Most RPGs aren’t really written like video games, where buying stuff like health potions is made easily accessible. But why not?
It’s not like people don’t need them, and it’s certainly not like there isn’t a market for them. They’re able to be created much faster (per gold piece value) than standard art works or crafting, which is pretty amazing. 1st-level potions are worth roughly 50gp, and can be crafted in a day. Mundane Craft skill checks are measured in silver pieces of progress per day. In some ways, why would you even bother? Even if you’re not looking at healing potions and valuing the direct contribution of a God’s energy, arcane magical potions are pretty darn miraculous, and don’t have that same burden. So are there ways you can do this? Certainly, most churches are likely to manufacture and store some potions in case of emergencies. Potions (rules as written, anyway) never ‘go off’ or run out, so there’s a good chance that most high-level adventurers have a few odd ones rattling around in cupboards or old backpacks. How can you use Potion Availability in your game? • For a start, making magic potions of a certain level available without needing to locate people or skill checks is just good business- players using them will use their money, and be able to adventure a bit longer without running the Cleric out of spells. It just makes things easier. • Vending machines would also make things easier, but they wouldn’t fit into a lot of games. Having them run by magical energy, and staffed by a tiny imp or ice elemental (to keep potions chilled) would be kind of fun. • Potions just make the game a bit easier, and they don’t tend to hurt the game balance. If you want to keep a more realistic feel to your game, maybe have them only sold by healers or wizards. But for standard potions, this will be an expense like buying a bunch of new arrows or another sword- it shouldn’t be complicated or need role playing, just “I bought a couple of healing potions while I was in town”. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 24 February 2019) Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm Luke. He/him pronouns. Archives
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