Alchemist and Empower Bombs

[willuwontu]

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

In addition, at level 7 it still only doubles 3rd level bombs while tripling 7th level bombs.

The text should change to say, "At the xth level, you can create bombs of your level or lower that deal y times the base damage."

I feel like that's how many people are going to run it, whether it be on accident or on purpose, please fix this.

[MerlinCross]

I do believe the idea is to use Empower Bombs to well Empower Bombs. There's no reason to use level 1 Alchemist Fire at level 3 if you can double the damage.

Unless the cost/craft check of doing so goes up.

As for the level 7 bit, I would assume that once you hit level 7, you also upgrade your bombs to 7th level.

[willuwontu]

MerlinCross wrote:

I do believe the idea is to use Empower Bombs to well Empower Bombs. There's no reason to use level 1 Alchemist Fire at level 3 if you can double the damage.

Unless the cost/craft check of doing so goes up.

As for the level 7 bit, I would assume that once you hit level 7, you also upgrade your bombs to 7th level.

The big issue for me is the inconsistency (why do I only increase x level by y amount, instead of all levels by y amount) and the fact that creating bombs of levels other than those levels (such as ones made in a supplement at some point) are way weaker.

[JRutterbush]

willuwontu wrote:

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

I think you might be misunderstanding how the ability works. As written, you can't empower any bombs that aren't 1st level. It's not that you can empower a 3rd level bomb to make it deal double damage, it's that you empower a 1st level bomb, which turns it into a 3rd level bomb that has a damage equal to twice what it was at first level.

[willuwontu]

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

I think you might be misunderstanding how the ability works. As written, you can't empower any bombs that aren't 1st level. It's not that you can empower a 3rd level bomb to make it deal double damage, it's that you empower a 1st level bomb, which turns it into a 3rd level bomb that has a damage equal to twice what it was at first level.

So it's even worse than I thought, just wow.

[JRutterbush]

willuwontu wrote:

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

I think you might be misunderstanding how the ability works. As written, you can't empower any bombs that aren't 1st level. It's not that you can empower a 3rd level bomb to make it deal double damage, it's that you empower a 1st level bomb, which turns it into a 3rd level bomb that has a damage equal to twice what it was at first level.

So it's even worse than I thought, just wow.

So... you haven't actually looked at the alchemical items list, have you? All the bombs are first level. This is only there to make all the bombs viable at higher levels.

[willuwontu]

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

I think you might be misunderstanding how the ability works. As written, you can't empower any bombs that aren't 1st level. It's not that you can empower a 3rd level bomb to make it deal double damage, it's that you empower a 1st level bomb, which turns it into a 3rd level bomb that has a damage equal to twice what it was at first level.

So it's even worse than I thought, just wow.

So... you haven't actually looked at the alchemical items list, have you? All the bombs are first level. This is only there to make all the bombs viable at higher levels.

And like I said earlier, that leads to issues when supplements put out bombs that aren't available at 1st level due to their effects.

[JRutterbush]

willuwontu wrote:

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

JRutterbush wrote:

willuwontu wrote:

Empower Bombs currently does nothing for bombs that the alchemist creates that aren't 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level bombs.

I think you might be misunderstanding how the ability works. As written, you can't empower any bombs that aren't 1st level. It's not that you can empower a 3rd level bomb to make it deal double damage, it's that you empower a 1st level bomb, which turns it into a 3rd level bomb that has a damage equal to twice what it was at first level.

So it's even worse than I thought, just wow.

So... you haven't actually looked at the alchemical items list, have you? All the bombs are first level. This is only there to make all the bombs viable at higher levels.

And like I said earlier, that leads to issues when supplements put out bombs that aren't available at 1st level due to their effects.

A problem easily solved by adding rules in that supplement, if necessary.

[JoelF847]

I'd rather the ability be worded so that they empower any bomb to the max level you're allowed. This covers 1st level bombs from core book, it covers any future bombs that aren't 1st level, and it covers corner cases where you capture an alchemist and use their bombs which he's created at say 3rd level, while you're 7th.