Class Feature Friday: Bomber Research Field (P2E Alchemist Research Field)
And so it begins: Our very first entry on a Second Edition subject (aside from my speculation and opinions).
Unlike the previous edition, the fluid feat-based progression of classes means that archetypes as we understood them no longer exist, replaced by general archetypes that anyone can take that resemble what once were prestige classes. Still, as more becomes available, I’ll find ways to include it on the blog.
In any case, our first subject is the alchemist in the form of fields of study, that is to say, the aspect of classic alchemical work that you focus on. As an alchemist, you may branch out into other things as well, but this field of study is the fastest one for you to develop and benefit from.
The Bomber Field of Study does exactly what you’d expect, granting you an arsenal of explosives, guaranteeing that you’ll have ranged damage for days, as you focus on those alchemical reactions that unleash violent, destructive energy.
Such alchemists start play with two bomb formulae in addition to their normal starting choices, and can choose to deal the splash damage to only their primary target if it suits them to do so.
They also become much more efficient and flexible when brewing their bombs, able to create three of different types from a single batch of reagents, rather than two of the same type.
They also pick a pair of bomb infusions which they can make quickly at will, not spending reagents to do so.
Over time, those two types of bombs improve to the moderate, and later, the greater versions of those elemental explosives.
Additionally, bomber alchemists also improve the blast radius of their bombs, which stacks with other training in this regard.
The following Alchemist feats work very well with the bomber field of study: Far Lobber, Quick Bomber, Smoke Bomb, Calculated Splash, Efficient Alchemy, Enduring Alchemy, Debilitating Bomb, Directional Bomb, Powerful Alchemy, Sticky Bomb, Expanded Splash, Greater Debilitating Bomb, Uncanny Bombs, True Debilitating Bomb, Exploitative Bomb, Perfect Debilitation, and Mega Bomb.
If you just wanna blow things up, this field may be all you need, and if you want or feel comfortable going whole hog into it, by all means do so. However, you might end up pulling double duty as either a secondary healer or buffer/melee, so consider also taking other alchemist feats as well.
It’s easy to assume these alchemists are violent sorts, pyromaniacs, and the like, but there’s still plenty of room for diverse character concepts. These alchemists might be ex-military, or they might specialize in clearing areas for constructive purposes such as brush clearing and the like, while others may simply be focused on the non-medical applications of alchemy, instead focused on the chemical release of energy and how to harness it.
Eager to clear invading forces from their tunnels but also heavily aware of the dangers of fumes and smoke removing breathable air, dwarven alchemists tend to favor frost vials, also known as liquid ice, as their primary weapon, as well as various additives to give the cold the ability to further debilitate.
The alchemist school of Ashfall is sometimes called home of the dalos-friends, after their tendency to specialize in firebombs like the volcanic fey. However, to call them friends is dangerously inaccurate. In truth the students and teachers do their best to avoid them when harvesting sulfur and other ingredients from the volcanic rock.
A small contingent of soldiers has gone missing recently, having failed to report to the mustering. Their leader was a master bombardier, and it becomes the responsibility of the party to discover if they deserted, or ran afoul some monster or enemy ambush.