So like the total asks. How does one get the most out of Alchemist Bombs? Also can someone help walk me through the actions involved in an alchemist using his bombs, extracts, potions, and mixing the stuff in combat? I would like to fully understand the usefulness of a Tiefling's tail and to ensure we haven't totally been hosing our GMs they are pretty new. I'm thinking of making a mad bomber for the next campaign whatever that happens to be.
It's a standard action to throw a bomb or drink an extract. It may seem more complicated because of the flavor, but that's all it takes, no additional actions. Potions are the same for an Alchemist as anyone else; normally a move action to pull them out and a standard to drink. Prehensile Tail would let you pull out the potion as a swift iirc, but its still a standard to drink.
As for help building a bomber, I never played one so I can't help too much, but you need Precise Shot if you don't want to take negatives for throwing them into combat. Along the same lines you could take Rapid Shot and maybe throw multiple Acid Flasks when you don't want to use bombs. For the Bombs themselves I'd look into some of the ones that offer debuffs along with damage.
Thanks for the quick response. I am good at confusing myself if I don't use certain things often enough.
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Keep in mind that you can use weapon focus on bombs. If you really want to be redonk, grab two weapon fighting, Rapid Shot, and the discovery that lets you throw multiple bombs in one turn. It gets fairly preposterous very fast.
Additionally, nausea bombs and confusion bombs are extremely powerful. Keep it in mind.
Stink Bombs are encounter enders, especially when inside or underground where there isn't a lot of space to move around. You can throw a bunch of them into a crowd, layer the effects, and anything in that area has to make a whole bunch of saves against a really debilitating status effect.
Keep in mind that you can use weapon focus on bombs. If you really want to be redonk, grab two weapon fighting, Rapid Shot, and the discovery that lets you throw multiple bombs in one turn. It gets fairly preposterous very fast.
So how would having all those work out in a single turn at say level 8 where you begin to have additional attacks.
It helps to have a good initiative, so you can bomb the enemy once before your own people are in the way.
Tiefling's have a great racial feature for bomb damage too.
You would have 4 attacks (including bombs if you wanted) at BAB 6/6/6/1 plus dex to hit, but you would take -4 on all attack rolls.
That is cool but you would run out of bombs way to fast. Unless I guess you knew you didn't need any till the next day. Good luck hitting to I guess.
It's a standard action to throw a bomb or drink an extract. It may seem more complicated because of the flavor, but that's all it takes, no additional actions. Potions are the same for an Alchemist as anyone else; normally a move action to pull them out and a standard to drink. Prehensile Tail would let you pull out the potion as a swift iirc, but its still a standard to drink.
Trait: Accelerated Drinker
Grenadier arch type gives you Precise Bombs automatically.
I would also recommend Explosive Bomb discovery.
That's the route my alchemist is taking. (except the trait)
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Here's the thing about that -4 to hit: You are attacking touch. You will be hitting basically no matter what you do.
With Two Weapon Fighting and Rapid Shot, At Level 8, Assuming Dex bonus and Weapon Focus bonus equals +4, you will be attacking at +6/+6/+6/+1. For a CR 8 enemy, average Touch AC is probably 10. On each of those 6s, you'll be hitting on a 4 or higher. Even on the +1, you'll be hitting on a 9 or higher.
Here's a Sample Build: The Mad Bomber
It's a standard action to throw a bomb or drink an extract. It may seem more complicated because of the flavor, but that's all it takes, no additional actions. Potions are the same for an Alchemist as anyone else; normally a move action to pull them out and a standard to drink. Prehensile Tail would let you pull out the potion as a swift iirc, but its still a standard to drink.Trait: Accelerated Drinker
Grenadier arch type gives you Precise Bombs automatically.
I would also recommend Explosive Bomb discovery.
That's the route my alchemist is taking. (except the trait)
Trait is FAQed not to work on extracts.
http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9ncw
You would have 4 attacks (including bombs if you wanted) at BAB 6/6/6/1 plus dex to hit, but you would take -4 on all attack rolls.
If tossing a bomb is a standard action, how is it possible to combine with a full attack action?
To get the most out of bombs, you'd want to focus on the battlefield control ones, especially Stink Bomb and Confusion Bomb. Dispelling Bomb isn't that good, but it can be combined with any other type of bomb (confusion bomb has to do damage to work, so it doesn't technically "combine" with that one, though). They will give lasting effects to stretch your bomb budget through a long day. Tiefling is certainly a good race to choose for the stats and prehensile tail variant, so if you are one, by all means take the damage boosting favored class option. But I would not treat your character as a damage dealer, that will run you out of bombs very fast. Just keep it as an option when you simply really need to blow someone up.
You want to be a Mindchemist, since Int affects save DCs and is your most important stat.
Goblin is a semi-poor race to choose (no int bonus), but the Rocket Bomb discovery can make it worth it. The long range and bigger radius work great with Stink Bomb. Anyone that counts as human can take Racial Heritage to count as a goblin for it, too. Half-Elf deserves special note for Paragon Surge. You can't abuse it like Sorc and Oracle to know hundreds of spells at the drop of a hat, but being able to pull a combat feat or Extra Discovery out of your ass is still great versatility. Half-Elf's Bramble Brewer is also a decent bombing archetype, though it conflicts (can't be combined) with other archetypes I prefer to it.
Splash Weapon Mastery is a good 1st level feat if you're not going with Point Blank, Precise, and Rapid Shot. Extra Discovery could easily be your feat at every level from 3+.
When using debuff bombs and you are worried that you could miss you can always target the ground (AC 5) instead of the enemy. You'll only do splash damage but that's better than missing and bombing your friends.
It's a standard action to throw a bomb or drink an extract. It may seem more complicated because of the flavor, but that's all it takes, no additional actions. Potions are the same for an Alchemist as anyone else; normally a move action to pull them out and a standard to drink. Prehensile Tail would let you pull out the potion as a swift iirc, but its still a standard to drink.Trait: Accelerated Drinker
Trait is FAQed not to work on extracts.
http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9ncw
I thought he was referring to potions because he said 'potion'. I would assume that if he was referring to extracts he would have said 'extract'.
I thought he was referring to potions because he said 'potion'. I would assume that if he was referring to extracts he would have said 'extract'.It's a standard action to throw a bomb or drink an extract. It may seem more complicated because of the flavor, but that's all it takes, no additional actions. Potions are the same for an Alchemist as anyone else; normally a move action to pull them out and a standard to drink. Prehensile Tail would let you pull out the potion as a swift iirc, but its still a standard to drink.Trait: Accelerated Drinker
Trait is FAQed not to work on extracts.
http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9ncw
Initial quote referred to bombs, potions, and extracts.
Your statement did not specify its reference.
Mine clarified its application.