Offensive alchemist potions

[Rageburst]

Here\'s something interesting we may discuss: the offensive capabilities of potions.

It\'s a given that potions can have regular effects such as healing, cure disease, recover mana, increase speed for time duration, and so on. While these are quite useful, I was also thinking of potions that can be used offensively.

Examples:
- Poison potions: This potion allows the alchemist to coat weapons with poison. These may include ninja stars, throwing needles, and throwing daggers. Ninjas-type chars might want to look into this.

- Smoke potion: Here\'s another one for the ninjas. A potion that covers the field with smoke which would help you escape mobs. AI-wise, the smoke would have the effect of temporarily blinding the monsters.

- Poison Cloud potion: This potion is not used for coating weapons, but it has the property of making a poison cloud upon shattering on the ground. Poison does damage over a long period of time.

- Grenade potion: This potion is similar to poison cloud, but does immediate fire damage rather than over time.

- Molotov cocktail: For lack of a better name, this potion is named so because it acts like one. This implies it has the effect of doing fire damage over a short period of time, although it does damage more quickly than poison.

- Banishing potion: It does a lot of damage to demons and the undead. If will also drive them away if not dead.

- Sleeping gas potion: If potent enough, this potion sends everyone to sleep... monsters only.

- Love potion: This makes the monster into a useful pet for a duration. It can also be thrown at the ladies. huh huh?

[Kiva]

Let me correct you for just a moment

This is what alchemy is:

\"A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.\"

* To people who don\'t know what panacea is, it\'s the cure for any poison and disease.

Therefor, you\'d maybe want to direct your request towards the healing profession (pharmacist maybe? - I know you haven\'t finished this profession Talad, so maybe it could be something?).

But then again, the Devs ways are mostly unknown, so if I\'m mistaken on the alchemy part, just blame it on Venge.

[Xalthar]

Yes grono, but we are talking an Alchemist of a fantasy universe, the alchemist profession should have the skill to make various potions or brews.. Transforming metal into gold would just be exploited But sure, some fancy tradeskills could be used in metallurgy so that the Alchemist would stay true to his field of expertice, even ingame..

[Kiva]

What makes the fantasy alchemist so diffrent from the alchemists who once tried to obtain these things (which btw. never happened)? Who says anyone will actually be able to discover any of these three things, and alchemists simply remain people meddling with magical metals, not-so-godly antidotes and potions of life? That is, if you ask me, what an alchemist should do, not the \"Oh look at me, I\'m alchemist so I use herblaw to find some simple herbs and make potions\" kind of thing, that most games do. If you\'d take a look at the ingredients for a healing potion in AD&D - or similar games, you\'d be stunned. I think it was something like a trolls eye, and sperm from a living tiger or so... Really nasty stuff actually, and quite hard to get.

Besides, now that I remember it... We\'re talking alchemists, and they\'re supposed to love their work. Not throw it around.

[Wedge]

I\'d think in a world with caves and mining and stuff, an alchemist would pry try to come up with a way to blow things up.  I\'m always for blowing things up anyway, and being a ninja, alchemy based bombs would be a great addition to my inventory.  

*throws a smoke bomb and escapes the post*

[Rageburst]

Originally posted by Gronomist
Besides, now that I remember it... We\'re talking alchemists, and they\'re supposed to love their work. Not throw it around.

Here\'s the thing, I was suggesting the ADDITION of offensive throwing potions or one where you can use to enhance your weapons.

In fantasy settings, haven\'t you ever seen a throwing potion? In my opinion, alchemists are meant to blow things up... as well as make potions with some useful effects.

[Kiva]

Why don\'t we have them take care of a Zoo as well, and let ninjas throw wooden stickfigures at people? I honestly don\'t agree with the person who in the first place decided to change something real, and make it something not real, \"just because it\'s for a fantasy setting\". It just doesn\'t make sense... Alchemists are the physicians of the medieval age, they\'re not some figment of our imagination from some book. They really existed once, and so did an iron sword, yet I don\'t see iron swords jump around on it\'s own feet throwing stones at people for looking down at them. If something is real, it should be kept that way, but if something isn\'t real (like magic) it should be developed into something crazy. However, if you decide to use magic on potions, we can start talking about offensive potions, but otherwise?...

[Jessyn]

i have to disagree with you grono, because the meaning of alchemy has evolved since the dark ages.  Yes, one meaning is someone who tried to change lead into gold, and so forth, but another meaning,(a newer one, and the one i choose to use to exlpain my char) is that an alchemist is someone who uses the chemical and magical properties of various substances to create items(usually potions, unguents, and elixers) to achieve various effects.

Just my 2 tria

Jessyn

[zinder]

AFAIK alchemists were experimenting philosoph often hired/sponsored by rich/mighty people. They put together whatever they found and watched what happens.  Also AFAIK the monk who found gun powder was an alchemist too.
So its fairly possible if they found explosives, smokers, etc and there is a market, they will sell it to search for the stone of the wise.

[Urn]

i think offensive area effect potions is an excellent idea...

[NewPie]

umm ... Smoke potion ... why cant it just be Smoke bomb Smoke potion sounds pretty strange ... cant we use some other name for these \"potions\" ^^

[Xalthar]

Originally posted by Gronomist
What makes the fantasy alchemist so diffrent from the alchemists who once tried to obtain these things (which btw. never happened)? Who says anyone will actually be able to discover any of these three things, and alchemists simply remain people meddling with magical metals, not-so-godly antidotes and potions of life? That is, if you ask me, what an alchemist should do, not the \"Oh look at me, I\'m alchemist so I use herblaw to find some simple herbs and make potions\" kind of thing, that most games do. If you\'d take a look at the ingredients for a healing potion in AD&D - or similar games, you\'d be stunned. I think it was something like a trolls eye, and sperm from a living tiger or so... Really nasty stuff actually, and quite hard to get.

Besides, now that I remember it... We\'re talking alchemists, and they\'re supposed to love their work. Not throw it around.

Well, creating gold from another metal (which I cannot remember exactly what was) has been done.. By letting a neutron collide with the given metal.. I could explain this all day and the post would get long and boring, but what I\'m trying to say is, that this is a game, it\'s supposed to be fun in a real life way. Not boring in a real life way.. But if they find a way to make metallurgy fun, I\'m willing to accept it

[lynx_lupo]

Xalthar, it can be explained simply.

First there were other metals like lead. Many stars and nova\'s just made the appropriate conditions(T) to change small atoms to bigger ones. Like gold (eventually) from hydrogen...

Anything can be made into anything, one just needs a red hot star.  

Gronomist is so sure about her profession, she must have meddled with the devs...  

[elscouta]

Originally posted by NewPie
umm ... Smoke potion ... why cant it just be Smoke bomb Smoke potion sounds pretty strange ... cant we use some other name for these \"potions\" ^^

We don\'t want real life names. Of course an explosive potion would be better called Grenade. But, hmm.... it\'s not so PS-style, i think

[Wedge]

Instead of \"Explosive Potion\" it could be called \"Vial Of Flaming Death\".  It sounds better AND is still OK... I think.