Question regarding Archetypes

[Cryov]

Can you stop leveling in an archtype and just level in the parent class?
IE: 1-10th level beastomorph then 11-20 just continue on as a normal alchemist?

[ryric]

Nope. Once you start taking an archetype you are committed to taking it with all your levels in that class. You can multiclass out, but you have forever transformed that base class into the archetype version.

Some archetype abilities are balanced around denying you later things in exchange for early good stuff. You can debate the advisibility of such balancing, but the fact remains that it's there.

[Cryov]

That is rather disappointing. Really is showing the restrictions regarding alchemist...
I can either
A: Level beastomorph and not get persistent mutagen.
B: Take Infuse Mutagen and pay 1000gp and 2 temp Int damage for each one.
C: Force the party to wait an hour.
D: Level Master Chymist whose sole benefit is longer and more mutagens per day. At the cost of losing discoveries, skill points, alchemist levels, and so on.

Basically it seems paizo is trying to pin melee alchemist into a corner where they have to go master alchemist to get any sort of decent duration mutagens or uses per day (for melee alchemist)
I wish they'd fix infuse mutagen or perhaps make a later level discovery to help address this issue...
Int alchemist can use their mutagen to increase their int almost all day long once they hit a certain point but god forbid if you go melee alchemist...you're pinned into a corner to nerf yourself to play a hastily put together prestige class to be useful more than an hour a day.

That being said..they need to up Master Alchemist. If I weren't so bothered with bestmorph, and was playing a vanilla alchemist, I get better bonuses by sticking with alchemist than prestige classing to master chymist.

[KainPen]

vest of stable mutation, in the equipment guide, help fix some mutagen issues.

I think the alchemist is done this way to balance out the class, they are almost broken. There is one in the group I play in now. he does more damage than anyone cause bombs are constant range touch attacks. + all the effects that stack on them.

He has tons of useful spells, for in and out of combat, can craft healing potions on the fly if needed, can heal himself. a large number of skills. Int being the most important stat giving him even more skill points.

If he wants to do melee combat, he can just about as good as barb or fighter. The fact that ability boost is an Alchemical boost it stacks with enchantment bonus, morale, inherent bonus. He has the ability to get the highest ability scores in the game.

the time limit is the balancing factor of the class and limited uses of other abilities.

The class is truly is a jack of all trades.

[Samasboy1]

Master Chymist also levels Extracts and Bombs. Also you do get "discoveries" through Advanced Mutagen.

At level 14 with Persistent Mutagen, your Mutagen lasts 14 hours. A 24 hour day, -8 hours rest, -1 hour prep [prayers, memorization, communing with familiar, brew mutagen, extra sleep for melee'ers ;)] brings that down to 15 hours in the "work day."

[Cryov]

Bestomorph sacs persistent mutagen tho and the only way I see it being feasible to make it last longer or do it more than once is in that list I made.

[Samasboy1]

Well, Master Chymist also gives "free" uses of mutagen without needing the hour prep.

At first level of Master Chymist, you get Mutate 2/day. Combined with one brewed Muatagen, that's 3 "mutagen" uses per day at 80 minutes a piece. Should cover most of your combat time.

[Xaratherus]

The mutagen lasts 10 minutes per Alchemist level normally. By the time you would get Persistent Mutagen, its effects are already lasting 140 minutes - over 2 hours in-game time.

Obviously, if you're in a situation where you're mixing social and combat scenes then it might peter out too quickly, but if you're in a heavy combat situation (which is where you're most likely to down your mutagen anyway) that's a lot of combats.

And to be honest, why is waiting an hour that much of a penalty in most situations? It's not like you actually have to wait a real-time hour; unless the situation you're in puts a time limit on things, you just say, "Okay, mutagen's wearing off; we rest for an hour", and then 2 seconds later it's an hour later game time, and you move on.