In adventure league you can craft items, but if you can also cast the spell fabricate (if you have skill in the correct tools) to "craft" items. Using downtime for (normal) crafting require material equal to half the value of the item. Downtime spellcasting rues for if you can cast the spell yourself specify that "no recources" is needed.
If I understand this correctly: Crafting a healing potion using herbalist kit cost 1 downtime day and require 25 gp in components Casting the fabricate to get the same healing potion (in case you have skill in the herbalist kit) would cost 1 day of downtime but not require any components that cost gold?
"FABRICATE 4th-level transmutation Casting Time: 10 minutes Range: 120 feet Components: V, S Duration: lnstantaneous You convert raw materials into products of the same material. For example, you can fabricate a wooden bridge from .a clump of trees, a rope from a patch of hemp, and clothes from flax or wool. Choose raw materials that you can see within range. You can fabricate a Large or smaller object (contained within a 10-foot cube, or eight connected 5-foot cubes), given a sufficient quantity of raw material. If you are working with metal, stone, or another mineral substance, however, the fabricated object can be no larger than Medium (contained within a single 5-foot cube). The quality of objects made by the spell is commensurate with the quality of the raw materials. Creatures or magic items can't be created or transmuted by this spell. You also can't use it to create items that ordinarily require a high degree of craftsmanship, such as jewelry, weapons, glass, or armor, unless you have proficiency with the type of artisan's tools used to craft such objects."
1) Although the spell doesn't list a material component, the spell text makes it clear that you aren't creating the object out of nothing ... the raw materials for whatever you want to create are REQUIRED to fabricate the object. The examples makes it very clear that if you want to fabricate something you need the raw materials ... clump of trees -> bridge ... hemp -> rope ... flax or wool -> clothes
So if you want to be able to fabricate anything you need the raw materials. To make a healing potion you would require the raw materials (as well as the tools and skill) in order to create a potion using the spell.
2) Magic items can't be created by the Fabricate spell.
Are healing potions considered magical?
The ALPG refers to Xanathar's Guide for crafting potions:
"Brewing Potions of Healing (XGE). Brewing potions of healing requires the use of an herbalism kit."
XGTE p130 "Brewing Potions of Healing. Potions of healing fall into a special category for item crafting, separate from other magic items."
XGTE p140 "Minor Magic Items Table: Common" ... Lists a potion of healing right next to a potion of climbing and other minor magic items.
A potion of healing IS a common magic item. As a result, a potion of healing can't be created with the fabricate spell.
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So ... fabricate still requires the materials to create objects AND it can't be used to create magic items ... so fabricate can't be used to make a potion of healing. The only option left is brewing them as a downtime activity.
In adventure league you can craft items, but if you can also cast the spell fabricate (if you have skill in the correct tools) to "craft" items. Using downtime for (normal) crafting require material equal to half the value of the item. Downtime spellcasting rues for if you can cast the spell yourself specify that "no recources" is needed.
If I understand this correctly:
Crafting a healing potion using herbalist kit cost 1 downtime day and require 25 gp in components
Casting the fabricate to get the same healing potion (in case you have skill in the herbalist kit) would cost 1 day of downtime but not require any components that cost gold?
Or did I misunderstand things?
Unfortunately not. Likely for two reasons.
Here is the text of the fabricate spell:
"FABRICATE
4th-level transmutation
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: lnstantaneous
You convert raw materials into products of the same material. For example, you can fabricate a wooden bridge from .a clump of trees, a rope from a patch of hemp, and clothes from flax or wool. Choose raw materials that you can see within range. You can fabricate a Large or smaller object (contained within a 10-foot cube, or eight connected 5-foot cubes), given a sufficient quantity of raw material. If you are working with metal, stone, or another mineral substance, however, the fabricated object can be no larger than Medium (contained within a single 5-foot cube). The quality of objects made by the spell is commensurate with the quality of the raw materials.
Creatures or magic items can't be created or transmuted by this spell. You also can't use it to create items that ordinarily require a high degree of craftsmanship, such as jewelry, weapons, glass, or armor, unless you have proficiency with the type of artisan's tools used to craft such objects."
1) Although the spell doesn't list a material component, the spell text makes it clear that you aren't creating the object out of nothing ... the raw materials for whatever you want to create are REQUIRED to fabricate the object. The examples makes it very clear that if you want to fabricate something you need the raw materials ... clump of trees -> bridge ... hemp -> rope ... flax or wool -> clothes
So if you want to be able to fabricate anything you need the raw materials. To make a healing potion you would require the raw materials (as well as the tools and skill) in order to create a potion using the spell.
2) Magic items can't be created by the Fabricate spell.
Are healing potions considered magical?
The ALPG refers to Xanathar's Guide for crafting potions:
"Brewing Potions of Healing (XGE). Brewing potions of healing requires the use of an herbalism kit."
XGTE p130 "Brewing Potions of Healing. Potions of healing fall into a special category for item crafting, separate from other magic items."
XGTE p140 "Minor Magic Items Table: Common" ... Lists a potion of healing right next to a potion of climbing and other minor magic items.
A potion of healing IS a common magic item. As a result, a potion of healing can't be created with the fabricate spell.
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So ... fabricate still requires the materials to create objects AND it can't be used to create magic items ... so fabricate can't be used to make a potion of healing. The only option left is brewing them as a downtime activity.
Than you! You are correct, it would not work.