The Arcanist

[TPK]

Has anyone seen a well put together advice guide on building an Arcanist?

[Secret Wizard]

It's basically wizard with some extra features. You can't go wrong if you can build the former well.

[DrSwordopolis]

Here you go.

I disagree with the author slightly (I don't consider dex as all-important and White Mage isn't too bad of an archetype, except it blocks you from better ones), but agree on the remaining 99% of the content.

But yeah, you're a wizard who's a level behind in spell level and with an even-more-versatile set of spells, since you took Quick Study as soon as possible. Go Occultist for summoned hilarity or Brown Fur Transmuter to utterly break numerical assumptions. It's pretty simple to build.

Bonus points if you wear Mnemonic Vestments and can spontaneously cast any spell in your spellbook.

[Blakmane]

DrSwordopolis wrote:

Here you go.

I disagree with the author slightly (I don't consider dex as all-important and White Mage isn't too bad of an archetype, except it blocks you from better ones), but agree on the remaining 99% of the content.

Worth mentioning that all the blade adept -> EK stuff in that guide is obsolete now, but also incorrect regardless. Blade adept doesn't work with EK using early entry because you can't take extra exploit until 5th level arcanist.

[Kaouse]

Inspired Blade Swashbuckler is easily the best 1 level dip for the Blade Adept if you're planning to go Dex for Damage, since it gives you both Finesse and Weapon Focus, allowing you to get Fencing Grace easily. Plus, you gain a panache pool based on both your Int and your Cha, at least 1 of which you should care of.

At any rate, I wouldn't count out the Blood Arcanist just yet. It takes a while for him to get going, but once he can select exploits he can basically be the ultimate blaster. Orc bloodline for damage dice, Admixture School Understanding for element changing on the fly, and Potent magic for caster level increases or DC increases. Blasting may not be optimal, but you can definitely do it best.

[kestral287]

Eh, blasting is honestly probably done better with the School Specialist. Take Admixture as your school, drop a level to dip into Sorcerer. That way you can pick up Crossblooded for two bloodlines instead of just the one of the Blood Arcanist, and your Admixture element-swapping is based on Int instead of Cha.

[TPK]

Thanks guys.