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Paizo People,
I was wondering what your thoughts are on adding a level of Mindchemist to my Zen Archer Monk.
Bit of background info: we're currently 8th level, and very close to 9th. I'm going to be placing the Guided (use Wisdom for attack and damage rolls) property on my longbow as soon as we're out the current dungeon we've found ourselves in.
I figured using the Cognatogen I could bump my WIS from 22 to 26 to gain: +2 to all attack rolls made with my bow, +6 damage, +2 AC and a +2 Natural Armor Bonus that'd stack with my Barkskin ability.
Dipping alone would grant me: +2 to fort and reflex saves, plus the ability to brew potions, drink at least one 1st level extract per day, and gain Throw Anything as a free feat. Doesn't sound bad for a 1 level dip.
Thoughts?
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You'd actually only get +3 AC total as a Wisdom Cognatogen gives -2 Dex. And you'd be better off taking Vivisectionist as well as Mindchemist, as you'll get Sneak Attack more often than two or three bombs a day will be useful. As Extracts go, Shield is probably your best bet.
All that said, yeah, it's a solid dip if you have Int 11+.
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I think it's not worth it. You will be one Bab behind from the dip on flurry, so you will effectively only be +1 to attacks with your bow.
You are also delaying your access to your free snap shot and trick shot abilities.
While the cognition is nice, every game I have played in doesn't give you an hour to brew another one between encounters, so it's only going to be there for one encounter per day.
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You'd actually only get +3 AC total as a Wisdom Cognatogen gives -2 Dex. And you'd be better off taking Vivisectionist as well as Mindchemist, as you'll get Sneak Attack more often than two or three bombs a day will be useful. As Extracts go, Shield is probably your best bet.
All that said, yeah, it's a solid dip if you have Int 11+.
Vivisectionist is a great idea! Our friendly wizard likes to cast Greater Invis for no real reason, now he'd have one.
I think it's not worth it. You will be one Bab behind from the dip on flurry, so you will effectively only be +1 to attacks with your bow.
You are also delaying your access to your free snap shot and trick shot abilities.
While the cognition is nice, every game I have played in doesn't give you an hour to brew another one between encounters, so it's only going to be there for one encounter per day.
You're right about the delays, but the added benefit of being able to use wands and brew potions to shore up my AC is still pretty tempting, even if my character can't roid up all the time.
I'm curious if the cognatogen would go the "Gravity Bow" route and only be useful if used before combat now.
Decisions decisions...
For me, I view gravity bow as a never truly needed spell, for any archer character. If I have rounds to spare for buffing, I'll g o"might as well cast it." Otherwise, I don't even bother.
Delaying zen archer, unless using it for a 3 level dip is most of the time never a good option. At 9th, your Barkskin goes up, your speed goes up, and you get the pseudo- snap shot ability, plus an additional +1 flurry BAB.
Dipping might seem nice, but now your abundant step kicks in at 13th, your trickshot ability is at 12th, and your additional flurry kicks in at 16th. You lose so much more than to just gain a +2 to AC, atk, damage, will save.