Should i go more of a switch hitter or stick pure long range with this grenadier build?

[Malik Gyan Daumantas]

I'm working on an alchemist build i like to call the demolitionist. Basically i was wondering should i go for full long range or should i go for more of a switch hitter angle so i can have some close combat ability?

Demolitionist
Grenadier/Inspired Chemist

Traits:Roving Range
Reactionary

Inspired Cognatogen replaces Mutagen
2.Explosive Bomb
Bonus Discovery:Precise Bombs
4.Explosive Missile
6.Infusion
8.Delayed Bomb
10.Investigator Talents:Applied Engineering and Chronicler's Insight
12.Greater Inspiring Cognatogen

Prefered Weapon(Modified Heavy Crossbow)

Martial Weapon Proficiency(Short Sword:For Liquid Blade)
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.Remote Bomb
11.
13.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Personally, I almost always want a switch-hitter. An I consider the Alchemal Discoveries Tentacle, Infusion, and (King Crab) Tumor Familiar to be must-haves for a Grappling Character.

For a character that is primarily Ranged that I am starting at Level 1, I almost always start with a level in Fighter because I always want Precise Shot at Level 1.

To make a Grappler, I like to dip a level in Monk and take Improved Grapple as the Bonus Feat and 2 levels in Cavalier, Order of the Penitent with Coordinated Maneuvers as the Bonus Teamwork Feat.

When you can take Greater Grapple, you can Grapple as a Move Action and make 2 checks/round to harm your opponent.

With your 2nd level in Cavalier, you get the Expert Captor Order Ability which will let you Tie Up an Opponent you have Grappled, not Pinned, and you don't take the -10 you normally take. That means you can Initiate your Grapple as a Standard Action then Tie him Up as a Move Action, done and dusted in 1 round. Between Improved and Greater grapple, Coordinated Maneuvers, the Tentacle, and the King Crab Tumor Familiar, that's a +12 to your Grapple Mod. Add say Armbands of the Brawler, +1, Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver +2, Belt of +2 St +1, and the Adhesive Armor Enchantment for +2, that's +18. I had a level 9 grappler once with a full time +30, adding her BAB and ST Mod.

Then whenever you run into something you can't Grapple, exploding arrows!

[avr]

Firing a single big shot is a pretty limited tactic at mid-high levels. You can spend basically all your feats making a rapid-fire crossbowman which mostly precludes being a switch hitter, or switch to a gunchemist and just use most of the feats which leaves the option open.