What, exactly, would be the consequenses of allowing 4th-9th level potions?

[Trainz]

From the SRD: [...] Just to be an ass; sorry.

You're not an ass mate. Very interesting distinction you caught and that evaded us so far.

You lived up to you name !

 

[Sir Whiskers]

In summary, the biggest problem I see is one of having the devices overshadow the characters. Scrolls, not as big of an issue, because chances are whoever is casting from scroll could probably cast it without the scroll, anyway...

But the same applies to high-level potions. No GM would be forced to place such potions in treasure hoards, so the ony way the party gets them is for a PC to make them - which means the PC is already high enough level to cast the spell(s) involved.

Of course, some GM's would allow these in treasure - by giving them to the BBEG and his minions to use against the party. Seems fair to me...

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I don't know, I suspect that potions of higher level spells are pretty cost prohibitive:

Potion of Greater Invisibility, clvl 7: 7x4x50= 1,400gp
Potion of Break Enchantment, clvl 9: 9x5x50=2,250gp
Potion of Heal, clvl 11: 11x6x50=3,300gp
Potion of Greater Restoration, clvl 13: 13x7x50 +50x500 (xp cost)=29,550gp
Potion of Mind Blank, clvl 15: 15x8x50=6,000gp
Potion of Foresight, clvl 17: 17x9x50=7,650gp

Those all look pretty cost prohibitive to me--speaking as the player of a 14th level character who finds he needs every copper to be able to afford things like magic armor and cloaks of resistance, I can't see spending more than a thousand gold on any consumable unless it's nearly guaranteed to win a battle. Heck, potions of cure serious wounds are too expensive for me to buy and scrolls of third level spells are only broken out in emergencies.

Plus, most of the really interesting spells--like righteous might, shapechange, etc--are range: personal and therefore can't be made into potions.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I don't know, I suspect that potions of higher level spells are pretty cost prohibitive:

Potion of Greater Invisibility, clvl 7: 7x4x50= 1,400gp
Potion of Break Enchantment, clvl 9: 9x5x50=2,250gp
Potion of Heal, clvl 11: 11x6x50=3,300gp
Potion of Greater Restoration, clvl 13: 13x7x50 +50x500 (xp cost)=29,550gp
Potion of Mind Blank, clvl 15: 15x8x50=6,000gp
Potion of Foresight, clvl 17: 17x9x50=7,650gp

Those all look pretty cost prohibitive to me--speaking as the player of a 14th level character who finds he needs every copper to be able to afford things like magic armor and cloaks of resistance, I can't see spending more than a thousand gold on any consumable unless it's nearly guaranteed to win a battle. Heck, potions of cure serious wounds are too expensive for me to buy and scrolls of third level spells are only broken out in emergencies.

We fought an Aspect of Orcus in Planescape, and the DM had used part of his treasure for two or three Heal potions. We finally took him down after he used two, and my character (who's the primary melee combatant) is carrying the one remaining one, in the event he ever REALLY needs it.

Brad