Flasks, vials, potions, and bombs

[Ravingdork]

A flask weighs 1.5 lb. according to UE and other sources. Does that mean when I pick up some alchemist's fire from the local badwrongfun shop, I need to purchase the flasks seperately? What's more, do I have to account for the weight of both (effectively making a single flask of [alchemical bomb] weigh a whopping 2.5 lb.?

I'm also curious about vials for potions as well.

[FurtiveZoog]

(I hope it is OK to 'bump' this question since it didn't get answered and it is one I've had since starting 3.5.)

I have been assuming that my flask of one the various liquids weighs the total of 2.5 lbs. mentioned above, since they are described as 1 pt. (16 oz.), while the flask container it is put in weighs another 1.5 lbs.

However, in the Troll Slayer's kit, for example, the weights only add up if the weight of the 1 pt. flask of oil is 1 lb. and the container it is in weighs nothing.

[Joesi]

Alchemist bombs are the approximate weight of potions from what I understand — that's why their range increment is pretty good. I also don't think they're supposed to be counted for weight at all aside from perhaps the "alchemist's kit" or whatever it's called.

Regarding alchemist's fire and other substances in flasks, I think it's a mistake that it says 1.5 lbs.
SRD says "A flask holds 1 pint of liquid and weighs 1 lb. when full." and that they have no weight when empty. I'm not sure where they got that information from though if it's accurate.

[FurtiveZoog]

The 1.5 lbs. for an empty flask goes back, at least, to the 3.5 RSRD file "Equipment": "Flask (empty) 3 cp 1-1/2 lb.", so it isn't a mistake by Paizo.

[Joesi]

FurtiveZoog wrote:

The 1.5 lbs. for an empty flask goes back, at least, to the 3.5 RSRD file "Equipment": "Flask (empty) 3 cp 1-1/2 lb.", so it isn't a mistake by Paizo.

That doesn't say a whole lot. I'd still have to say its some sort of mistake by Paizo.

I could be mistaken, but from what I saw 3.5e doesn't seem to mention the volume of the flask while PF does.
Based off the assumption that it was left undefined, essentially:
Paizo either indicated a wrong volume for the flask (presuming it was a small/standard flask rather than a larger one), or neglected to change the weight for something which they may have unknowingly shrunk by making it hold a pint rather than potentially more previously.

It has to be a mistake because I don't see how they can intend an empty flask to weigh more than a full flask. It's a clear-cut discrepancy.

I guess there's the argument that the substance is purchased separate from the flask, but aside from that being rather silly-sounding, the descriptions talk about purchasing a flask of it, since it says "(1 flask)" along with the substance. If they intended it to be "a flask's worth", they should/would have said so— more specifically: "1 pint". Since it says "1 flask" rather than "1 pint" or "1 flask's worth", I'd have to assume a fully filled flask of substance is 1 lb

[DeltaOneG]

I wonder if it's intended to be 1 lb when full, 1/2 lb when empty.