alchemist grenadier

[Horas Ebonfeather]

I might have to build a ranged dps character for the campaign that I am part of, and was looking at either half-orc or ratfolk for race.

I understand the ratfolk: The alchemist gains +1/6 of a new discovery.

I don't quite understand the half-orc: Add +½ to bomb damage.

Not sure what bonus is stronger, because discoveries are wonderful to have.

I am going grenadier to add ranged dmg with a bow and use the splash weapons to add extra dmg. I will dip 1 lvl into mentalist for more dmg.

[avr]

The bomb damage FCB looks straightforward enough, +1 to damage with bombs for each 2 levels.

The discoveries mean more different tricks, the bomb damage is a straight increase. Being a small ratfolk has some serious advantages when your damage comes from bombs though less so when you're using a bow. Either could work.

[Belafon]

Which is "stronger" depends on how long your campaign is going to go. The half-orc FCB is stronger from levels 2-5 (duh). At 6th level and above I'd say the extra discovery(s) are better for a Grenadier. A regular alchemist can take the Extra Discovery feat a bunch of time but archers tend to be feat-starved.

Also, be sure to confirm with your GM which version of the Grenadier you are using. Their are a few tiny differences and one critical one. The later version in the hardcover Monster Codex explicitly does not get the bonus damage from Throw Anything when using his Alchemical Weapon ability.

[Horas Ebonfeather]

thankyou for the clarification with the half-orc FCB.

My DM is pretty open with anything as long as it isn't to Min-Max and utterly game breaking. He wants us to have fun with both combat and RP.

I believe my DM wants the campaign to go as long as possible.

[Horas Ebonfeather]

Does the bonus damage from the Grenadier stack with the INT dmg from kirin style and kirin strike to make the use of the high INT of an alchemist and high dmg from his bombs and alchemical splash weapons?

[avr]

Adding Int to damage twice as an untyped bonus doesn't work, no.

[Firebug]

Kirin Strike also takes 3 Swift Actions to get Int to damage (start the style, identify, and damage), so typically round 3. You can get it sooner, but that takes even more feats or some limited use items.

[MrCharisma]

Also you don't really need Kirin Style, you can just take a TARGETED BOMB ADMIXTURE and get 2×INT to AC with no question of legality.

It's a good option for a [url=https://aonprd.com/MagicWondrousDisplay.aspx?FinalName=Sipping%20Jacket]SIPPING JACKET[/i] once you have Fast Bombs. You won't want to throw 5 bombs every round, but the rounds you do you want them to hit hard (unless you're using them for crowd control, but the obviously ignore this).

[MrCharisma]

*SIPPING JACKET

(that's what I get for not checking after I posted)

[Belafon]

MrCharisma wrote:

Also you don't really need Kirin Style, you can just take a TARGETED BOMB ADMIXTURE and get 2×INT to AC with no question of legality.

It's a good option for a SIPPING JACKET once you have Fast Bombs. You won't want to throw 5 bombs every round, but the rounds you do you want them to hit hard (unless you're using them for crowd control, but the obviously ignore this).

Does not work, unfortunately. Sipping Jacket can only be used on potions, not extracts. And you can't make a potion of targeted bomb admixture since it is a personal range extract.

[MrCharisma]

Aww sad face