Greetings fellow gamers,
I am finally getting a chance to play an adventure path, and will be participating in Shattered Star.
I currently have a Magus, but a couple close calls makes me suspect he may not be long for this world. (Going from full HP to -9hp in a single hit. Twice. Does not bode well for his survival chances long term)
So, I am contemplating having a back-up character in the wings 'just in case'
Our current party consists of:
Mercy: Alchemist/Barbarian based off of Tank Girl comics. Hard drinking, hard partying, and totally ok with collateral damage.
Vonn: Cavalier. walking tank with a mighty Ranseur. Not the most intelligent, but he's a beat stick.
Zan: Cleric of Gozreh. Versatile channeling (Negative energy primary) makes him an interesting addition and definitely not a heal-bot.
Cad: Halfling Bard. Other than his performances, and a hail of tiny arrows (awww, it's a adorable!) he's still trying to find his niche.
So, with that in mind, here are some concepts I'm toying with:
Which do you think would fit best with the group? Which do you think is most worthy of being expanded upon? Is there a weakness in the party I am missing that I should try to fill?
Thank you for your opinions:
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
I'm torn between Bonnibel Balblamberglerber and Aghar Sestun
For the alchemist, you could do:
Trap breaker to fill in for the lack of rogue, and also provide ranged power, buffing, and area control. Focus on high intelligence, moderate dexterity and constitution, and bombs that have disabling effects. I think this would fill a lot of party gaps you folks currently have.
On the other hand, the idea of a beefy, nearly unkillable stonelord acting as your front line also has some attraction.
According to the guide:
vermin, humanoids, and fey at low levels to giants, undead, constructs, aberrations, and evil outsiders at higher levels.
It sounds like the stonelord would shine at higher levels, while the alchemist would be more consistently useful.
I didn't even know the trap breaker archetype existed. That just put Bonnibel at the top of the list.
(Here's a preliminary idea of Bonnibel I whipped up on Hero Lab this morning. No gear yet)
Bonnibel Balblamberglerber-Babelgem
Gnome Alchemist (Trap Breaker) 3
NG Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9
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Defense
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AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 24 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2; +2 vs. illusions
Defensive Abilities defensive training (+4 dodge bonus to AC vs. giants)
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Ranged bomb +6 (2d6+3 Fire) and
tanglefoot bomb +6 ()
Special Attacks bomb, +1 on attack rolls against goblinoid and reptilian humanoids
Spell-Like Abilities
1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound (DC 11), prestidigitation (DC 10), speak with animals
Alchemist (Trap Breaker) Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +6):
1st—cure light wounds, enlarge person (DC 14), expeditious retreat, targeted bomb admixture
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Statistics
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Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB +0; CMD 12
Feats Brew Potion, Extra Discovery, Point-Blank Shot, Throw Anything
Traits excitable, perfectionist's brew
Skills Appraise +7, Craft (alchemy) +9 (+11 to brew potions, +12 to create alchemical items), Disable Device +9, Heal +7, Perception +9 (+10 to locate traps), Profession (brewer) +7, Sleight of Hand +6, Spellcraft +9 (+11 to brew potions), Stealth +7, Use Magic Device +6; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception, alchemy
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Sylvan
SQ discoveries (infusion, tanglefoot bomb), fast poisoning, mutagen, swift alchemy, trapfinding +1
Other Gear alchemy crafting kit, artisan's tools, thieves' tools, 2940 GP
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Special Abilities
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Alchemy +3 (Su) +3 to Craft (Alchemy) to create alchemical items, can Id potions by touch.
Bomb 2d6+3 (6/day) (DC 14) (Su) Thrown Splash Weapon deals 2d6+3 fire damage.
Defensive Training +4 Gain a dodge bonus to AC vs monsters of the Giant subtype.
Fast Poisoning (Move Action) (Ex) Apply poison to a weapon as a move action.
Hatred +1 Gain a bonus to attack vs goblinoid/reptilian humanoids.
Infusion When created an extract can be used by anyone, but takes up a slot until used.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Mutagen (DC 14) (Su) Mutagen adds +4 to a physical & -2 to a mental attribute, and +2 nat. armor for 30 min.
Point-Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Swift Alchemy (Ex) You can construct alchemical items in half the normal time.
Tanglefoot Bomb (2d4 rds) A creature that takes a direct hit from a tanglefoot bomb must save against the bomb's DC or be entangled and glued to the floor as if it had failed its save against a tanglefoot bag (see page 160 of the Core Rulebook). Creatures in the splash
Throw Anything Proficient with improvised ranged weapons. +1 to hit with thrown splash weapons.
Trapfinding +1 Gain a bonus to find or disable traps, including magical ones.
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Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
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Looking to round out your party, eh?
Assuming the alchemist half is vivisectionist, the Party Picker says that you could use some ranged/blasty damage, as well as some sneaky skills.
Assuming the ranged alchemist half is standard bomber, you could still use some ranged, though not as much.
Of the options you presented, Bonnibel would probably be best.
I would perhaps do:
1. Point Blank
2. Precise Bomb
3. Splash Weapon Mastery
5. Iron Will
most other feats extra discovery...
Gnomes have an excellent favored class bonus - 1/2 extra bomb a level. Take it!
The lava gnomes call to you, Bacon!
Lava Gnomes: Fascinated by the power of magma and living in vast caverns beneath active volcanoes, lava gnomes are considered hot-tempered and dangerously unstable even by other gnomes. Lava gnomes have the darkvision and pyromaniac alternate racial traits.
Darkvision: Some gnome strains have lived in the underground depths for so long they have given up on light entirely and gained darkvision with a range of 60 feet. This racial trait replaces low-light vision and keen senses.
Pyromaniac: Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor, using granted powers of the Fire domain, using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline or the revelations of the oracle's flame mystery, and determining the damage of alchemist bombs that deal fire damage (this ability does not give gnomes early access to level-based powers; it only affects the powers they could use without this ability). Gnomes with Charisma scores of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day— dancing lights , flare , prestidigitation , produce flame . The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome's level; the DCs are Charisma-based. This racial trait replaces gnome magic and illusion resistance.
(Don't bother with the spell-likes; your stat array is fine as it is)
Since this IS Pathfinder Society themed, get a wayfinder and slot it with a clear spindle ioun stone ASAP - dominate on a lockdown alhemist is B-A-D for a party.
Also, this from Adventurer's Armory:
Splash Weapon Mastery You are adept at increasing the range, area, and accuracy of splash weapons. Benefit: When throwing a splash weapon, you act as if you had the Far Shot feat. When you hit with a splash weapon, select one additional square adjacent to the splash area; creatures in this area also take splash damage. When you miss with a splash weapon, you may adjust the miss direction on the grid by +1 or –1. This feat counts as Far Shot for the purpose of qualifying for other feats, but only in regard to splash weapons.
Is your name in reference to the food product, or the philosopher?
I love the ideas! Keep them coming!
I'm trying to get Point-Blank and Precise shot... So I don't target suffer so much for targeting in melee. Then selective bombs so I can leave them out of the splash damage entirely. Splash Weapon Mastery was definitely on my list.
I might take extra discovery for Strafe Bombs (I'm thinking firework-like rockets)
As far as my name: You get bonus points for even knowing about the Philosopher! Kudos to you sir.
Everyone assumes it's the food (which is delicious!) or that it has to do with Kevin Bacon...
Thanks for your advice folks!
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon