Pyromaniac and Demolitions / Explosives Expert

[RaizielDragon]

I'm interested in making a character that's a "demolitions expert" and a bit of a pyro. I'm thinking a Goblin Alchemist that focuses on bombs is probably the best bet, but was wondering if anyone has any other recommendations. I'm pretty intent on it being a Goblin, but other than that I am pretty open to anything else for the character (class, feats, etc.).

[RaizielDragon]

Bump?

[ermak_umk3]

There are 2 archetypes that would help out here, the first is goblin only fire bomber from the Advanced Races Guide, this tweeks your bombs, mutagen, poison resistance & discoveries allowing you to focus on fire damage. You can swap some discoveries out for a few feats here so that can be fairly handy.

The second option would be Grenadier. This
trades out Brew Potion & all your poison related abilities for a weapon proficency & huge boosts to your bombs. This one is found in the Pathfinder Society Feild Guide.

Unfortunately you cant use both at once.

With traits Firebug will give you a small boost & is themeatic.

As far as Discoveries Precise Bomb is a must with any bomb based build so you can safely chuck into melee. Explosive Bomb will boost your fire damage. Delayed Bomb allows you to set traps/landmines which can have some fun applications.

With Feats Point Blank Shot is needed for Precise Shot, from here you can go into Rapid Shot or Improved Precise Shot. If you go Rapid you will need Extra Bombs. Splash Weapon Mastery is good, counts as Far Shot feat if you want to build on long range.

Hopefully that helps.

[Zonugal]

I think you could combine the Trap Breaker and the Gnomish racial Saboteur archetypes for the Alchemist and in turn have someone you is purely focused on weird/utility applications for their bombs.

[Otherwhere]

Gnomes also have a racial trait Pyromaniac:

Pyromaniac wrote:

Pyromaniac: Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor, using granted powers of the Fire domain, using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline or the revelations of the oracle's flame mystery, and determining the damage of alchemist bombs that deal fire damage (this ability does not give gnomes early access to level-based powers; it only affects the powers they could use without this ability). Gnomes with Charisma scores of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, flare, prestidigitation, produce flame. The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome's level; the DCs are Charisma-based. This racial trait replaces gnome magic and illusion resistance.

[RaizielDragon]

I looked at Saboteur, but wasn't a huge fan of the abilities. It does kind of go more along with the demolitions expert, but not enough, I think, to make up for what I lose on the pyromaniac side that being a Goblin brings to the table. It would be nice to have the FCB of the Gnome though.

I felt like Grenadier didn't do much of anything for a bomber, honestly. It seemed really lackluster. Especially compared to the Fire Bomber, which actually increases damage.

Goblin Fire Bomber Alchemist was what I was looking at doing, but was just wondering if there might be something that could work better.

The only other thing I had considered was a Kineticist, but that's not quite the flavor I was looking for and I'm already looking at a blaster-fire-kineticist anyway. So this build should be different from that.

I don't think Fire Bomber and Mindchemist can be combined normally, but the only overlap is the one discovery that Fire Bomber replaces overlapping with the Mindchemist bonus feat replacement options, so I think I could convince my DM to allow the overlap.

Here's a list of various pieces I'm eyeballing. I wouldn't mind some input on whether or not some of them are worth it. Our group allows 3rd party stuff, so if some of it looks unfamiliar, that may be why. All of it can be found on the SRD:

Alchemical Zombie
Breath Weapon Bomb*
Delayed Bomb
Demolition Charge*
Directed Bomb
Explosive Bomb*
Fast Bombs
Immolation Bomb*
Inferno Bomb*
Precise Bombs
Rocket Bomb
Scrap Bomb
Smoke Bomb*
Sticky Bomb
Strafe Bomb

Infusion
Cognatogen
Greater Cognatogen
Grand Cognotagen

Goblin Fire Drums

Extra Bombs
Implant Bomb
Remote Bomb
Close-Quarters Thrower (Dodge, Weapon Focus)
Reliable Bombs
Burn! Burn! Burn!*
Roll With It

Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
Rapid Shot
Ricochet Splash Weapon
Splash Weapon Mastery

Focused Burn
Firebug