"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making… As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the minds, ensnaring the senses…. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — "
Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling.
Basic Information
Somewhere in the grey area between magic and medicine, between the alchemist and the apothecary, between the shaman and the snake oil salesman lies the potion. Usually brewed by a sorcerer or a witch or some sort of arcane specialist, the potion could be medicinal in nature, or poisonous; baneful or beneficial; but almost always, it is a powerful spell in liquid form.
Some Types of Potions:
Sources
Game and Story Use
- In Classic Gygaxian Dungeon Fantasy, potions are one of the standard types a treasure an adventurer may find in a monster's lair. The shrewd GM tries to make sure he gives his players potions that will be useful in the rest of the adventure.
- Although random oddball potions can be fun to, simply to see if the players will come up with a use for them.
- If your party has no mage, or if the mage has only a limited number of spells, stocking up on useful potions can be a good way to remedy things like petrification and some of the more serious forms of death.
- Most Fantasy Role-Playing systems will have lists of different types of potions and encourage the GM to invent new potions of their own.
- Potions don't have to be magical! In a setting where belief in magic is prevalent, people will ascribe magical properties to medicines, poisons or even harmless placebos.
- Remember kids, Don't Try This at Home. Brewing magical elixirs is a job for trained professional mages only.
