Tentacle (Discovery)

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Tentacle

Prerequisites: Alchemist 6

Benefit: The alchemist gains a prehensile, arm-length tentacle somewhere on his body. The tentacle is fully under his control and cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing. The presence of a tentacle is almost always the source of interesting conversations, various expressions of dismay, and many other roleplaying opportunities.

A tentacle is never strong or coordinated enough to wield a weapon or a shield, but it can be used for all other purposes, such as picking locks and playing instruments, although see above for roleplaying opportunities this is likely to provoke. Apart from weapons and shields, the tentacle can manipulate or hold items as well as the alchemist's original arms can (for example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield a weapon, the other hand to throw a bomb, and the tentacle to hold a potion ready for use).

The tentacle can be used to hold items ready for a hand to grasp as a free action, as per the Base Weapon Rules.

While affected by mutagen, the tentacle can also be used to make a secondary natural attack, dealing 1d4 damage plus half the alchemist's strength modifier. Secondary natural attacks, as always, are made at BAB - 5. Unlike an arm, the tentacle has no magic item slots.

Natural Attacks

Natural attacks fall into one of two categories, primary and secondary attacks. Primary attacks are made using the alchemist's full base attack bonus and add the alchemist's full Strength bonus on damage rolls. Secondary attacks are made using the alchemist's base attack bonus - 5 and add only ½ the alchemist's Strength bonus on damage rolls. The alchemist's claws and bite attacks from his mutagen are primary natural attacks. The discoveries "vestigial arm" or "tentacle" can provide the alchemist with secondary natural attacks.

During a standard attack action, natural attacks are much like standard weapons: the alchemist makes one attack at full BAB with a single claw (or bite, if available). During a full attack action, however, the alchemist uses his full BAB to attack with each of his primary natural attacks, and BAB - 5 for each of his secondary natural attacks. Bonus attacks, such as from a haste spell, and attacks of opportunity always use a single claw attack unless the creature has some ability which specifically states otherwise.

Natural attacks do not benefit from any of the two-weapon fighting feats or the multi-attack feat.