Healing, healing pot, and CL.


Rules Questions


1) Does any class add their CL to the final sum of points healed?
Example: Adept/Cleric/Druid/Ranger/Bard/Paladin (core, no feats or bonus) cast CLW and heals for 1d8+Cl...if one were to DRINK a potion of clw is the healing set at the potions CL, use the NPC/PC class, or none at all?
Also, If they ADMINISTER a potion to another, do they use their CL, the 'healers" CL, or the potions?
Again, the same yet inquired about elixirs...

Thank you in advance.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

The caster level of a potion is fixed at its creation. Potions are generally created at the minimum caster level required to cast the spell. If they are created at a higher caster level, they cost more.


First, what SlimGauge said. The potion will have a caster level, and this is decided when the potion is created.

POTIONS wrote:
The price of a potion is equal to the level of the spell × the creator’s caster level × 50 gp.

Example, Clarence 3rd level cleric brews a potion of cure light wounds. His caster level is 3rd, so the potion costs 1 X 3 X 50gp (using the equation quoted above) for a total of 150gp. This potion will cure 1d8+3hp.

Clarence still has 50gp left, so he decides to brew another potion, but this time he deliberately sets the caster level of the potion to 1. The potion costs 1 X 1 X 50gp = 50gp. This potion will cure 1d8+1hp (obviously if he were better at maths he would be better at brewing potions for his party).

It doesn't matter who drinks these potions (or who administers them) they will have the same affect.

EXCEPT

Albert the Alchemist and Isabel the Investigator walk in. They both have the ENHANCE POTION discovery.

Albert is level 4, so when he drinks one of these potions (and uses enhance potion) he heals 1d8+4hp.
Isabel is level 6, so when she drinks one of these potions (and uses enhance potion) she heals 1d8+5hp (because cure light wounds only adds caster level until 5).

There are probably a few other class abilities out there that do something similar, but that's the only one I know.

EDIT: Those were the prices for buying potions. Brewing them costs half as much, but you get the idea


That's why CLW Potions and Wands are almost always 1d8+1 - economics of scale. For the 75gps to make a CLW potion 1d8+3 you could make three 1d8+1 -- way more healing potential for the same cost.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Yes, although there can be some value to having a boosted potion in battle, since it takes three full rounds to draw and drink three 1d8+1 potions, and only one round to draw and drink a 1d8+3 potion.


Dennis Muldoon wrote:
Yes, although there can be some value to having a boosted potion in battle, since it takes three full rounds to draw and drink three 1d8+1 potions, and only one round to draw and drink a 1d8+3 potion.

The value wouldn't be in healing potions, that's for sure. The miniscule extra hit points involved wouldn't be worth the cost. Now, potions where the duration is based on level would be another thing entirely...


Dennis Muldoon wrote:
Yes, although there can be some value to having a boosted potion in battle, since it takes three full rounds to draw and drink three 1d8+1 potions, and only one round to draw and drink a 1d8+3 potion.

On the other hand, those 3 1d8+1 potions heal an average total of 5.5 damage each, or 16.5 damage total. While the 1d8+3 potion heals an average of 7.5 damage. Still more beneficial to use the minimum caster level potions.

Even if you only drink a single potion, the CL3 1d8+3 potion only heals 2 additional points, but costs 3x as much. Generally not worth it.

Silver Crusade

Dennis Muldoon wrote:
Yes, although there can be some value to having a boosted potion in battle, since it takes three full rounds to draw and drink three 1d8+1 potions, and only one round to draw and drink a 1d8+3 potion.

Some, sure. But if you're going that route generally potions of the higher level spells are the way to go.

Sure, a potion of cure mod costs 300 gold instead of 150. But when you need hit points in combat getting 12 is a whole lot better than getting 8.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Healing, healing pot, and CL. All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.