Extract action economics

[Crillitor]

This whole drinking a extract as a standard action with no way if shortening that is almost killing my character or at least making more boring to play. When the gm comes to my turn and all I have to say is a drink an extract as the fighter goes and destreoys the closest thing with a pulse, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I've seen some of threads that I can't use the drunken barbarian ability doesn't work with extracts and the explanations why but my question is as such... Is there ANY way to bring it down a swift or maybe even a move action so that I can get along and throw more bombs?

[Errant Inlad]

Extracts are essentially buff spells, while bombs are basically attack spells. Ya gotta pick one or the other brother . . . But, on the other hand, I'd pick up the discovery Combine Extracts. Ya can't buff and attack, but ya can buff and buff.

Combine Extracts:

When the alchemist creates an extract, he can place two formulae into one extract. When the extract is consumed, both formulae take effect. This extract has a level two levels higher than the highest-level formulae placed in the extract. An alchemist must be at least 8th level before selecting this discovery.

[Weables]

feat: extra traits

trait: Accelerated drinker

[Falcar]

I remember seeing something maybe a FAQ that accelerated drinker did not work for extracts. I think that was the case not sure though.

[Pupsocket]

Weables wrote:

feat: extra traits

trait: Accelerated drinker

Quote:

Alchemist: Does the Accelerated Drinker feat from Cheliax, Empire of Devils allow a character to drink an alchemist extract as a move action?

No.

—Sean K Reynolds, 10/09/10 Back to Top

Check your facts before posting.

[Joesi]

Crillitor wrote:

This whole drinking a extract as a standard action with no way if shortening that is almost killing my character or at least making more boring to play. When the gm comes to my turn and all I have to say is a drink an extract as the fighter goes and destreoys the closest thing with a pulse, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I've seen some of threads that I can't use the drunken barbarian ability doesn't work with extracts and the explanations why but my question is as such... Is there ANY way to bring it down a swift or maybe even a move action so that I can get along and throw more bombs?

What you're saying amounts to saying the same thing as a wizard or cleric saying that. You think it's reasonable for wizards to cast spells as swift actions? (they can but not without paying a huge price for it; a level 1 spell would use up a level 5 slot; which is totally not worth it) I really cannot understand you're supposed plight. I know it's a bit annoying that casting haste or shield or greater invisibility takes up a turn, but they are strong spells that are not NECESSARY to be used all the time.

- Ask your GM if you can do buffs before certain combats if it's not a surprise. Otherwise do buffs before you suspect combat.

- use extracts which have long durations and/or which you don't need to use in-combat (healing spells, negate aroma, (AA+)barkskin, ablative barrier, false life, ant haul, (AA+)stoneskin, darkvision, (AA+)magic fang, etc.)

- If you REALLY REALLY want, go ahead and ask your GM if you can get metamagic feats and get quicken. I don't know why any alchemist would want them, and considering that quicken increases the sell slot by so much, it seems pointless.

Alchemists don't need to rely on casting extracts in combat. When I've played one I would rarely do-so unless I know it would be a long fight. Frequently I'd cast BEFORE a combat though, or just have it on for long enough that it doesn't matter.

You can get magic weapons, armor, and other just like a fighter can, and can run into a fight the same way throwing potions or shooting poison arrows or whatever.

Overall it seems like you're saying you don't like the alchemist for whatever reason. Go play a fighter if you like the way fighters play.

[Doomed Hero]

Even more than Wizards, Alchemists are about preparation. They are at their best when they know what's coming and have time to prepare.

If you're drinking an extract in combat, it means you were probably caught by surprise.

If that's the case, spend round one drinking your best defensive buff, and then start throwing bombs for all you're worth.

If you have an idea that combat is coming, drink all your buffs early, and do whatever you do best when the time comes.

[Matthew Downie]

And if you have one-minute-per-level buffs running in the middle of a dungeon, try not to waste time between encounters so you can get the benefit of them more than once.