Despite it being one of my favorite classes, I haven't actually written one up before. So, I did. I went with a Grenadier, and I'm sure I didn't build her as effective as it could be built. She is meant to be a bomber/swordfighter. So, here she is:
25 point buy, 10500 GP, 2 traits.
In her backstory, Merundian refers to a continent, Meinan refers to a nation in the southeast of that continent, Valedonia refers to a nation on a separate continent, and Commonwealth Marshalls refers to an organization within the Valedonian government that is tasked with hunting especially dangerous monsters and rogue mages. Celestial is used as a trade/diplomacy language and is the closest thing to common in the setting, and the other languages are different national languages. Valedonia is an immigrant country, so it lacks its own language and mostly uses Celestial. I'm not much one to use alignment, but I put one in just in case. Other things to note are that Alchemists are the most common spellcaster in her world, and the military considers them important enough to train their own. Any warship would have at least a few, possibly more. Aboard ship, an Alchemist would be an officer and an Alchemist's Mate an enlisted person, but both have levels in the class.
So, what could I do better?
Is there a good way I could switch from a cutlass to a firearm and be useful?
Okay, I respecced the character sheet. I dropped Grenadier for Chirurgeon, and picked up a setting-specific item that spans my crossbow for me (grants benefit of rapid reload). How does it look now?
Hi. Love the Alch. Playing one now. I think you done good. Some thoughts:
Consider buying.making this material for add'l armor quality (if permitted by GM): http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/special-materials#TOC-Silk-Aranea
The Shield extract is invaluable.
A single fighter or barbarian level works wonders on your arms/armor options, plus for barb, some nice stat buff and natural wp build stacks w feral mutagen (claw, claw, bite, gore).
You will get a lot of miles from Splash WP Mastery and Explosive Bomb
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I have had a look through, and it looks fairly solid. A few questions though-
What is the major focus for the character? you currently have a very high DEX, which would indicate you are looking at being a bomb/ranged attack specialist, but you don't have any discoveries that help to add extra effects to your bombs.
It looks like you are using your crossbow + explosive missile for some very respectable damage (21.5 avg for d8+1 + 3d6+5). however, given this, it doesn't look like you are making much use of rapid shot at this level. Once you can get rapid bombs, rapid shot is great, but before that you are kinda stuck using standard attack actions. I would therefore recommend retraining rapid shot to extra discovery for some fancier bombs, or potentially precise shot to allow better support of your team mates.
A level dip of fighter or barbarian would be good if you had any desire to mix it up in melee at all. However, that doesn't look to be the case here, so I wouldn't worry about it. Your high dex means you will likely just use light Armour anyway, and a cross bow should get you through until you can get rapid bomb.
Actually, given that you have a spare move action each round, you could potentially go for a heavy cross bow, with rapid reload you would move action reload, standard action explosive missile shot.
Hi. Love the Alch. Playing one now. I think you done good. Some thoughts:
Consider buying.making this material for add'l armor quality (if permitted by GM): http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/special-materials#TOC-Silk-Aranea
The Shield extract is invaluable.
A single fighter or barbarian level works wonders on your arms/armor options, plus for barb, some nice stat buff and natural wp build stacks w feral mutagen (claw, claw, bite, gore).
You will get a lot of miles from Splash WP Mastery and Explosive Bomb.
Multiclassing would cut into my healing, though, and I'm already a 2/3 instead of a full caster.
I have had a look through, and it looks fairly solid. A few questions though-
What is the major focus for the character? you currently have a very high DEX, which would indicate you are looking at being a bomb/ranged attack specialist, but you don't have any discoveries that help to add extra effects to your bombs.
I went for healing and ranged. I take it I'll want to boost those bomb effects? Haven't played an Alch before, as I said.
It looks like you are using your crossbow + explosive missile for some very respectable damage (21.5 avg for d8+1 + 3d6+5). however, given this, it doesn't look like you are making much use of rapid shot at this level. Once you can get rapid bombs, rapid shot is great, but before that you are kinda stuck using standard attack actions. I would therefore recommend retraining rapid shot to extra discovery for some fancier bombs, or potentially precise shot to allow better support of your team mates.
Good point. I don't remember why I took precise shot.
A level dip of fighter or barbarian would be good if you had any desire to mix it up in melee at all. However, that doesn't look to be the case here, so I wouldn't worry about it. Your high dex means you will likely just use light Armour anyway, and a cross bow should get you through until you can get rapid bomb.
Actually, given that you have a spare move action each round, you could potentially go for a heavy cross bow, with rapid reload you would move action reload, standard action explosive missile shot.
Is the +1.5 average damage worth losing that move action if I ever need it?
Multiclassing would cut into my healing, though, and I'm already a 2/3 instead of a full caster.Hi. Love the Alch. Playing one now. I think you done good. Some thoughts:
Consider buying.making this material for add'l armor quality (if permitted by GM): http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/special-materials#TOC-Silk-Aranea
The Shield extract is invaluable.
A single fighter or barbarian level works wonders on your arms/armor options, plus for barb, some nice stat buff and natural wp build stacks w feral mutagen (claw, claw, bite, gore).
You will get a lot of miles from Splash WP Mastery and Explosive Bomb.
What healing are you talking about? The alchemist isn't there for healing. If you wanted healing play (paladin, cleric, oracle, witch, shaman, anyone else with channel). I would not worry about loss of "healing" at all. at level 7 you get the healing of a lv5 cleric's cure serious. You're not a healer, please don't try to be.
What healing are you talking about? The alchemist isn't there for healing. If you wanted healing play (paladin, cleric, oracle, witch, shaman, anyone else with channel). I would not worry about loss of "healing" at all. at level 7 you get the healing of a lv5 cleric's cure serious. You're not a healer, please don't try to be.Multiclassing would cut into my healing, though, and I'm already a 2/3 instead of a full caster.Hi. Love the Alch. Playing one now. I think you done good. Some thoughts:
Consider buying.making this material for add'l armor quality (if permitted by GM): http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/special-materials#TOC-Silk-Aranea
The Shield extract is invaluable.
A single fighter or barbarian level works wonders on your arms/armor options, plus for barb, some nice stat buff and natural wp build stacks w feral mutagen (claw, claw, bite, gore).
You will get a lot of miles from Splash WP Mastery and Explosive Bomb.
I took Chirurgeon to be a sciencey type healer, though. To be honest, I haven't really seen Cleric level healing as a necessity to a party, anyway. I can afford to be a bit behind the optimal healer. Skipping levels, though? Then it starts to be sketchy.
Honestly I would drop extend potion to instead grab healing bomb if you are worried about healing.
Unless you are using a firearm regularly I wouldn't take rapid shot yet myself. Without fast throw there just isn't a reason to use it. IF you do find yourself throwing some levels to gain a firearm (and its use) then it might be more worthwhile. I would suggest the picaroon swashbuckler as it gives two weapon finesse at level 1 and melee shooter. The feat that gives you a bonus on your melee attack if you make a ranged attack first might be a good choice too.
As a weapon choice for your sword I would suggest the sawtooth saber. With exotic weapon proficiency you'll treat it as a light weapon meaning you will take the least penalties possible for using two weapons but it's also an one-handed weapon so you can use slashing grace with it too.
IF it was my choices I would also consider the explosive missile discovery too.
Amateur gunslinger could still be an option to get quick clear, and since panache and grit can be used interchangeably this shouldn't be too huge of an issue.
So yeah, Picaroon Swashbuckler 1/ Alchemist 4 would see you a long way towards what you want I think.
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You'll find healing and ranged are kind of opposites. If you are at range, you will (generally, and assuming you have capable front line combatants) find yourself taking less damage. I always try and pack a healing option on my alchemist, but with the limited number of extracts you get each day, and your delayed access to healing spells, this role is best left to a cleric (or a wand). You won't be able to provide healing for the whole party. Handing around infusions of good personal range spells however is very strong, and another great way to support your team. Infusions of spells like enlarge person, shield, long arm, expeditious retreat and disguise self are all better ways to support than trying to fill the healer role.
Alternatively, you could look at some debuffing with things like blinding bomb, immolation bomb, tangle foot bomb, confusion bomb and stink bomb.
if you really want healing, maybe look at spontaneous healing/healing touch. solid defensive option, and can be used to stabilize friends if you need to, without giving up spell slots.
The heavy crossbow probably inst necessary, I personally would stick with a light cross bow in case you need to move and shoot. If you go back to grenadier though, you could grab martial weapon proficiency with a longbow and not need rapid reload (though given that came from an item rather than a feat, not such a big deal).