Ok, so my GM and I are working on an archetype for a crafting focused alchemist. We took the Grenadier archetype as kind of a model, and filled it in with crafting focused rather than bombing focused features. I’m posting it here to see if you guys think this is balanced or just crazy. Without further ado, here it is!
Crafter Alchemist
The crafter alchemist is focused on creating new and novel mundane and magical items. Their passion for creating things and their constant search for new items and discoveries allows them to imbue their own magical essence into the items they craft, in much the same way as a wizard would.
Skilled Alchemist
The Crafter Alchemist must add a skill rank to Craft: Alchemy every time he gains a level in Crafter Alchemist.
Master Alchemist
At 2nd level, the Crafter Alchemist gains the Master Alchemist feat as a bonus feat. He does not need to meet the requirements for this feat.
This replaces Poison Use (Grenadier Archetype: Precise Bombs Discovery)
Master Craftsman
At 3rd level, the Crafter Alchemist gains the Master Craftsman feat as a bonus feat. He does not need to meet the requirements for this feat. He must choose Craft: Alchemy as the skill for this feat. The Crafter Alchemist substitutes his number of Craft: Alchemy ranks for his total caster level and substitutes his Craft: Alchemy skill for all items he creates for which a Spellcraft skill would be appropriate. The Crafter Alchemists long experience with crafting has granted him the ability to quickly finish one item and move on to the next. He can craft for up to 8 hours a day, and can complete multiple items per day, although he must complete one before starting another. This does not increase his maximum allotted GP per day, although any effect which would allow him to create items faster could increase this. For example, increasing the DC by 5 to do 8 hours of work in 4 hours would effectively allow him to double his maximum GP amount per day, if he increased the DC by 5 for the first four hours, then did the same for the second four hours.
This replaces Poison Resistance, Poison Immunity, and Swift Poisoning (Grenadier Archetype: Alchemical Weapon, Staggering Blast, better Directed Bomb discovery)
(These last two are more changes to the crafting system than Crafter Alchemist specific, but I wanted to spell them out in this archetype so there was no confusion. They fix two of the dumbest rules (IMO) for crafting, that a Sleeves of Many Garments for 200 GP takes the full day slot, when you could craft a Pearl of Power for 1,000 in that same day. And then the idea that if I make things harder on myself by increasing the DC, succeed on my check, I’m forced to take the rest of the day off because I was just too good before lunch!)
So what to do you think? Too imbalanced? Currently, this archetype would only allow him to take Craft Wondrous Items and Craft Magic Arms and Armor. I considered adding in that he qualifies for any Crafting feats, but I thought I’d just stick with the Master Craftsman feat instead. If I went the all creation feats route, I would probably remove the Master Craftsman feat entirely, and just leave the language about his Craft: Alchemy ranks equaling his caster level for crafting and creation feat prerequisites and Craft: Alchemy skill equals Spellcraft for creation purposes. Honestly, a lot of home campaigns handwave away the Alchemist isn’t a spellcaster anyway. This just codifies it.
Thanks for your thoughts!
You could put some ability to create potion up to lv 6 of magic or all to lv 9
Forgot about that, actually. We don’t play with the 3rd level potion restriction, so it didn’t occur to me to mention it here.