Hello, I have been trying my hand at finding the best way to create a crafting system for Potion making and of course for that I have designed a method of determining how a player might forage effectively with clear guidelines on how to do so. I know it's too vague for my taste in the source material. So let me know what you think of this, feedback is always appreciated! If parts of this don't entirely make sense, reading my potion crafting rules in another post might clarify some things (such as the Parcels as ingredients and some other such).
Enjoy!
Plant Foraging and Creating Herb Bundles (Parcels)
In the vast and varied landscapes of the world, adventurers can discover a multitude of plants, herbs, mushrooms, and other botanical wonders waiting to be harvested. These natural treasures serve as the building blocks for the potent concoctions known as potions. Whether you're an aspiring alchemist, herbalist, or poisoner, the art of gathering potion parcels is a crucial step on your path to mastering the craft.
Exploration and Discovery
As you traverse the wilds, describe to your Dungeon Master how you actively search for plant life and other valuable components in your surroundings. The DM will provide relevant environmental details based on your exploration, unveiling the diverse flora present in the area.
The gathering process involves both purposeful foraging and seizing opportunities to loot valuable ingredients. Foraging might include carefully plucking herbs, collecting mushrooms, or identifying rare plants. Alternatively, defeating monsters can yield unexpected treasures – scales, venom, or other exotic materials that find purpose in potion-making.
Combining Ingredients - Making Parcels
A pivotal outcome of your gathering efforts is the creation of ingredient parcels, commonly referred to as Bundles of Herbs. Each parcel is a carefully curated assortment of gathered ingredients, ready to be transformed into a potion. To form a Common Parcel – the foundation of potion brewing – gather five common plants. The process scales, requiring more exotic ingredients for higher-quality parcels. You may gather and create no more than an amount of parcels equal to your proficiency modifier per Short or Long Rest.
A Common Parcel, when sold in an apothecary, is typically valued at 15 gold pieces. This exchange rate serves as a benchmark for the economy of potion crafting. It takes two Common Parcels or the equivalent of 10 common plants to brew a Common Potion.
Plant Foraging Process
In the verdant embrace of a lush forest, our intrepid Alchemist, a level 13 sorcerer, sets forth to gather ingredients for both common potions and a particularly rare concoction to aid their party in an upcoming perilous encounter.
The Alchemist's quest begins with the elusive Starlight Orchid, a very rare plant needed for a special potion. The DM sets a Nature DC of 19 for this endeavor. Though lacking proficiency in Nature, the Alchemist, with a Wisdom bonus of +2, benefits from advantage due to the lush environment. A pair of rolls yields an 11 and an 18, resulting in a total of 20. The DM declares success and prompts a Foraging Yield roll of 1d8+2. The result, a 5, translates to a bountiful discovery of 7 Starlight Orchids.
"Fortune smiles upon you," the DM enthuses. "You've found enough orchids to craft a Very Rare Bundle of Herbs. Well done!"
With the prized orchids secured, the Alchemist continues their search for common ingredients. Rolling Wisdom (Nature) against a DC of 13, the Alchemist navigates the abundant forest. After a brief setback with a roll of 11, the Alchemist rallies with subsequent rolls of 15 and 17. The cumulative time invested in the search amounts to approximately two hours (30 minutes for each attempt).
The Foraging Yield is determined by rolling 2d8+4, reflecting the two successful foraging attempts. The result, a total of 14 herbs, culminates in the crafting of 2 Common Bundles of Herbs.
Marking these findings on their character sheet, the Alchemist concludes their foraging expedition, ready to contribute to the party's potion-making endeavors.
Table 1-A: Ingredient Foraging
Use the Ingredient Foraging Table below to determine the Wisdom (Nature) check DC required to locate and harvest plants and other ingredients for Potion Crafting.
Quality
Nature DC
Foliage Density
Foraging Yield
Common
13
Barren
1d3 Ingredients
Uncommon
15
Sparse
1d4 Ingredients
Rare
17
Moderate
1d4+2 Ingredients
Very Rare
19
Abundant
1d6+1 Ingredients
Legendary
21
Lush
1d8+2 Ingredients
Understanding the Ingredient Foraging Table
Quality - The leftmost column indicates the quality of the ingredient you're actively seeking. Whether it's a common herb or a legendary bloom, your choice will influence both the difficulty of finding it and the richness of the yield.
Nature DC - The Nature DC, or Difficulty Class, corresponds to the challenge level of locating the chosen ingredient. The higher the quality, the more elusive the plant, requiring a higher Nature check to spot it in the wild. Roll a d20 and add your Nature skill modifier to meet or surpass the specified DC.
Foliage Density - This section describes the density of the plant life in your current environment. The DM will provide details based on your exploration description. The density affects the abundance of the chosen ingredient, influencing the subsequent foraging yield.
Foraging Yield - The rightmost column reveals the potential yield based on both the chosen quality and the foliage density. Roll the specified dice to determine the number of herbs or plants you successfully gather during your foraging endeavor.
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Hello,
I have been trying my hand at finding the best way to create a crafting system for Potion making and of course for that I have designed a method of determining how a player might forage effectively with clear guidelines on how to do so. I know it's too vague for my taste in the source material. So let me know what you think of this, feedback is always appreciated! If parts of this don't entirely make sense, reading my potion crafting rules in another post might clarify some things (such as the Parcels as ingredients and some other such).
Enjoy!
Plant Foraging and Creating Herb Bundles (Parcels)
In the vast and varied landscapes of the world, adventurers can discover a multitude of plants, herbs, mushrooms, and other botanical wonders waiting to be harvested. These natural treasures serve as the building blocks for the potent concoctions known as potions. Whether you're an aspiring alchemist, herbalist, or poisoner, the art of gathering potion parcels is a crucial step on your path to mastering the craft.
Exploration and Discovery
As you traverse the wilds, describe to your Dungeon Master how you actively search for plant life and other valuable components in your surroundings. The DM will provide relevant environmental details based on your exploration, unveiling the diverse flora present in the area.
The gathering process involves both purposeful foraging and seizing opportunities to loot valuable ingredients. Foraging might include carefully plucking herbs, collecting mushrooms, or identifying rare plants. Alternatively, defeating monsters can yield unexpected treasures – scales, venom, or other exotic materials that find purpose in potion-making.
Combining Ingredients - Making Parcels
A pivotal outcome of your gathering efforts is the creation of ingredient parcels, commonly referred to as Bundles of Herbs. Each parcel is a carefully curated assortment of gathered ingredients, ready to be transformed into a potion. To form a Common Parcel – the foundation of potion brewing – gather five common plants. The process scales, requiring more exotic ingredients for higher-quality parcels. You may gather and create no more than an amount of parcels equal to your proficiency modifier per Short or Long Rest.
A Common Parcel, when sold in an apothecary, is typically valued at 15 gold pieces. This exchange rate serves as a benchmark for the economy of potion crafting. It takes two Common Parcels or the equivalent of 10 common plants to brew a Common Potion.
Plant Foraging Process
In the verdant embrace of a lush forest, our intrepid Alchemist, a level 13 sorcerer, sets forth to gather ingredients for both common potions and a particularly rare concoction to aid their party in an upcoming perilous encounter.
The Alchemist's quest begins with the elusive Starlight Orchid, a very rare plant needed for a special potion. The DM sets a Nature DC of 19 for this endeavor. Though lacking proficiency in Nature, the Alchemist, with a Wisdom bonus of +2, benefits from advantage due to the lush environment. A pair of rolls yields an 11 and an 18, resulting in a total of 20. The DM declares success and prompts a Foraging Yield roll of 1d8+2. The result, a 5, translates to a bountiful discovery of 7 Starlight Orchids.
"Fortune smiles upon you," the DM enthuses. "You've found enough orchids to craft a Very Rare Bundle of Herbs. Well done!"
With the prized orchids secured, the Alchemist continues their search for common ingredients. Rolling Wisdom (Nature) against a DC of 13, the Alchemist navigates the abundant forest. After a brief setback with a roll of 11, the Alchemist rallies with subsequent rolls of 15 and 17. The cumulative time invested in the search amounts to approximately two hours (30 minutes for each attempt).
The Foraging Yield is determined by rolling 2d8+4, reflecting the two successful foraging attempts. The result, a total of 14 herbs, culminates in the crafting of 2 Common Bundles of Herbs.
Marking these findings on their character sheet, the Alchemist concludes their foraging expedition, ready to contribute to the party's potion-making endeavors.
Table 1-A: Ingredient Foraging
Use the Ingredient Foraging Table below to determine the Wisdom (Nature) check DC required to locate and harvest plants and other ingredients for Potion Crafting.
Quality
Nature DC
Foliage Density
Foraging Yield
Common
13
Barren
1d3 Ingredients
Uncommon
15
Sparse
1d4 Ingredients
Rare
17
Moderate
1d4+2 Ingredients
Very Rare
19
Abundant
1d6+1 Ingredients
Legendary
21
Lush
1d8+2 Ingredients
Understanding the Ingredient Foraging Table
Quality - The leftmost column indicates the quality of the ingredient you're actively seeking. Whether it's a common herb or a legendary bloom, your choice will influence both the difficulty of finding it and the richness of the yield.
Nature DC - The Nature DC, or Difficulty Class, corresponds to the challenge level of locating the chosen ingredient. The higher the quality, the more elusive the plant, requiring a higher Nature check to spot it in the wild. Roll a d20 and add your Nature skill modifier to meet or surpass the specified DC.
Foliage Density - This section describes the density of the plant life in your current environment. The DM will provide details based on your exploration description. The density affects the abundance of the chosen ingredient, influencing the subsequent foraging yield.
Foraging Yield - The rightmost column reveals the potential yield based on both the chosen quality and the foliage density. Roll the specified dice to determine the number of herbs or plants you successfully gather during your foraging endeavor.