Alchemy and game time

[Ravinal]

My character isn't a alchemist. The only feelings I have toward the time that it takes to make 1 potion is roleplaying. Sure you don't want everyone going around with 50 cure poisons and 200 heal potions. Yet, do you really want every alchemist to, pretty much, sit out a whole game......every game...... and 'pretend' to pick herbs and brew? Sure we can roleplay with them while they are doing this. But, usually, we won't want to. Not that alchemist aren't great roleplayers . Just that most players have plans for what they'd like to do throughout the game weekend. So taking two days to make 2 4th level potion *atleast that's how I remember the rules* seems quite rediculace to me.

[Ravinal]

My personal view on this would be to either reduce the time or increase the effect potions have. So that the time that is sacrificed from roleplaying would be well spent.

[GM_Chris]

Well most mix times are 10 minutes and yes we do expect you to RP that out. The arcanes have to RP out their casting time and so does everyone else.

As for brewing times who said you have to sit there. Once the potion is set up to brew you can come back to it 24 hours later.

Chris

[Atrum Draconus]

You only have to "roleplay" the mixing and gahtering times, the brewing time doesn't have to be roleplayed.

[Lambic]

So taking two days to make 2 4th level potion *atleast that's how I remember the rules* seems quite rediculace to me.

Actually becuase an event is not a Full 48 hours there is no way to make 2 level 4 potions in a weekend, according to the old rules.

Well most mix times are 10 minutes and yes we do expect you to RP that out. The arcanes have to RP out their casting time and so does everyone else.

As for brewing times who said you have to sit there. Once the potion is set up to brew you can come back to it 24 hours later.

Mix times maybe mostly 10 minutes but you are missing gathering times. Still this is about the same as Arcanes.

And you don't have to role play out the brewing, unless they are distrubed and then, well, you one chance at brewing a 4th level potion for the weekend may very well be gone.

I think what Ravinal's point was that Alchemist are inheriently taken out of the mainstream of the game/plot by the nature of what they do. Game on is often we an Alchemist needs to start working, it also is almost certainly when something else is happening that is plot or game related. This makes it difficult for a player to be willing to miss not just the action or role playing oppertunity, I think Ravinal is suggesting that maybe the alchemist doesn't seem to be giving an equally powerful (whether by itself or by adding up multiple) potions.

I could be putting words in his mouth, but this is what I think he was getting at and obviously I agree. I don't think the current equation of time required + power is = to other 4th level disciplines.

[WayneO42]

Just wait until we release the arcane/alchemy rules changes. Brew times have stayed the same as have mix and gather times but the power level on potions has gone up to be in line with the arcane.

The nature of the alchemist (and the craftsman) is to be away from the "action" while they make things. Its how it is. If this is not the type of character you wish to play, then explore other options. There are excellent role-playing oportunities while mixing potions.

If I were playing an alchemist I would spend the first half hour of game mixing up some of my more powerful potions and then brewing them. That would set them done at about 1PM. I would then brew a batch of lesser potions which would be done around seven PM. Then, right after game break, I would mix up a final batch of my more powerful potions that would be done around noon the next day. If I were a 4th level alchemist, I would have spent 30 minutes at game on mixing a level three and a level 2 potion. Then I would spend about an hour and fifteen minutes in the afternoon mixing 5 level 1 potions. Finally I would spend 15-30 minutes after game break mixing potions again. That would give me 5 level 1 potions, a 3rd level, and three level two potions. My total time dedicated to mixing and gathering would be about two hours. The bulk of which happens in the morning and evening when things are slow. Not bad in my opinion.

[Ravinal]

Did I mention my character wasn't a alchemist. hehe.....thanks for the explaination. Though I still feel that alchemy should be more than just potions. As in the changing of one substance to another.

[Ravinal]

Actually ...never mind on that transmutation. I need to read faster. Heh

[Nelkie]

Please let me know if I'm getting this right fro alchemy!

Lets say I'm a 4th level alchmist and want to make 5 cure light wound potions that heal 2 life.
I can't rember gathering and mixing times so lets say it takes 10 minutes total to mix and gather the indgredents to the potions.
So to make the 5 potions the alchmist would have spend 50 minutes, 10 minutes per potion, and let the group brew for 12 hours before the potions are done. Is this example correct?

What happens at the end of the event and you have a potion still brewing?? Is the potion lost?

What can be done with the vial posion? Can you throw it at a person and how does it effect them? Can a non assisian coat a weapon to do posion damage on the next strike? Just curious?

Seige weapons. Why can't a catpult use grap shot? I find it much safer than launching a boulder at people. I'm having diffcult coming up with a catpult boulder that can be thrown 40-50 by a catpult, but not hurt anyone. I was thinking a boulder would be used on building, and grap shot would be used against troops. I'm just thinking about peoples safety. Not to mention a trebasha has a greater distance than a catpult and thats it benifit. I personaly would like to so the rules for trebasha and catpult combined to keep it commonized. One is for boulders and one for grap shot.

By the way, it is very diffucult to hit one person with a seige weapon. They are only effective against a large group of people. So you don't have to worry about a one-shot kill. I would like to see boulders used against buildings and grap shot (spell packets) used against people for safety reasons. From one who has tested seige weapons on people.

[GM-Mike]

Your example looks correct. Also, only an assassin can coat a weapon and only an assassin can use a coated weapon.

[Atrum Draconus]

Except that a 4th level alchemist wouldn't be able to make 5 2nd level potions at once, they'd be 1 heal potions. 2 heals they could make 2 of and a 1 heal.

[Trevor Owen]

you don't need to throw a boulder. you can throw a spell packet. In fact i would prefer not to have large heavy phys reps flying at people.

no grape shot in catapolts... that is what trebs are for.

[WayneO42]

Except that a 4th level alchemist wouldn't be able to make 5 2nd level potions at once, they'd be 1 heal potions. 2 heals they could make 2 of and a 1 heal.

We combined all healing potions into one level 1 potion. The potency is just determined by brew time and/or magic components. So a 4th level alchemist could actually brew 5 4LP heal potions. Of course it would cost them 10 magic components and take 24 hours.

[Atrum Draconus]

OK, my bad.

[Lambic]

The nature of the alchemist (and the craftsman) is to be away from the "action" while they make things. Its how it is. If this is not the type of character you wish to play, then explore other options. There are excellent role-playing oportunities while mixing potions.

I think You are misunderstanding my complaint. Its not taking time away from plot or "action" but that I didn't and don't think that its is equal with other 4th level disciplines. With the rewrite I think it is closer, but not quite there.

As for playing an alchemist and a craftsman, I realize what this entails, but I came up with a character concept that I thought would be fun to play and am attempting to stick with it, however, if I decide that I don't think that I, personally, the concept in this system is no longer feasible or fun, then I will find a new one. I understand that not every concept can be playable in every system, that is the way the world works. Also I understand that this may all be personal taste. I am not promising to not complain about it though.

I apologize if this sounds like I am taking it too personal, it is late, and it did sting when I reread it, or read it, I'm not sure which. To me it sounds very much like "If you don't want to have pointy ears, don't play an elf." Its a simple answer to a more complicated question. Speaking of which I am trying to make my point of view clear in other threads and I am trying to keep a very open mind, but I can be stubborn.