2pp, a vial of efficacious medicine and 1gp healing?

[wakedown]

The Alchemy Manual includes the following item with a listed price of 700gp (despite construction costs of 4500gp).

Vial of Efficacious Medicine:

This bulbous bottle is crafted of smoked glass and causes any liquid contained within to take on a significantly darker cast and twinkle with motes of beautiful white light. A vial of efficacious medicine can hold a single dose of an alchemical remedy, such as antitoxin or antiplague. Loading a remedy into the vial is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. When an alchemical remedy is imbibed or applied from the vial, any alchemical bonus it grants on saving throws or checks or to AC or CMD increases by 2. Treat this increase as an enhancement bonus. In addition, the user is healed of 1d8+5 points of damage. A vial of efficacious medicine can be used up to three times per day.

I encountered it being used in PFS play for the first time this week and wasn't sure how to rule on it as a GM. I warned the player that since the price seemed to be potentially wrong, he might be in for a surprise in weeks/months as the item underwent errata.

I noticed no such errata has come to light yet and there weren't any posts on the topic yet.

I'm not sure it's horribly broken at the lower cost - it basically allows a player to load alchemical kindness at 1gp a pop to receive 1d8+5 heals three times per day (in addition to some extra strength saves from antitoxin, antiplague, etc). This means it's a pretty strong pick-up for 2pp or 700gp. The scenario I ran in question was an odd one, spanning four days, so it saw plenty of use.

Have folks encountered this item in play, yet? Where are you weighing in on player use?

[nosig]

I haven't seen it, but you are right, if it has a construction cost of 4500gp I would expect it to be priced above that.

I expect it is a misprint.

[BigNorseWolf]

Its probably 9,000 GP. At least one of Either the cost to make or the price is wrong. I think I know where my bet is on which one...

[Shivok]

Just estimating the 1d8+5 cure effect at 3x day is 10,000gp x .06= 6,000 gp

The +2 to saves/check(ability?)/AC or CMD is probably worth another 3k

So I'm with BNW with the price.

[trollbill]

Congratulations, you have found the broken 3.5 Belt of Healing. Now all we need is the broken 3.5 Anklets of Translocation, Belt of Battle and Potion Bracer.

[technarken]

Even at that price, it's just a slightly sideways cure light wand more people can use. Also, Alchemist's Kindness would require both the item and water. 9000 for 29 HP of healing per day (that you still have to pay for 'ammo' for) sounds a little absurd to me.

[nosig]

I realize that they are few, but even Paizo makes editing errors at times. This is one of those. We'll get a correction at some point... and maybe some players will use it for a while (I'm tempted too), but really, it's only going to save some charges on peoples CLW wands. At least it isn't a major game-breaker.

[Acedio]

Probably want to FAQ it. Also, may want to move it to the general pathfinder boards; could get more visibility.

[Nefreet]

It also doesn't say whether the healing is positive energy or alchemical.

I wonder if a Dhampir could make use of it...

[Kyrie Ebonblade,]

Nefreet wrote:

It also doesn't say whether the healing is positive energy or alchemical.

I wonder if a Dhampir could make use of it...

I'd say there is justification for either.. but most 'alchemical' tools give alchemical or enhancement bonuses (depending on what it gives)

[reyyvin]

Nefreet wrote:

It also doesn't say whether the healing is positive energy or alchemical.

I wonder if a Dhampir could make use of it...

good question. It doesn't state the healing is positive energy, but the base spell is CLW.

For cost, 9000k is a bargain if you compare it to a cure light wounds potion.

caster level x spell level x 50 gp = 250 gp each. x3/day = 750 gp.

pays for itself in 36 days, plus the cost of the 'ammo.'

By price... still a bargain. Use activated = spell level x caster level x2000. assuming CLW = 10000. because its uses per day, x3/5 = 6000, then x2 for slotless = 12000. and you get the +2 enhancement stuff for when you really need a +7 against poison.

a 3/day cure light wound item (level 1) would be 2400, so just 3.75 x price for that.

[wakedown]

Acedio wrote:

Probably want to FAQ it. Also, may want to move it to the general pathfinder boards; could get more visibility.

I would've, except my question was more related to specifically how PFS GMs were handling this in the interim.

I feel pretty certain it's a typo that will eventually see errata. I should've been more clear, but I'm really looking to take the pulse of PFS GMs and how they handle player purchases when the item is a clear typo.

And then, how do you handle the eventual roll out of the errata? Does the player sell it for half, get a full reimbursement, etc?

[FLite]

The most common suggestion I have heard is:

Sell it for half what they paid, or keep it and pay the difference. (The argument is that letting them sell it back for full is unfair, since they got the benefit during the time it was in play.)

[Shivok]

No. They get full price for selling the item or they pay the difference of the new cost.