D&D 5E Question about potions

[Istbor]

Last session my (expertise-in-Arcana) character asked to identify a potion. DM: "Why don't you try a sip?" Me: "OK". DM: "You die. No save."

...

Well... That seems more of a DM thing. Why my group find potions, and attempts to identify them, I give them a general descriptions, color, thickness, sent. Mostly, potions that provide benefits will vary in their description. Poisons are typically more vile, gross, or not appealing to look at or smell.... most of the time....

While sipping can help them guess at it, an alchemy kit or alchemist is the safest of routes.

 

[cmad1977]

Short rest works right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CTurbo]

I have decided that for the more common potions, a taste and a insight/investigation/arcana check DC10 will let them know what it is and/or does. But the for the more rare potions, they'll need to take them somewhere or cast Identify. I'll probably give them hints based off of how well they roll their check, and if they roll a nat 20, I may tell them.

I've thrown in some fun homebrew potions, and I don't really want them to know for sure what they do so easily.

 

[tardigrade]

In the campaign I DM, I'm gradually introducing information about potion ingredients (potion of giant strength is made using powdered giant tooth, healing = troll blood or giant bee honey, etc) via an NPC who offers bounties for certain ingredients. The PCs can then get a better idea of a potion's function by recognising an ingredient. I'm also planning to introduce new potions.