Brew Potion: Can it be used on Personal spells?

[Xarlen]

It's a Potion. Do you allow Potions of Fireball?

If you don't, then explain to me the difference between Fireball and Shield. Both effect something external, and Not you.

A potion of shield is, in many ways, just like a potion of Wall of Stone. The shield, and wall can form right in front of you. The only difference is, the shield follows you.

 

[dcollins]

The DMG potion table lists several personal-range potions.

I'll just split the hair and point out that, post-errata, there's only two: speak with animals and alter self.

EDIT: Snipped rest -- improperly parsed someone else's comment.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

I'll just split the hair and point out that, post-errata, there's only two: speak with animals and alter self.

Which, by the way, is an erratum that requires further errata, since a potion of alter self ought to specify what form the drinker takes (the maker of the potion, not the user, gets to make this decision). That really ought to be pointed out in the table.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

If you don't, then explain to me the difference between Fireball and Shield. Both effect something external, and Not you.

Actually, that's the similarity between fireball and shield, not the difference.

And of course the whole point is that technically shield does affect you. The problem is that it doesn't make a lot of sense to consider it as doing so when it comes to potions, and it causes balance problems.

 

[da chicken]

No shield pots? Dang. Now you're making me take a level of Sorcerer or Abjurer/Diviner. Wait. That's better. Now I can use wands and scrolls.

 

[IceBear]

Sure, but you've lost a level of your primary class in doing so, and possibly made it more difficult to multiclass into what you *really* wanted to take. I'm ok with that trade off.

IceBear

 

[Xarlen]

And of course the whole point is that technically shield does affect you. The problem is that it doesn't make a lot of sense to consider it as doing so when it comes to potions, and it causes balance problems.

Sure it effects you. By guarding you when something externaly forms in front of your body. Does the potion make your body emit a force field in front of 1/4th of it? Does the shield squirt out of you?

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Sure it effects you. By guarding you when something externaly forms in front of your body. Does the potion make your body emit a force field in front of 1/4th of it? Does the shield squirt out of you?

That would be the part where (like I said in the first place) it doesn't make much sense in the context of a potion. Can I ask you who you're trying to convince of this point, by the way? It seems to be one of the things everyone pretty much agrees on.

 

[Xarlen]

Ah; I thought you were arguing the point.

 

[Shallown]

I think Dr Rictus hit it sort of on the head. Potions cannot use spells that have abilities that require choice. I think in the erreta or Tome and blood they broke up the Prot from elemenst into prot from fire, cold etc. I allow shield potions but the facing is chosen when the potion is made, same with alter self. It limits the effectiveness of the spell enough for me to be comfortable.

Later