Helping a friend make an Arcanist and I've never one run one before. So he has some questions that I'm not entirely sure how to answer.
The arcanist selects one sorcerer bloodline upon taking this exploit. The arcanist gains that bloodline's 1st-level bloodline power as though she were a 1st-level sorcerer. The arcanist must select an ordinary bloodline with this ability, not one altered by an archetype. As a swift action, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to bolster her latent nature, allowing her to treat her arcanist level as her sorcerer level for the purpose of using this ability, which lasts for a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
She does not gain any other abilities when using this exploit in this way, such as bloodline arcana or bloodline powers gained at 3rd level or higher. If this ability is used to gain an arcane bond and a bonded item is selected, the arcanist can use that item only to cast spells that a sorcerer of that level could cast (limiting her to 1st-level spells unless she spends a point from her arcane reservoir).
If the arcanist already has a bloodline (or gains one later), taking this exploit instead allows her arcanist levels to stack with the levels of the class that granted her access to the bloodline when determining the powers and abilities of her bloodline.
1) So if PC has 1 level of Aberrant sorcerer and 8 levels of arcanist with the Bloodline Development exploit. He would have the Acidic Ray (Sp), Long Limbs (Ex), and Unusual Anatomy (Ex) powers. Just as if he was a 9th level sorcerer. But he would not get the arcana of extend on polymorph spells. Is all that correct?
The arcanist can select one arcane school from any of the schools available to a character with the arcane school wizard class feature, but does not have to select any opposition schools. The arcanist gains one ability of that arcane school as though she were a 1st-level wizard, using her Charisma modifier in place of her Intelligence modifier for this ability. The ability must be one gained at 1st level and is limited in its use per day to 3 + the arcanist's Charisma modifier. As a swift action, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to bolster her understanding, allowing her to treat her arcanist level as her wizard level for the purpose of using this ability for a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). During this time, she also gains use of the other ability gained at 1st level for her selected school. She does not gain any other abilities when using this exploit in this way, such as those gained at 8th level.
If the arcanist already has an arcane school (or gains one later), taking this exploit instead allows her arcanist levels to stack with the levels of the class that granted the arcane school when determining the powers and abilities of her arcane school.
2) So if PC has 1 level of Conjuration wizard and 8 levels of arcanist with the School Understanding exploit. He would have the Summoner's Charm (Su), Acid Dart (Sp), and Dimensional Steps (Sp) abilities. Is all that correct?
3) Just getting silly - if a PC has 1 level of Aberrant sorcerer, 1 level of Conjuration wizard, and 8 levels of arcanist with the School Understanding and Bloodline Development exploits. He would have the Summoner's Charm (Su), Acid Dart (Sp), and Dimensional Steps (Sp) abilities as well as the Acidic Ray (Sp), Long Limbs (Ex), and Unusual Anatomy (Ex) powers. Is all that correct?
He really likes some of the bloodline bowers and school abilities, so I think he is really considering this. Have you seen it in play? Did it work ok?
1) So if PC has 1 level of Aberrant sorcerer and 8 levels of arcanist with the Bloodline Development exploit. He would have the Acidic Ray (Sp), Long Limbs (Ex), and Unusual Anatomy (Ex) powers. Just as if he was a 9th level sorcerer. But he would not get the arcana of extend on polymorph spells. Is all that correct?
Yes. You would have Acidic Ray, Long Limbs, and Unusual Anatomy just like a 9th level Aberrant Sorcerer.
You would have the Bloodline Arcana because you get that with the single level in Sorcerer.
You would not get the Bloodline Bonus Spells or the Bloodline Feats.
If you want to get a Bloodline, I'd suggest going Blood Arcanist rather than dipping a Sorcerer level.
2) So if PC has 1 level of Conjuration wizard and 8 levels of arcanist with the School Understanding exploit. He would have the Summoner's Charm (Su), Acid Dart (Sp), and Dimensional Steps (Sp) abilities. Is all that correct?
Yes. You would have Summoner's Charm, Acid Dart, and Dimensional Steps as if you were a 9th level Conjuration Wizard. Note that you would actually get Dimensional Steps at Wizard 1/Arcanist 7.
If you want to get an Arcane School, I'd suggest going School Savant rather than dipping a Wizard level.
3) Just getting silly - if a PC has 1 level of Aberrant sorcerer, 1 level of Conjuration wizard, and 8 levels of arcanist with the School Understanding and Bloodline Development exploits. He would have the Summoner's Charm (Su), Acid Dart (Sp), and Dimensional Steps (Sp) abilities as well as the Acidic Ray (Sp), Long Limbs (Ex), and Unusual Anatomy (Ex) powers. Is all that correct?
Yes, that is correct. There are all sorts of wacky things that are possible with Arcanists, but two levels of dips is usually terrible for an Arcanist.
Yeah, I probably wouldn't do both on the same PC. But he likes really wierd characters with lots of odd capabilities.
He is a clever enough player that he keeps up with the rest of the group just fine.
I think he had a different archtype in mind. The one with healing iirc.
Just noticed that several abilities of the arcanist (which is an intelligence based caster) seem to work off the charisma score. That right? Seems wierd.
I think he was planning on dumping charisma.
Just noticed that several abilities of the arcanist (which is an intelligence based caster) seem to work off the charisma score. That right? Seems wierd.
I think he was planning on dumping charisma.
Yes, that is correct. It is because they combine the methods of Wizards and Sorcerers.
It depends on the exploits you want as to if you can afford to dump Charisma or not. Dumping it means that you will not be able to convert as many spells to Arcane Pool points and some exploits are heavily dependent on Charisma while others don't care.