Alchemy for beginners (spoiler?)

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:34 pm

I've never used the alchemy tools before but decided to play with the pestle & mortar and created something (?) with my first attempt.

Now however, I can't seem to get a second ingredient to show up in the list when I add in a first item. I'm guessing this is because the items are not compatable.

Any of you science wiz simmers care to educate me on the nuances and basics of alchemy 101?

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:51 pm

Basically, the alchemy is like this. For however many effects you see in each item, is what you get. If you see a loaf of bread with restore fatigue and an apple with the same, you'll find that they both show up when you put one in the mixer. So, by choosing a loaf of bread, you'll see all the other ingredients that are as you said, compatible. Those that are not, you don't see.

Hope that helps you.

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:33 pm

So basically you can grind up something that restores fatigue but you can't mix something that restores health with that to make a "combo" effect?

When you use the pestle & mortar to grind up an ingredient, does it then become a potion in your inventory? If not, how do you make potions through alchemy?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:55 pm

Ragin Cajun wrote:So basically you can grind up something that restores fatigue but you can't mix something that restores health with that to make a "combo" effect?

As I recall, in MW you could only make simple, one effect potions with low alchemy skill. But your chances of success on making potions of increasing complexity grow as your skill grows. I remember making some potions with 3 effects in MW.

Note, in both games you start with only knowledge of one alchemical effect per ingredient. As your skill level rises, you discover another, and another, up to four each. Hopefully, you can rename potions with multiple effects, which you could do in MW. I haven't gotten to that point, yet.

When you use the pestle & mortar to grind up an ingredient, does it then become a potion in your inventory? If not, how do you make potions through alchemy?

A potion is placed in your inventory every time you succeed.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:03 pm

And no, you can't make a combo lest you have a match. The ingredients must match each other to make 1 potion, lest your a master in alchemy. Non masters must combine 2 ingredients to produce 1 effect at least.

Masters can take that loaf of bread and make a potion out of it with JUST the loaf of bread. Masters level is 100 in that, which is really easy to obtain with alchemy if you ask me. Should take you maybe a a couple thousand gold (including trading back potions) for the ingredients, and just some traveling time.

I pumped alchemy up from 5 to 37 in an hour and a half doing nothing but alchemy.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:13 pm

A Novice can identify only one effect of ingredients, an Apprentice can identify 2, a Journeyman 3, and Expert 4 and a Master, as has already been said, can make potions from one ingredient only.

The rest of us need at least 2 ingredients. And yes, you can get multi-purpose potions. For example, if you have 2 ingredients that BOTH have Restore Fatigue AND Restore Health, you can create a single potion with both those effects.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:18 pm

Here are links to Darliandor's Alchemy FAQ and his ingredients list, complete with all ingredient effects (spoilers!). Darliandor was a great resource on alchemy to the MW community, and he appears to be continuing this role in Oblivion.

Note that if you make a potion that has entirely negative effects (like Damage Strength and Damage Health), then it counts as a poison. When you click on it in your inventory, you're asked if you want to apply it to your currently wielded weapon. Of course, that doesn't mean it will have any effect. Some critters have a natural resistance to different magical attacks, and that applies to potions, as well. But it's useful to know.

Also at the start, you'll find a lot of ingredients that make Restore Fatigue. Go ahead and build your skill that way, and sell the potions for the little they bring. It's still cash you can use, and you can even try to raise your Mercantile while doing it.

Phreddie · Post by **Phreddie** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:10 pm

For the sake of making Fable happy and not putting another related thread, more specific, thread happy (this ones ofr you gramps

)
Does any one know of a way to make a cheap restore health potion? They are so expenisive in the shops, and ingredients are quite rare.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:09 pm

Phreddie wrote:For the sake of making Fable happy and not putting another related thread, more specific, thread happy (this ones ofr you gramps )

Watch it, or you'll get my titanium-tipped cane where the moon don't shine.

Does any one know of a way to make a cheap restore health potion? They are so expenisive in the shops, and ingredients are quite rare.

Rare? Ham is rare? Aloe vera leaves and cairn bolete caps are rare? Sweetrolls and venison are rare? Go to, thou dost surely jest. Check the ingredients link I placed right above your post, and you'll see that there are several relatively inexpensive ingredients to make that.

Phreddie · Post by **Phreddie** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:13 pm

Inexpensive maybe but I rarely see them in the shops and am too busy questing to go deer and boar hunting. Anyhoo gramps, you shouldnt be out hunting these animals in the wild, at your advanced age your eyes arent as good as they used to be and your liable to shoot something or someone that you shouldn't, namely a troll or imperial watchman.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:32 pm

[QUOTE=Phreddie]Inexpensive maybe but I rarely see them in the shops and am too busy questing to go deer and boar hunting. Anyhoo gramps, you shouldnt be out hunting these animals in the wild, at your advanced age your eyes arent as good as they used to be and your liable to shoot something or someone that you shouldn't, namely a troll or imperial watchman.[/QUOTE]

May a rabid deer bite you in a place that makes you the last of your benighted line.

Thing is, you should join the Mages' Guild. Several of the branches have tons of food lying around for free (unless you use a mod that makes accessing their goodies gradual, according to rank, as I currently am). Ham is in there, too, and plenty of sweetrolls. A few of the guilds really live it up well. And quite a few shops sell sweetrolls inexpensively, like the Copious Cutpurse.

I'd suggest not making those potions until you get some levels and a complete supply of equipment. That way, you'll maximize their potential, but it's up to you.

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:12 am

[QUOTE=fable]Rare? Ham is rare? Aloe vera leaves and cairn bolete caps are rare? Sweetrolls and venison are rare? Go to, thou dost surely jest. Check the ingredients link I placed right above your post, and you'll see that there are several relatively inexpensive ingredients to make that.[/QUOTE]

Well, now that you mention it, during all my travels in the wilderness I haven't found a single Aloe Vera or Lady Smock's plant

I prefer to make potions with ingredients I've harvested myself, but I'm almost forced to buy them from shopkeepers since I can't find anything but those mushrooms. Even worse, lots of alchemists don't even have the cheaper plants and force me to spend lots of gold on boar meat or venison.

cgardenh · Post by **cgardenh** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:07 pm

If you want alchemical supplies just go to the market in imperial city, two great alchemy shops. It will only take 5 min to clean them out. The more potions you make the higher your skill and then you can use more ingredients so make as many as you can, not just health potions and pump up alchemy as fast as possible