Part of what makes Alchemy, alchemy in my mind is the combining of different ingredients. This creates a dilemma for a rules-lite RPG system. Players aren’t going to want to learn an overly complicated system for, say, a one-shot. But if the system is too simple, well it won’t feel like alchemy anymore. Different elements need to “snap together” in the recipe making process.

Current Build for Hostile SUN

The current build of hostile sun breaks potion creation into two charts – one that asks what your potion does narratively and one that asks what game mechanics we are going to pair with your potion.

Together the two charts will reveal what your recipe is.

Blast Off to Under a Hostile Sun

Alchemy Key Terms

• Base Price– all potions have a Base Price, found on the narrative effect chart.
• Enhance Price – each Base Price is paired with an ingredient that draws out its potential – this is called the Enhance Price.
• Main Ingredient: One ingredient in the Base Price is designated as the Main Ingredient. Some recipes will require you to add another unit of the main ingredient to the base price.
• Special/Action Ingredient: Potions that allow you to reroll a die roll against a certain stat will include one unit of the resource that is paired with the aforementioned stat. So a potion that lets you reroll an Agility roll in a specific circumstance will have +1 Arcane Algae added to it, as Arcane Algae is associated with Agility.

Putting it All Together

The table that pairs your potion with game mechanics will ask you to pay some combination of Base, Enhance, Main and Special prices/ingredients. The Narrative table tells what these are for your given potion type.

So, If I want a potion that focuses my mind so I can have super reflexes when dodging danger, the process would work like this:

The GM determines that this reflex-assist potion is a Psychological Effect as it acts through heightening my senses and clearing my mind. Furthermore, the potion’s game effect will be allowing rerolls when testing Agility to Dodge.

The Price for a reroll potion, per the potion Game Mechanics table is [Base Price]+[1 Special Ingredient]+[1 Enhance Price].

That works out to 2 AA (base price for a psychological potion)+1 AA (as Algae is what is associated with Agility) + 1 MM (as MM is the enhancer for psychological potions).

This equates to 3 AA+ 1 MM.

If I were making a pet Predator-Mutation Potion that was an Instant (a different game mechanic type for potions) my recipe formula would be [Base Price] + [1 additional main ingredient] (No Enhance price for this potion type). From the charts, this would equate to 1 SS+ 1 MM (the base price) + 1 SS (as SS is the main ingredient for that Base Price). This would equate to 2 SS + 1 MM.

Easy Remembering

Most potions are [Base Price]+1+[Enhacement Price if needed]. The +1 may be one more of the main ingredient or one of a Special ingredient, this will change between potion types. And some potions require the Enhancer, some don’t.

But if you remember [Base Price]+1+[Enhance Price if needed] you will be well on your way to understanding the whole alchemy system.

Game Design Notes

• Instant Effect Potions give wide leeway and are cheap. There cheapness is deceptive though – they can only be used once making them the most expensive per use. They are also limited to effects that a human can accomplish given enough time. They may do it faster, better, safer or at distance. But the effect itself must be human possible.
• Action Potions allow for a reroll when using a given stat in a specific situation. Thus, unlike the instant, there is a possibility the intended effect will not occur (should you fail the stat roll). However Action potions can be used more than once. Despite their higher cost, they are cheaper per use.
• Game Balance While players have wide leeway to quite literally homebrew potions, the recipes will usually require ingredients mined with different stats. They will be limited by what resources they have and need to work together to gather more resources, especially if a given player is weak in the stat they need to collect a given resource. More powerful potions / potions with multiple uses cost more, thus ensuring that no single potion dominates play.

Play Under a Hostile Sun!