Help with Alchemy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with Alchemy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Landman
10-02-05, 11:47 PM This weekend, I "played" D&D for the first time ever (except no actual playing went on since it took me about 8 hours to make my character!... starting lvl 13 :-/ )

So basically, my primary class is rogue with two levels in "Arsenalist". This basically means I'm a pyro rogue with knowledge in gunpowder and alchemy who can use some 1st level spells. However, I have 16 skill points invested into alchemy, and I would really like to know what I can do with this, other than make explosives (which is the primary focus of it).

I tried reading up on alchemy, but i couldnt find a good guide to it in any of the dozens of books my friends had. Are there specific lists of combinations? Do I need a higher spellcaster level for more advanced concoctions? Will I need to get odd raw materials?
Xaktsaroth
10-03-05, 12:08 AM This weekend, I "played" D&D for the first time ever (except no actual playing went on since it took me about 8 hours to make my character!... starting lvl 13 :-/ )

So basically, my primary class is rogue with two levels in "Arsenalist". This basically means I'm a pyro rogue with knowledge in gunpowder and alchemy who can use some 1st level spells. However, I have 16 skill points invested into alchemy, and I would really like to know what I can do with this, other than make explosives (which is the primary focus of it).

I tried reading up on alchemy, but i couldnt find a good guide to it in any of the dozens of books my friends had. Are there specific lists of combinations? Do I need a higher spellcaster level for more advanced concoctions? Will I need to get odd raw materials?

Depending on your alignment/character, poison is fun. And with a high Craft(Alchemy) you can make some fairly good ones for cheap.

Your a rogue, so pick up a bow and start poisoning people from a distance. :P
Landman
10-03-05, 05:15 PM I'm sure poison is fun. I am sure various types of explosives, potions, and exploding poisonous potions are fun too... but even though I have 16 ranks in Alchemy, what good is it without any knowledge (me, not my character) of what items I need for the craft or what items I can make with it.

PS. I'm chaotic neutral and my weapon is a repeating crossbow (the ability to use this comes with the arsenalist class), so Im not sure how easy it will be to poinson since the ammunition comes in clips. I'm sure as heck gonna try though!
Iver Gearsham
10-03-05, 09:08 PM Most items are in the Player's Hand book For a Rogue the Tanglefoot bag is killer as it is only a Ranged touch attack to hit them and you can Sneak attack after you hit them.

Mix in a few doses of contact posion for fun.

DCs are in the skill discription of Craft or Alchemy.
ytookay
10-03-05, 09:17 PM The key to making Alchemy useful is to collaborate with your DM if you have a interesting and original idea about something you think you should be allowed to make.
braindead345
10-04-05, 04:24 AM Other uses of Alchemy include identification of chemicals, general uses of chemicals, and the crafting of acid & base potions.

Think of alchemy as being the same as chemistry. 16 ranks in Alchemy is about the same as 1 semester of the average Chemestry 101 class (with a C average) at your favorite University. By today's standards, that is nothing out of the ordinary (a large % of the population have that knowledge); but even 100 years ago that much knowledge was highly unusual.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Landman 10-02-05, 11:47 PM	This weekend, I "played" D&D for the first time ever (except no actual playing went on since it took me about 8 hours to make my character!... starting lvl 13 :-/ ) So basically, my primary class is rogue with two levels in "Arsenalist". This basically means I'm a pyro rogue with knowledge in gunpowder and alchemy who can use some 1st level spells. However, I have 16 skill points invested into alchemy, and I would really like to know what I can do with this, other than make explosives (which is the primary focus of it). I tried reading up on alchemy, but i couldnt find a good guide to it in any of the dozens of books my friends had. Are there specific lists of combinations? Do I need a higher spellcaster level for more advanced concoctions? Will I need to get odd raw materials?
Xaktsaroth 10-03-05, 12:08 AM	This weekend, I "played" D&D for the first time ever (except no actual playing went on since it took me about 8 hours to make my character!... starting lvl 13 :-/ ) So basically, my primary class is rogue with two levels in "Arsenalist". This basically means I'm a pyro rogue with knowledge in gunpowder and alchemy who can use some 1st level spells. However, I have 16 skill points invested into alchemy, and I would really like to know what I can do with this, other than make explosives (which is the primary focus of it). I tried reading up on alchemy, but i couldnt find a good guide to it in any of the dozens of books my friends had. Are there specific lists of combinations? Do I need a higher spellcaster level for more advanced concoctions? Will I need to get odd raw materials? Depending on your alignment/character, poison is fun. And with a high Craft(Alchemy) you can make some fairly good ones for cheap. Your a rogue, so pick up a bow and start poisoning people from a distance. :P
Landman 10-03-05, 05:15 PM	I'm sure poison is fun. I am sure various types of explosives, potions, and exploding poisonous potions are fun too... but even though I have 16 ranks in Alchemy, what good is it without any knowledge (me, not my character) of what items I need for the craft or what items I can make with it. PS. I'm chaotic neutral and my weapon is a repeating crossbow (the ability to use this comes with the arsenalist class), so Im not sure how easy it will be to poinson since the ammunition comes in clips. I'm sure as heck gonna try though!
Iver Gearsham 10-03-05, 09:08 PM	Most items are in the Player's Hand book For a Rogue the Tanglefoot bag is killer as it is only a Ranged touch attack to hit them and you can Sneak attack after you hit them. Mix in a few doses of contact posion for fun. DCs are in the skill discription of Craft or Alchemy.
ytookay 10-03-05, 09:17 PM	The key to making Alchemy useful is to collaborate with your DM if you have a interesting and original idea about something you think you should be allowed to make.
braindead345 10-04-05, 04:24 AM	Other uses of Alchemy include identification of chemicals, general uses of chemicals, and the crafting of acid & base potions. Think of alchemy as being the same as chemistry. 16 ranks in Alchemy is about the same as 1 semester of the average Chemestry 101 class (with a C average) at your favorite University. By today's standards, that is nothing out of the ordinary (a large % of the population have that knowledge); but even 100 years ago that much knowledge was highly unusual.