Creating high level cure potions?

[Zephalon]

How much does it cost to create the various cure potions with higher caster levels (XPs and Gold)? I don't find the rules for this. The DMG seems to assume lowest possible caster level. The highest possible caster level for each respective cure spells nearly doubles it's effectiveness.

Example Potions:

Cure Light Wounds CL1: 1d8+1 (avg 5,5), 50 gp
Cure Light Wounds CL5: 1d8+5 (avg 9,5)

Cure Moderate Wounds CL3: 2d8+3 (avg 12), 300gp
Cure Moderate Wounds CL10: 2d8+10 (avg 19)

Cure Serious Wounds CL5: 3d8+5 (avg 18,5), 750 gp??
Cure Serious Wounds CL15: 3d8+15 (avg 28,5)

Is the base cost for potions tied to caster level? And if so, how?

 

[Magic Rub]

Brew Potion [Item Creation]

Prerequisite: Spellcaster level 3rd+.

Benefit: The character can create a potion of any spell of 3rd level or lower that the character knows and that targets a creature or creatures. Brewing a potion takes 1 day. When the character creates a potion, the character sets the caster level. The caster level must be sufficient to cast the spell in question and no higher than the character's own level. The base price of a potion is its spell level multiplied by its caster level multiplied by 50 gp. To brew a potion, the character must spend 1/25 of this base price in XP and use up raw materials costing half this base price.

When the character creates a potion, the character makes any choices that the character would normally make when casting the spell. Whoever drinks the potion is the target of the spell. Any potion that stores a spell with a costly material component or an XP cost also carries a commensurate cost. In addition to the costs derived from the base price, the character must expend the material component or pay the XP when creating the potion.

Potions: Base price in gp = spell level X caster level X 50 gp + Misc. ie; casting cost, xp charges(if any?)

(For a cleric) in the case of;

Cure Light Wounds CL5: 1d8+5
spell level (1) X caster level (5) X 50 gp = 250gp // 10xp

Cure Moderate Wounds CL10: 2d8+10
spell level (2) X caster level (10) X 50 gp = 1000gp // 40xp

Cure Serious Wounds CL15: 3d8+15
spell level (3) X caster level (15) X 50 gp = 2250gp // 90xp


If you're interested in the whole PC/NPC potion making thing you may also want to check out the Master Alchemist Prestige Class, page 34 in MoF. Among other things, it eventually allows you to make potions with/of 9th lvl spells.

 

[Zephalon]

Thanks, that clearly answers the question. I didn't look at the feat, just the DMG rules for creating potions.

 

[dcollins]

Note that it's also concisely on PHB p. 78 under "Item Cost".

 

[Rel]

Thanks, that clearly answers the question. I didn't look at the feat, just the DMG rules for creating potions.

I think the reason that you rarely see instances of higher than minimal caster level potions of curing is that it tends to yield suboptimal results when looked at from a cost/benefit standpoint.

For the cost of 1 CL5 potion of CLW (1d8+5 for 250 GP), you could buy 5 potions of CLW at CL1 (1d8+1 for 50 GP). Granted, regardless of how well or poorly you roll on the d8, it is nice to add 5 instead of 1. But consider that you could buy a potion of CMW, CL3 that heals 2d8+3 for only 50 GP more than the CL5 CLW.

Higher caster level potions are of most benefit when you are in mid-combat. But frankly, you're better off in most cases to just have the party Cleric (if you've got one) spontaneously cast a cure on you than to resort to high cost potions of dubious extra benefit.