Potion prices to buy and create

[JaminDM]

Please could someone clarify the price for buying and creating potions. I don't get it!

[DeltaEmil]

To brew a potion of delay poison as an example, you first calculate the base price of the potion. The base price of a delay poison is 300 gp, because it's spell level (2 for the cleric) x 3 (the caster level that a cleric needs to be able to cast that spell) x 50 gp. The base price is also the market price. To create that potion, it costs 12 xp (1/25 of the base price of 300), and 150 gp in materials (1/2 of the base price of 300). Unlike the creation of other magical items, it always takes only 1 day to create a potion/oil, no matter how much the base price of the potion/oil is. Valid spells that can be made into potions and oils must target 1 or more targets, like for example cure light wounds, or darkness (targets an item as an oil). Spells with a range of personal (like for example alter self) cannot be made into a potion or oil.

As another example, lets assume that a bard is trying to create a potion of daylight (a spell with a range that is not personal, and is therefore valid). Daylight is a 3rd-level spell for bards, and their caster level must be 7 to be allowed to cast that spell.

The potion of daylight created by a bard would therefore have a market/base price of 3x7x50 gp = 1050 gp. The bard must expend 525 gp in raw materials and 42 xp to create that potion. Normally, most bards don't try to create magic items, so such potions would be very rare, as they're too pricey compared to the potions of daylight created by a wizard or cleric (750 gp market price; 325 gp and 30 xp required to create one). The most expensive potion of daylight would be created by an adept (an NPC class), costing 1200 gp, and requiring 600 gp in materials and 48 xp to create, as adepts need a caster level of 8 to cast 3rd-level spells, and daylight is one of their 3rd-level spells.

[JaminDM]

Thanks, that's really helpful! 😀

[ericgrau]

I'll add that potions may be crafted at higher than minimum caster level at the appropriate cost, though this is uncommon. The drinker is both the caster and the target for the spell. Though crafting an oil instead of a potion may let you pick a target. All other spell choices must be made during crafting. So a potion of resist energy (fire) is possible but not a potion of resist energy (any you choose).

[JaminDM]

Your a session saver!