Brew Potion: Can it be used on Personal spells?

[Caliban]

I'm aware that Shield potions are technically legal, but even aside from the balance issues, I don't like them.

I just don't like shield potions because the Shield spell doesn't really affect you, even though it is a personal spell. It creates something, it doesn't actually do anything to you.

Why would drinking a potion create a disk of force that dances around you without having any contact?

Potions are supposed to be things that change you, heal you, or enhance your abilities. Bah.

 

[IceBear]

Good point Caliban

IceBear

 

[MerakSpielman]

I don't allow Shield potions in my game. If I did, all intelligent monsters would carry them too.

My reasoning is simple.
1) I think it would be unbalanced.
2) The shield spell has 2 features I consider incompatable with potions. (Read: make sense to me but may not be at all official)
2a) from SRD bolding mine: "Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of the character." I think the magical effect of a potion should be limited to the drinker's personal body. The shield spell definatly creates an effect beyond the drinkers body. Thus, Barkskin and Mage Armor would be allowable, but Shield would not.
2b) from SRD "The character can change the defensive direction of the shield (that is, rotate the dividing line) once as a free action on each of the character's turns." I have a problem with a potion creating an ongoing effect that is modifyable by the drinker. The magical properties of the potion should be set when created, and the drinker gains no special knowledge of how to manipulate the magical effect. If a shield spell could be brewed into a potion, I would rule that the shield effect covers only the half of the battlefield the character is facing when he quaffed it. It never moves.

 

[tarkin]

I could find no logical reason to disallow Shield Potions.

I think what it comes down to is the fact that the Shield Spell itself is unbalanced. +7 is too powerful at 1st level. It seems playable only because Mages do not have Armor. Since the Shield is unbalanced with Armor, they should have simply said it does not stack with Armor. It was poorly designed.

 

[Pax]

I'm asking because there are quite a few spells in Magic of Faerun that would make good potions (such as Camoflage, Reverse Arrows, Master Air) but have Target: You, rather than "targets a creature or creatures. " Are these eligible for potionmaking?

Upon re-reading, I can actually speak directly to the original question:

Are "you" a creature, or an object?

 

[Xarlen]

I have to agree with Caliban. It's like a potion of Tenser's Floating Disk.

 

[kreynolds]

It's like a potion of Tenser's Floating Disk.

...ouch.

 

[Xarlen]

...ouch.

 

[Malakye]

2) The shield spell has 2 features I consider incompatable with potions. (Read: make sense to me but may not be at all official)
2a) from SRD bolding mine: "Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of the character." I think the magical effect of a potion should be limited to the drinker's personal body. The shield spell definatly creates an effect beyond the drinkers body. Thus, Barkskin and Mage Armor would be allowable, but Shield would not.
2b) from SRD "The character can change the defensive direction of the shield (that is, rotate the dividing line) once as a free action on each of the character's turns." I have a problem with a potion creating an ongoing effect that is modifyable by the drinker. The magical properties of the potion should be set when created, and the drinker gains no special knowledge of how to manipulate the magical effect. If a shield spell could be brewed into a potion, I would rule that the shield effect covers only the half of the battlefield the character is facing when he quaffed it. It never moves.

This is exactly why I don't allow shield potions in my campaign.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I have to agree with Caliban. It's like a potion of Tenser's Floating Disk.

while I can see the logic of what you are saying I also notice that it is a extremely limited craft items feat that requires you to be a 3rd level caster, the same level as wonderous items. Do you really want to limit it more. Not that it effects my games since I redid the craft items feats.