Stupid builds and where to find them: The Dual-Weapon ... ranged ... Alchemist?!?

[Blave]

I got an idea for a stupid build, which still seems like it would be fun. I thought I'd share it to show some shenanigans you can pull off with the APG and to see if someone has ideas for improvements without changing the core of the build. Here goes:

Toxicoligist

Ancestry, Heritage and Background don't matter as long as you can start with 18 Int and 16 Dex. I'll just assume Human as baseline

1 - Far Lobber, Quick Bomber (via Natural Ambition). The latter isn't REALLY required so if you prefer a familar or something, you can get one. Or even pick another Ancestry altogether.
2- Dual-Weapon Warrior Dedication. Won't be of much help - yet
4- Dual Thrower. No here the fun begins. You can use Double Slice with any one handed ranged attack/weapon. Like Bombs. Or hand crossbows/blowguns filled with poisonous amunition. Or both. Bottled lightning + poisoned crossbow bolt? Yes please!
6- Nothing here that's actually really required. I'd probably get Debilitating Bomb.
8- Pinpoint Poisoner. Start combat with a loaded ranged weapon in one hand and a vial of bottled lightning in the other. First round will be move closer (if necessary), use Double Slice to throw the Bomb, making the enemy flat-footed, then shoot with the crossbow at full attack bonus vs a flat-footed opponent. Who will also suffer a -2 penalty against the save of the poison.
10- Perpetual Breadth. Starting round 2, you can now brew debilitating Bottled Lightning instead of using one you've prepared earlier. Frees up more of your daily reagents for your most powerful poisons.
12- Flensing Slice. Everyone can add Insult to Injury. But we add Injury to Poison. No idea how this even works at range, but by RAW it does.
14- Dual Onslaught. Just in case we ever miss with both attacks, we can still get a hit - with poison attached, of course.

Anything beyond level 14 is just a bonus. Probably more Debilitating Bomb effects or something. Or get Rogue Dedication for some Sneak Attack.

Basically, turn 1 is running in range, Double Slice with Lightning + Poison Bolt. If you already start in range, it's hopefully Double Slice - Flensing Slice.
Turn 2 is something like Reload - Shoot - Reload. Or Reload - Quick Alchemy - Bomb.
Turn 3 is Quick Alchemy - Double Slice.

Could use a returning thrown weapon instead of a crossbow to improve action economy, but that would mean less poison used - unless you get exceedingly lucky with Sticky Poison.

Archer Dedication with Shot on the Run would be a better way to make use of Pinpoint Poisoner, but it's also boring and doesn't leave the target flat-footed for your companions to exploit.

[citricking]

You should try to get the pesh bombs, they are uncommon from an AP. They are piercing so you can apply a poison with them. Perfect for this build.

[SuperBidi]

You need an Independant-Valet Familiar to draw a Bomb for free every round. So you'll be able to continue using Double Slice.

[Blave]

citricking wrote:

You should try to get the pesh bombs, they are uncommon from an AP. They are piercing so you can apply a poison with them. Perfect for this build.

Hm... those have the Poison trait themselves. So I'd been even more screwed when I'm up against something immune to poison. And I'd be limited to prepared bombs since crafting them via Quick Alchemy and poisoning them would take way too long in combat. I'd also assume that piercing (and physical in general) resistance is more common than electricity.

I think I'll stick with Bottled Lightning. Maybe my GM is kind enough to throw the formula for the Peshpine Granate my way. Then I could see how it works.

SuperBidi wrote:

You need an Independant-Valet Familiar to draw a Bomb for free every round. So you'll be able to continue using Double Slice.

I kind of assumed Valet would require Manual Dexterity. But it doesn't. Weird. But yeah, that's definitely a big improvement. Thanks!

Guess that limits my ancestry choices to Human and any that can get a familiar via Ancestry feat.

[Mellored]

Juggler -> Quick Juggler can also let you draw 2.

Or let you wield both bombs and melee weapons.

[shroudb]

easiest way for bomber to pull off continuous double bombs is with a familiar with valet and indipendent.

one action to "draw" both bombs via familiar, 2 actions to dual throw. The second bomb will be at -2 though since they arent agile, and it's very resource intesive to keep doing so.

the other option is to not command the familiar and let it "draw" only 1 real bomb, and then use your 1 action to Quick alchemy a perpetual bomb as an "offhand" bomb (the one that will have the -2) and use the rest 2 actions to throw both.

[Vlorax]

Shuriken Masta

Human

1. Monastic Weps, Ki Strike
2. Shooting Stars Stance
4. Dual-Weapon Warrior Dedication
6. Dual Thrower
8. Flensing Slice
*9. Fighter Dedication
10. Stunning Fist/Pinning Fire
12. Dueling Parry
14. Pinning Fire/Stunning Fist
16. Flinging Blow
18. Diamond Fists
20. Advanced Maneuver (Agile Grace)

Nunchucks + Shuriken or go full Shuriken. Not the most effective thing but Dual Slice->Flurry at (0/0/-6/-6) with Shurikens is pretty cool.

[Vlorax]

Whoops somehow wrong thread