How much to analyze a potion [Archive] - Wizards Community

How much to analyze a potion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
olshanski_home
03-13-07, 12:59 PM I rarely ever post, but here goes:

I think that charging 100GP to identify a potion is a bit too much, when many potions are worth less than 100 gp.

Also, anyone with sufficient spellcraft ranks can identify a potion using a simple DC20 skill check.

A low level human spellcaster could easitly have Magical Aptitude or Skill Focus (Spellcraft) or both, and have a great chance to identify a potion, especially if he had access to a library that provided a circumstance bonus on the check.

Would it be reasonable to charge 5gp to identify a potion in a large city?

By the time most characters are 8th level, they are identifying potions themselves 100% of the time, so this is something for lower-level play.
Merestil Haye
03-13-07, 03:08 PM Actually the DC is 25.

Having said that, once a creature has +15 spellcraft he should be able to identify any and all potions. I reckon a 6th level wizard with Skill Focus (Spellcraft) and 16 Int - an ex-adventurer who retired because he wasn't up to all that tramping around in the mud (say) would be plausible. I'd ask 10gp per potion, I think - maybe give volume discounts.

You don't want to make him too low a level that he can't get to +15 without spells or items, as he'd have to charge more for the additional resources expended.
olshanski_home
03-13-07, 03:29 PM Thanks for the pointer that I missed the DC.

Still... I am wondering what the charge should be for identifying a potion. Does 5gp sound right, or should it be more like 10-25 gp?
primemover003
03-13-07, 03:41 PM In 3.0 using the Alchemy skill it cost 1gp per attempt to ID a potion at the same DC (or 20gp to take 20).

I'd use that.
Epicweaver
03-13-07, 03:49 PM Detect Magic + Spellcraft DC25 = free identify of potions

Alchemy Lab + Craft (alchemy) DC25 = 1gp per potion identified

This is the way I run it. Generally, nonspellcasting parties need to pay an NPC 1-2gp per potion they want identified.
primemover003
03-13-07, 09:17 PM You don't need a detect magic to ID the potion with Spellcraft. That's the point of allowing the skill to do it.
Nom
03-14-07, 07:35 AM DMG II pg 155 gives guidelines for specialists. Potion ID-ing is listed on pg 157 as 3 gp and 1 minute, assuming you're somewhere that a 3rd level Spellcraft (assumes +17 bonus) specialist could be found.
Dragonteuthis
03-14-07, 10:25 AM Huh, I 'ported over the 20gp charge from 3.0. Guess I've been overcharging my characters.

Thanks for the updates. 3 gp sounds a bit low, I may up it to 5 gp.

On second thought that sounds really nit-picky. Meh, whatever.
Kouk
03-14-07, 11:50 AM I think we should not ignore possible extra charges for the NPC potentially putting himself at risk by just tasting whatever you put in front of him.

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *yum* it's a potion of cure moderate wounds. 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *vomit* it's an oil of magic weapon. 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *yowch!* it's a potion of inflict light wounds, you find this on a lich? 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this" "Ok, *gurp* it's a DC 25 Con poison. 3 gold please. *dies*"
FriendoftheDork
03-14-07, 12:03 PM I think we should not ignore possible extra charges for the NPC potentially putting himself at risk by just tasting whatever you put in front of him.

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *yum* it's a potion of cure moderate wounds. 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *vomit* it's an oil of magic weapon. 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this". "Ok, *yowch!* it's a potion of inflict light wounds, you find this on a lich? 3 gold please."

"Here, taste this" "Ok, *gurp* it's a DC 25 Con poison. 3 gold please. *dies*"

You don't usually imbibe the potion when you use spellcraft to identify... more vision, smell etc.
mvincent
03-14-07, 12:48 PM You don't usually imbibe the potion when you use spellcraft to identify... more vision, smell etc.From the rules (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/potionsAndOils.htm):
"Identifying Potions
In addition to the standard methods of identification, PCs can sample from each container they find to attempt to determine the nature of the liquid inside. An experienced character learns to identify potions by memory—for example, the last time she tasted a liquid that reminded her of almonds, it turned out to be a potion of cure moderate wounds. "

Although the above is technically different from using a spell-craft check, one can imagine that identifying with a spell-craft can often also involve some tasting... not enough to receive the effects of the potion, but it still may not be enjoyable.

kinda like how cops identified drugs on Miami-vice

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
olshanski_home 03-13-07, 12:59 PM	I rarely ever post, but here goes: I think that charging 100GP to identify a potion is a bit too much, when many potions are worth less than 100 gp. Also, anyone with sufficient spellcraft ranks can identify a potion using a simple DC20 skill check. A low level human spellcaster could easitly have Magical Aptitude or Skill Focus (Spellcraft) or both, and have a great chance to identify a potion, especially if he had access to a library that provided a circumstance bonus on the check. Would it be reasonable to charge 5gp to identify a potion in a large city? By the time most characters are 8th level, they are identifying potions themselves 100% of the time, so this is something for lower-level play.
Merestil Haye 03-13-07, 03:08 PM	Actually the DC is 25. Having said that, once a creature has +15 spellcraft he should be able to identify any and all potions. I reckon a 6th level wizard with Skill Focus (Spellcraft) and 16 Int - an ex-adventurer who retired because he wasn't up to all that tramping around in the mud (say) would be plausible. I'd ask 10gp per potion, I think - maybe give volume discounts. You don't want to make him too low a level that he can't get to +15 without spells or items, as he'd have to charge more for the additional resources expended.
olshanski_home 03-13-07, 03:29 PM	Thanks for the pointer that I missed the DC. Still... I am wondering what the charge should be for identifying a potion. Does 5gp sound right, or should it be more like 10-25 gp?
primemover003 03-13-07, 03:41 PM	In 3.0 using the Alchemy skill it cost 1gp per attempt to ID a potion at the same DC (or 20gp to take 20). I'd use that.
Epicweaver 03-13-07, 03:49 PM	Detect Magic + Spellcraft DC25 = free identify of potions Alchemy Lab + Craft (alchemy) DC25 = 1gp per potion identified This is the way I run it. Generally, nonspellcasting parties need to pay an NPC 1-2gp per potion they want identified.
primemover003 03-13-07, 09:17 PM	You don't need a detect magic to ID the potion with Spellcraft. That's the point of allowing the skill to do it.
Nom 03-14-07, 07:35 AM	DMG II pg 155 gives guidelines for specialists. Potion ID-ing is listed on pg 157 as 3 gp and 1 minute, assuming you're somewhere that a 3rd level Spellcraft (assumes +17 bonus) specialist could be found.
Dragonteuthis 03-14-07, 10:25 AM	Huh, I 'ported over the 20gp charge from 3.0. Guess I've been overcharging my characters. Thanks for the updates. 3 gp sounds a bit low, I may up it to 5 gp. On second thought that sounds really nit-picky. Meh, whatever.
Kouk 03-14-07, 11:50 AM	I think we should not ignore possible extra charges for the NPC potentially putting himself at risk by just tasting whatever you put in front of him. "Here, taste this". "Ok, yum it's a potion of cure moderate wounds. 3 gold please." "Here, taste this". "Ok, vomit it's an oil of magic weapon. 3 gold please." "Here, taste this". "Ok, yowch! it's a potion of inflict light wounds, you find this on a lich? 3 gold please." "Here, taste this" "Ok, gurp it's a DC 25 Con poison. 3 gold please. dies"
FriendoftheDork 03-14-07, 12:03 PM	I think we should not ignore possible extra charges for the NPC potentially putting himself at risk by just tasting whatever you put in front of him. "Here, taste this". "Ok, yum it's a potion of cure moderate wounds. 3 gold please." "Here, taste this". "Ok, vomit it's an oil of magic weapon. 3 gold please." "Here, taste this". "Ok, yowch! it's a potion of inflict light wounds, you find this on a lich? 3 gold please." "Here, taste this" "Ok, gurp it's a DC 25 Con poison. 3 gold please. dies" You don't usually imbibe the potion when you use spellcraft to identify... more vision, smell etc.
mvincent 03-14-07, 12:48 PM	You don't usually imbibe the potion when you use spellcraft to identify... more vision, smell etc.From the rules (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/potionsAndOils.htm): "Identifying Potions In addition to the standard methods of identification, PCs can sample from each container they find to attempt to determine the nature of the liquid inside. An experienced character learns to identify potions by memory—for example, the last time she tasted a liquid that reminded her of almonds, it turned out to be a potion of cure moderate wounds. " Although the above is technically different from using a spell-craft check, one can imagine that identifying with a spell-craft can often also involve some tasting... not enough to receive the effects of the potion, but it still may not be enjoyable. kinda like how cops identified drugs on Miami-vice