Shards of Power Playtest: Theurgic Chymist [PEACH]

[RecordedChaos]

The Theurgic Chymist is an Akashic Magic/Spheres of Might Archetype for the Alchemist base class. It is part of the Shards of Power playtest, the whole google doc can be found here

Theurgic Chymist

The theurgic chymist is constantly at the mercy of their muses and fleeting inspirations, causing even other alchemists to claim they are a bit off. While this means that their creations are more unstable than other alchemists, even those peers must admit that the things they create often beggar belief. A Theurgic Chymist’s use of experimental pharmacology has slowly warped their connection with their own soul, causing them to tap into knowledge and memories from other spirits that at times overwhelm them.

Class features replaced by this archetype: Alchemy (Extracts), Bomb, Mutagen, Poison Use, Brew Potion, Poison Resistance, Swift Alchemy, Poison Immunity, Persistent Mutagen, Instant Alchemy

Proficiencies: Theurgic Chymists are proficient with simple weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers. In addition, if this is this character’s first level in any class, they may select a martial tradition of their choice.
This modifies the alchemist’s weapon and armor proficiencies.

Combat Training (Ex): A Theurgic Chymist is considered an Adept Practitioner, gaining spheres and talents as appropriate. Theurgic Chymists use Intelligence as their practitioner modifier.
This ability replaces the alchemy (but not bomb or mutagen) class feature.

Chymical Experimentation (Ex): The Theurgic Chymist gains both the (formulae) and (poison) packages of the Alchemy sphere as bonus talents at 1st level. If he already possesses these Alchemy sphere packages, he may instead select any talent he qualifies for from the Alchemy sphere. In addition, 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. 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.
This replaces the poison use class feature.

Quixotic Innovations (Ex): The Theurgic Chymist is at the whims of their experiments, and thus don’t have the time to focus on little things like the longevity of their creations. They may have an additional number of formulae prepared at a time equal to their intelligence modifier (minimum 1).
This replaces Brew Potion.

Experimental Mixture (Ex): The theurgic chymist’s focus is scattered, but they generally know what they are doing and their relentless experimentation has led to them being able to do things with their creations others can only dream of. At 1st level, 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter the theurgic chymist may gain one of the following talents from the alchemy sphere as a bonus talent: Billowing Poison, Careful Poisoner, Chemical Coating, Controlled Rupture, Cluster Toss, Fireworks, Lasting Application, Noxious Breath, Shaped Chemistry, or Snap Toss.
This replaces the bomb class feature

Theurgen (Su): The theurgic chymist’s constant experimentation has led them to concoctions that alter the nature of their very souls by touching upon the archetypal representations of belief. At 1st level they select a number of Souls available to the Soulforge equal to their intelligence modifier (minimum 2). The theurgic chymist can only select souls from the initial 11 souls available to the soulforge, though they can replace these souls with expanded souls as normal for a soulforge (except for the Alchemist soul, which causes something called “Recursive Transcription Errors” and gives any theurgic chymist a blinding headache if they try to learn it).

At the beginning of each day the theurgic chymist may select a single soul they know and can brew a special mixture called a Theurgen with an hour of effort. A theurgic chymist can only maintain one dose of theurgen at a time, if they brew a second dose, any existing theurgen becomes inert. The theurgen can be imbibed as a standard action and grants the theurgic chymist the base abilities of the chosen soul and counts the soul’s associated skills as class skills (but does not gain the ability to shape any of that soul’s veils or bonus skill points). The theurgic chymist uses their class level as their soulforge level and uses their Intelligence score for any effects that the soul produces in place of their Wisdom score. They gain the abilities of this soul after imbibing the theurgen for 10 minutes per class level.

Anyone other than the theurgic chymist who drinks a theurgen must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the theurgic chymist’s level + the theurgic chymist’s Intelligence modifier) or become nauseated for 1 hour— due to the careful application of their own energies no one other than the theurgic chymist that brewed their theurgen can use it, even other alchemists or theurgic chymists. The effects of a theurgen do not stack. Whenever a theurgic chymist drinks a theurgen, the effects of any previous theurgen immediately end.

At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter the theurgic chymist may add another soul to the list they know.
This replaces the Mutagen class feature.

Distilled Potential (Su): At 2nd level the theurgic chymist has begun to gain greater understanding of the truths behind the power they gain while under their theurgen. When they create a theurgen they may select a single associated veil from that theurgen’s selected soul. While they benefit from that theurgen they treat that veil as shaped in one of its available chakra slots (chosen when the theurgen is imbibed) and may treat the veil as if a single point of essence was invested in it.

The theurgic chymist cannot remove, invest, or burn essence from the veils shaped using this feature. This veil does not take up their normal veil slots, allowing it to be shaped alongside other veils in its slot. The theurgic chymist treats their class level as their veilweaving level and their intelligence as their veilweaving modifier, but only for the purpose of veils shaped using this ability or discoveries.

At 8th level and every 6 levels thereafter they may select another associated veil and treat that veil as if it were shaped as well, and treat all of these veils as if they were invested with an additional point of essence (for a maximum of 4 veils and 4 essence invested in each veil at 20th level).
This replaces the poison resistance and poison immunity class features.

Impromptu Formulae (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, the theurgic chymist learns sometimes that panic is the mother of invention. They may create formulae as a move action a number of times per day equal to half his class level + his intelligence modifier.
This replaces swift alchemy and instant alchemy class features.

Batch Theurgen (Su): At 10th level the theurgic chymist has learned to split their power and maintain focus on more than one archetype at a time. They can create and maintain a second theurgen. This theurgen may be created with the first during the same hour of work and may be the same soul or a different one the theurgic chymist knows. The effects of each theurgen are determined independently at the time they are brewed and the theurgic chymist may still only benefit from a single theurgen at any given time.
This replaces the persistent mutagen class feature.

-A note on Non-SoM Theurgic Chymists:
While some may enjoy Spheres of Might (SoM), we know there are those who hold a special place in their hearts for the traditional alchemist’s extracts, or those GM’s who don’t wish to allow it. In that case, the following changes may be made to this archetype to allow this:
The non-SoM theurgic chymist gains the Theurgen, Distilled Potential, and Batch Theurgen class abilities but not the changes to Proficiencies, Combat Training, Chymical Experimentation, Quixotic Innovations, Experimental Mixture, and Impromptu Formula class features.
This keeps the core flavor of the archetype but allows its use with traditional bombs and extracts.

[RecordedChaos]

Theurgic Chymist Discoveries
The following discoveries are available to theurgic chemists and other alchemists that meet the prerequisites to select them.

Archetypal Armament: The spirits that shape a theurgic chymist under the effect of their theurgen will fight those who seek to harm them. As part of brewing a theurgen select a single [Enhanced (weapon)] descriptor veil from the soulforge veil list. That veil is treated as an associated veil for that theurgen’s chosen soul for the duration that theurgen remains in effect, allowing it to be shaped following the rules of that theurgen as normal. Each time a theurgen is brewed a different [Enhanced (weapon)] veil may be selected.
This discovery can be enhanced as if it were an [Enhanced (weapon)] veil, applying those enhancements to the weapon veil granted by their theurgen. The theurgic chymist may only enhance this discovery with weapon enhancements that can be applied to all types of weapons.
An alchemist must be able to brew a theurgen to select this discovery.

Archetypal Armor: The spirits that guide a theurgic chymist under the effect of their theurgen will fight to defend them against those who seek to harm them. As part of brewing a theurgen select a single [Enhanced (armor)] or [Enhanced (shield)] descriptor veil from the soulforge veil list. That veil is treated as an associated veil for that theurgen’s chosen soul for the duration that theurgen remains in effect, allowing it to be shaped following the rules of that theurgen as normal. Each time a theurgen is brewed a different [Enhanced (armor)] or [Enhanced (shield)] veil may be selected.
This discovery can be enhanced as if it were a [Enhanced (armor)] or [Enhanced (shield)] veil, applying those enhancements to the armor or shield granted by their theurgen. The thurgic chymist may only enhance this discovery with armor and shield enhancements that can be applied to all types of armor or shields.
An alchemist must be able to brew a theurgen to select this discovery.

Clarifying Tincture: When the theurgic chymist creates a theurgen they may select an associated skill from that theurgen’s chosen soul. This skill is treated as if the theurgic chymist had an additional number of temporary ranks in that skill equal to ½ their theurgic chymist level (to a maximum of their Hit Dice) for the duration of the theurgen. Each time they brew a theurgen they may select a different associated skill.
An alchemist must be able to brew a theurgen to select this discovery.

Greater Bound Theurgy: The theurgic chymist’s ability to concentrate the power of their theurgen has risen to new heights. They gain the benefits of the Unlock Middle Binding feat as if their veilweaving level were equal to their class level -3 and may bind a second veil following the same limitations as the Lesser Bound Theurgy discovery.
A theurgic chymist must be at least 14th level and have the Lesser Bound Theurgy discovery to select this discovery.

Lesser Bound Theurgy: The theurgic chymist has learned to concentrate the power of their theurgen into physical constructs. They gain the benefits of the Unlock Low Binding feat as if their veilweaving level were equal to their class level -3, but only for the purposes of binding a single veil gained from the distilled potential class feature. A different chakra slot that is valid to bind may be selected each time a theurgen is brewed.
A theurgic chymist must be at least 8th level to select this discovery.

Lingering Persona: Sometimes the effects of a theurgen linger on the theurgic chymist’s spirit long after its effects fade. When the effect of an imbibed theurgen expires, select a single associated veil that was shaped by that theurgen. This veil is treated as if it were still shaped by the theurgic chymist but with no essence invested in it, treating the theurgic chymist as if they had a veilweaving level of ½ their class level for its effects. This effect continues until the theurgic chymist imbibes another theurgen or until the next time the theurgic chymist sleeps.
A theurgic chymist must be at least 6th level to select this discovery.

Maximize Potential: The theurgic chemist has gained insight into how their theurgen’s can fully expand their potential. When brewing a theurgen that benefits from a feat gained from the Potential Enhancer discovery, select a single feat from the following list: Chakra-Enhanced Fortitude, Chakra Power, Chakra Targeting, Essence Balanced Blades, Essence Expertise, Essence of Movement, Weaver’s Reflexes, or Will of the Daeva. The chosen feat is gained as a bonus feat and is treated as being invested with essence equal to the amount granted by the Distilled Potential ability. If one of the prerequisites of the chosen feat is a feat that can be gained through the Potential Enhancer discovery then that feat must have been gained through that discovery, or the theurgen must already possess that feat. Otherwise the alchemist may ignore the feat prerequisites.
An alchemist must be at least 12th level and must possess the Potential Enhancer discovery to select this discovery.

Minor Manifestation: The theurgic chymist’s experimentation with souls has led to them unlocking some minor abilities. They gain the Shape Minor Veils feat as a bonus feat. The minor veils shaped using this feat follow the rules of their Distilled Potential ability when determining their veilweaving level ,veilweaving modifier, and the essence invested. in addition, the shaped minor veils may be shaped in the same slot as veils gained from that ability.
An alchemist must be at least 2nd level and possess the ability to brew a theurgen to select this discovery.

Potential Enhancer: The theurgic chymist has learned ways to augment their prowess while under the effects of their theurgen. When brewing a theurgen select a single combat feat from the following list, the theurgen grants this feat as a bonus feat for its duration: Armor Proficiency (Heavy), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Dodge, Improved Shield Bash, Improved Unarmed Strike, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Shield Focus, Shield Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Vital Strike, Weapon Finesse, or Weapon Focus. The theurgic chymist does not need to meet the prerequisites for feats chosen using this ability.
A theurgic chymist must be at least 8th level to select this discovery and may take it a second time at 16th level.

Solidifying Alembic: With practice, we achieve perfection, and the theurgic chymist is more than willing to experiment until they get there. When the theurgic chymist brews their theurgen they may select a single veil that was added to that soul’s associated veils through the Archetypal Armament, Archetypal Armor, or Warped Imbuement discoveries. That veil is treated as if it were shaped by their distilled potential class feature, but does not count against the normal limit of veils they can shape.
An alchemist must be at least 4th level and possess either the Archetypal Armament, Archetypal Armor, or Warped Imbuement discoveries to select this discovery.

Stable Concoctions: With a little bit of practice…okay, a lot of practice, the alchemist has learned to make their mixtures less likely to randomly explode. They gain the Brew Stable Formulae feat.
An alchemist must possess the Alchemy Sphere with the formulae package and be at least 4th level to select this discovery.

Warped Imbuement: Sometimes the theurgic chemist stumbles upon a discovery that causes their theurgen to change not only their abilities, but to warp their bodies. As part of creating a theurgen, select a single [Fleshwarp] descriptor veil. That veil is treated as an associated veil for that theurgen’s chosen soul for the duration that theurgen remains in effect, allowing it to be shaped following the rules of that theurgen as normal. Each time a theurgen is brewed a different [Fleswarp] veil may be selected.
An alchemist must be able to brew a theurgen to select this discovery.