HI there,
I really like the idea of the reach cleric, but I'm interested in having more flexibility. So i wonder about a reach alchemist...
I'm playing PFS and am not into super dumping stats. Also because of the nature of PFS i want a generalist rather than a 1-mode char (and cos it's more interesting that way.)
Elf - Grenadier alchemist 1
Str 14
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 16
Wis 12
Chr 8
HP 10 (favoured)
AC 16 (studded leather, chain shirt asap)
Init +7 (dex, trait, racial)
Feat - combat reflexes
- Horse chopper (from grenadier)
Traits - +2 I and using Int for UMD.
Elven racials - +2 I and Run vs Weapons and spells
Skills (7) - UMD, Per, Craft (alchemy), DD, K (arcane and nature) Acrobatics(?)
4 Bombs at D6+3
So i'm thinking this allows me to do the whole reach weapon aoo, whilst being able to use bombs, alchemical weapons in my own round.
By level 2 i'd have a few wands - shield, enlarge person and CLW. Allowing me to do decent damage over a wide area and be front line if needed (shield ac 22 w/chain shirt, although i'd lose a bit if i was big)
What do you think? specifically is it worth swapping the racials for +2 Init. Or better being human and just taking improved initiative?
Is it worth getting wis 12 so that i can UMD cleric, druid scrolls easily?
Like i say i want a generalist, so I know this isn't super-optimised, but thats ok.
answers on a post card.
cheers
You are going to need 14 con, period. 16 dex is a bit overkill. Otherwise it looks fun!
Go Human and just take I.I., that way you can still take a trait that improves it and something else. And more skill points are always nice. Adopted can also be used to an interesting effect. As for the WIS, do what you want. If you see yourself using lots of cleric and druid scrolls, go for it, but if not, I don't think it'll be too worth it.
The stats look good. Throw in a Strength mutagen, and you can put some serious hurt on at low levels, even without Power Attack (although that will hinder your bombs, so it's a trade-off).
The fleet-footed alt. racial trait is probably worthwhile. You trade out your bonus to Perception, but that's a class skill for you, so you've probably got enough.
You're going to want to use extracts for enlarge person rather than wands, because it will save you the 1 round casting time (and at later levels, makes pre-buffing with it more viable). A wand of shield in a spring-loaded wrist sheath is a good idea as well, but you might prebuff with extracts of that later as well.
Ordinarily, I'm wary of a d8 melee build with 12 Con, but an elf can't afford to raise it higher, and you can start using false life at level 4 to make up the difference then.
HI guys, thanks -
so it seems like the key issue is CON. if i turn human then i can get 14 con with the same point buy. which also frees up another trait, after i've taken I I as my 2nd feat.
although i'm feeling it more fluff wise with the elf idea, optimisation isn't everything after all!
in terms of prebuffing I'm imagining that normally you've got the round before you go through the door, but thats it. even at lvl 5 the buffs are only lasting 5 mins, which unless the encounters are really back to back seems unlikely.
with the WIS, based on my limited PFS playing there does seem to be less divine chars around and i thought i'd make it easier to use the random druid/cleric scrolls that get picked up along the way. and it adds to WIL and everyone says CHR is a dump anyway.
another question - should i get enlarge person or long arms for the extra reach?
and yes - i'm excited about spring loaded wands!
in terms of mutagens - if i did go CON would that bost my HP? but yeah i'm guessing that i do the STR one and take a hit on the effectiveness of my bombs for a couple of combats.
Yes, Con would boost hp. That might be a good idea before you can pick up false life extracts, and it wouldn't hurt your bombing. Once you get false life though, between that and all the natural armor boosts you get, I think your survivability will be fine.
Between enlarge person and long arm, keep in mind that being large also boosts your horsechopper damage from 1d10+3 to 2d8+4 (an increase of 4.5 on average). I'd keep a wand of long arm on hand and make the call based on the fight, really.
Shalin wrote:
another question - should i get enlarge person or long arms for the extra reach?
Why not both? ;)
It depends on whether you want to trade off worse AC for bigger damage. When you go large you'll drop 2 points of AC, but your damage dice will increase. If you go large it's good to have some way to threaten at 5' at the same time. Armour spikes will do the job (feral mutagen is good too).
Also, ablative barrier is good for survivability, and if you are feeling extra squishy, a potion of defending bone and alchemical allocation.
Swap dex and str, you don't need that much int either if you plan to be reach combat. I would put the extra points in con.
Since bombs are touch attacks you don't need much dex to hit targets. The bonus is that you can hold the spear one handed while you toss a bomb, then regrip the spear for aoo's.
I would probably go like this if human:
combat reflexes, point blank shot
precise shot
Whatever, your build is done now
Alas, defending bone cannot be made into a potion. It is a range "personal" spell. Potions can only be made of spells that "target one or more creatures or objects" which excludes "personal" spells.
If you are going elf grenadier alchemist, why not get the elven branched spear proficiency? It counts as a martial weapon for elves, and gives a +2 on AoO attack rolls - a lot of the reason why you use reach weapons.
Was just about to make the post Pounce did.
Elven branched spear, go grab it! Lets you get by with a lower STR too. You'll need weapon finesse as your first feat tho.
Pounce wrote: If you are going elf grenadier alchemist, why not get the elven branched spear proficiency? It counts as a martial weapon for elves, and gives a +2 on AoO attack rolls - a lot of the reason why you use reach weapons. It's a nice weapon, but Alchemists don't get proficiency with martial weapons so it will still cost a feat.
Edit: Corrected by LoneKnave.
A half-elf, however, could get proficiency using the Ancestral Arms alternate racial trait, doesn't suffer the CON penalty, and has access to the traits, feats, and archetypes of half-elves, elves, and humans. With so many options, half-elf is a great choice for a generalist character.
And for initiative boosts, a greensting scorpion tumor familiar is a great option.
Grenadiers get proficiency in 1 martial weapon.
LoneKnave wrote: Grenadiers get proficiency in 1 martial weapon. I stand corrected. I had forgotten about that feature. I'm still a fan of half-elf for the other reasons.
Hey, thanks guys.
Branched spear looks great! I take it that's PFS legal.
Can't quite face the tumor familiar thing - bit too yucky...
Yeah, could drop my Dex - but as i said i wanted a more rounded generalist. Not starting a game straight away so will think about making him human. But i do like the branched spear... Hmm will have to think.
thanks again.
|
