WotC GregB: Alchemy

[Scipio202]

I want the Alchemy rules to be good, but one thing I'm worried about is a "gamist" restriction on the ability to transfer alchemical items made by the Alchemist PC to his comrades. For instance, you can give any other class a big power-boost by sharing a significant number of Alchemy items with them. Depending on how much time and money you want to spend, you could have a PC with (effectively) 4x or more the number of daily powers you'd expect.

Moreover, how do you prevent the Alchemist PC from becoming just a resource to draw on for the other PC's. What to they contribute personally, rather than as a "supplier"?

I think good Alchemy rules would be a great edition to the game, but I would want satisfying (subjective, I know) answers to the above concerns before I agreed that it would make a good class.

Make it so that alchemical weapons are dangerous to use unless you have the appropriate skill/feat.

If you give the Greek fire to Joe Fighter who doesn't have Use Alchemical Device, there's an X% chance he sets off the flask in his hand when he tries to throw it.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Moreover, how do you prevent the Alchemist PC from becoming just a resource to draw on for the other PC's. What to they contribute personally, rather than as a "supplier"?

Since alchemy rules are largely tied to rituals, as the post and the podcast suggested, I think basically everybody can pick up some alchemy without losing his shtick - hence it doesn't hurt you to be the supplier (no XP costs... only time and/or gold - possibly shared by the party).

Greg also talked about a paragon path instead of a full-blown class, so I assume the paragon path doesn't improve your crafting skills, but will rather allow you to eke out more out of alchemical items - hitting better, doing some in-combat tricks (like throwing an alchemist's fire in a specific way to leave a burning trail or something like that).

Cheers, LT.

 

[Serendipity]

I can see Alchemist as a pretty decent paragon path for either a Wizard or, say hypothetically, an Artificer.
REALLY curious to see what happens to Artificers in 4e.

 

[MindWanderer]

Moreover, how do you prevent the Alchemist PC from becoming just a resource to draw on for the other PC's. What to they contribute personally, rather than as a "supplier"?

If alchemy is a sideline rather than a character's main schtick, they can do whatever their main function is. "Alchemist" won't be a class any more than "ritualist" is, or "item creator" was in 3e (even less so, in the latter case).

 

[malraux]

I can see Alchemist as a pretty decent paragon path for either a Wizard or, say hypothetically, an Artificer.
REALLY curious to see what happens to Artificers in 4e.

Yes! Currently its hard to see what they'll do. But I'm really hoping they have a legitimate purpose.

 

[Illadar]

Arcane leader seems like a fairly likely choice for the artificer.

 

[Irda Ranger]

If alchemy is a sideline rather than a character's main schtick, they can do whatever their main function is. "Alchemist" won't be a class any more than "ritualist" is, or "item creator" was in 3e (even less so, in the latter case).

This is contrary to 4E character design, and to the Greg's post.

 

[dfarnsworth]

mmmmmmmm

The alchemy references give me hope for 4E and for the Artificer.