Alchemical Blade (Fighter/Alchemist)

(Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Fighter.

Secondary Class: Alchemist.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The alchemical blade may select three alchemist skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal fighter class skills. The alchemical blade gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The alchemical blade is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all armor (heavy, light, and medium), and with shields (including tower shields).

Bonus Feats: This is exactly like the fighter ability of the same name, except that the alchemical blade gains a bonus feat at 1st level, and again at 4th level and every four levels thereafter (8th, 12th, etc.). In addition, whenever an alchemical blade could select a bonus feat, he can choose the Extend Oil or Eternal Oil discovery (see below). These discoveries apply to the alchemical blade’s oils only.

Alchemy (Su): At 2nd level, an alchemical blade can create mundane alchemical substances such as alchemist’s fire and smokesticks, just like an alchemist, but cannot create bombs, extracts, or mutagens. He gains a bonus equal to half his level to Craft (alchemy) skill checks, and can use Craft (alchemy) to identify alchemical items and potions as an alchemist. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 2nd level.

Alchemical Pool (Su): At 3rd level, the alchemical blade gains a reservoir of alchemical energy that he can draw upon to mix magical, gear-enhancing oils. This alchemical pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his alchemical blade level + his Intelligence modifier. This pool refreshes every morning. Creating a magical oil takes 1 minute and expends 1 point from the alchemical blade's alchemical pool. This procedure uses raw materials of insignificant cost and requires that the alchemical blade have an alchemist's kit on hand. An oil created in this fashion grants the affected armor or weapon a +1 enhancement bonus. This bonus increases as the alchemical blade gains levels, and can be added to already magical gear, stacking with existing enhancements to a maximum of +5. Multiple applications of magical oil to the same piece of gear do not stack with themselves; the most recently applied oil takes precedence

At 3rd level, an alchemical blade can create an oil that, when applied to armor, grants the armor a +1 enhancement bonus. For every four levels beyond 3rd, the armor gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 19th level.

At 5th level, an alchemical blade can create an oil that, when applied to a weapon, grants the weapon a +1 enhancement bonus. For every four levels beyond 5th, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus. This bonus increases again to +5 at 20th level.

As the alchemical blade gains levels, he gains the ability to prepare magical oils that add special properties to armor and weapons. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property's base price modifier. These properties are added to any the affected gear already has, but duplicates do not stack. If a weapon or suit of armor is not magical, the oil applied to it must grant it at least a +1 enhancement bonus before adding other properties.

At 7th level, the alchemical blade can prepare armor oils that grant any of the following properties: balanced, bolstering, brawling, deathless, impervious,invulnerability, light fortification, moderate fortification, mirrored, spell resistance, stanching, and titanic. In addition, the alchemical blade can prepare oils that grant the following properties that consume the listed amount of bonus: energy resistance for +3 bonus, expeditious for +2 bonus, or glamered for +2 bonus.

At 9th level, the alchemical blade can prepare weapon oils that grant any of the following properties:

brilliant energy, corrosive*, corrosive burst*, defending, distance, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, speed, shocking burst, thundering, and wounding. (*Advanced Player’s Guide)

The alchemical blade selects the bonus and properties granted by a magical oil when he prepares it, not when he applies it. Applying an oil is a standard action that doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity. Magical oils last 1 minute after application. Unused oils remain potent until the next time the alchemical blade's alchemical pool refreshes. Magical oils also become inert and useless if they leave the alchemical blade's possession, or if the gear to which they are applied leaves the alchemical blade's possession. This ability replaces armor training and weapon training.

Swift Alchemy (Ex): At 4th level, an alchemical blade can create alchemical items with astounding speed. It takes an alchemical blade half the normal amount of time to create alchemical items, and he can apply magical oil to a weapon or suit of armor as a move action. This ability does not allow him to apply poison to a weapon more quickly. This ability replaces bravery.

Swift Anointing (Ex): At 6th level, an alchemical blade can apply magical oil to a weapon or suit of armor as a swift action. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 6th level.

Alchemical Weapon (Su): At 10th level, an alchemical blade can infuse a weapon or piece of ammunition with a single harmful alchemical liquid or powder, such as alchemist’s fire or sneezing powder, as a swift action. This action consumes the alchemical item, but transfers its effect to the weapon in question. The alchemical item takes full effect on the next creature struck by the weapon, but does not splash, spread, or otherwise affect additional targets. Any extra damage added is treated like bonus dice of damage, and is not doubled on a critical hit. The alchemical treatment causes no harm to the weapon treated, and wears off 1 minute after application if no blow is struck.

Persistent Oil (Su): At 14th level, the effects of the alchemical blade's magical oils last for 10 minutes. This ability replaces bonus feat at 14th level.

Alchemical Mastery (Su): At 19th level, once per day, an alchemical blade can prepare magical oils that last 1 hour when applied. This ability replaces armor mastery.

Instant Alchemy (Ex): At 18th level, an alchemical blade can create alchemical items with almost supernatural speed. He can create any alchemical item as a full-round action if he succeeds at the Craft (alchemy) check and has the appropriate resources at hand to fund the creation. He can apply magical oils to a weapon or a suit of armor as an immediate action. He can use his alchemical weapon ability as a free action. This ability does not allow him to apply poison to a weapon more quickly. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 18th level.

Grand Oil (Su): At 20th level, the alchemical blade learns how to create a grand oil, representing a truly astounding alchemical breakthrough. Whenever the alchemical blade prepares a magical oil, he may prepare it with one of the following properties, each of which consumes a +5 bonus and stacks with existing weapon and armor properties to a maximum effective bonus of +10. This ability replaces weapon mastery.

Diamond Edge (weapon): The affected weapon gains the vorpal property.

Energy Warding (armor): The affected armor gains the greater energy resistance property against an energy type chosen by the alchemical blade when he prepared the oil.

Fast Healing (armor): The affected armor grants its wearer fast healing 5.

Reflective Skin (armor): The affected armor gains the reflecting property.

Superior Resistance (armor): The affected armor grants its wearer Spell Resistance 21.

NEW ALCHEMICAL BLADE DISCOVERIES

The following new discoveries can be chosen by the Alchemical Blade multiclass archetype.

Extend Oil

Prerequisite: Alchemical blade 4.

Benefit: A number of times per day equal to his Intelligence modifier, the alchemical blade can cause any magical oil he concocts to function at twice its normal duration.

Eternal Oil

Prerequisite: Alchemical blade 16, Extend Emollient discovery.

Benefit: If an alchemical blade concocts a magical oil that he extends, the effects of that oil become permanent until he chooses to make another magical oil effect permanent.

Table: Alchemical Blade