Enhance Potion

[Crexis]

It states: Enhance Potion

Benefit: A number of times per day equal to his Intelligence modifier, the alchemist can cause any potion he drinks to function at a caster level equal to his class level.

What is the difference between caster level and class level? And what would it do if it functions at equal to his class level?

[OmniMage]

Caster level and class level is not always the same.

Some examples. Paladins has a caster level of class level - 3, so 4th level paladin has a caster level of 1. Many prestige classes will continue to advance spell casting ability, resulting in caster levels being higher than the class that originally granted the ability. The Mystic Theurge, an extreme example, will advance 2 spell caster abilities at the same time, 1 arcane and 1 divine.

Its common practice to make potions at the minimum caster level. Producing potions at higher caster level is possible, but the returns are far less. A potion of cure light wounds is 50 gp and heals 1d8+1 hit points. If you made it level 2, it would cost 100 gp, and it would cure 1d8+2 hit points. So the price of the potion was doubled for 1 additional hit point healed. Because cure light wounds caps out at level 5, making it with a caster level of 6 will give no extra benefit.

The Enhance potion ability is useful because it increases the caster level of potions without you needing to pay extra.

[Crexis]

I'm a level 4 alchemist (level 4 class level) and that's a caster level for 2, for my extracts. Does this mean I can take/buy potions for caster level 4?

So I get 4th level spells I can use at 4th level with this?

[Ryan Freire]

Potions are made at a caster level = to the minimum level required to cast the spell.

So 0 and 1 levels are cast at level 1, 2nd at level 3-4 depending on the class that made it, 3rd at 5-6 etc.

If you're a level 10 alchemist with this discovery and you drink a potion of cure moderate wounds, instead of 2d8+3, it heals 2d8+10

[OmniMage]

You're last post confuses me. Can you try to be more clear in the future?

So if you are a level 4 alchemist, you get level 2 extracts (or spells). Because you can make level 2 extracts, you can brew level 2 potions. Because you must be caster level 4 to get level 2 extracts, your level 2 potions must have a caster level of at least 4. Had you been a wizard or cleric (who get level 2 spells when they hit level 3), you could brew level 2 potions at caster level 3.

If you are a level 7 alchemist, you can brew level 3 potions because you can make level 3 extracts. Minimum caster level of 7.

You can't make level 4 potions because no one can make level 4 potions.

[Ryan Freire]

Yup that sums it up, but the potions are at minimum caster level. That feat basically makes you treat the potion as though it were a spell you cast. So at like level 8 rather than 1 hour of mage armor you get 8 hours.

Or another good example, Barkskin potions. Standard barkskin potion is +2 enhancement to natural armor, that lasts for 30 minutes.

If you were level 12 and used that ability a barkskin potion would be +5 enhancement to natural armor that lasts for 120 minutes.

[Crexis]

Ok thanks for the help guys, I have a better understanding now