetype--firebomber, I think it's called
I am looking for ones that can be used with the standard races. It would also be helpful to have what book it is in.
You could consider the Mindchemist. While is isn't directly bombing related, the cognaton will boost your bomb (and splash) damage.
The cognagen helps minorly, and I don't want to invest discoveries into boosting the cognagen, becasue I need the discoveries for bomb altering ones.
That's pretty much it, then. Grenadier is pretty much the standard choice--there's nothing better for a bomber.
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Half-Orc alchemists can add +1/2 bomb damage as a favored class bonus.
The alchemist as presented is the easiest way to build a bomber as such.
Cognagen, Extra Bombs, Extra Discoveries, other feats relating to ranged weapons, throwing weapons and bomb affecting extracts would be the main route in playing a bomber without building an entirely new archetype.
Are you restricted to RAW? I see no reason why mechanically the firebomber HAS to be goblin, and if your GM is willing to let you take it with say, a half-orc then it's perfect.
Seriously though, standard alchemist is just fine. Put all your discoveries into bombs and feats into extra bombs or extra discoveries for bombs.
After several discussions with one of my fellow PFS players on the Alchemist some time back, we discovered that the Mindchemist is, in fact, the best bomber, but not for the reason you'd think. Surprise! It's for the Knowledge check bonuses!
The key is a 2 level dip into Master of Many Styles for these feats:
Kirin Strike (Combat)
You have read the texts of the perfect way, and know how identify to your enemies' weak spot.Prerequisites: Int 13, Kirin Style, Improved Unarmed Strike, Knowledge (arcana) 9 ranks, Knowledge (dungeoneering, local, nature, planes, or religion) 3 ranks.
Benefit: You gain a +2 insight bonus on Knowledge checks made to identify creatures, including the one Kirin Style allows. While using Kirin Style against a creature you have identified using that feat, as a swift action after you have hit a creature with a melee or ranged attack, you can add twice your Intelligence modifier in damage (minimum 2).
Kirin Style (Combat, Style)
Your study and your grace allows you to exploit your enemies' weaknesses.Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Knowledge (dungeoneering, local, nature, planes, or religion) 1 rank.
Benefit: While using this style, you can spend a swift action to make a Knowledge check to identify a single creature (DC 15 + the creature's CR for this purpose). If you succeed at the check, while using this style, you gain a +2 bonus on saving throws against that creature's attacks, as well as a +2 dodge bonus to AC against that creature's attacks of opportunity. These bonuses last for as long as you use this style. If you cease combat with the creature during this time and resume it later, you can attempt the check again.
If you take the final feat as well, you get to take 10 on these knowledge checks.
Thank you for the advice
Mindchemist is best for the boost to save DCs, and I guess damage, though you really shouldn't be treating the alchemist as DPS, they don't have nearly enough bombs per day for that.
Serisan: Why throw off Alchemist advancement for 2 whole levels to grab those feats?
Dip into MoMS Monk at 7th character level for only 1 level. Take Kirin Style as your 7th level feat and Kirin Strike as your MoMS bonus feat. I realize you can pull this off sooner if you dip 2 levels (as early as Mindchemist 1 / MoMS Monk 2), but in the long run only sacrificing 1 level of extract, bomb, and discovery advancement will be much less penalizing.
Definitely fair, SotS.
The wording on Kirin Strike is a little confuse for me:
You have read the texts of the perfect way, and know how identify to your enemies' weak spot.
Prerequisites: Int 13, Kirin Style, Improved Unarmed Strike, Knowledge (arcana) 9 ranks, Knowledge (dungeoneering, local, nature, planes, or religion) 3 ranks.
Benefit: You gain a +2 insight bonus on Knowledge checks made to identify creatures, including the one Kirin Style allows. While using Kirin Style against a creature you have identified using that feat, as a swift action after you have hit a creature with a melee or ranged attack, you can add twice your Intelligence modifier in damage (minimum 2).
That means that after I hit the acknowledged creature, I can spend a swift action, and all my attacks after it will get the bonus, or that after I confirm the attack I can spend a swift action to add the bonus? I find the later more plausible, just find odd to spend an action after hit a foe, but BEFORE roll the damage, and stranger yet if I spend the action AFTER roll the damage, like if I added insult to the injury just thinking about the creature...