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The Compleat Alchemist by Stephan Sechi and Steven Cordobano for Bard Games
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<blockquote data-quote="Baron Opal II" data-source="post: 7497724" data-attributes="member: 6794067"><p>I loved that game book, and used it heavily in my AD&D games. I adapted it for 3e, and it was used, although not to the same extent and it took me a while to figure out why.</p><p></p><p>It is a great addition. I tweaked it slightly; whereas magic is the power of chaos shaped by mortals, alchemy is the lawful counter-part. There is still the necessity of the focused will, which makes it more a basic science-fantasy than -fiction. I really liked that the alchemist's abilities were not simply reskinned spells. That's what I've found lacking about many other attempts at the class. The main problem with it is that the alchemist class is strongly loot or resource driven.</p><p></p><p>"But, Baron, how is that different from any other class? Everyone needs gear."</p><p></p><p>True, however fighters can pick up an axe handle or tree limb and go to town. A cleric just needs a holy symbol. Thief's tools don't (usually) wear out. The magician comes close in that they need a spell book and cash for a lab to research new spells or make potions and scrolls. But, simply to cast a spell is something they can do indefinitely, albeit a limited number of times per day. The alchemist needs the cash to produce effects each time.</p><p></p><p>The alchemist became a huge loot sink, with her getting easily half of the recovered treasure. But, she could crank out potions and devices that saved the party on numerous occasions. However, in later editions, it was more acceptable or expected that items could be acquired or fashioned with cash. This cut the alchemist out of the class picks as there was still the time investment (which could be significant and crucial), and failure chances. Hundreds if not thousands of coin worth of reagents and gear could be lost in an instant.</p><p></p><p>Working on it for a current game, I'm looking to minimize but still have the costs of the alchemist, but not have the versatility and power of the class so dependent on available treasure.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Baron Opal II, post: 7497724, member: 6794067"] I loved that game book, and used it heavily in my AD&D games. I adapted it for 3e, and it was used, although not to the same extent and it took me a while to figure out why. It is a great addition. I tweaked it slightly; whereas magic is the power of chaos shaped by mortals, alchemy is the lawful counter-part. There is still the necessity of the focused will, which makes it more a basic science-fantasy than -fiction. I really liked that the alchemist's abilities were not simply reskinned spells. That's what I've found lacking about many other attempts at the class. The main problem with it is that the alchemist class is strongly loot or resource driven. "But, Baron, how is that different from any other class? Everyone needs gear." True, however fighters can pick up an axe handle or tree limb and go to town. A cleric just needs a holy symbol. Thief's tools don't (usually) wear out. The magician comes close in that they need a spell book and cash for a lab to research new spells or make potions and scrolls. But, simply to cast a spell is something they can do indefinitely, albeit a limited number of times per day. The alchemist needs the cash to produce effects each time. The alchemist became a huge loot sink, with her getting easily half of the recovered treasure. But, she could crank out potions and devices that saved the party on numerous occasions. However, in later editions, it was more acceptable or expected that items could be acquired or fashioned with cash. This cut the alchemist out of the class picks as there was still the time investment (which could be significant and crucial), and failure chances. Hundreds if not thousands of coin worth of reagents and gear could be lost in an instant. Working on it for a current game, I'm looking to minimize but still have the costs of the alchemist, but not have the versatility and power of the class so dependent on available treasure. [/QUOTE]
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