WotC GregB: Alchemy

[LostInTheMists]

From Greg Bilsland's Blog on Gleemax, regarding Alchemy:

I noticed in a recent thread on ENworld discussing alchemy items in response to a GRZ video. Alchemy items are indeed treated like rituals, however, the product that the ritual produces is treated much like a magic item. Like magic items, alchemy items will scale with levels. This means that even though you’re paragon or epic tier, you can still use your recipe to produce a tanglefoot bag, alchemist’s fire, or thunderstone that can compete with your enemies’ defenses. In my mind, this makes an alchemist-themed character a viable build, and I’d be eager to see a paragon path devoted to such a thing. In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I’ll see if Chris Youngs will let me write something like that for DDI.

 

[Mort_Q]

Makes me wonder if Artificer would work better as a style of play rather than an actual class. I really need to see how all the various magic items are treated and what became of UMD. Hurry up June!!!

 

[catsclaw227]

I noticed in a recent thread on ENworld discussing alchemy items in response to a GRZ video. Alchemy items are indeed treated like rituals, however, the product that the ritual produces is treated much like a magic item. Like magic items, alchemy items will scale with levels. This means that even though you’re paragon or epic tier, you can still use your recipe to produce a tanglefoot bag, alchemist’s fire, or thunderstone that can compete with your enemies’ defenses. In my mind, this makes an alchemist-themed character a viable build, and I’d be eager to see a paragon path devoted to such a thing. In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I’ll see if Chris Youngs will let me write something like that for DDI.

This sounds rather cool. I have had more than one PC in my campaigns start out making alchemical items, only to drop the concept because it didn't scale well in 3.5.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

what I would like to know is

how many recipe can a character know?

how many rituals?

will it be linked to stat or level or feat or all of them?

 

[muffin_of_chaos]

Ran a 3.0 1st-level one-shot years ago where the deadliest character in the group was an Aristocrat who had bought a bunch of Alchemist's Fire.

 

[Belphanior]

I have just become twice as stoked about 4e than I already was. I shall look forward to that alchemist path. Because my favoritest character ever was a "mad scientist" kind of person. If I can tinker around with laboratories and napalm I shall be very, very happy indeed.

 

[Stalker0]

I have just become twice as stoked about 4e than I already was. I shall look forward to that alchemist path. Because my favoritest character ever was a "mad scientist" kind of person. If I can tinker around with laboratories and napalm I shall be very, very happy indeed.

Yeah, the alchemist was an archetype that was never well represented in 3e. hopefully that will change in 4e.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

Glorious! That's always been a real sticking point for me in 3.5--who uses alchemical items (other than sunrods, and maybe tanglefoot bags) past level 3 or so?

 

[Ktulu]

The best part is you don't HAVE to be a wizard. Now the rogue/assassin can know a few tricks to help him escape his enemies, provided he has time to brew it up.

Definitely brings to mind the alchemist fire from Game of Thrones.

Ktulu

 

[Shroomy]

Very cool...Now if we can get Nicholas Logue to update his Charlatan PRC (one of my favorites from Dragon) for 4e as a paragon path, I'll be in hog heaven.