Alchemical Weapon Concepts

[Alchemical Wonder]

After thinking further on the utility of alchemy based effects, and firearms in particular, I had an epiphany that perhaps the tactical advantage firearms could bring to Alkenstar isn’t necessarily the kinetic damage itself, though I expect it isn’t insignificant, but the ability to deliver persistent damage effects by tainting the bullet when cast with alchemical reagents.
A rationale for why this strategy isn’t prevalent for more traditional ranged weapons could be that creating alchemical ammunition for them isn’t easily scaled up considering that arrows and bolts have performance requirements that are difficult to modify without adversely affecting accuracy. This isn’t to say alchemical ammunition for those weapons isn’t available, they just come with an item penalty for weapons other than firearms or slings.
This would explain why firearms are the preferred weapon in the Mana Wastes while also being able to scale base damage using inscriptions. Firearms are more effective mundane weapons than their traditional counterparts, but not so effective that adding inscriptions would imbalance them.

[Reziburno25]

So a gunsmith as type of field research for alchemist then. I could see it working with it adding effects of it's items like alchemy fire and such to rounds.

[Seisho]

I kind of expected to go this thread into another direction *thinks of the liquid blade*

And alchemical weapons for bows: well there is a chapter in the alchemy manual about elvish arrow-craft

But this sounds actually quite good, there could be a feet for the (hopefully) upcoming gunslinger that helps him using alchemicals effectice and/or a feat for the alchemist which enables guns for him/her

[Alchemical Wonder]

I could see a reaction feat for Alchemists when using Quick Alchemy to create Liquid Blade which consumes a bomb and causes the target struck by a critical attack with the blade to break the blade and subject the target to a fortitude save or suffer the effects of the bomb.

[masda_gib]

The first thing I thought of seeing the title was some kind of grenade launcher for alchemical bombs. A weapon that lets you store some bombs in and then launch them quickly and far.

[Edge93]

I'd be happy to see a Grenadier research field that makes his bombs into blades. ^^

[Edge93]

I remember one time I played a Swashbuckler-Alchemist and the GM let me do a cool thing despite it technically not working with the action economy. Basically there was a vial of liquid blade in my spring-loaded wrist sheath, and he let me shoot out and activate the blade as part of a Parry action. So the seemingly unarmed dude just materializes a crystalline blade out of his sleeve to block and counter an attack.

Needless to say I love the idea of liquid blades and would love to see them in PF2 and NOT sucking mechanically.

[ChibiNyan]

Inb4 the gunslinger is an alchemist archetype.

[Seisho]

Well, I could certainly imagine gunslinger beeing an archetype - one not class bound, with a bunch of feats that enables them class specific stuff
(alchemical coating, spell bullets, gun kata...)