Alchemy Skill Table

[IJBall]

In the category of 'things I want to clear out as I finish Book I one last time', there is another thing I wanted to post, and that is an Alchemy Skill Table.

Note: This is not going to include the recipes for making the various potions - that information can be found in this topic here.

This, rather, is a table that lists what level of Alchemy you have to achieve in order to be able to mix which kind potion.
AFAICT, that info has never posted (comprehensively) to this forum before now.

Note #2: Don't forget to check the Book I FAQ - lots of good links in there. Some other topics related to this one that might be of interest to players include:

• The Cartography Skill Table thread topic (more Cartography discussion - here)
• The discussions of Mercantile skill at this thread topic here and here
• The discussion of Dodge skill that starts here
• A comprehensive explaination of HP & MP formulas here (also: search Unclever Title for effects of minimum HP & MP - e.g. see here) - for discussions of HP & MP regeneration, see also: here (elsol) and here (Arhu)
• elsol's post also goes into details about the DEX/CON and the Bow skill bonuses you get depending on which level of Bows you are (a discussion that can likely be applied to any weapon's skill level!...).

Anyway, with that out of the way, here's the Alchemy Skills Table:


Alch.Lv...Mixable Potions (etc.) at This Level
------...-----------------------------------
....1........Healing Elixir I
....1........Mana Potion I
....1........Potion of Cat's Eyes

....2........Potion of Keensight

....3........Potion of Fortified Mana
....3........Potion of Nimbleness
....3........Potion of Leatherskin I
....3........Potion of Stoneskin (Tier III potion!!)

....4........Detox Serum
....4........Demon Oil I
....4........Potion of Ogre Strength
....4........Potion of Greater Protection (Tier II potion)

....5........Potion of Haste I
....5........Healing Elixir II (Tier II potion)
....5........Mana Potion II (Tier II potion)
....5........Potion of Cure Lesser Disease (Tier II potion)
....5........IMBUING: Weapons or Armor to +1

...10........Invisibility I
...10........Demon Oil II (Tier II potion)
...10........Potion of Haste II (Tier II potion)
...10........Potion of Leatherskin II (Tier II potion)
...10........Healing Elixir III (Tier III potion)
...10........Mana Potion III (Tier III potion)
...10........Potion of Cure Greater Disease (Tier III potion)
...10........IMBUING: Weapons or Armor to +2

...15........Invisibility II (Tier II potion)
...15........Demon Oil III (Tier III potion)
...15........Potion of Haste III (Tier III potion)
...15........Potion of Leatherskin III (Tier III potion)
...15........IMBUING: Weapons or Armor to +3

...20........Invisibility III (Tier III potion)


Hope people find this useful!
(I imagine it probably won't change too much for Book II! )

[Painted Lady]

What a helpful post. Nice research job.....

Your table brought up something that I've been thinking about lately re: alchemy in general. I've noticed that most people feel Level 15 is optimal, and the sooner the better. Somehow I've just never felt the need to invest that high a percentage of my limited resources in Alchemy.

What usually seems to be my character's progression is as follows. At first I'm so weak and incompetent that my skill points are going into improving my weapon abilities or into other life-saving stats. Also, there aren't all that many found ingredients sitting around early on - and I certainly don't have much money to spend on either ingredients or potions. So, other than guzzling a couple of Healing Elixirs or Mana Potions that have popped up in chests, I pretty much run like mad for the nearest exit when things get sticky. I do buy some Haste when I see it in a shop.

As my character gets stronger I don't need all that much help during battles. And, I've always felt that if I needed potions to make it through every encounter, my guy probably was going to be a real loser anyway.

Eventually I find the Art of Brewing book and pick up the skill. Then I pay for 3 levels and buy 2 rings, so I am at Level 10. After gathering the Ectoplasm from Tangletree, I imbue my armour and weapons to +2 and mix up all possible potions from the ingredients I've been saving.

By the time of the last big battle I have enough money to buy piles of Invisibility and Haste, so the ability to mix my own isn't particularly important. What am I missing?

[IJBall]

What a helpful post. Nice research job.....

Your table brought up something that I've been thinking about lately re: alchemy in general. I've noticed that most people feel Level 15 is optimal, and the sooner the better. Somehow I've just never felt the need to invest that high a percentage of my limited resources in Alchemy.

[snip]

Eventually I find the Art of Brewing book and pick up the skill. Then I pay for 3 levels and buy 2 rings, so I am at Level 10. After gathering the Ectoplasm from Tangletree, I imbue my armour and weapons to +2 and mix up all possible potions from the ingredients I've been saving.

By the time of the last big battle I have enough money to buy piles of Invisibility and Haste, so the ability to mix my own isn't particularly important. What am I missing?

The reason most people shoot for Alchemy Level 15 is so that they can imbue their weapons & armor to +3 (which is the highest you can go - unfortunately, there's no imbuing to +4, even with Level 20 in Alchemy ).

But, you're right - what the Alchemy skills table shows is that you're in good shape even with just Level 5 Alchemy.

And you've covered nearly all of your bases if you can get to Level 10 Alchemy (likely: buy the first 5 levels of Alchemy, The Art of Brewing training book gets you to Level 7, and then a single Brewmaster's Ring gets you to Level 10 - a pretty easy set to achieve).

But Level 15 Alchemy, if you can get to it, does allow you to imbue items to +3. That's pretty much the main reason many people shoot for it (usually using 2 Brewmaster's Rings to get to Level 15). I know that's why I shoot for Level 15.

(Almost nobody goes to Level 20, just to be able to make the Invisibility III potion - that would probably be a waste of Skill points! )