This recently came up while my group and I were discussing potential builds for the next game we would be playing.
A Ragechemist (Ultimate Combat) gets the following at first level:
Rage Mutagen
At 2nd level, whenever a ragechemist creates a mutagen that improves
his Strength, that mutagen grants the ragechemist a +6 bonus to
Strength, a +2 bonus to natural armor, and a –2 penalty to
Intelligence. Furthermore, while under the effects of this mutagen,
whenever the alchemist takes damage, his rage grows, with detrimental
effects. At the end of each turn that he takes hit point damage, the
ragechemist must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 15, or DC 20 if
any of the damage came from a critical hit that turn) or take a –2
penalty on Will saving throws and to Intelligence. These penalties end
1 hour after the mutagen ends and stack with themselves. If the
penalty lowers the ragechemist’s Intelligence score to 0, the
ragechemist is comatose until 1 hour after the mutagen expires. This
ability replaces poison use.
The Alchemist's regular mutagen does this:
When an alchemist brews a mutagen, he selects one physical ability
score—either Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution. It’s a standard
action to drink a mutagen. Upon being imbibed, the mutagen causes the
alchemist to grow bulkier and more bestial, granting him a +2 natural
armor bonus and a +4 alchemical bonus to the selected ability score
for 10 minutes per alchemist level. In addition, while the mutagen is
in effect, the alchemist takes a –2 penalty to one of his mental
ability scores. If the mutagen enhances his Strength, it applies a
penalty to his Intelligence. If it enhances his Dexterity, it applies
a penalty to his Wisdom. If it enhances his Constitution, it applies a
penalty to his Charisma.
The debate arose as to whether or not the Ragechemist's mutagen provided a +6 untyped bonus to strength, giving an additional +10 to strength at \2nd level, or instead was an alchemical bonus which would replace the original +4 bonus with the +6 at 2nd level.
Arguments For Untyped Bonus
- Greater and Grand mutagen would be useless
- It doesn't explicitly state that it is an alchemical bonus.
- Why on earth would you have to make the Will save on every hit?
Arguments For Alchemical Bonus
- It's just giving you access to the greater bonuses way before your level would allow (1st instead of 12th, 6th instead of 16th for greater and grand)
- The usage of the words "that mutagen" implies that it's replacing your previous mutagen.
- Nothing else can have a 36 strength at 3rd level (Barbarian 1/Alchemist 2)
This has also been asked on the Paizo forums (by someone else), but there is only one unofficial answer and it doesn't totally justify its response.
So, what kind of bonus does the Ragechemist's mutagen provide, untyped or alchemical?
Best Answer
In the end, you're asking for an opinion since they borked the RAW and haven't errata or FAQed it yet. I would rule it as an alchemical bonus for exactly the reasons you already list - it seems like it's the clear intent. It's a low level extra mutagen so it's only a modest boost.