Herbalist

Some of the most potent brews occur naturally. Although their methodology and ingredients vary, alchemy and herbalism function similarly in many ways.

An herbalist has the following class features.

Herbalism (Ex)

Herbalists can forage any patch of desert, grass, or swamp for components. Their intuitive understanding of the concoctions that can be created using naturally occurring ingredients compares to the laborious study of their urban counterparts. In addition to creating alchemical items from biological components, an herbalist can fashion magic potion-like extracts from nature itself. At worst, an extract will stain cloth or irritate skin, but multiple extracts combined can be as potent as spells.

An herbalist applies her Wisdom modifier to Craft (alchemy) skill checks in place of her Intelligence modifier. When using Craft (alchemy) to create an alchemical item, an herbalist gains a competence bonus equal to her class level on the Craft (alchemy) check. In addition, an herbalist can use Craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using detect magic. She must hold the potion for 1 round to make such a check.

Herbalism operates exactly like alchemy with the following exceptions: To learn or use an extract, an herbalist must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the extract’s level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an herbalist’s extract is 10 + the extract level + the alchemist’s Wisdom modifier.

This replaces the alchemy ability.

Noxious Bomb (Ex)

Created by mixing reactive gases within the sealed shell of a nut or a turtle, noxious bombs are useful for knocking out living prey or scattering predators. An herbalist can use a number of noxious bombs each day equal to her class level + her Wisdom modifier. If not used in the round they are created, noxious bombs degrade and become inert. In order to create a noxious bomb, the herbalist must burn a mix of wild ingredients in a container that can be quickly but temporarily sealed airtight. These ingredients are commonly available to those who know what to look for and are typically replenished when the herbalist creates her extracts in the morning.

Creating and throwing a noxious bomb requires a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Throwing a noxious bomb is a touch attack with a range of 20 feet. Noxious bombs are considered weapons and can be selected using feats such as Point-Blank Shot and Weapon Focus. On a hit, a noxious bomb deals 1d6 points of nonlethal damage + additional nonlethal damage equal to the herbalist’s Wisdom modifier. The damage of a noxious bomb increases by 1d6 points at every odd-numbered alchemist level. This damage is not multiplied on a critical hit or by using feats such as Vital Strike. Additionally, the herbalist chooses an effect that the noxious bomb inflicts upon the target for 1 round. A successful Fortitude save negates the effect (the DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the herbalist’s level + the herbalist’s Wisdom modifier). The herbalist chooses one of the following conditions, chosen at the time of creation: blinded; deafened; fatigued; or shaken. At 11th level, the herbalist adds the following conditions to the list she can choose from: confused, exhausted; sickened; staggered. Discoveries that an alchemist can apply to bombs cannot be applied to noxious bombs.

This ability replaces bomb.

Balm (Ex)

Revered for her empowering topical creams, an herbalist’s allies do not question the side effects.

Balm functions like the alchemist’s mutagen ability, with one exception. A balm, made with the hairs and skin of the herbalist’s allies, only affects the ally it was created for. A balm is inert in the hands of any other creature, including the herbalist. Discoveries that apply to mutagen apply to balm instead. At 14th level, the effects of a balm last for 1 hour per level.

This ability replaces mutagen and persistent mutagen.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Wayfinder #4. © 2011, Paizo Fans United. Author: Adam Strasser, Carl Rossi, Charles Evans, Dane Pitchford, Darrin Drader, Dave Gross, David Schwartz, Dustin Nelson, Elaine Cunningham, Elizabeth Leib, Guy Fox, Jesper Haglund, Jess Door, Jodi Reynolds, John C. Rock, Jonathan McAnulty, Justin Sluder, Michael Kortes, Mike Richards, Mike Welham, Neil Spicer, Oliver von Spreckelsen, Phil Tucker, Robert Andrade, Robert Gresham, Russell Estes, Ryan Costello Jr., Theodore Thompson, Trevor Gulliver, Troy E. Taylor, Truly Clark.

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