Alchemy - Brewing Potions

Enhanced Potion Brewing Guide - LuminariMUD

🧪 Enhanced Potion Brewing Guide - Multi-Spell System

The BREW command allows characters to create potions from spells, with support for up to 3 different spells in a SINGLE POTION! This enhanced system includes alchemy skill checks, spell slot consumption, and complex cost scaling.

✨ Key Features

Multi-spell potions store all spells in one object
Alchemy skill progression with experience gain
Spell slot consumption for all caster types
Pre-brewing validation ensures you have required spells
Timed brewing process with skill-based success/failure

⚗️ Syntax

Command: brew <spell1> [spell2] [spell3]

Examples:

Single spell: brew 'cure light wounds'
Two spells: brew 'cure light wounds' 'bless'
Three spells: brew 'cure light wounds' 'bless' 'shield'
Mixed quotes: brew fireball 'magic missile' heal

Note: You can mix quoted and unquoted spell names. Multi-word spell names should be quoted for clarity.

📋 Requirements

🎯 Basic Requirements for Each Spell:

You must be able to cast the spell OR be an alchemist
Spells must be prepared (wizards/clerics) or known with slots (sorcerers/bards)
Elemental motes (type depends on spell school)
Gold (amount depends on spell level)
Cannot brew offensive/damaging spells into potions
Must pass an alchemy skill check

🎭 Spell Slot Consumption:

Each spell consumes a slot as if you cast it normally
Prepared casters: Spell moves from collection back to preparation queue
Spontaneous casters: Slot of appropriate circle enters recovery
Validation occurs before brewing starts - no wasted materials

🎲 Alchemy Skill Check:

DC = 10 + (highest spell circle × 2) + (additional spells × 3)
Use your alchemy craft skill + d20 roll
Critical Success (Natural 20): Create two potions, 50% bonus experience
Success: Full materials consumed, potions created, full experience
Failure: Quarter materials consumed, some experience gained
Critical Failure (Natural 1): Half materials consumed, minimal experience

👤 For Non-Alchemists:

Must have the spell prepared (wizards/clerics) or know it with available slots (sorcerers/bards)
Each spell must be individually castable at brewing time
Spell slots are consumed as if casting normally
Failed brewing attempts still consume spell slots

🔬 For Alchemists:

Can brew any spell available to any spellcasting class
Maximum spell level = (alchemist level / 3), minimum 1
Level 30+ alchemists can brew epic spells (level 10)
Still consume spell slots if they know/have the spells prepared
Pay 2.5x cost (motes AND gold) for spells they cannot cast themselves
Pay normal cost for spells they can cast themselves

💰 Multi-Spell Cost Scaling

📊 Base Costs by Spell Level:

Spell Level	Mote Cost	Gold Cost	Notes
Cantrips (Level 0)	1 mote	25 gold	Basic magical effects
Level 1	1 mote	50 gold	Entry-level spells
Level 2	1 mote	100 gold	Common utility spells
Level 3	2 motes	200 gold	Moderate complexity
Level 4	2 motes	400 gold	Advanced applications
Level 5	3 motes	600 gold	Powerful magic
Level 6	3 motes	900 gold	High-tier spells
Level 7	4 motes	1,200 gold	Expert-level magic
Level 8	4 motes	1,600 gold	Master-tier spells
Level 9	5 motes	2,000 gold	Peak mortal magic
Level 10 (Epic)	10 motes	5,000 gold	Legendary effects

⚖️ Multi-Spell Complexity Multipliers:

Number of Spells	Cost Multiplier	Difficulty Increase	Recommendation
1 Spell	1.0x (Normal)	None	Perfect for beginners
2 Spells	1.5x (+50%)	+3 DC	Moderate challenge
3 Spells	2.0x (+100%)	+6 DC	Expert-level brewing

EXAMPLE CALCULATION: Brewing 'cure light wounds' (level 1) + 'bless' (level 1): - Base cost: (1+1) motes + (50+50) gold = 2 motes + 100 gold - With 2-spell multiplier: 3 motes + 150 gold

🌟 Mote Requirements

Different spell schools require different elemental motes:

Spell School	Required Mote Type	Description
Abjuration	Light motes	Protection/Warding
Conjuration	Earth motes	Creation/Summoning
Divination	Air motes	Knowledge/Foresight
Enchantment	Lightning motes	Mind-Affecting
Evocation	Fire motes	Energy/Damage
Illusion	Ice motes	Deception/Imagery
Necromancy	Dark motes	Death/Undeath
Transmutation	Water motes	Change/Transform
Unknown/Other	Earth motes	Default

Important: Each mote type is calculated separately, so brewing spells from different schools will require multiple mote types.

📊 Material Loss & Feedback

Detailed Loss Reporting: The system now provides explicit feedback about exactly which materials are lost during failures:

Critical Failure: "X [mote type]s lost", "Y gold lost" (half of each type consumed)
Regular Failure: "X gold lost" (quarter of gold consumed, motes preserved)
Success: "X [mote type]s used", "Y gold used" (full consumption with confirmation)

⏳ Brewing Process

STEP 1: SPELL VALIDATION

System checks if you have all required spells available using spell_prep_gen_check
Displays "--[spell name] is available" for each valid spell
Stops immediately if any spell is unavailable with specific error message
Works with all caster types: prepared, spontaneous, and multiclass

STEP 2: MATERIAL VALIDATION

Confirms you have sufficient motes of each required type
Confirms you have sufficient gold for total cost
Shows exact requirements: "Required: X total gold, Y [mote type]s, Z [other mote type]s"
No materials consumed during validation phase

STEP 3: BREWING TIMER

Time based on spell complexity: (sum of spell levels × 5 seconds) × 1.5 for multi-spell
Shows detailed progress: "Cost multiplier: X.Xx for Y spell(s)"
Shows upcoming skill check: "Alchemy skill check will be: skill(X) + d20 vs DC Y"
You cannot brew multiple batches simultaneously
Brewing can be interrupted by combat or other actions

STEP 4: SKILL CHECK & CONSUMPTION

Alchemy skill check performed at completion
Critical Success (Natural 20): Create two identical potions, 50% bonus experience
Regular Success: Materials AND spell slots consumed, potion created, full experience
Regular Failure: Quarter materials consumed, spell slots still used, some experience
Critical Failure (Natural 1): Half materials consumed, spell slots still used, minimal experience

🍶 Potion Mechanics

🔗 Single vs Multi-Spell Potions:

All spells in one brewing session create ONE potion object
Multi-spell potions contain all effects in a single drink
Critical success (natural 20) creates two identical potions
Potions can be stored, traded, or used later like normal items

📊 Potion Values:

GET_OBJ_VAL(potion, 0): Caster level
GET_OBJ_VAL(potion, 1): First spell number
GET_OBJ_VAL(potion, 2): Second spell number (-1 if none)
GET_OBJ_VAL(potion, 3): Third spell number (-1 if none)

⏱️ Brewing Time

Brewing time: (sum of all spell levels × 5 seconds) × 1.5 for multi-spell EXAMPLES: - 'cure light wounds' (level 1): 5 seconds - 'cure light wounds' + 'bless': (1+1) × 5 × 1.5 = 15 seconds - 'fireball' + 'haste' + 'fly': (3+3+3) × 5 × 1.5 = 67.5 seconds

📈 Skill Progression

🎯 Alchemy Experience Gain:

Critical Success (Natural 20): (highest circle × 20) + (extra spells × 10) × 1.5
Regular Success: (highest circle × 20) + (extra spells × 10)
Regular Failure: MAX(5, highest circle × 15) + (extra spells × 7)
Critical Failure (Natural 1): (highest circle × 5) + (extra spells × 2)
Experience caps at level 32 (staff level)

🎲 Difficulty Examples:

Combination	DC	Difficulty
Single level 1 spell	12	Trivial for skilled alchemists
Two level 3 spells	19	Moderate challenge
Three level 5 spells	26	Very challenging
Epic level combinations	30+	Master-level alchemy

🛠️ Skill Integration:

Uses existing craft skill system
Alchemy skill maps to ABILITY_CRAFT_ALCHEMY
Visible in craft score display
Skill checks provide detailed feedback with roll results

🎯 Strategy Tips

💎 Resource Management:

Start with single low-level spells to build alchemy skill
Consider spell slot economy - brewing consumes slots like casting
Prepare extra slots for brewing sessions if you're a prepared caster
Spontaneous casters should meditate/compose to recover slots

🧪 Potion Planning:

Mix complementary effects (healing + protection, buff combinations)
Consider mote efficiency - spells using same school are cheaper
Multi-spell potions are powerful but expensive and skill-intensive
Save complex combinations for important situations

🎭 Caster Type Strategies:

Wizards/Clerics: Prepare brewing spells in advance, consider extra slots
Sorcerers/Bards: Manage known spells and daily slots carefully
Alchemists: Focus on spells they can actually cast for lower costs
Mixed classes: Leverage multiple casting traditions

📚 Skill Building:

Practice with low-risk combinations first
Failed attempts still provide experience
Critical failures teach valuable lessons with minimal experience
Master single-spell brewing before attempting complex recipes

The enhanced brewing system rewards both magical knowledge and alchemical skill, creating potions that are truly greater than the sum of their parts!

Happy brewing! 🧪✨

💬 Enhanced Messaging System:

Real-time skill check feedback: "Alchemy skill check: d20(X) + skill(Y) = Z vs DC W"
Detailed spell consumption: "[Spell name] spell slot used" for each spell
Explicit material consumption reporting with exact quantities
Clear success/failure messaging with experience gain details
Room messages: "Character finishes creating a magical potion"

🔧 Technical Notes

⚙️ Spell Consumption System:

Uses same mechanics as normal spellcasting (spell_prep_gen_extract)
Prepared casters: Spell moves from collection to preparation queue
Spontaneous casters: Slot enters recovery queue with normal timing
Slots recover through normal preparation/meditation commands

✅ Validation System:

Pre-brewing checks use spell_prep_gen_check function
Ensures all spells are available before consuming any materials
Prevents partial failures and wasted resources
Works with all caster types and multiclass combinations

🍶 Object Mechanics:

Single potion objects contain all spell effects
Caster level determined by brewer's effective level
Spell numbers stored in object values 1-3
Compatible with existing potion consumption code