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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: TheRealMe on December 07, 2012, 07:23:01 AM
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I have a question about how enchanted items (or potions) interact with a Crafting Frequency specialization (or focus).
My wizard, through his Lore and a specialization and focus (lab equipment) has a total of an 8 strength in Crafting. He has made the following "potion" (ie, one-use enchanted item):
Umbrella of Cloaking (Spirit based): 4 shifts vs perception of potential observers; covers a small group under the umbrella; duration of 3 exchanges.
Now, let us say that he purchaces Refinement and acquires an additional focus or specialization (does it matter which, aside from the need of the specialization pyramid?) for Crafting Frequency of 1. Does this mean that he has the equivalent of two such umbrellas that each last 3 exchanges? Or does he have one umbrella that lasts a total of 4 exchanges? Is the answer different if this is built as a potion versus an enchanted item?
Thanks for any responses.
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The book proposes to leave the duration rules out of veils and just make them last a scene, which I tend to agree with, if they are caste preemptively. As a block spell during a conflict, that's a different story.
Potions do not benefit from frequency specializations (they do from power specializations, though). One of their key drawbacks is the fact, that they are always "one use"-enchanted items. If he wants to benefit from frequency boni, he should create it as an enchanted item, which in the case of an umbrella seems a better choice altogether. I kind of have a british gentleman wizard in my head right now.
Potions can be adjusted by declaring aspects on the fly, so he could increase the effect of the potion. Also, it can be given to any other person to use. On the other hand, enchanted items can be charged with multiple uses.
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The book proposes to leave the duration rules out of veils and just make them last a scene, which I tend to agree with, if they are caste preemptively.
Eh, I think veils are powerful enough with limited durations.
Potions do not benefit from frequency specializations (they do from power specializations, though). One of their key drawbacks is the fact, that they are always "one use"-enchanted items.
I'm not so sure about that. The book is vague on that matter, if I recall correctly.
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Potions do not benefit from frequency specializations
Potions explicitly do benefit from Frequency, as specified in the text that defines crafting specializations:
A frequency specialization allows you one more use per session. A strength specialization increases the effect strength of your basic enchanted items by 1 ... In the case of potions, this can create stronger potions, or ones that you can get two uses out of.
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Another point: Arent potions specifically limited to the individual who drinks it? Meaning you can't drink a potion and suddenly the entire group is invisible. The potion would have to have enough uses and you would need enough time for every person to drink it. A blanket veil effect seems more like a standard enchantment item.
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"Potions" don't have to be potions, exactly. It's just a generic, catch-all term for an expendable magic item. So a blanket veil potion could simply be a glass sphere that releases a cloud of mist when broken, covering everyone in the zone.
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There is also a soft rule for sharing potions (splitting one dose among multiple people, dividing the strength or duration among them) for actual potions. I'll see if I can find the page for that.
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Potions explicitly do benefit from Frequency, as specified in the text that defines crafting specializations:
Would you look at that. I apologize.
Though I have to say, I don't like it. The one-use against power exchange is, I think, much better. Otherwise, potions become way too powerful way too quickly.
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Would you look at that. I apologize.
Though I have to say, I don't like it. The one-use against power exchange is, I think, much better. Otherwise, potions become way too powerful way too quickly.
They're still barred from the 'additional uses for mental stress' clause of conventional enchanted items, which provides several additional uses, distributable at need among all of a practitioner's (conventional) enchanted items, per scene rather than the per session limits of 'potions'.
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Would you look at that. I apologize.
Though I have to say, I don't like it. The one-use against power exchange is, I think, much better. Otherwise, potions become way too powerful way too quickly.
The book also says A given potion can only be used once, period
so you've got at least some textual backing for your stance.
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Yay! Direct contradiction!
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One of looking at it is that you make two potions, each of which can be used one.
Another way is an editing error. They were working on the magic section up until the end - which is why there are so many differences between the release and pre-release magic sections.
Richard
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... which in the case of an umbrella seems a better choice altogether. I kind of have a british gentleman wizard in my head right now.
Actually, this is what I envision:
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0147.html
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I'm pretty sure the intended result is "Frequency bonuses mean you make a given potion in larger effective 'batches' such that multiple identical potions may be decanted from a given brewing" and "once a given potion is consumed, it does not 'regenerate' in your inventory until you create more of that potion."
Example: I have a Frequency bonus of +2. Each time I brew a Potion of Running Super Fast, I get three uses of that potion, either in one big bottle that I may (usefully) drink from three times, or split into three smaller bottles. If I drink one of the potions during tonight's session, I will only have two left in my bag o' tricks at the beginning of next week's session.
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I'm pretty sure the intended result is "Frequency bonuses mean you make a given potion in larger effective 'batches' such that multiple identical potions may be decanted from a given brewing" and "once a given potion is consumed, it does not 'regenerate' in your inventory until you create more of that potion."
Add in that potions cannot benefit from additional uses paid for with mental stress as can other enchanted items.
Example: I have a Frequency bonus of +2. Each time I brew a Potion of Running Super Fast, I get three uses of that potion, either in one big bottle that I may (usefully) drink from three times, or split into three smaller bottles. If I drink one of the potions during tonight's session, I will only have two left in my bag o' tricks at the beginning of next week's session.
I'm not, however, terribly fond of this interpretation of the above, given that the character could have an entirely new set of potions in that second session. I see no reason to penalize a character for having used only a portion of their potion allocation.
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Add in that potions cannot benefit from additional uses paid for with mental stress as can other enchanted items.
That too.
I'm not, however, terribly fond of this interpretation of the above, given that the character could have an entirely new set of potions in that second session. I see no reason to penalize a character for having used only a portion of their potion allocation.
Well, I had the unstated assumption that the character didn't have the opportunity to brew/acquire more potions between those two sessions. If that's the case, then I'd run it the way I stated in my example. If the character does have the opportunity to get more potions in the interim, then I'd revert to a clean slate of potion slots that may be generated via Lore check on the fly as normal. But yes, that's an important detail.
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Here is the text from Your Story, page 280:
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Crafting Specializations
Crafting specializations for items and potions aren’t used for control of complexity; they usually affect frequency or strength without making you spend an extra slot to do it. A frequency specialization allows you one more use per session. A strength specialization increases the effect strength of your basic enchanted items by 1 (this strength specialization bonus can’t be traded in for an additional per-session use). In the case of potions, the can create stronger potions, or ones that you can get two uses out of. Alternately, a crafting specialization may be applied to increase the limit on how many bonuses may be placed on a single focus item (a focus specialization).
You can create focus items which are used to provide frequency and strength bonuses for crafting when making other items and potions. That said, you can’t create a focus item that helps you create other focus items.
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Now, given these rules, my question is: if my wizard makes a potion or one-use magic item with a duration of (let us say) 3 exchanges, what does an added Frequency focus or specialization give? Does it give two identical uses of 3 exchanges, or does it give one use of 4 exchanges?
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Two uses for three exchanges each, though the second would take the same action to activate as the first.