Hey all,
I am attempting to make a Grippli alchemist for PFS that utilizes Dex for feral mutagen combat. Of course, issues involving dex based melee are the need for extra feats and money investment in order to utilize dex and the need for some form of additional damage to match Str based melee.
The unchained rogue solves these issues. 3 levels of rogue gets you dex to hit and damage and +2d6 sneak attack. You also get trapfinding, evasion, and a rogue talent. Not a bad dip.
So the goal is to play a natural weapon Mr Hyde grippli who utilizes dex.
The question is how I intermingle the 3 levels of rogue into the works.
My thought is to go:
1: Alchemist
2: Unchained Rogue
3: Unchained Rogue
4: Unchained Rogue
5+: Alchemist
Anyone have a better progression?
Might want to look at applying the Underground Chemist archetype (ACG) to the Unchained Rogue. No evasion, but you can retrieve an alchemical item as if drawing a weapon.
If you take the Underground Chemist to 4th level, it would allow you to apply your sneak attack damage to a splash weapon.
Taking it to fourth also nets you another Talent, which can be Weapon Focus for your claws or Combat Trick (to pseudofighter) which is always nice.
You can also take the Bomb Talent and the Bomber's Discovery too, which can be applied to any bombs you throw and may assist in your Bombing endeavors.
You don't lose a BAB until 5th level so thats always nice.
I like the underground chemist idea. I was contemplating going bogborn alchemist for the flavor and the underground chemist would give me back my loss of throw anything.
Just noticed that finesse training only lets you apply dex damage to one weapon type. Hmm...that kind of sucks because I was hoping to use it on all of my natural attacks (claw, claw, bite)
I would suggest eating the Feat and/or Equipment taxes rather than dropping your Alchemist stuff behind by 3 levels.
A LOT of the Alchemist's goodies are level based, from its Extracts to its Discoveries to its Mutagen, Bombs, and nearly everything else it gives.
You lose more than you gain out of this deal, unfortunately. Especially since (as you note) Finesse Training only applies to one weapon.
I'm not sure it would really be that bad assuming you were playing a melee oriented Alchemist.
Hubaris, unfortunately you wouldn't get the 4th level talent. Instead you get Sneak Attack applied to splash attack.
I personally would take the levels in a different order.
1-3 Unchained Rogue (Underground Chemist) 1-3
4 Alchemist 1
5 Unchained Rogue (Underground Chemist) 4 -- Debilitating Injury will be worth it. Get the Sneak Attack with Splash Weapon at the same time.
After that, take Alchemist the rest of the way.
The Will Save is going to be a problem, better take Iron Will or have some other way to help that out. You would have full BAB, Weapon Finesse, and Dex to damage with one weapon type.
Ah right Precise Splash. Decent though and allows you to utilize touch attack flasks to help hit those higher armored targets.
Quite nice I would think.