Chemical Weapon Specialist [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chemical Weapon Specialist [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
PhantomTrain
07-02-07, 12:09 PM I was interested in making a rogue who specialized in alchemical weapons (sort of a combat alchemist/ demolitions specialist) whose bread and butter were thrown alchemical weapons. A couple of questions:

1) Is this idea completely useless? Is there any way to make my character versitile enough that the alchemical weapons will make a difference in combat?

2) Any creative ways to encorperate Sneak Attak into this whole mess?

3) What are the best alchemical weapons/tools out there?

4) (A but unrelated to this thread) Is there a better base class than Rogue? Is there a PrC I should keep in mind?

Thanks in advance.
rironin
07-02-07, 12:23 PM I'm planning on making an NPC that specializes in this sort of thing, but all I've got down for him so far is the Grenadier feat from PHB II and Quick Draw :P. The lack of generic alchemical weapons leads me to think that Rogue is a good idea though - he could UMD a Fireseeds spell and use the acorn bombs to good effect, as well as planting some holly berry bombs beforehand. That plus some other magical items - maybe beads of force or something similar - could get the right effect. This may be the complete opposite of your character concept though - I'm going for a "mad bomber" type so it doesn't matter to me how he gets the effect (magic or alchemy, it makes no difference to him). Your idea may require the alchemical only side.

Not sure whether there are prestige classes that would do well... I think most Master Thrower benefits are sort of nonsensical with things like alchemist's fire. Could be worth a look though. Cheers!
Dalthbar
07-02-07, 12:27 PM One thing that you need to consider (if you haven't already) is the cost associated with this sort of thing.

At 1st level, will you have the hundreds of GP needed to do this? They're expensive - especially for low-level characters - and tend not to be that powerful on top of that.

It'd also be a difficult thing to "specialize" in, per se unless you had a TON of money to invest.

Take alchemist's fire (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#alchemistsFire), just one dose costs 20gp to buy (so 10gp to make). It's neat in that there's a damage over time factor, but not so neat that you'll want to carry 20 of them on you at one time.

Speaking of which... the first thing I'd do if someone was throwing bottles of very nasty stuff at me would be to cast a Shatter (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shatter.htm) spell their way. Suddenly you're in a world of hurt. Any "responsible" DM would need to do this _at least_ once.

I'm not trying to discourage you - just making sure you've thought about some of the other issues involved with this course of action.
rironin
07-02-07, 12:32 PM Speaking of which... the first thing I'd do if someone was throwing bottles of very nasty stuff at me would be to cast a Shatter (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shatter.htm) spell their way. Suddenly you're in a world of hurt. Any "responsible" DM would need to do this _at least_ once.Mmm, that would be rough, although the victim would get a Will save for each alchemical item, right? Moreover, the rules of D&D preclude one bottle's explosion from setting off the rest of them, even though one might imagine that would be the end result. Still though, each failed save would mean losing your own ammunition and taking damage as well. No fun!
tarkin
07-02-07, 01:06 PM Yeah, that by the way is the real life reason why chemical weapons never became popular.

Too much a chance of the things breaking and affecting the attacker.
Malchius
07-02-07, 03:19 PM Get a Heward's Handy sack thingy, lol, and some Alchemists Fires, Ditherbombs(good for making tunnels) and maybe some other things, like thunderstones for running away, or using bladeshimmer(complete scoundrel) and throwing knives, allows for sneak attack I believe.
evil_jester
07-02-07, 06:35 PM to me it seems like an Artificer would be much better then a rouge for the whole chem weapons they do make them after all
NeueRegel
07-02-07, 07:26 PM You all have missed the entire point. He needs to play a character turned assassin, but backed by the government. James Bond, if you will. His missions are to plant the disasters as he goes, not pay for them. Gods, this would be *so* easy to DM...

Neue

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PhantomTrain 07-02-07, 12:09 PM	I was interested in making a rogue who specialized in alchemical weapons (sort of a combat alchemist/ demolitions specialist) whose bread and butter were thrown alchemical weapons. A couple of questions: 1) Is this idea completely useless? Is there any way to make my character versitile enough that the alchemical weapons will make a difference in combat? 2) Any creative ways to encorperate Sneak Attak into this whole mess? 3) What are the best alchemical weapons/tools out there? 4) (A but unrelated to this thread) Is there a better base class than Rogue? Is there a PrC I should keep in mind? Thanks in advance.
rironin 07-02-07, 12:23 PM	I'm planning on making an NPC that specializes in this sort of thing, but all I've got down for him so far is the Grenadier feat from PHB II and Quick Draw :P. The lack of generic alchemical weapons leads me to think that Rogue is a good idea though - he could UMD a Fireseeds spell and use the acorn bombs to good effect, as well as planting some holly berry bombs beforehand. That plus some other magical items - maybe beads of force or something similar - could get the right effect. This may be the complete opposite of your character concept though - I'm going for a "mad bomber" type so it doesn't matter to me how he gets the effect (magic or alchemy, it makes no difference to him). Your idea may require the alchemical only side. Not sure whether there are prestige classes that would do well... I think most Master Thrower benefits are sort of nonsensical with things like alchemist's fire. Could be worth a look though. Cheers!
Dalthbar 07-02-07, 12:27 PM	One thing that you need to consider (if you haven't already) is the cost associated with this sort of thing. At 1st level, will you have the hundreds of GP needed to do this? They're expensive - especially for low-level characters - and tend not to be that powerful on top of that. It'd also be a difficult thing to "specialize" in, per se unless you had a TON of money to invest. Take alchemist's fire (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#alchemistsFire), just one dose costs 20gp to buy (so 10gp to make). It's neat in that there's a damage over time factor, but not so neat that you'll want to carry 20 of them on you at one time. Speaking of which... the first thing I'd do if someone was throwing bottles of very nasty stuff at me would be to cast a Shatter (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shatter.htm) spell their way. Suddenly you're in a world of hurt. Any "responsible" DM would need to do this _at least_ once. I'm not trying to discourage you - just making sure you've thought about some of the other issues involved with this course of action.
rironin 07-02-07, 12:32 PM	Speaking of which... the first thing I'd do if someone was throwing bottles of very nasty stuff at me would be to cast a Shatter (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shatter.htm) spell their way. Suddenly you're in a world of hurt. Any "responsible" DM would need to do this _at least_ once.Mmm, that would be rough, although the victim would get a Will save for each alchemical item, right? Moreover, the rules of D&D preclude one bottle's explosion from setting off the rest of them, even though one might imagine that would be the end result. Still though, each failed save would mean losing your own ammunition and taking damage as well. No fun!
tarkin 07-02-07, 01:06 PM	Yeah, that by the way is the real life reason why chemical weapons never became popular. Too much a chance of the things breaking and affecting the attacker.
Malchius 07-02-07, 03:19 PM	Get a Heward's Handy sack thingy, lol, and some Alchemists Fires, Ditherbombs(good for making tunnels) and maybe some other things, like thunderstones for running away, or using bladeshimmer(complete scoundrel) and throwing knives, allows for sneak attack I believe.
evil_jester 07-02-07, 06:35 PM	to me it seems like an Artificer would be much better then a rouge for the whole chem weapons they do make them after all
NeueRegel 07-02-07, 07:26 PM	You all have missed the entire point. He needs to play a character turned assassin, but backed by the government. James Bond, if you will. His missions are to plant the disasters as he goes, not pay for them. Gods, this would be so easy to DM... Neue