Expiration Date for Potions?

[Scotley]

I've noticed that my players almost never use there one shot items. They will use healing potions, but that's about it. They almost never bother with any other potion or scroll. Do these items suck? Or are my players just hoarding for some superbattle in the future? As I was pondering this I started to wonder what would happen if potions expired some day? They just wont stay fresh more than a few months. My players could revolt at such a suggestion. Maybe I'll make it a roll with increasing DC over time to see if the potion is still good. Or just reduce the potency over time. Anyway, just an idea I'm kicking around. Has anyone ever tried something like this and if so what were the results. Maybe scrolls could fade over time too? It will require some changes in the way I give out treasure in old tombs or other sites where there is relatively little chance for new one-shot items to show up, but I don't think it would be too big a deal.

Scotley

 

[CalrinAlshaw]

Other than healing potions, which tend to be the most common that I have noticed, people tend to try and save their potions basically because they feel there is probobly a better/easier way to approach it than just chugging a potion. I know in ADD2e, potions were pretty rare and most of the time you wanted to save them for times your mage isn't around, or your pretty sure you NEED to use them.

Anyhow, along that same line, if you think the "potency" should wear off pretty quickly, how about just making scroll ink "fade" away. Scrolls are far cheaper than potions after all.

Calrin Alshaw

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Instead of using a stick ("use it or lose it") consider a carrot. Make one-shot items plentiful in the campaign. Let your players know that they'll be able to replenish such things without too much trouble. Include more one-shot items in treasure, and fewer permanent items, even to the point that each character has multiple potions/scrolls/whatever. Once the players become convinced they don't have to save those items for an "emergency", they'll start using them more freely.

BTW - Is there a reason you're concerned about this? If the characters sit on some items, it's their choice. It's no different than the wizard deciding when to cast his one memorized fireball spell for the day, or the party deciding when to press on vs. camping. Sometimes the players will make the wrong choice, but that's part of the game.

 

[Felikeries]

add psychological torment against wiz,con

they need to use the extra dmg potion but haven't had the prime chance
so when they do their likely to stumble,regurgitate,or let the vial fall and crack open spilling the potion

of course as villages (purely aside from a SRD type view) have different costs and different quality,and variety,these will have likelyness to be 'unliquified' solutions,that turn to powder in a number of days,when water is added they loss a good deal of their worth,but still work,that'd do a real turn about for delay of game 'formulae'

 

[Destil]

Best way to do this I've found is have their opponents often use powerful one shot items with abandon if they know it's gonna be a close call for them or when things are looking grim. This should up the ante a bit, as it were. And it gives some added vermisilitude to you sprinkling more of them into the treasure, again encouraging your players to try them out...

They could just be stingy, though... most of my spell casters who start above 1st level I tend to give one or two umber scrolls (in case of emergency: summon celestial elephant) and I know I very rarely used thoes unless things looked pretty grim...

 

[Scotley]

Instead of using a stick ("use it or lose it") consider a carrot. Make one-shot items plentiful in the campaign.
BTW - Is there a reason you're concerned about this? If the characters sit on some items, it's their choice. It's no different than the wizard deciding when to cast his one memorized fireball spell for the day, or the party deciding when to press on vs. camping. Sometimes the players will make the wrong choice, but that's part of the game.

I think you're right the expiration date thing is a bit harsh. I don't necessarily plan to make any changes. I was really just thinking with my keyboard. I was curious how other groups used their one shots. Its not really a concern for me as DM if the players hoard their goodies, if anything it makes my job easier.

I tried giving the players an example of the value of one shots back in the 2e days. A wealthy villan gave an alley full of homeless types a potion and scroll each (back in the days when there were lots of protection scrolls anybody could use) and offered them abundant food, drink and coin for attacking the party as they passed on the street. It made for an interesting battle for a 5th or 6th level group. The potions were things like giant str., dragons breath (firey breath whatever it was called), invulnerability, invisabilty, and so forth. I made for some amusing images that the party did not soon forget, and I recommend it as an encounter, but they still hoard their potions.

Scotley