Alright so I've got (what I think is) a simple little question here. One of my players is trying to make an alchemist with the 'darkness bomb' discovery and thinks it basically allows him to throw deeper darkness.
Look at the description I think it only suppresses light sources but doesn't actually create darkness as the spell. So I was just looking for a little bit of clarification.
It doesn't say anything about creating an area of darkness, merely suppressing light sources, but it would (like deeper darkness) suppress any light source of 3rd level or lower.
This makes it a pretty crappy choice.
That said, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to allow a darkness effect in a home game. Maybe a second discovery to make it Deeper Darkness.
It's generally good form to link to the rules you are refering to in these kinds of discussions.
Darkness Bomb: When the alchemist creates a bomb, he can choose to have it suppress light sources on the target. This extinguishes nonmagical light sources carried by the target and dispels magical light sources for 1 round/level as deeper darkness.
I'm of the opinion that ambient light qualifies as a non-magical light source, and thus would be snuffed out as well, effectively creating an area of darkness.
Looks to me, from RAW, like it would have no impact on illuminations sources from anything but the target.
So, a character with a sunrod shedding light is hit by a darkness bomb. As a nonmagical light, it is extinguished. Frustrated by the alchemists actions, he casts light, but the ongoing functions of the bomb successfully dispels it. None of this has any impact on the light being shed from his partner, a warrior with a +1 flaming sword that is shedding light like torch.