Vestigial arm and tentacle

[Douglas Muir 406]

So, alchemists can get a vestigial arm: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/discoveries/paizo--- alchemist-discoveries/vestigial-arm-ex

Remarkably, the extra arm gives no bonuses to anything -- not even Climb or Perform checks -- nor does it officially do anything to reaction rolls. ("Oh hey, three-arm guy. What up.") Still, a couple of questions:

1) Can the alchemist now wield two weapons and a shield? How about a two-handed weapon and a shield?

2) What's the use of having another ring and hand slot if you can still only wear two items?

There's also the tentacle alternative, which does not have hand or ring slots but does give you an extra attack for 1d4+grab. (This *still* has no game effect on reaction rolls. "Yo, squiddy. How's it.") I guess if you're going combat brute alchemist, the grab could be handy for grappling enemy spellcasters... Has anyone used this?

Doug M.

[Skerek]

1) i guess so, just take the correct feats, although i can picture the two hander and a shield better, also it uses less feats

2) to hold/use extra things, first off you can now do the above methods listed, also if you are just holding a two hander you now have the option of being able to hold/use a potion or wand and not have to put the weapon down

[Dennis Baker]

The best I could come up with is buckler plus wand and/ or extract in the vestigial hand. I think most people just get the tentacle and call it good.

[[e-mail]]

i have a tenth level alchemist considering these discoveries. here are my questions. throwing a bomb provokes aoos what if you keep your main weapon in your hands and then throw with the tentacle does this still provoke attacks? If you take the feral mutagen and you have the vestigial arm do the vestigial arms get claws as well? i am going to do the buckler thing. i can't turn down that extra point of ac. But do bucklers need shield proficiency ? if so that seems like a wasted feat. can you draw something out with your free hand / tentacle while your other hands attack or would you need to take quick draw. Alchemists are awesome and really fun to play . but since they are a new class in what for me is a new system i have a million questions.

[Starglim]

1) Yes and yes, but you're still playing a caster, so finding the stats and feats to make either of these a superior option will cost you in core alchemist abilities.

2) I can't see any possible advantage and assume this text was included to make clear that the alchemist doesn't get any extra benefit with respect to ring and hand slots.

Quote:

i have a tenth level alchemist considering these discoveries. here are my questions. throwing a bomb provokes aoos what if you keep your main weapon in your hands and then throw with the tentacle does this still provoke attacks?

Yes, you still provoke for making a ranged attack. The benefit here is that you continue to threaten an area, potentially with a two-handed weapon, while doing so.

[Dennis Baker]

[e-mail] wrote:

i have a tenth level alchemist considering these discoveries. here are my questions. throwing a bomb provokes aoos what if you keep your main weapon in your hands and then throw with the tentacle does this still provoke attacks?

Yes

Quote:

If you take the feral mutagen and you have the vestigial arm do the vestigial arms get claws as well?

No

Quote:

i am going to do the buckler thing. i can't turn down that extra point of ac. But do bucklers need shield proficiency ?

Sort-of, when using a shield you are not proficient in you subtract the Armor Check Penalty from your attack rolls. Mithril bucklers have a -0 ACP...

Quote:

if so that seems like a wasted feat. can you draw something out with your free hand / tentacle while your other hands attack or would you need to take quick draw.

"If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move. " (from the combat chapter)