Larpus
2011-10-31, 10:34 AM
Sooo...again coming from the PF Q&A thread, here comes another hard to answer question that ironically wasn't actually the question.
Anyway, without further ado:
Many feats, mainly the item creation line, requires Caster Level in order for the PC to qualify, that is fine and dandy, full-casters are casters of course, half-casters are casters too and even pseudo-casters (Paladin and Ranger) are casters.
But then comes the Alchemist, who is a half-caster that may or may not be a caster.
For starters, he doesn't actively cast the spells, but rather prepare them into potion-like "items", to the point that he fully casts his spells prior to using them (it's even unclear if he uses somatic/verbal components or if he has arcane spell failure) and then only take a standard action later to activate the effect, being able to do so while grappled, silenced and with no chance of getting interrupted (other than attacking the vial) or countered.
Then he has a caster level at the same time that he doesn't have one as "The alchemist uses his level as the caster level to determine any effect based on caster level". This specific wording is not present in any other half-caster or even the pseudo-casters, leaving it open to interpretation whether or not he actually has a caster level or not when it comes to feats and other things.
Further, while he can activate spell trigger items normally, he is specifically said to be unable to use spell completion ones without a UMD check, even form spells on his list.
With all that said, however, he is specifically said to be able to control and channel arcane energy and can even learn his spells (called extracts) from Wizards (but not the other way around) and scrolls.
So, what is your opinion on the matter?
Is the Alchemist a caster?
Can he take feats that depend on CL?
And now the specific question that spawned it all: can he grab Scribe Scroll and if he can, what happens? Is he able to use scrolls he has made himself without UMD or he knows how to make scrolls but has no idea how to use them?
Alchemy (Su)
Alchemists are not only masters of creating mundane alchemical substances such as alchemist’s fire and smokesticks, but also of fashioning magical potionlike extracts in which they can store spell effects. In effect, an alchemist prepares his spells by mixing ingredients into a number of extracts, and then “casts” his spells by drinking the extract. When an alchemist creates an extract or bomb, he infuses the concoction with a tiny fraction of his own magical power—this enables the creation of powerful effects, but also binds the effects to the creator. When using Craft (alchemy) to create an alchemical item, an alchemist gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on the Craft (alchemy) check. In addition, an alchemist can use Craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using detect magic. He must hold the potion for 1 round to make such a check.
An alchemist can create three special types of magical items—extracts, bombs, and mutagens are transformative elixirs that the alchemist drinks to enhance his physical abilities—both of these are detailed in their own sections below.
Extracts are the most varied of the three. In many ways, they behave like spells in potion form, and as such their effects can be dispelled by effects like dispel magic using the alchemist’s level as the caster level. Unlike potions, though, extracts can have powerful effects and duplicate spells that a potion normally could not.
An alchemist can create only a certain number of extracts of each level per day. His base daily allotment of extracts is given on Table: Alchemist. In addition, he receives bonus extracts per day if he has a high Intelligence score, in the same way a wizard receives bonus spells per day. When an alchemist mixes an extract, he infuses the chemicals and reagents in the extract with magic siphoned from his own magical aura. 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 becoming inert, 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, but it’s not uncommon for an alchemist to keep some (or even all) of his daily extract slots open so that he can prepare extracts in the field as needed.
Although the alchemist doesn’t actually cast spells, he does have a formulae list that determines what extracts he can create. An alchemist can utilize spell-trigger items if the spell appears on his formulae list, but not spell-completion items (unless he uses Use Magic Device to do so). An extract is “cast” by drinking it, as if imbibing a potion—the effects of an extract exactly duplicate the spell upon which its formula is based, save that the spell always affects only the drinking alchemist. The alchemist uses his level as the caster level to determine any effect based on caster level. Creating extracts consumes raw materials, but the cost of these materials is insignificant—comparable to the valueless material components of most spells. If a spell normally has a costly material component, that component is expended during the consumption of that particular extract. Extracts cannot be made from spells that have focus requirements (alchemist extracts that duplicate divine spells never have a divine focus requirement). An alchemist can prepare an extract of any formula he knows. To learn or use an extract, an alchemist must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the extract’s level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an alchemist’s extract is 10 + the extract level + the alchemist’s Intelligence modifier. An alchemist may know any number of formulae. He stores his formulae in a special tome called a formula book. He must refer to this book whenever he prepares an extract but not when he consumes it. An alchemist begins play with two 1stlevel formulae of his choice, plus a number of additional forumlae equal to his Intelligence modifier. At each new alchemist level, he gains one new formula of any level that he can create. An alchemist can also add formulae to his book just like a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs and time requirements. An alchemist can study a wizard’s spellbook to learn any formula that is equivalent to a spell the spellbook contains. A wizard, however, cannot learn spells from a formula book. An alchemist does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them.
Anyway, without further ado:
Many feats, mainly the item creation line, requires Caster Level in order for the PC to qualify, that is fine and dandy, full-casters are casters of course, half-casters are casters too and even pseudo-casters (Paladin and Ranger) are casters.
But then comes the Alchemist, who is a half-caster that may or may not be a caster.
For starters, he doesn't actively cast the spells, but rather prepare them into potion-like "items", to the point that he fully casts his spells prior to using them (it's even unclear if he uses somatic/verbal components or if he has arcane spell failure) and then only take a standard action later to activate the effect, being able to do so while grappled, silenced and with no chance of getting interrupted (other than attacking the vial) or countered.
Then he has a caster level at the same time that he doesn't have one as "The alchemist uses his level as the caster level to determine any effect based on caster level". This specific wording is not present in any other half-caster or even the pseudo-casters, leaving it open to interpretation whether or not he actually has a caster level or not when it comes to feats and other things.
Further, while he can activate spell trigger items normally, he is specifically said to be unable to use spell completion ones without a UMD check, even form spells on his list.
With all that said, however, he is specifically said to be able to control and channel arcane energy and can even learn his spells (called extracts) from Wizards (but not the other way around) and scrolls.
So, what is your opinion on the matter?
Is the Alchemist a caster?
Can he take feats that depend on CL?
And now the specific question that spawned it all: can he grab Scribe Scroll and if he can, what happens? Is he able to use scrolls he has made himself without UMD or he knows how to make scrolls but has no idea how to use them?
Alchemy (Su)
Alchemists are not only masters of creating mundane alchemical substances such as alchemist’s fire and smokesticks, but also of fashioning magical potionlike extracts in which they can store spell effects. In effect, an alchemist prepares his spells by mixing ingredients into a number of extracts, and then “casts” his spells by drinking the extract. When an alchemist creates an extract or bomb, he infuses the concoction with a tiny fraction of his own magical power—this enables the creation of powerful effects, but also binds the effects to the creator. When using Craft (alchemy) to create an alchemical item, an alchemist gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on the Craft (alchemy) check. In addition, an alchemist can use Craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using detect magic. He must hold the potion for 1 round to make such a check.
An alchemist can create three special types of magical items—extracts, bombs, and mutagens are transformative elixirs that the alchemist drinks to enhance his physical abilities—both of these are detailed in their own sections below.
Extracts are the most varied of the three. In many ways, they behave like spells in potion form, and as such their effects can be dispelled by effects like dispel magic using the alchemist’s level as the caster level. Unlike potions, though, extracts can have powerful effects and duplicate spells that a potion normally could not.
An alchemist can create only a certain number of extracts of each level per day. His base daily allotment of extracts is given on Table: Alchemist. In addition, he receives bonus extracts per day if he has a high Intelligence score, in the same way a wizard receives bonus spells per day. When an alchemist mixes an extract, he infuses the chemicals and reagents in the extract with magic siphoned from his own magical aura. 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 becoming inert, 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, but it’s not uncommon for an alchemist to keep some (or even all) of his daily extract slots open so that he can prepare extracts in the field as needed.
Although the alchemist doesn’t actually cast spells, he does have a formulae list that determines what extracts he can create. An alchemist can utilize spell-trigger items if the spell appears on his formulae list, but not spell-completion items (unless he uses Use Magic Device to do so). An extract is “cast” by drinking it, as if imbibing a potion—the effects of an extract exactly duplicate the spell upon which its formula is based, save that the spell always affects only the drinking alchemist. The alchemist uses his level as the caster level to determine any effect based on caster level. Creating extracts consumes raw materials, but the cost of these materials is insignificant—comparable to the valueless material components of most spells. If a spell normally has a costly material component, that component is expended during the consumption of that particular extract. Extracts cannot be made from spells that have focus requirements (alchemist extracts that duplicate divine spells never have a divine focus requirement). An alchemist can prepare an extract of any formula he knows. To learn or use an extract, an alchemist must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the extract’s level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an alchemist’s extract is 10 + the extract level + the alchemist’s Intelligence modifier. An alchemist may know any number of formulae. He stores his formulae in a special tome called a formula book. He must refer to this book whenever he prepares an extract but not when he consumes it. An alchemist begins play with two 1stlevel formulae of his choice, plus a number of additional forumlae equal to his Intelligence modifier. At each new alchemist level, he gains one new formula of any level that he can create. An alchemist can also add formulae to his book just like a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs and time requirements. An alchemist can study a wizard’s spellbook to learn any formula that is equivalent to a spell the spellbook contains. A wizard, however, cannot learn spells from a formula book. An alchemist does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them.