Alchemy is the arcane science of creating magic potions. Anyone that drinks a potion, knowingly or unknowingly, triggers the magical Effect. A potion may be used by any character, whether they are a Spellcaster or not.
In game terms, a potion allows a character to use a Major Action to cast a spell on themselves without making a Spellcasting Check. In a sense, potions are a way for Spellcasters to pre-cast spells to save time and reduce risk during Encounters. Potions are also a way for a non-Spellcaster to enjoy the benefits of magic without casting a spell.
There are, however, some downsides. First, transporting potions is difficult. Second, potions can only create spell effects that directly affect the person drinking the potion. Third, failed attempts to brew potions can be catastrophic.
Brewing Potions #
Brewing a potion works exactly like casting a spell using the rules described in Chapter 14: Spellcasting with a few exceptions.
Selecting the Spell #
Describing the spell and deciding how the rules are used to create the spell Effect are handled AS per the standard rules for Spellcasting. Potions, however, can only emulate Instantaneous and One Round Spells that take no more than 6 seconds to cast. In addition, only spells with a target of Self are eligible to be made into potions, where “Self” is the person drinking the potion. Finally, spells cast using a potion may not be maintained, although it is possible to give a potion an extended duration.
Setting the Difficulty Score #
Determine the base Difficulty Score to brew the potion using the standard rules for Spellcasting. In addition, the Adventure Guide should consider applying one or more of the following Drawbacks.
- Add a Drawback if the Spellcaster is unable to use their Spellcasting Talisman when brewing a potion.
- Add a Drawback since the Spellcaster is unable to move freely when brewing a potion.
- Add a Drawback since the Spellcaster is unable to use their hands are occupied by their tools when brewing a potion.
- Add a Drawback to reflect the fact that spells are technically designed for casting, not for infusing into a potion.
- The proper tools for the Spellcasting Check to brew a potion is a full set of alchemist’s tools and appropriate magical ingredients (see Ingredients and Tools below).
- The appropriate environment for brewing a potion is a quiet, well-lit workspace completely free from distractions.
- Add one or more Drawbacks if the process of brewing the potion is interrupted for anything other than meals, sleep, and other biological functions.
- Add a Drawback for each additional Round the alchemist wants the potion’s Effect to persist after the first. For example, if the Spellcaster is brewing a Stoneskin potion that lasts for 5 Rounds, add 4 Drawbacks to the Difficulty Score.
Spellcasting Action Score #
Brewing the potion requires a Spellcasting Check. The Action Score for the Spellcasting Check is determined using the standard rules for Spellcasting. The Adventure Guide should consider the following:
- Add one or more Benefits if the character is making the potion in a true alchemist’s lab.
- Add one or more Benefits if the character has access to superior tools.
- Add one or more Benefits if the character uses high quality or special ingredients that are especially well suited to the spell Effect the potion creates.
- The base time required to brew a potion is 1 hour. Taking longer improves the chance of success. For each step up the time chart, add a Benefit to the character’s Action Score.
Spellcasting Check #
At the end of the brewing time, the player makes a Spellcasting Check for their character. On a failure, the effort to brew the potion fails, and the ingredients are destroyed.
On a Critical Failure, the brewing fails catastrophically. The concoction explodes, the ingredients are ruined, the alchemist’s tools are destroyed, and the Adventure Guide applies a permanent magical Effect to the Spellcaster AS a side-Effect of the Dangerous mixing of alchemical ingredients. Finally, the Spellcaster’s Body Points are reduced to 0, causing a Wound and triggering a Death Check AS per the standard rules for injury.
On a success, the potion is brewed and the ingredients are infused with magical power. Make a note of the Spellcasting Check’s Effect and the potion’s duration. This number is used when determining the outcome of the spell when someone drinks the potion in the future.
Ingredients and Tools #
Brewing potions requires rare ingredients, many of which are magical. The cost for the ingredients is equal to the Spellcasting Check Difficulty Score x 10 SP, and preparing the ingredients for brewing takes hours equal to the Difficulty Score. The only way to reduce the time is to have another Spellcaster help with the work. The work of preparing the ingredients is laborious but not prone to failure, so no Action Check is required. Note that the time to prepare the materials is in addition to the time required to brew the potion.
The character must also have a set of alchemist’s tools. These tools are heavy (around 150 lb.) and take up a lot of space (covering two Long tables when set up and assembled). A set of standard alchemist’s tools cost 500 SP.
Buying Potions #
If the Adventure Guide allows, and if it fits the setting of your game, characters may purchase potions created by other Spellcasters. The cost of a potion is typically equal to twice the cost of the ingredients used to brew it plus 4 SP/day of work spent preparing of the ingredients and brewing the potion. If the Spellcasting Check result was especially high, the Adventure Guide may wish to increase the price to 3x, 4x, or even 5x the cost of the ingredients.