Buying alchemist extracts in town

[Atalius]

In a decent sized city like Korvosa for example, is it possible to buy extracts from alchemists (these would need to be done by an Alchemist with Infusion I imagine) in a shop or on the black market? And would anyone know the price of these extracts?

[crashcanuck]

It's certainly possible. I'd price it similar to spellcasting services.

[nicholas storm]

A NPC alchemist would never agree to give an infusion to a stranger because he would be out that spell slot until that infusion is used. If they were to sell one, it would be for an exorbitant price.

[Diachronos]

I imagine that they'd be priced similarly to regular spellcasting services, and that the alchemist would require that the infusion be used when it's purchased instead of the customer just buying it and leaving like they'd do with a regular potion.

[Bob Bob Bob]

I would say no price. I mean, I suppose someone could be robbing an Alchemist and putting their stuff up on the black market but then you've got the Alchemist and their party (because why else would it be prepared with Infusion?) hunting you down.

The problem is that an Infusion (which is what you'd need) occupies a slot until it is used or destroyed. The person you give it to dies, loses it, or even just buries it in their pack? You're out that slot forever. So you need to price it the same as losing a spell slot forever. So I'm sure there's a price out there (whatever a Ring of Wizardry for Alchemists is) but I'm equally sure you'd be better off buying a potion.

That's the takeout version. If you just want to buy and use one immediately, standard spellcasting services should apply.

[lemeres]

Diachronos wrote:

I imagine that they'd be priced similarly to regular spellcasting services, and that the alchemist would require that the infusion be used when it's purchased instead of the customer just buying it and leaving like they'd do with a regular potion.

Otherwise, it would be completely different from spellcasting services.

Everything has a price... but carving out a portion of a guy's spellcasting ability to keep in your pocket seems like it would have a hefty price.

I think an alchemist would prefer just to sell normal potions. If a person asks to buy your infusions (knowing the infusion mechanics), then there is a presumption of malice there-that person wants to make you weaker. There are capricious nobles, of course.... but this seems too silly for that. So it seems like it would almost certainly be seen as malice.

[Atalius]

"That's the takeout version. If you just want to buy and use one immediately, standard spellcasting services should apply" ya that was the idea,I'd like to buy and use immediately or within the hour type of thing. Is that a reasonable request and something I could find in a large city?

[Bob Bob Bob]

What do you need that an alchemist has that no other class does? The general rules are:

Spellcasting Services wrote:

Not every town or village has a spellcaster of sufficient level to cast any spell. In general, you must travel to a small town (or larger settlement) to be reasonably assured of finding a spellcaster capable of casting 1st-level spells, a large town for 2nd-level spells, a small city for 3rd- or 4th-level spells, a large city for 5th- or 6th-level spells, and a metropolis for 7th- or 8th-level spells. Even a metropolis isn’t guaranteed to have a local spellcaster able to cast 9th-level spells.

Keep in mind, your GM can choose to alter this any time they want (statblocks for cities frequently do as well). They probably should too, since an Alchemist capable of 6th level spells is the same as a Wizard capable of 8th level spells.

For a Large City you can expect 6th level Wizard spells (equivalent to 4th level Alchemist extracts). Provided you want to buy an extract no more than 4th level that you will immediately consume in front of the alchemist, yes, that is a reasonable request and something that should be available. If you want to take it somewhere else to use it, then no, it is not reasonable. If you need a 5th or 6th level extract then you should probably go to a metropolis. By the rules it should be available but the rules are very clearly geared towards 9th level spellcasters. Because, by those rules, every Small City has a 13th level Paladin, Ranger, and Bloodrager. So the local trade hub (population 6,000) has available a team that's expected to have an easy fight against a 30 foot crab, dread wraith, old white dragon, or iron golem (all CR 13), or if absolutely necessary half of the linnorms (CR 14-21), wyrm white dragon (CR 16), and the heralds of the gods (CR 15). So it's probably better to assume those levels refer to just wizard/cleric spells and adjust accordingly.