how many levels does it take

[zainale]

to be good at something. i know one lvl of anything does not automatically make you some kinda pro but but how many levels would a bouncer have to take before he would be able to hold his own against drunk patrons and win?

[Deadmanwalking]

Levels of what? A skill, a class, what?

If talking Classes, a single level in a PC Class and good stats make you better at many things than most NPCs (who tend to have 2-3 levels, usually in NPC Classes). But NPCs with PC class levsl aren't super rare (maybe 1 in 20 or so), and you're much less likely to beat them that way.

A 1st level Brawler, for example, could make a very good bouncer in most bars, but would occasionally be overmatched by professional soldiers and the like. A 5th level Brawler is probably the most hardcore bouncer anyone outside a dedicated bar for adventurers would ever need, and likely very well paid for their trouble.

[zainale]

i have taken wizard as my first lvl. but i am planing to play an alchemist that does not get brew potions. so can i pick it up when my alchemist can make third lvl formulaes/spells?

[zainale]

ohh oops sorry.tired i meant to put brawler in there but i must have slipped right pass it?

[zainale]

so like 2 lvls three to over compensate?

[Deadmanwalking]

zainale wrote:

i have taken wizard as my first lvl. but i am planing to play an alchemist that does not get brew potions. so can i pick it up when my alchemist can make third lvl formulaes/spells?

The first level of Alchemist gives Brew Potion for free, but that's as a special Class bonus. They can't buy it as a Feat, since they aren't technically a spell caster, so if you play an Archetype that trades it away you can't get it back.

Also, for the record, combining Alchemist and Wizard is perhaps a poor choice. Both are good on their own, but mixing them can result in a character who's not actually very good at either alchemy or wizardry.

[Lamontius]

use your words OP

[Deadmanwalking]

zainale wrote:

ohh oops sorry.tired i meant to put brawler in there but i must have slipped right pass it?

zainale wrote:

so like 2 lvls three to over compensate?

Sorry man, you've completely lost me.

I have no idea what you're even asking at this point.

[MeanMutton]

zainale wrote:

to be good at something. i know one lvl of anything does not automatically make you some kinda pro but but how many levels would a bouncer have to take before he would be able to hold his own against drunk patrons and win?

If by "drunk patrons" you mean drunk NPC commoners of 3rd level -

A single level of monk or brawler would give a character the skills needed to be able to easily engage in hand-to-hand combat with drunk commoners. A warpriest or cleric of a god with unarmed combat as the preferred weapon would be able to handle it, too. A sorcerer or wizard with color spray and sleep would be able to do it at first level.

[Weirdo]

Are you talking about a Brawler / Alchemist?

Some settings are higher-level than others, but my current PC did some pretty good bouncing as a Drunken Monk 3 / Alchemist 1 when a couple off-duty soldiers decided to make trouble in my bar.

If you're looking at backstory you could be a plausible bouncer from level 1 and just work your way up from there.

Also consider Mutagenic Mauler.

[zainale]

i don't really care about min/maxing. an alchemist can cast magic if he wants just takes a discovery. but since this first lvl wizard/seventh lvl alchemist can already cast magic can he just skip the discovery and just take brew potion? the loop hole for taking magic crafting is called Spell Knowledge.

[Weirdo]

No, Brew Potion requires caster level 3. One level of wizard only gives you caster level 1.

It is not really unbalanced, but it's how the rules work.

[zainale]

what i am working through is how to un-neuter the Promethean Alchemist but make it fit with the backstory in my mind. starting out as a wizard then spending enough time to make a good bouncer(mutagenic mauler) while delving deeper into alchemy before finely becoming alchechmist.

kicked out of school wizard ---> mutagenic mauler to bounce / gets mutagen ---> straight into Promethean Alchemist/Preservationist......

something, something, cash flow.

[zainale]

alchemist gets third lvl spells/formulae and with the discovery spell knowledge he/she can craft wondrous items. Spell Knowledge can be taken at any lvl after 4th i think for a 0 lvl spell. basically taking 1 lvl is over kill for Spell Knowledge.

[Dave Justus]

I think you can simplify your character by rethinking what your backstory means just a bit. Someone who didn't finish Wizard school wouldn't be a first level wizard, first level wizards are wizard school graduates. Someone who didn't finish wizard school would have no levels in wizard (although there a few background traits you could pick to represent this.)

Similarly, if you want a few levels in mutagenic mauler that is fine, but in truth if you have good physical stats (which I assume you are going for based on the options you are presenting) even a 1st level alchemist could probably be a bouncer, and after a couple of levels they could indeed be quite competent.

Spreading your levels all over the place is really going to weaken your character, you can have the backstory you want without doing that.

[voideternal]

To represent your wizard school, I'd put 1~2 ranks into Spellcraft or Knowledge(Arcana).
To represent your bouncer history, I'd put 1~2 ranks into Profession(Bouncer) or Profession(Soldier).

[Weirdo]

Agree, you can represent the background with a few skills and a trait, though 1-2 levels in Mutagenic Mauler isn't a bad idea for reinforcing your combat skills mechanically as well as thematically.

[zainale]

that does seem to be the thing to do adding a couple lvls of mutagenic mauler.