D&D 5E Crafting Scrolls and Brewing Potions

[plancktum]

Hi,

I haven't found any Rules for Crafting Scrolls of Brewing Potions. Of Course, they are specified as magic items and for scrolls the Rules for crafting Magic Items could apply, but what about potions?
The Player's Handbook mentions in the description of the Herbalism Kit "creating potions of healing". Would you then just use the crafting non-magical items rules?

I think the time (and the costs) doesn't fit for scrolls and potions, as I think they are in some kind special items, in the sense that they are consumable.

Was are your thoughts? Do you have any house rules?

best regards

 

[Dragonsbane]

We use this house rule feat:

Practical Crafter
You have learned the art of making disposable magical items, namely alchemy and scroll-making, and can create potions, oils, and scrolls.

You can brew potions and oils found in the DMG or by using spells on your spell list.

Minimum caster level is the level of the spell, or by minimum level via rarity. Costs for brewing potions are 50 gp × the level of the spell × the caster level, or by 50% of rarity costs, minimum cost 100gp. Potions not listed in the DMG cannot have spells above 3rd level. Potions must have a range of self, touch, or be able to affect a target within sight. The spell cannot require concentration. Spells that require attack rolls, saving throws, or otherwise harm others cannot be made into potions. Any costs incurred in casting the spell need to be added to the cost of the potion during creation. Potions take at least 1 day to make.

You can scribe scrolls using spells on your spell list. Minimum caster level is the level of the spell, or by 50% of rarity costs. Costs for scribing scrolls are 25 gp × the level of the spell × the caster level. Any costs incurred in casting the spell need to be added to the cost of the scroll during creation. Scrolls take at least 1 day to scribe.

 

[inquisitorthreefive]

The 5E item crafting rules start on page 128 of the DMG. It's optional, but it basically boils down to "can you cast the spells?" and "are you high enough level to make an item of this rarity?" The time it takes under these rules is prohibitive unless the players have quite a bit of downtime. That being said, I'd let any spellcaster with the ability to cast the needed spells make a scroll or potion but more uncommon items I'd likely require some critter parts or something.

 

[Inchoroi]

For my games, I also reduce the cost of potions by one half, and scrolls and ammunition by one quarter (ammunition does not include the arrow of slaying, however).

 

[MasterTrancer]

I do beg the pardon of all, but 4 days for a Potion of Healing don't strike me as "prohibitive", especially since the amount of healing already in the game (i.e.: you probably won't need it that much frequently); Greater Healing at 20 days starts to be a little high, I'm with you, and Superior Healing and Supreme Healing tend to err on the impractical, but we're talking about potions that are stuff of legend (a Potion of Supreme Healing can bring back to full a low/mid PC).

I would probably add a multiplier that eases (a little) the creation of small batches of potions and ammunitions though.

 

[Athinar]

If you can not find it in the Books, use what we use, "250 Days and 250 Gold" from learning Languages,

But here is the problem in the game that I'm in,

Took time off to copy spells from the spell book of the Wizard Bedbug, only 6 hours to copy the spells, so what happened, the group left for more adventuring and left me at the inn. they gain experience and got gold and I had a couple more 1st level spells. lost gold, experience and gained a couple 1st level spells. was not happy, the group could have stayed for one day but did not.

Still not happy about it

so unless the group stays with you when you take the down time to make the potions, scrolls, charms, etc.. you will lose in the end, so don't make any thing and stay with the group












That 250/250 is a in house joke

 

[True_Blue]

Took time off to copy spells from the spell book of the Wizard Bedbug, only 6 hours to copy the spells, so what happened, the group left for more adventuring and left me at the inn. they gain experience and got gold and I had a couple more 1st level spells. lost gold, experience and gained a couple 1st level spells. was not happy, the group could have stayed for one day but did not.

Still not happy about it

so unless the group stays with you when you take the down time to make the potions, scrolls, charms, etc.. you will lose in the end, so don't make any thing and stay with the group

I... am amazed a group would actually do this. The groups I have DM'd over would never do this, it just doesn't make any sense? If the wizard wanted to use a day to scribe a scroll or add spells to their spellbook, its hand waved and usually I am like "a day has passed". I mean, there's literally no detriment to just waiting with the wizard a day. Its not like you have to sit there and do nothing. It passes literally within a second. I'm just kind of amazed this actually happens with groups?

 

[miniaturehoarder]

It happens, often players try to hunt a random encounter near town hoping for some easy XP before the main story re-continues.

 

[Ricochet]

That's one problem that is instantly fixed by changing the levelling process from gaining XP by killing things, to gaining levels by accomplishing things. In the xp-leads-to-levelling gaming, it almost becomes a videogame. "Gotta kill everything for bags of XP".

I've also found that it makes the players much more involved in the game when they don't see big XP-signs on everything/everyone they meet.

 

[Inchoroi]

That's one problem that is instantly fixed by changing the levelling process from gaining XP by killing things, to gaining levels by accomplishing things. In the xp-leads-to-levelling gaming, it almost becomes a videogame. "Gotta kill everything for bags of XP".

I've also found that it makes the players much more involved in the game when they don't see big XP-signs on everything/everyone they meet.

This is my games, too. Everything is milestone leveling. That way, we can actually get to end-game without having to pad the adventures with slightly inappropriate encounters everywhere.