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Depends on which type of alchemist you're playing.
Battlefield Control Alchemist would like Void bomb- the ability to knock an enemies on it's backside for a full round would help allies immensely, as would the Frost Bomb discovery. Stink bombs likewise, though the cloud would obstruct the view of any other ranged characters.
Stink Bomb will flat out end encounters. I've seen it more than once. Nauseated is a "now you are out of the fight" ability.
I'd recommend the concussive bomb, personally. There's very little resistant to sonic damage.
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Frost bombs are the first bombs I get. I have not used void bombs as they are drow specific and I don't play drow often. I also always take force bomb which are worse at tripping but have a better damage type and effect incorporeals. The two are a little redundant.
Stink bomb are amazing but many groups don't like them because they disadvantage ranged characters and in small places melee PCs have to go through smoke to get to them. Smart enemies will alway back out of the smoke. Those are just two cautionary notes. Like I said the bombs are great just know when not to use them.
Now, to how I pick bombs. My priorities are different damage types, and targeting each save. I like to minimize pre reqs because alchemist have too many toys and I want all of them. Come here little hedgehog tumor. I want to hold you in my three arms, and fly you through the sky.
The bombs I take are utility/control.
Frost (different energy type and fort debuff) default bomb at level 2.
Force Bomb (see above, target ref save)
Dispelling Bomb (1 bomb vs 6th level buff or black tentacles is a great trade)
Confusion Bomb (targets will, cause the enemy to fight each other)
Blinding (Blind is a severely debilitating condition, and it targets fort)
Once you get fast bombs you roll knowledge checks, find weak saves, blind the wizard, confuse the fighter, and trip the giant barbarian.
If you've got smoke bomb already then you've paid the tax for stink bomb; get it now. Dispelling bomb is nice but it really is situational, it's not like dispel magic where you might cast it on your allies. Explosive bomb combined with smoke bomb is more often awkward than useful and void bomb might not be available (tho it has something like a splash effect; save or have all movement speeds reduced to 5' for 1 round).
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Smokebombs are a tax, atleaset as I see it, as they can be replicated with a cheap wand, any of 3 smoke pellets (smog should almost always be carried any way), smoke arrow or smoke stick. Furthermore, they carry all the same draw backs as as stink bombs without the nauseated comdition. Once you have stink bombs you won't be throwing smoke bombs often it becomes a mostly dead feature.
Though your group can get goz mask then it stays useful.
Dispelling bomb is situational. Fortunately, it covers common enough situations. Basically any time you can dispel high for your tier level spells with a bomb you are winning the resource race. When you start dispelling with your iterative attack your trading 1/3 of you full round for a standard. Which is amazing value. Against prepared casters they have often wasted their only copy of that spell. This is what makes it much better than standard dispel tactics.
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I always hate it when someone comes onto one of my question threads and posts "you should do this instead..." ... and now I'm going to do it myself.
Sorry. I missed my save and couldn't control myself....
For a 6th level Discovery? I think I would forgo a bomb discovery and go with "Wings". The ability to fly 6 times a day is just (one minute durations) without having to spend a standard action to activate it... wow...
Otherwise, I would say either (Discovery – Explosive Bomb) or (Discovery – Concussive Bombs).
Did you take the feat Splash Weapon Mastery?
In a home game, where you can talk it over with the GM, Discovery – Healing Bomb can be a lot of fun... esp. if you have Infusions.
Stinkbomb for sure.
Then look at Force Bomb and Curse/Confusion Bomb to target other saves and alternative Energy type.
When I played a Bomb Alchemist I was not impressed by Frost bombs all that much so I eventually retrained out of it. Force is by far a superior bomb, due to force no being resisted by much and having full effect on Incorporeal creatures.
After that, I would just look for fun discoveries that make your character all around better. Tumor Familiar is an amazing value when paired with Protector archetype. Basically +50% health and if you get the Hedgehog +2 will save.
Frost can be very useful with the stagger rider. Otherwise, the Blinding and Void would be my choice. Just because the Drow came up with the Void discovery doesn't exclude others...nothing I read indicates Drow only.
You do already qualify for Stink, and nauseate is a great status to inflict.
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I have a tumor familiar right now and the plan is to get improved familiar at level 7. Right now my tumor familiar is giving me +4 to initiative. Any recommendations as to either a) which improved familiar to take or b) to not take improved and just stick with the tumor familiar?
thanks again guys
You can't improve a tumor familiar (FAQ).