Potions underwater

[SnowleopardVK]

I've honestly not encountered this situation yet, but I assume that it's not normally possible to use a potion while your character is underwater correct?

What if the spell Book Ward were cast on the potion however? Book ward is obviously normally meant for books, but one of its side effects is to make whatever it touched waterproof.

If you were to make the actual liquid inside a potion bottle waterproof, then turn it upside down before opening it underwater, would the potion and water not mix like water and oil? If so, then couldn't the character put their mouth over the open end of the upside down vial/bottle and then proceed to turn it sideways and let the potion pour into their mouth?



Hm... I'm working on a setting that's very water-filled. Questions like these come up.

Alternatively, what about putting the closed bottle in your mouth and then using Prestidigitation to remove the stopper? Again... Could work.

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

Well, according to physics, if you hold the bottle upside down under water and unseal it, nothing will enter or leave the bottle, assuming normal pressures. If the character tilts the bottle, then the liquid will come out, allowing them to drink it when they're ready.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

Well, according to physics...

I'll admit I don't personally know much of physics. That's useful to know though. In that case assuming a character can breathe underwater (or at least hold their breath long enough) then anyone can drink a potion underwater?

You did say "assuming normal pressures" though. What happens differently at higher pressures then? (Deeper water would be higher I believe) And let's assume for now that we don't hit any pressure that's going to break the bottle/vial.

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

I'll admit I don't personally know much of physics. That's useful to know though. In that case assuming a character can breathe underwater (or at least hold their breath long enough) then anyone can drink a potion underwater?

That is correct.

You did say "assuming normal pressures" though. What happens differently at higher pressures then? (Deeper water would be higher I believe) And let's assume for now that we don't hit any pressure that's going to break the bottle/vial.

I mean that if the pressure inside the bottle is higher than the water pressure, the bottle will break outwards and the potion will be lost. Like you said, if the pressure of the water is higher than the pressure inside the bottle, then the bottle will break in on itself and the potion will still be lost.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

Like you said, if the pressure of the water is higher than the pressure inside the bottle, then the bottle will break in on itself and the potion will still be lost.

What if the pressure outside is higher than the pressure inside (or vice versa), but the difference isn't enough to actually break the bottle? Would there be a consequence when actually opening it then such as some water flowing in or some potion flowing out to adjust to the pressure?

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

What if the pressure outside is higher than the pressure inside (or vice versa), but the difference isn't enough to actually break the bottle? Would there be a consequence when actually opening it then such as some water flowing in or some potion flowing out to adjust to the pressure?

Whichever way the pressure is higher, the liquid will go the opposite direction in order to balance out the pressure. If the pressure of the water is higher, water will flow in to the bottle. If the pressure is higher inside the bottle, the liquid in the bottle will flow out. This will also happen if the bottle isn't opened exactly right even under equal pressures.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

If potions are problematic, you might consider using the same rules as potions, but change the form. Instead of vials of liquid, reskin them: a particular "potion maker" might create enchanted hardtack, or create pills or lozenges, or fragile pearls to be crushed with the teeth. Anything really, as long the action required to use it doesn't change.

In fact, it might even be likely that underwater civilizations make these sorts of "alternative potions" as the default, since liquids are so difficult to manage underwater.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

If potions are problematic, you might consider using the same rules as potions, but change the form. Instead of vials of liquid, reskin them: a particular "potion maker" might create enchanted hardtack, or create pills or lozenges, or fragile pearls to be crushed with the teeth. Anything really, as long the action required to use it doesn't change.

In fact, it might even be likely that underwater civilizations make these sorts of "alternative potions" as the default, since liquids are so difficult to manage underwater.

That's a good idea, and in fact I'm already partially doing it that way. Both potions and pills exist however, so I still wanted to make sure I was clear on the physics of potions underwater. Pill use was too simple to need to ask about.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Gotcha. Here's a link from way back on exactly this question. Consensus seem to be that there's no issue with drinking underwater, neither by RAW nor in the real world.

(And, fwiw, here's an excerpt from Complete Mage (3.5e), over at WotC talking briefly about alternatives to potions. It doesn't say much, but it goes along with my previous post.)

In any event, good gaming!

 

[Aeolius]

Perhaps you could sidestep the issue altogether, by assuming that "potions" made by undersea races would not involve traditional containers and fluids. Perhaps the merfolk infuse soft corals with appropriate ingredients and magics, to make a "potion" that one chews and swallows to activate. Perhaps the locathah have learned to contain their consumable magics within sea sponges or spheres of seaweed.

Envision a cuttlefish with Ink of Extra Healing. Now THAT would be entertaining!