Orichalcum Dust Annointing (Alchemist) Question


Rules Questions


I'm playing as an alchemist and looking through about it at aonprd, and find out about Annointings. One thing catch my attention among it, yet the rule is not clear enough for me in this particular case.

Annointing:
Alchemists can choose any of the following anointings in place of a normal discovery. An alchemist can use any of the anointings he knows a total number of times per day equal to 3 + his alchemist level. Unless an anointing specifies otherwise, all anointings require a standard action to apply (this provokes attacks of opportunity) and last for 1 minute per alchemist level.

Description Source: Arcane Anthology
https://aonprd.com/Annointings.aspx


Orichalcum Dust:
Orichalcum Dust (Arcane Anthology pg. 23): The alchemist sprinkles a small quantity of colorful dust that comprises the essence of all four elements. By favoring one element over another in this mixture, the alchemist temporarily changes the energy type of one weapon into another. For example, the alchemist can choose for a bomb to deal acid damage or a weapon with the shocking burst special ability to deal fire damage instead. Once an elemental effect is changed, it cannot be changed again until the anointing’s duration expires.
Source: https://aonprd.com/Annointings.aspx

My question is, since the annointings need standard action to use, how can I use it with bomb? Since bombs don't actually exist until they're created and thrown at the same action.
Or can I assume it can be used while the bomb is made, hence it doesn't need additional action to use?

Thanks in advance!


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I would check out the Delayed Bomb, Remote Bomb and Syringe Stirge Discoveries; depending on interpretation you might be able to use the Fire Brand Discovery.

Games that use the Hero Point system allow Characters to gain an extra Action, whilst a friendly 9th Level [PrC] Pathfinder Chronicler can give you an extra Standard Action.


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SweetBuckwheat wrote:

I'm playing as an alchemist and looking through about it at aonprd, and find out about Annointings. One thing catch my attention among it, yet the rule is not clear enough for me in this particular case.

** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **

My question is, since the annointings need standard action to use, how can I use it with bomb? Since bombs don't actually exist until they're created and thrown at the same action.
Or can I assume it can be used while the bomb is made, hence it doesn't need additional action to use?

Thanks in advance!

A good rule of thumb is that at any point where RAW renders something unable to be used in a way that the example says it can is to play as though the example worked.

Character abilities should work, they should be useful, and there's a part of me that wonders if a market couldn't be developed for a more MMO development style, or something similar to privateer press' CID forums.

As an explanation for those who don't know the CID thing (which yes gets a lot of complaining but its a competitive rather than cooperative game so it will naturally get a lot of complaining) is basically when new content is coming out, during what would be the semi-open playtest period, they will also occasionally throw changes to OLD models and rules in to be tested as well. Things that have been released since the beginning of the game can end up toned down, or dramatically improved.


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from the bomb section in the alchemist class page:
"...Most alchemists create a number of catalyst vials at the start of the day equal to the total number of bombs they can create in that day—once created, a catalyst vial remains usable by the alchemist for years.

Drawing the components of, creating, and throwing a bomb requires a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity... An alchemist’s bomb, like an extract, becomes inert if used or carried by anyone else. "

the way i see it the bomb is called a bomb from the moment at the beginning of the day that the alchemist make the catalyst vial, it's become active when he spend an action to mix in the rest of the ingredients and throw it.the fact that if some1 else take it it become inert until he take it back, mean that it can exist even outside the standard action time used to mix and throw it.

so for the above 'Annointing' you do it to the catalyst before throwing it (and you got a minute per level before it looses it's ability.


My GM usually uses the most RAW approach of ruling, so I guess BENSLAYER's anwer is the most fitting for it. How can I forgot about the delayed bomb discovery.

As for zza ni's answer, seems like you missed this sentence:
Bombs are unstable, and if not used in the round they are created, they degrade and become inert—their method of creation prevents large volumes of explosive material from being created and stored.
But the idea of using the feature with the catalyst vials is good! I'll mention it to my GM, just maybe they approve that kind of usage.

I'm not really sure how to take Ryan Freire's answer though, I'm sorry.

Thank you very much for the answer!

I'm really eager to wait for other answers if there's another take on it.


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i did not miss it. i think it worked like the other stuff that is mentioned in the same alchemy section - that like the extracts it become inert while the alchemist doesn't handle it, but can become active once he regain control of it.
see the similarities, from the extract section:
"..An extract immediately becomes inert if it leaves the alchemist’s possession, reactivating as soon as it returns to his keeping —an alchemist cannot normally pass out his extracts for allies to use (but see the “infusion” discovery below). An extract, once created, remains potent for 1 day before losing its magic, so an alchemist must re-prepare his extracts every day. Mixing an extract takes 1 minute of work—most alchemists prepare many extracts at the start of the day or just before going on an adventure..."


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Oh, thank you for clarifying it for me. It seems like I'm the one who missed the point. lol

At the end of the day, I'm thinking of skipping this discovery entirely. RAW, I think the usage of this for Alchemist's bomb is too limited (by using remote/delayed bomb discovery). Even by using the catalyst means, it's just too hassle to change each individual bomb's element pre-combat.

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