Tinctures
Tinctures are a minor buff to the alchemist class, providing them with an equivalent of the 0-level spells that every other primary spellcaster receives. This is not an archetype, and there is no need to remove any other class features.
An alchemist begins play with a formula book containing all tinctures plus two 1st-level formulae of his choice. The alchemist also selects a number of additional 1st-level formulae equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to his formula book.
Tinctures are prepared and used like any other extract, with four specific exceptions.
Here is the list of tinctures:
Create Water
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Know Direction
Light
Polypurpose Panacea (Ultimate Magic; now a 0-level tincture)
Purify Food and Drink
Read Magic
Sift (Advanced Player's Guide)
Stabilize
Exceptions:
Create Water: This tincture works just like the spell, but with a range of 0 ft. It is "cast" by pouring out the water, rather than by drinking.
Light: This tincture works just like the spell. It only affects the vial the tincture is created in, however. Pouring the tincture out or drinking it causes it to immediately become inert.
Purify Food and Drink: This tincture works just like the spell, except it now has a range of touch. It is "cast" by pouring out the extract into the food or water being targeted. The effects of this tincture only work for the alchemist - for anyone else the food or water remains the same condition it was prior.
Stabilize: This tincture works just like the spell, but with a Range of touch. The stabilizing essence of the tincture allows for other creatures to hold it for up to one round without it becoming inert. However, the tincture only affects the alchemist who created it (allowing for allies aware of the tincture to feed it to a dying alchemist).
I would also add Putrify Food and Drink from APG p. 237, using the same restrictions on Purify Food and Drink. Of course, I don't see any reason why the spells should not scale.
With Stablize, I see no problem in allowing the Alchemist to administer the tincture to another creature/character.
For spell progression, I might suggest that the Alchemist can only prepare two tinctures at first level, three at second, third, and fourth level, and the four from then on. The reasoning is that an Alchemist gains formula a little slower then a wizard, so that should apply to tinctures as well.
Eh, maybe - it would have to affect other creatures (unless you like the taste of filth), which extracts don't normally do, but I have already made four concessions.
As far as not scaling purify… the intent is just to purify one serving for the alchemist. However, I can see one who's making an emergency shelter or similar food stockpile becoming frustrated with that restriction, and it is already restricted to affecting the alchemist, so I will remove that limitation.
For spell progression, I might suggest that the Alchemist can only prepare two tinctures at first level, three at second, third, and fourth level, and the four from then on. The reasoning is that an Alchemist gains formula a little slower then a wizard, so that should apply to tinctures as well.
The issue with that is that alchemists aren't limited by formula known like spontaneous casters and don't prepare spells like wizards and such - all their extracts are made "on the fly", though they may certainly use up all their spell slots at the beginning of the day. I thought about making a maximum number of different tinctures prepared per day, but it is overly wordy and seems odd in comparison to their first level and beyond formula.
Eh, maybe - it would have to affect other creatures (unless you like the taste of filth), which extracts don't normally do, but I have already made four concessions.
As far as not scaling purify… the intent is just to purify one serving for the alchemist. However, I can see one who's making an emergency shelter or similar food stockpile becoming frustrated with that restriction, and it is already restricted to affecting the alchemist, so I will remove that limitation.
Or, you could require that to use Stablize or Purify/Putrify for others the Alchemist might, justifiably, need the Infusion discovery.
For spell progression, I might suggest that the Alchemist can only prepare two tinctures at first level, three at second, third, and fourth level, and the four from then on. The reasoning is that an Alchemist gains formula a little slower then a wizard, so that should apply to tinctures as well.The issue with that is that alchemists aren't limited by formula known like spontaneous casters and don't prepare spells like wizards and such - all their extracts are made "on the fly", though they may certainly use up all their spell slots at the beginning of the day. I thought about making a maximum number of different tinctures prepared per day, but it is overly wordy and seems odd in comparison to their first level and beyond formula.
Except they are limited in the number of extracts per day. Why should tinctures be any different?
Wizards/Witches are limited in the number of Cantrips they can prepare (which they can then use as often as desired). Tintures are intended to fill that role for the Alchemist, so - for balance reasons - should be similarly restricted.
Except they are limited in the number of extracts per day. Why should tinctures be any different?
Well, the intent is to give alchemists a reusable minor spellset, much like cantrips. I agree that tinctures could use a limitation, but you should still be able to use them many times per day.
Except they are limited in the number of extracts per day. Why should tinctures be any different?Well, the intent is to give alchemists a reusable minor spellset, much like cantrips. I agree that tinctures could use a limitation, but you should still be able to use them many times per day.
I agree completely.
bah, why limit them? especially oncet hey have swift alchemy. i really like these
Mostly for game balance. It is the same reason that Wizards an Witches must be limited on how many cantrips they can have prepared at one time.
Resistance and Guidance are both folded into the Polypurpose Panacea spell - as well as a few other things.
As far as limitations go: What if the limitation was on the number of tinctures active at once? They do take 1 minute each to prepare, so that may be effective enough (they couldn't stockpile a million create waters, then)
Bards and Inquisitors (the other level 6-max spellcasters) have cantrips known of 4 at 1st level, 5 at 2nd, and 6 beyond that. Sound like a good limit?
Resistance and Guidance are both folded into the Polypurpose Panacea spell - as well as a few other things.
As far as limitations go: What if the limitation was on the number of tinctures active at once? They do take 1 minute each to prepare, so that may be effective enough (they couldn't stockpile a million create waters, then)
Bards and Inquisitors (the other level 6-max spellcasters) have cantrips known of 4 at 1st level, 5 at 2nd, and 6 beyond that. Sound like a good limit?
Yeah. That would be reasonable.
Or, you could require that to use Stablize or Purify/Putrify for others the Alchemist might, justifiably, need the Infusion discovery.
Yeah, the Infusion discovery should work fine with these - I suppose that should be noted since, in the Exceptions section I put that those tinctures only work for the alchemist. They will work for anyone who uses them if they have been Infused.
bah, why limit them? especially oncet hey have swift alchemy. i really like these
Does Swift Alchemy affect Extracts? I assumed it was only meant to affect the time to create items using Craft (Alchemy).
bah, why limit them? especially oncet hey have swift alchemy. i really like theseDoes Swift Alchemy affect Extracts? I assumed it was only meant to affect the time to create items using Craft (Alchemy).
That is my understanding also.
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That is my understanding also.bah, why limit them? especially oncet hey have swift alchemy. i really like theseDoes Swift Alchemy affect Extracts? I assumed it was only meant to affect the time to create items using Craft (Alchemy).
you're correct, i'm just saying these should be kinda like "free alchemical items"