Talk:Alchemist/@comment-82.137.8.50-20171208104942/@comment-26393217-20171208120800

It depends on which version of the game you play, and on which side your hero is actually leading, notwithstanding his own race. It depends on wether you want a hero fun to play or efficient to play, too.

What is an alchemist?

- a specialized mage, and that means access to Ritual, a skill useful to both heroes who don't want to invest heavily on intelligence, and to heroes who aim at casting spells at a higher mastery, and not only in the Alchemy sphere (it depends on the hero's racial skills).

- a potion master, who can use more efficiently his starting mana potions. On maps without any trader, and even in the lattest version of the game, I figure one could devise a hero aimed at storming an ennemy base with a wave of summoned units, or by chaining large aoe spells, fueled by these potions. The main problem is that the potions' effects are linked to the main keep level, and at the time when they are at max potency, you already have a size-able army.

- a caster of alchemy spells. There are several spells that should be useful for many hero combinations. Create Item for those highly charismatic heroes who rely on high level retinue and mercenaries. Transmute for races whitout a trade research, or for which it costs a dragon's price to get access to. Summon Golems in synergy with the Dark Dwarf's racial skill or the Daemons' research. Acquire for stealing and running builds (but Tinker should be best, as first mastery is enough for a fast hero). Spell Forge for Heroes who build a new skill or enhance a learned skill through items (some skills such as Rune Magic or Poison Magic can be used at next to one mastery level through items).

As you see, you have to experiment. At worst, the Alchemy sphere can be used only as a support skill, though the hero is entitled as an 'Alchemist' (obviously in this case, you'd invest more on racial skills). But usually, and it's the difference between an Alchemist and a Tinker, those alchemy spells should be tried at higher levels of mastery, and that means investing many points in the main sphere of magic, as any other specialized mage.

Use the 'Temporary hero' option in Skirmish mode.