Making a boss encounter with goblins

[HyperMissingno]

So what I want to know is if a level 1 goblin alchemist without extracts accompanied by a Goblin Snake is a good idea for a boss for a level 1 party of 4. I got a Dervish Dancing TWF bard (13 touch ac), a Sorcerer that has a lot of ice and can create a square of difficult terrain (12 touch ac), a dwarf battle cleric (11 touch ac), and a...white hair witch (13 touch ac).

Since alchemists have a loving relationship with touch ac and everything can knock out the PCs, also because anxiety, I have to ask if this is a horrible idea.

[London Duke]

I think that would work fine, especially if the PCs use teamwork.

One thing I put on my goblin BBEG was the Roll With It feat. Its priceless to see the big bruiser's face when he swings his greatsword into the goblin only to have him roll away not taking any damage. :-)

[Guardianlord]

You could always make him with a mutagen archetype, a medium super DEX Goblin boss running around would be tough to hurt, but not necessarily hit any harder. Extracts to increase reach or speed can help keep him annoying but not deadly.

At lvl 1 you want enemies that can take hits but not dish them out (this is why crit fishing greataxe Orc's are a bad idea). Give him fast healing 1 discovery, with thrown weapons instead of (or including limited number of) bombs. You could also go for Smoke Bombs, or goblin fire brand discovery (with plenty of oil about for him to be knocked into... with his flaming sword *hint* *hint*).

The goblin snake is survivable, but that sickened condition can really turn the fight quickly, it is doable, but not if you lay out min 1d6+1+splash bombs from behind the snake for almost guaranteed damage (potentially exceeding lvl 1HP). (Bomb 4dmg, cleric avg 12hp = 2-3 average hits to down).

I say make him a mobile ranged mutagenic damage sponge so the sorcerer can help pin it down, with good saves vs the witch, and lots of health vs the dervish.
A few levels in alchemist will also help him with his saves vs Slumber a deadly hex for lone bosses.

[Trekkie90909]

I'd be a touch stingy with the alchemist's bombs, or maybe just ensure the goblin's int is low. If the cleric still has a lot of channels for the boss fight this'll be less of an issue. If he's out be very stingy with them. I'd give it extracts to buff its AC/maybe some heals, and have the snake be something it 'summons' out of the ground as the party closes so he can escape/recuperate. Also maybe it crams smelling salts up its nose to get multi saves vs slumber hex.