Creating a very specialized magic item / construct crafter

[FlashRebel]

A friend in a campaign wants a character mostly about crafting and doesn't mind lacking useful class features for combat and being dependent on his creations.

Until now we agreed to use 3rd party classes that fill this role, but after closer examination they have way too much potential to totally break the game and look very badly balanced (for example a class around constructs that gives the Craft Construct feat for free at level 1 with no caveat and the ability to upgrade every construct for free with stronger versions of construct modifications that normally cost over 20kgp and require extra work and spells to apply, with only 3 levels in the class!). So we decided to look for something else, preferably avoiding 3rd party stuff entirely.

After searching I found the promethean alchemist archetype that gives a slightly modified version of Craft Construct at level 1 and an intelligent construct buddy. Now we need to find a crafting-themed build with a few limitations:
- the character is human (for the many skill points to spend);
- intelligence-based;
- a construct companion that can talk (this means 6 alchemist levels at least);
- anything that improves magic item crafting, could be feats, traits and multiclassing.

Any suggestions?

[Cevah]

You can easily buy a Homunculus that talks and is his construct. 2,550 gp.
You could also go for Craft Poppet to make a poppet at 1st level and upgrade it later. Then later, go for the Poppet Familiar feat to make it your familiar. It is an alternative path to Craft Construct.
The story feat Protector of the People can also be gained at 1st level, and it's completion benefit is gaining Craft Construct and a discount when crafting.

If you trade out too much, and make your character ineffective in combat, you become a liability to the party. So don't trade out too much.

Also know that constructs can be a big sink on your cash.

Lastly, check out Williamoak's Construct Guide to learn about making constructs. [See the discussion.]

/cevah

[Dwarftr]

There is also a new book out, "Construct Handbook". Has loads of options for characters creating and battling constructs.

This is a list of all the classes/archetypes available in this book...
Arcane Tinkerer (Arcanist), Clocksmith (Wizard), Construct Caller (Summoner (Unchained)), Construct Collector (Occultist), Construct Saboteur (Rogue), Cruorchymist (Alchemist), Engineer (Investigator), Forgefather's Seeker (Paladin), Scrapper (Fighter), Voice of Brigh (Bard), Wild Effigy (Shifter).

There is also a whole list of constructs, rules for crafting, and augments that can be added to them. I would really suggest looking this whole book over if that is what he really wants to do.

[Dwarftr]

And the Clocksmith Wizard should be right up his alley. You get Craft Construct at first lvl without meeting pre-reqs!

Clocksmith
Source Construct Handbook pg. 10
Clocksmiths are oddities among wizard communities, pursuing the study and creation of clockwork constructs to near obsession. These wizards favor mechanical experiments over other arcane pursuits.

Clockwork Bond (Ex): A clocksmith forms a bond with one of his clockwork creations and begins play with a constructed familiar. He must select this familiar as his arcane bond. The constructed familiar functions as a typical familiar of its type except as noted here. The construct familiar is always a construct with the clockwork subtype. A construct familiar grants only half of its typical bonus (minimum +1 bonus) from its special familiar ability to its master.

This alters arcane bond.

Clockwork Expertise (Ex): A clocksmith is especially adept at dealing with clockworks. He gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against effects created by creatures of the clockwork subtype. This bonus increases to +4 at 8th level. Additionally, he treats his caster level as 1 higher when casting a spell that affects or targets only creatures of the clockwork subtype. At 8th level, he treats his caster level as 2 higher when casting such a spell.

This replaces the school powers granted by the wizard’s arcane school.

Craft Construct: A clocksmith gains Craft Construct as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. He can create any construct, but he increases the cost required to create constructs without the clockwork subtype by 50%.

This replaces Scribe Scroll.

Familiar Tinkering (Ex): At 5th level, a clocksmith learns to improve upon his clockwork familiar. A clocksmith can grant his familiar 1 evolution point worth of eidolon evolutions for every 5 wizard levels he has, though he can’t select any evolutions that require a specific base form. Each time the clocksmith gains a level, he can change his familiar’s evolutions. These evolutions stack with those from the Evolved Familiar feat.

This replaces the bonus feats gained at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th levels.