The PF2 alchemist

[Ryuujin]

No Quick Alchemy specifies Common item.

Alchemical Crafting grants 4 common level 1 Formulas. The Formula book starts you with 4 common level 1 Formulas. Generally it would seem they are the same 4, but the Goblin Alchemist pregen they previewed apparently started with 8 formulas so I guess they stack?

Also just realized something else the Formula Book section of the class also mentions that when you level you can add 2 Formulas of your level or less, no mention of the rarity so does that mean you can added Uncommon ones? Even if you can't craft them? If so then the whole thing at 5th level with Mutagen Crafting that lets you select Uncommon Mutagens to add to your Formula Book actually does nothing. Of course that feature definitely does not mention being able to craft the Uncommon Mutagens.

 

[Ancalagon]

Looking again at the list of alchemical items, there seems to be a real lack of diversity in the "tools" section (ie utility). Sure there are all sorts of poisons and bombs... but that's just different ways of doing the same thing (ie hurting foes). There should be zany, creative things. The smokestick, the sunrods... those are a start. What else could an alchemist do?

What about artificial rations? Various magical powders, that sticks to invisible or magical items, or reveal hidden things somehow? Alchemical grease projector? An oil that makes a sword sharper, or the skin tougher? Great things I'm not thinking of?

It's underwhelming really.

 

[Starfox]

My gripe with the PF2 alchemist is that you might as well call it a chemist. All the cool shapechanging is gone. But then, its mostly gone from PF2 altogether; PF2 polymoprhing is very much 4E polymorphing, and always has a duration of 1 minute. All the sense of wonder is gone.

 

[mellored]

There's been an update. http://paizo.com/pathfinderplaytest

Page 45—For the alchemist, in the Proficiencies section of
the sidebar, under Skills, change “2” to “3”. In Advanced
Alchemy, in the third sentence, remove “common”.

• Page 46—In the alchemist’s Quick Alchemy action, change
“common alchemical item” to “alchemical item in your
formula book”. In the Formula Book section, change “The
formula book contains formulas for your choice of 4 common
1st-level alchemical items.” to “The formula book contains
the formulas you gained from Alchemical Crafting.”

• Page 48—In the alchemist’s Efficient Alchemy feat, in the third
sentence, change “four” to “eight” and “two” to “four”.

• Page 49—In the alchemist’s Debilitating Bomb feat, change
the trigger to “You craft an alchemical bomb using the Quick
Alchemy action.” In Feral Mutagen, in the description, change
all instances of “feral mutagen” to “bestial mutagen”.

• Page 50—In the Sticky Bomb feat, change the trigger to “You
craft an alchemical bomb using the Quick Alchemy action.”