Craft Alchemy and the Alchemist

[poundpuppy30]

I noticed that piazo for pfs took away most the craft abilities from players so they can't make money or create macial items but what about mundane creations like acid, alchemist fire, etc? Do those items have to be created and used in the same scenario or can they be made and carried over to different scenarios since they are mundane items in pfs?

[RainyDayNinja]

If you look in the Guide to Organized Play, page 8 says this:

"except for specific examples cited
in this guide or the Pathfinder Society FAQ, crafting of
mundane items is not allowed in Pathfinder Society."

However, in the FAQ, you have this entry, which basically says that Alchemists can craft mundane alchemical items. They're marked on your chronicle just as if you'd bought them, but you only pay the crafting cost (assuming you meet the DC for crafting, but you can take 10 on that).

[thejeff]

So can Alchemist's craft stuff for themselves in downtime - essentially buying as many alchemical items as they want for crafting costs as long as they can make the DC with a Take 10?
Or can you only do this during a scenario? Where you're rarely going to have the time to do so, since mundane crafting takes a long time.

And do people really do this, and all the rest of their purchasing, with the GM at the end of a scenario? Who has time? Especially when scenarios always seem to run long.

[SCPRedMage]

Alchemists CAN craft during downtime between scenarios, and in fact that's pretty much the only time you'll be able to.

And yeah, you kinda HAVE to do all your purchases/crafting at the table; I, for one, do my purchases at the beginning, but I always make a list of what I plan to buy ahead of time, and simply show it to the GM before we start.

[RainyDayNinja]

I for one have never seen a GM offer to sign off on equipment purchases. As far as I'm concerned, as long as you mark it properly (and legibly!) on your chronicle, so the GM can verify that you really did craft that wismuth salix ahead of time instead of pulling it out of your @$#, you'll be fine.

[Hobbun]

Strictly by the rules, you are supposed to craft everything at the table and have a GM sign off on it. But then you are supposed to buy everything at the table, as well, and most do not do that, either.

However, as long as you are able to hit the DCs of the alchemical items you are crafting by taking 10, that should be fine. And I haven’t run into a GM yet that’s had issues with me crafting items at home away from the game (with a take 10). You just will want to have the information (on your character) showing you can hit that DC by taking 10.

Now, if you are trying to craft something with a DC beyond taking 10, then yes, would definitely do that at the event in front of the GM.

The important thing, as RainyDayNinja indicated, is make sure ‘everything’ is logged on your chronicle sheet, don’t just change it on your character sheet. The chronicle sheet is what the GM will look at and allow. As long as you log everything on those sheets, and it is accurate, you will be fine.

[thejeff]

Another related question: The FAQ entry includes

Quote:

If they have a base of operations from which to do so, they may use an alchemy lab to gain the +2 bonus on their Craft (alchemy) check.

What defines a base of operations? Can I assume I have one or is this something that must be purchased? Or otherwise gotten in play somehow?

[Tony Lindman]

thejeff wrote:

Another related question: The FAQ entry includes

Quote:

If they have a base of operations from which to do so, they may use an alchemy lab to gain the +2 bonus on their Craft (alchemy) check.

What defines a base of operations? Can I assume I have one or is this something that must be purchased? Or otherwise gotten in play somehow?

It's a curious phrase; elsewhere, it is stated that you are assumed to have some sort of home somewhere where you spend your time between scenarios. It is the same reason we don't worry about tracking weight for wealth - it is assumed most of your money is "at home" (locked up, in the Bank if Abadar, whatever). It is also where your Alchemist's Lab would be located, so if you paid for the lab, then anytime you are between scenarios (ie, for Day Job and crafting checks) you can use it. If you have the location noted on the chronicle where you bought it, I (as the GM) would also allow you to make use of it during a game when you are in that city and not pressed for time.