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My players just hit 2nd-level and the rogue (sniper) in the party put a point into Craft (alchemy). He told me he wants to work with me at creating a new type of alchemical item: alchemical arrows. I presume this to mean arrow shafts but instead of a sharp point there's a small glass bulb carrying an alchemical weapon within. I told him that (to my knowledge) there was no such item but that I'd work with him on the rules to creating some.
My idea for it is simple. As an example, an alchemical acid arrow would deal no arrow damage, but would deal acid damage equal to a flask of acid. It wouldn't splash to other squares, however. A single arrow would cost the same to make as making a single flask of the normal alchemical item.
My only concerns are 1) that in the end dealing arrow damage would be more powerful than many of the alchemical item damages anyway. 2) That the trade-off for no splash isn't as good as the increased range of using an alchemical item, and perhaps other detriments need to happen (like a penalty to attack for the awkwardness of it or that the range increments only go up to 5 like a thrown weapon, still). 3) That I'm missing something and this concept is a smidgen OP.
Thoughts or ideas?
We used something like this. Step down the flask damage to 1d4 to balance out the massive range gained (10-20ft vs 110ft for longbow). Allow it to splash, splash damage is minimal unless you're an alchemist, and no +str bonuses for Composite bows.
Also, you could make it a Rogue Talent. Alchemist has such a Discovery, that allows him to add his bombs to his missiles, and the Granadier archetype has some functions on adding alchemical stuff to weapons, so you might check that out.
But 1d4 alchemical dmg would balance it out a bit, worst offender is tanglefoot bags.
Pathfinder #15 provided Acid Bolts for crossbows:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/ammun ition/ammunition-crossbow-bolt-acid
and Elves of Golorion provided a whole slew of alchemical-type arrows:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons#martial-ammo
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Oh man these are perfect. Thank you.
Looking over them, the splintercloud arrow needs a bit of a rewording. I wonder if the 1d3 damage to the area from this arrow also incorporates things like weapon enhancement bonus damage, Str damage if fired from a composite bow, Weapon Specialization, fighter weapon training, etc....
The genius guide to Archer Archetypes has an archetype built specifically around alchemical arrows (or any kind of ammunition).
Basically, you can strap certain alchemical items to ammunition which increases its price (including the cost of the alchemical item) and has certain other detriments, like reduced range, or reducing the damage die by a step.
It also includes other 'trick' arrows, like injector arrows (to inject poisons) or bola arrows (to trip and such). The alchemical archer archetype can be added to any class (including the rogue) by trading out a certain suite of abilities. If anything it would at least give you some ideas on how to work with alchemical ammunition.