Clerics can get Brew Potion at level 1?

[Raikun]

Actually RAW is that drawing an item from your pack is a minor action. See page 194 of the Rules Compendium.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

There is an item (Potion Bandaleer - it a waist slot) that lets you draw potions as a free action - one of the PCs in my game bought it for himself.

As a note, by RAW potion use is even more expensive for persons with heavy shields, as it would also require stowing and unstowing one's weapon in order to have a hand free for quaffing the potion. Which is another reason why potions see little us in the games I've played/DMed.

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

Okay, point taken.

Question then - so in most games for the people involved in this message thread, if a PC is adjacent to a melee capable opponent, to use a potion they would have to:

Move action - shift 1 to avoid an opportunity attack
Minor action - remove potion from pack
Minor action (substitute for standard action) drink the potion.

Thus losing an entire round...

Is that correct?

Thanks.

 

[Raikun]

I've never enforced the "Opportunity Attack" thing so I'm not sure (worth checking out just so I know, though that does seem a little harsh to me).

But yes, a minor to pull the potion out, then another minor (giving up the move or standard) is how it should be played.

We have kind of a semi-house rule where the characters are allowed to have a single potion strapped in easy reach so they can grab and drink it without using a minor action...but those potions also tend to get knocked loose or break when being struck at.

 

[Nebten]

Drinking a potion doesn't incure an oppertunity attack. Drink next to the orc and then spit in his face for a free action.

 

[ACGalaga]

I'd also make them use a minor action in order to grab the potion from their packs. =)

Oh snap! Forgot about that... must let my players know.

As for stowing a shield, that's a tough one. I understand the mechanics, but it also sounds like a rule that would make my players groan. Something I have to think about and discuss with them.

We just recently had our first situation where someone desperately needed to drink a potion (game 4). He wields a two handed weapon, but I could easily imagine that his character would take one hand off the weapon to grab the potion and drink it (he didn't move so, as for drawing a potion, he was in the ok rule-wise).

We're all learning still learning. If I strictly enforce the "stowing" rule for players carrying shields, then I'll most likely suggest that belt... however, nice for potions, maybe they'd want a better belt in the future.

...but those potions also tend to get knocked loose or break when being struck at.

That's a nice house rule. How do you break them, though? When the NPC crtits or the PC rolls a 1 (is there slang for that? Wiff, maybe?)?

Drinking a potion doesn't incur an opportunity attack. Drink next to the orc and then spit in his face for a free action.

Awe, man! +10 HP to Orc...

 

[Raikun]

That's a nice house rule. How do you break them, though? When the NPC crtits or the PC rolls a 1 (is there slang for that? Wiff, maybe?)

It really depends on how harsh you wanna be I guess. =) Having a "free" option to use a potion as a free action is pretty significant so I felt the "risk" to doing so should be equally significant, so I have kind of a quick check built in anytime the player gets attacked, with a 20-33% chance of the potion breaking if he takes damage.

I'm lenient in other ways though too; I don't enforce shield stowing: I can easily imagine how someone could keep a potion in a pouch where it's reachable without dropping your shield.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

It takes a standard action to stow and/or equip shield and only a minor to stow/draw a weapon, so by RAW you are better off putting away your weapon to drink a potion rather than your shield.

And actually, two handed weapon wielders are in a better postion for drinking - removing one hand from a weapon is a free action, and one can hold (but not wield) a two handed weapon with one hand. So, while you only have one hand on it you could only use it as an improvised weapon (and wouldn't benefit from such feats as Hafted Defence), but given that it is also a free action to drop the empty bottle and then a free action to return to your two handed grip, the character is unlikely to only have one hand on the weapon for long.

 

[Balesir]

Right - and this is a major benefit of light shields, too. Not only do they allow you to carry a light or a burning brand or whatever, it's a free action to swap your weapon to the shield hand so that you can grab a potion.

The main reason I find players don't use potions is because they don't want to "waste" money on them. I'm toying with the idea of making an "Alchemical Laboratory" available as an "in town" resource that generates a free potion of its level each extended rest (or milestone, maybe?). The cost would be the same as for a regular magic item (of the level of the lab - upgradable as for other items).