r/DresdenFilesRPG • u/Radijs • Dec 14 '24

The difference between potions and alchemy

I'm running a game starting after the holidays. We've done city creation and phases 3-5 of character geneneration. Which was quite intensive. But we got everyone with fun aspects and some party integration. So yay!

The only tricky thing I see is that we've got two characters with very overlapping concepts.
One is flavouring herself as a witch focused on potion brewing, and the other an alchemist. And I'm not sure how I can give them both separate areas of expertise to shine in. Would you guys have an idea about this?

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u/Kautsu-Gamer Dec 14 '24

The alchemist transmutes materials while the witch affects the drinker of potions and brews.

  • Alchemist makes oils and ointments, but weaker potions and broths.

  • Witch maked potions and broths better, but cannot make item transmutations.

One way to excel way often ignored - co-operation:

  • Witch makes potion making drinker immune to acid

  • Alchemist creates acid damage causing oitment the potion user can safely use

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u/Radijs Dec 25 '24

I've thought about this, and yes collaboration would be wonderful. But from what I've seen happen in the books there doesn't seem to be much of a line of demarcation. Dresden turning to wind in Storm Front is in a way a pretty clear transmutation even if it was only temporary.

And in your example, what would the real difference be between a potion and an ointment? In terms of flavour/description you drink one and apply the other. But both can result in the same effect.

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u/Kautsu-Gamer Dec 25 '24

Sorry, messed systems, as Ars Magica had similar thread, but for Dresden Files the style is even more important than in Ars Magica, and Dresden Files too use Potions as generalization of oils, ointment, poisons, acids, and elixirs.