Morrowind DnD 3.5 - penwatch.net

Alchemy

Created Saturday 10 May 2014
Modified 2014-05-19

Terminology:
Alchemy is shorthand for Craft (Alchemy).
An elixir is an alchemical mixture, which may have good effects (buffs) or bad effects (debuffs) or both.
A potion is an elixir with buff effects only.
A poison is an elixir with de-buff effects only.

Alchemy basics

To make an elixir, you must use alchemy equipment to mix at least two ingredients with a solvent.

The minimum equipment is a stone mortar and pestle. Better equipment gives bonuses to the Alchemy check.
The ingredients determine the type of effects in the elixir.
The solvent determines the quality of the potion. Better quality solvents are harder to use (higher DC.)

Making an elixir requires an Alchemy check representing an hour's work. The DC of the check is set by the quality of the solvent you are using.

The the check succeeds, you successfully create the potion. If the check fails, all your ingredients are ruined and unsalvageable.

You can't use spells like Wield Skill or Divine Insight to gain a bonus on Craft checks, including Alchemy.

Potion Levels

The magnitude of an elixir's effects is determined mainly by the solvent used. Using a better solvent produces a more powerful elixir.

Side effects

If it is desired to brew a beneficial potion, but the ingredient mixture has poisonous side effects, the level of the side effects can be reduced by using a retort. (See Alchemy:Equipment).

Similarly, if it is desired to brew a poison, but the ingredient mixture has beneficial side effects, the level of the side effects can be reduced using an alembic. (See Alchemy:Equipment).

Example

Bob uses a Level 4 solvent (Ether) to brew a potion of Eye of Newt + Tongue of Dog = Invisibility + Poison - an elixir with both a buff effect and a poison effect.

If she uses just a mortar and pestle to make this elixir, it will have effects Invisibility (4) and Poison (4).

If she wants to make a deleterious poison, she can use her glass alembic to reduce the level of all buff effects by one. She will end up with a elixir of Invisibility (3) and Poison (4).

On the other hand, if she wants to make a beneficial potion, she can use her glass retort to reduce the level of all debuff effects by one. She will end up with a elixir of Invisibility (4) and Poison (3).

If she had access to an ebony retort, she could reduce the level of all debuff effects by five. She would end up with an elixir of Invisibility (4) and Poison (0), which is to say the Poison effect would be eliminated.