Are vials reusable?

[ranchoram02]

I have an alchemist and am constantly using vials for my mutagens, extracts, and bombs. My DM had me buy vials to use for these and I track the number remaining after each session. If you just drink a liquid from a vial, as opposed to throwing one, can you reuse it?

[Morain]

yes

[Peet]

ranchoram02 wrote:

I have an alchemist and am constantly using vials for my mutagens, extracts, and bombs. My DM had me buy vials to use for these and I track the number remaining after each session. If you just drink a liquid from a vial, as opposed to throwing one, can you reuse it?

Yes, of course. However, it does not reduce the gp cost to make a new potion, if you are using the brew potion feat.

[Speaker for the Dead]

Yes... except for the bombs.

[Vrischika111]

I had a player taking craft(pottery) just to get rid of this tracking :)

[Kayerloth]

ranchoram02 wrote:

I have an alchemist and am constantly using vials for my mutagens, extracts, and bombs. My DM had me buy vials to use for these and I track the number remaining after each session. If you just drink a liquid from a vial, as opposed to throwing one, can you reuse it?

Just be sure to rinse well. Don't want traces of the poison in the vial doing anything unfortunate :p

[Fake Healer]

Now to be fair...if you pull out a vial and drink it and intend to save the vial as opposed to just tossing it, there should probably be an action to stow it or you toss it down and risk it being destroyed a certain percentage of the time. They don't just magically disappear when you drink them and re-show up in your safe bag.

[partyrico]

See if you are able to purchase more durable vials, such as ones made out of steel. They shouldn't be much more expensive. If you have a caster in the party, also consider the mending spell.

[TaiSharShaidar]

Yes you can,

Vial, Iron

Source Adventurer's Armory

This metal potion bottle has hardness 5, 3 hit points, and break DC 14.

[Rynjin]

Technically speaking you shouldn't be tracking vials at all. Your Alchemist's Kit, much like a Spell Component Pouch, has an infinite number of the catalysts, vials, and other things needed to make your class work.

Tracking that sort of thing leads down the road of madness.

[Pupsocket]

ranchoram02 wrote:

I have an alchemist and am constantly using vials for my mutagens, extracts, and bombs. My DM had me buy vials to use for these and I track the number remaining after each session. If you just drink a liquid from a vial, as opposed to throwing one, can you reuse it?

Your GM is making stupid rules that are fun for absolutely nobody. Tell him I said that.

[blahpers]

Rynjin wrote:

Technically speaking you shouldn't be tracking vials at all. Your Alchemist's Kit, much like a Spell Component Pouch, has an infinite number of the catalysts, vials, and other things needed to make your class work.

Tracking that sort of thing leads down the road of madness.

Agreed. There's nothing to gain for anybody by having to track vials any more than having to track bits of bat guano unless you're the sort of player who absolutely loves tedium. That's great if you are that sort of player, but for everybody else just don't do it. It isn't required by RAW at all.

[Diego Rossi]

Actually a iron vial, unless it is a glass one covered in iron, isn't a good idea. Iron react with acids, even mild ones (like lemon or vinegar), and would probably ruin several of the alchemist extracts and concoctions. Steel is way more resistant to corrosion, especially some of its alloy.

That said, Rynjin is right, getting the vials is part of replenishing your alchemist kit, you don't need to track the purchase separately.
You simply need to pay your cost of living every month and the expenses of keeping you alchemist kit (or spell component pouch) full are covered.

[Lifat]

blahpers wrote:

Rynjin wrote:

Technically speaking you shouldn't be tracking vials at all. Your Alchemist's Kit, much like a Spell Component Pouch, has an infinite number of the catalysts, vials, and other things needed to make your class work.

Tracking that sort of thing leads down the road of madness.

Agreed. There's nothing to gain for anybody by having to track vials any more than having to track bits of bat guano unless you're the sort of player who absolutely loves tedium. That's great if you are that sort of player, but for everybody else just don't do it. It isn't required by RAW at all.

While I agree that it should be working like that, the wording of the alchemist's kit is that it holds everything needed, except stuff with a specific cost. Vials have a specific cost of 1 gp per vial. So technically the GM's ruling is RAW, at least by my reading. I would say however that it seems like a stupid rule and should simply be ignored, unless you are in a place where restocking is difficult for a long period of time.

[thenobledrake]

alchemy crafting kit wrote:

An alchemist with an alchemy crafting kit is assumed to have all the material components needed for his extracts, mutagens, and bombs, except for those components that have a specific cost.

spell component pouch wrote:

A spellcaster with a spell component pouch is assumed to have all the material components and focuses needed for spellcasting, except for components that have a specific cost

I added some bold for emphasis, but you'll notice that these two items serve the same function - the make it so that you don't have to track any spell components other than those that have costs listed.

...vials don't even factor into that category.

In fact, I can't find anywhere that actually states that you are required to use a vial for alchemy, nor how many vials come in a standard kit - and the description of the Iron Vial item indicates it is meant as a more sturdy container for a potion, while the Vial item simply states it holds liquid not that it is needed for any particular activity other than holding liquids.

[Torbyne]

Lots of good points here, i was actually wary about making up my first alchemist because the GM said he wanted it to be a survivalist vibe in the beginning with little resources to go around. I pointed out that could exclude me from using any and all class abilities and he was more than willing to hand wave it to using stone, clay, wood, whatever is at hand to hold extracts and catalysts. He just asked i take some knowledge Nature to back it up. little did he know i was making a Mindchemist with a plus 13 knowledge check. anyways, he was cool about it and it made the whole difference.

TL;DR You should only be tracking vials like that if he has the wizard doing so with bat poop or tracks how worn down the figher's sword is or makes everyone buy new armor after a crit.

[Diego Rossi]

Lifat wrote:

Vials have a specific cost of 1 gp per vial.

Where you have found that specific cost?

I can't find it anywhere.

@thenobledrake "In order to create a bomb, the alchemist must use a small vial containing an ounce of liquid catalyst"
For extracts, you need to store them in something, and they are in a liquid form, so using vials seem the logic reply.

[ranchoram02]

Thank you for all of the input. I will ask my dm about the not tracking the vials part, and see what he rules. As far as the cost for the vials, I believe that is in Ultimate Equipment. There are listings for both iron vials, and vials. The iron vials actually cost less at 1 sp, but weighs 1 lb each while the standard vial is more expensive at 1 gp and has no weight listed.

[Unruly]

Diego Rossi wrote:

Lifat wrote:

Vials have a specific cost of 1 gp per vial.

Where you have found that specific cost?

I can't find it anywhere.

@thenobledrake "In order to create a bomb, the alchemist must use a small vial containing an ounce of liquid catalyst"
For extracts, you need to store them in something, and they are in a liquid form, so using vials seem the logic reply.

Vials are listed in the equipment section of the CRB(and UE under Adventuring Gear) as Vial, Ink or Potion(just Vial in UE). The description even says that the regular vial can be steel instead of glass, so it seems like it makes the iron vial somewhat redundant.

Ultimate Equipment wrote:

Vial

Price 1 gp; Weight —

A vial is made out of glass or steel and holds 1 ounce of liquid.

[Darklord Morius]

Rynjin wrote:

Technically speaking you shouldn't be tracking vials at all. Your Alchemist's Kit, much like a Spell Component Pouch, has an infinite number of the catalysts, vials, and other things needed to make your class work.

Tracking that sort of thing leads down the road of madness.

The courtesy should run both ways to work, yes, you have "infinite" vials on your alchemist kit, that doesn't mean you can sell a million of them to get yourself rich.

[HectorVivis]

For the potion crafting, the vial should be in the cost of crafting.

For extract and stuff... Except for survivalist situations, it's sad to track it. Still, if someone has the mending spell, don't bother anymore.