The small cunundrum

[Lab_Rat]

Hey all,

So I am on the fence about which way to go regarding a melee focused small character. The character will be a grippli alchemist and as such have a -2 str +2 dex +2 wis.

Do I embrace the dex bump and go weapon finesse or do I just absorb the loss of str and carry on?

Dex based:
Racial +2
Better AC (always bumping dex)
Better reflex save (always bumping dex)
Have to spend a feat on weapon finesse
Have to purchase an agile weapon to gain dex to damage
More SAD - can use Dex for both melee and bomb throwing

Str based:
Racial -2
Lower AC
Lower reflex
No feat tax
No need for special weapon
More MAD - Str for melee and dex for bombs (not a real issue as I would only be throwing 1 bomb per round vs touch)

[177cheese]

Embrace the Dex!
Either just take Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Rapier), and Fencing Grace or dip one level in Inspired Blade swashbuckler to just spend one feat on Fencing Grace and you have your Dex to damage (and a good parry ability in the latter case).

[Dafydd]

Dex it up, either with a rapier, a scimitar or an aldori dueling sword.

Or, forget melee and chuck things like a boss. Helps bombs too. Who can say no to the flurry of daggers/bombs that is Two Weapon Fighting/Rapid Shot/Haste. Finesse still works with daggers should chucking them become problematic.

[RumpinRufus]

I am having a similar conundrum with a gnomish Daring Champion. At high levels, Dex-based is probably better, but it takes a while to ramp up. When you're starting at level 1, it's hard to make Dex-based work (without specific builds like an Inspired Blade.)

[Lab_Rat]

Thx all,

I am playing this in PFS and so I am trying to avoid the usual bomber route. Ever since the vivisectionist was banned people have for the most part avoided melee alchemists.

The idea would be to go beastmorph alchemist and focus on natural attacks. Beastmorph will get me a bunch of fun tools that are useful in PFS (scent, swim speed, flying, blindsense3 attacks at full BAB and 1xDex should be nice. Additionally I can pick up a gore attack (helm of mammoth lord). With pounce @ lvl 10 I will be a small terror with 4 attacks @ full BAB / 1xDex damage.

He would also have a ridiculous AC. Full investment in Dex + Dex mutagen + Natural Armor + Extracts. Major weakness will be Will saves. Will is on the slow track + starting 12 wis + loss of Wis with Dex mutagen = liability. Need to pick up some will save bumps / reroll.

Overall he should be a fun little gish who can chuck a bomb in the first round and then charge in to battle when bombing would hit teammates.

[alexd1976]

177cheese wrote:

Embrace the Dex!

Either just take Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Rapier), and Fencing Grace or dip one level in Inspired Blade swashbuckler to just spend one feat on Fencing Grace and you have your Dex to damage (and a good parry ability in the latter case).

This.

[Dafydd]

If you are going natural attacks, I would skip the weapons and pick up an Agile Amulet of Mighty Fists. 4k for dex to damage with all your natural attacks and unarmed strike.

Frees up some feat slots for IUS and Iron Will. A clear spindle Ioun Stone in a wayfinder will also help. Then you just have to not trust anything and disbelieve the world.