Tears to Wine, how does it work on every level?

[DarkstarDSE]

From the SRD
"CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a single grape)

EFFECT

Range 10 ft.

Target 1 cu. ft./2 levels of liquid (see text)
Duration 10 minutes/level
Saving Throw Will negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)

DESCRIPTION

This spell turns nonmagic liquids—including spoiled, rotten, diseased, poisonous, or otherwise contaminated drinks, tears, seawater, and similar fluids—into mead or wine of average quality. This spell does not prevent subsequent natural decay or spoilage.

Unholy water and similar liquids of significance are spoiled by tears to wine, but the spell has no effect on creatures of any type or on magic potions.

Creatures that drink the mead or wine created by this spell become sharp-witted and clear-minded, gaining a +2 enhancement bonus on all Intelligence- and Wisdom-based skill checks. This increases to a +5 bonus at caster level 9th, and to +10 (the maximum) at caster level 15th.?

Duration 10 minutes/ level what does that affect?
Does the liquid revert back to a normal state after that time(back to spoiled water or whatever)
If so, how does that affect someone consuming spoiled liquids as digestion takes a considerable time?
Or does the duration only impact the bonus effects when consumed? If so how long does the liquid remain in this magical state?

I'm dming a game, I have an alchemist that wants to use this, after looking at it for a while my general conclusion is that after the duration the liquid loses its magical properties, but remains as whatever alcohol chosen at least for a day(similar to create water or enhance water).

[Weirdo]

The line "This spell does not prevent subsequent natural decay or spoilage" implies that once transformed, the wine will last long enough that it could reasonably be expected to naturally spoil again - longer than 10 minutes/level and probably indefinitely.

I believe the duration applies to the bonus on Int and Wis-based skill checks.

I'm not sure if the duration should start ticking as soon as you create the wine (as in, if you drink it 10 minutes after casting you subtract 10 minutes from the duration of the bonus) or if the duration only applies once you actually drink the wine and get the bonus.

It's also not clear how many creatures can be affected - you can create a pretty large volume of wine at higher levels.

[toastedamphibian]

Weirdo wrote:

It's also not clear how many creatures can be affected - you can create a pretty large volume of wine at higher levels.

1 cubic foot is 957.5 Fluid ounces. Over 3 and 1/3 cases of beer, per 2 levels. The answer is, clearly, all the creatures. Alcohol toxicity, access to fluids, and server speed would seem to be the limiting factors.

If 1 pint is a serving, then 1 cubic foot is just shy of 60 servings.
Google tells me 1 serving of wine is 5 ounces, for 191 servings. (Which is also 23684 Calories)

[nicholas storm]

It's actually unclear how this spell works for alchemists, as "An extract is "cast" by drinking it, as if imbibing a potion - the effects of an extract exactly duplicate the spell upon which the formula is based, save that the spell always affects only the drinking alchemist."

I have an alchemist that uses this spell and play that it only affects himself. My reasoning is that since extracts can't target a liquid, only the alchemist, the alchemist drinks the extract and gets the benefit of the spell.

[taks]

The duration is the duration of the spell itself, once cast, 10 min/lvl, but spoilage (if any) would essentially start over from that point. Any number of people can drink it depending upon how your GM decides what a proper portion is. I think I'll call it a pint. I'm also going to let an alchemist/investigator pour an infusion into said liquid for a similar effect.

[ChucklesMcTruck]

I've had similar issues with the alchemist interpretation of this spell's text and I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one.

The way our table ruled how it works is:

- instead of the usual alchemist method of drinking to activate, the extract is poured into the volume of liquid to be transformed; this doesn't require an infusion since the alchemist is technically not sharing the extract itself but rather the products of it

- the wine created lasts indefinitely (as per the 'natural spoilage' commentary)

- the spell effects last 10 min/lvl from the point of the wine's creation, after which it 'downgrades' to normal wine