I am currently building a character whose purpose is to be a healer. I understand that there are a variety of debates about which class is good at what sort of healing and so on; but I have decided to play as a Biohacker multiclassing into Envoy. With the introduction of the Signature Item alternate class feature from Tech Revolution, this seems like an incredible way to get the best of both worlds. However, if I have learned anything from Paizo games over the past decade or so, it's that "if something seems too good to be true, it usually is (but we wont errata it)". So to that end, I have several questions about abilities, how they interact, what they count as, and how they scale.
For reference, the Signature Item ability (at least the part that matters to my character) says the following:
"Your signature item is a handheld device with a specific non-combat purpose, such as a hacking kit or datapad. Your first skill expertise must be selected from the following list: Computers, Engineering, or Medicine... If you choose Medicine, your signature tool also functions as a 1st-level biohacker’s custom microlab (Character Operations Manual 41), though if you have a custom microlab from another class, add your envoy levels and the other class’s levels together for determining its abilities. You can select biohacker theorems as though they were expertise talents, qualifying for theorems using the sum of your envoy and biohacker levels as your biohacker level. However, this doesn’t grant you any other biohacker abilities, and you can’t select theorems that require another biohacker ability unless you’ve gained that required ability from another source."
Ok cool, I get a 1st level Biohackers custom microlab. And if I already have one, my levels stack for determining its abilities.
So heres the first question, just to clarify:
If I start with Biohacker at 1st level, and then multiclass into Envoy at 2nd level, my custom microlab counts as a 2nd level microlab (no changes yet obviously)... Is this correct? So at character level 5 (Biohacker 1/Envoy 4) I would have a 5th level custom microlab, which upgrades it to an Advanced Medkit?
Now, as a 1st level Biohacker, I have Biohacks. The very first words of the Biohacks description are " As part of your custom microlab..."
So here's my second question:
Assuming I only ever take that first level in Biohacker, do my Biohacks scale with my Envoy levels, as they are "part of the custom microlab", and Signature Item says the levels stack "for determining its abilities"? Specifically the Basic Inhibtor says it increases in effectiveness at level 9 and level 17. So at Biohacker 1/Envoy 8, and Biohacker 1/Envoy16 would these increase?
I understand that Signature Item says "you dont gain any other biohacker abilities" so obviously I dont get things like Field of Study, Spark of Ingenuity, Injection Expert, etc... but the Biohacks specifically say they are part of the microlab, AND I gained the microlab prior to the Envoy levels, therefore qualifying me for the level stacking portion of Signature Item, so herein lies the confusion on that PARTICULAR feature.
Now, for the final bit.
As part of the Signature Item ability it says that I can take theorems as thought they were expertise talents, using my combined levels as my biohacker level. This is particularly cool, as it allows me to get some of the things I wanted from Biohacker while still keeping my Envoy levels high for things that scale off my Envoy level (like improvisations).
In particular, one theorem that I was looking at was Field Dressing.
Field Dressing only requires 2nd lvl Biohacker, therefore by the time I get to level 3 Envoy and take my first expertise talent, I definitely qualify for it.
Heres the question though:
Field Dressing says it scales at levels 4 and 8. If I am a Biohacker 1/Envoy 3 when I first choose Field Dressing, does it scale up to the level 4 version of the ability? I count as a level 4 Biohacker when I take the ability, so I would think so, but as with everything else in this post, Im double and triple checking.
Thank you all in advance for your assistance with this.
TLDR: If I play a Biohacker 1/Envoy 3 with Signature Item (Medicine), does my custom microlab scale to level 4? Does it become an Advanced Medkit at character level 5? Do my Biohacks scale based on total levels between the two classes, as they are "part of the custom microlab"? Do the theorems I can take as Envoy expertise talents scale based on total levels between the two classes?
TLDR: Does it become an Advanced Medkit at character level 5? Do my Biohacks scale based on total levels between the two classes, as they are "part of the custom microlab"? Do the theorems I can take as Envoy expertise talents scale based on total levels between the two classes?
If I play a Biohacker 1/Envoy 3 with Signature Item (Medicine), does my custom microlab scale to level 4?
Yes
But the lab is really more of a flavor thing than anything else.
Do my Biohacks scale based on total levels between the two classes, as they are "part of the custom microlab"?
Yes, but I don't think its because of the microlab. I don't think that clause carries through to the entire paragraph.
You can select biohacker theorems as though they were expertise talents, qualifying for theorems using the sum of your envoy and biohacker levels as your biohacker level.
While it doesn't outright say so, the functional idea is that you combine your levels for the theorums. Otherwise you could theoretically wind up with a theorem that does nothing because your level isn't high enough, which isn't the intent.
Biohacker 2/Envoy with a trichorder sounds like an almost straight upgrade over the biohacker.
With that said, this is not going to be a very efficient healer. Out of combat medicine doesn't do much compared to a six pack of potions, and in combat you don't have a whole lot of big heals.
With that said, this is not going to be a very efficient healer. Out of combat medicine doesn't do much compared to a six pack of potions, and in combat you don't have a whole lot of big heals.
It'll take a little bit to come online, but between Bedside Manner improvisation, Miracle Worker expertise talent, the Medic Archetype, and the Medical Expert feat, I'll be able to heal 5d8+18+INT+(2*CHA) as a Full Round Action "Treat Deadly Wounds" by lvl 9.
Throw in First Aid Expert theorem from Biohacker for double INT, and by Level 20 my Treat Deadly Wounds will be 20d8+40+(2*INT)+(2*CHA).
Thanks to the Medic Archetype, any over-healing will go to Stamina points. past level 3.
Throw in Field Dressing theorem, and being able to fire Serums of Healing (both of which also benefit from the Medic over-healing feature) and I think the build is pretty effective, considering most of the time I'll be attacking the enemy with Biohacks anyways.
Additionally, from the Envoy side of things I'll also be taking Inspiring Boost and Inspiring Oration improvisations, giving me Stamina heals to throw out in addition to the options for HP heals.
t'll take a little bit to come online, but between Bedside Manner improvisation, Miracle Worker expertise talent, the Medic Archetype, and the Medical Expert feat, I'll be able to heal 5d8+18+INT+(2*CHA) as a Full Round Action "Treat Deadly Wounds" by lvl 9.
As a full round action with someone you're standing next to, as I don't see deadly wounds on an ability a biohacker can do at range. Unless you have a melee character you're probably going to have to move up to the person who needs healing and then heal them next round, which is an issue.
Serums of Healing (both of which also benefit from the Medic over-healing feature)
If someone has enough staminia left that a serum is reasonably likely overheal them they probably don't need healing yet. Preventative medicine in the form of dropping the guy faster is a very important part of every character.