Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

In a few of the campaigns that I am currently running, my players have asked about where I stand on the making of healing potions. I haven't had much experience with the matter so I have been sticking with the core rules with how it is written. Most of my players are still first level (I really don't know why I bothered starting them at first level) so by the rules they won't be able to start making potions until their spell casting level reaches 7.

Just wanted to see what house rules you guys use for potion creation

Instead of healing potions you could let them buy or create healing poultices for some lesser healing.

Now as for creating healing potions, you could let them create lesser healing potions (maybe called healing brews) that work like healing potions but has one or several drawbacks:
-Expiration date: The brew must be consume before a set time or it loses its healing properties.
-Slow working: The brew heals 1 point per round up to the rolled value.
-Unstable: A spell research roll must me made once the brew is taken to see if it works.
-Time consuming: It takes a lot more time to create.
-Hard to make: The chances of creating a brew are lower than for creating potions.

Well, keep in mind that the ability to brew potions in the SRD was pushed down to third level. So, there's that.

Or, rather than let them make such potions, give them a source to buy them relatively cheaply. If they have a cleric, maybe their church can be that source.

Just a couple thoughts.

Thanks for the tips

As a note, by the book, potions could be made by a level 2 cleric who has access to cure light wounds. Per the rules for "Other Single-use Items: The time required is one week plus one day per spell level (or equivalent), and the cost to enchant the item is 50 gp per spell level, per day." So a cure light wounds potion being a level one spell, would cost 400gp (8 x 50). This is a little cheaper then a scroll of cure light wounds (500gp).

The chance of success is 15% + 5% per level of the caster + the character's ability score as a % (Int for Wizards, Wis for Clerics). Thus a 2nd level cleric with a 12 wisdom score would have:

15%/base + 10%/level + 12%/wisdom = 37% - for a scroll you would have to subtract 10%. So scrolls are harder and more expensive.

Now, the character can attempt to make a large batch, reducing the chance of success by 5% for each dose. Also cost and time.

There are no level restrictions. You just have to be able to cast the spell. Obviously the higher your level the better you are.

From the core rulebook:

ah missed it. My mistake.