GURPS - Compendium 1..

MAGICAL SKILLS
Alchemy/TL (Mental/Very Hard) No default
The Alchemy skill has been greatly expanded. The following
description covers the subject in far more detail than the Basic
Set does.
Alchemy is the science of magical transformations and transmutations.
It is a mechanical process, using the mana inherent in
certain things. Therefore, it can be studied and used by those
without Magical Aptitude! Indeed, Magical Aptitude confers no
benefit on those studying Alchemy. It is treated like any other
science - it just happens that its subject is magical.
The chief effort of most alchemists is the manufacture of substances
having magical effects. The general name for such substances
is elixirs. These are covered in detail in GURPS Magic.
Alchemy works normally in areas of normal and high mana. In
low-mana areas, elixirs take twice as long to make, and work for
only half as long, although those with permanent effect work
normally. In areas of very high mana, elixirs take only half as
long to make, but any failure is critical. And in no-mana areas,
elixirs cannot be made or used.
Like magical spells, Alchemy can be learned at only halfspeed
without a teacher. It cannot be learned in a no-mana area!
Much of the skill has to do with experience in watching, hearing
and feeling the magical reactions proceed. A lone student can do
this by experimentation - but only in an area where Alchemy
works!
An alchemist can make any elixir from the list on pp. M100-
102. Each alchemist is expert in the creation of a number of
elixirs equal to his Alchemy skill; any other elixir requires use of
reference books and is created at a -2 to skill. The player of a PC
alchemist should make a list of the elixirs his character is
expert with; none of the elixirs have prerequisites other than
Alchemy skill itself. When an alchemist increases his skill level, he
may select one more elixir to "know," choosing from those for
which he has access to the formula.
If an alchemist is expert with an elixir, he needs no book or
other instructions. Otherwise, he must have a copy of the formula
to refer to as he works. A reference book of alchemical
instructions is called a formulary.
Detection and Analysis
An alchemist gets a roll against his Alchemy skill to detect
an elixir when he sees it, or smells food/drink containing it -
this does not reveal the type, just that an elixir is present. To
analyze an elixir, an Alchemist must make his Alchemy roll.
Analysis takes four hours. He can reduce this time to ten sec -
onds if he tastes the elixir - but if he does, any failed roll
means it affects him as though he had taken it all, if the effect is a
bad one.
Identifying Magic Items
An alchemist cannot identify magic with the same precision
that a mage can, but by taking an hour and making a roll at
Alchemy-2, an alchemist can tell if an object is enchanted. A
critical success gives a hint as to the nature of the enchantment.
The process requires $50 worth of materials. It does not affect
the item being tested - but on a critical failure, that item may
be splashed with acid or flame. The result depends on the item.
Turning Lead to Gold
In the popular mind, this is the chief goal of alchemy.
Actually, few alchemists bother trying. However, there are
always those who seek to find or create the "Philosopher's
Stone," a fabled item or substance by which base metals can be
turned to gold . . . and there are always rumors of lost libraries
containing formularies that point the way. Whether these rumors
are true is entirely up to the GM.
Simple Chemistry
Chemistry skill defaults to Alchemy-3; an alchemist is a
chemist, of a very specialized variety! This default should be
used only for general knowledge; an alchemist could not perform
a complex chemical analysis, but might (for instance) be
able to recognize chemicals by their appearance, smell, et
cetera. Medieval alchemists did much of their analysis by taste, a
practice now recognized as unwise ...
Body Sense (Physical/Hard)
See p. 131 under Athletic Skills.
Defaults to
DX-6 or Acrobatics-3
Flight (Physical/Average)
See p. 131 under Athletic Skills.
Defaults to DX-4
Illusion Art (Mental/Hard)
Defaults to
IQ-6 or Artist-3
Illusionists can use this skill to create illusions that will elicit
an emotional response - awe, stupefaction, dread, disgust, sadness,
affection, mirth, anger ...
Magic Breath (Physical/Easy) Defaults to DX-2
This is the ability to hit a target with the Breathe Fire spell or
any other spell that works as a breath weapon. You must be facing
your target. This is treated as a normal melee attack (or feint),
rather than a ranged attack; it can be Blocked or Dodged, but not
Parried. A separate roll is required each turn.
Magic Jet (Physical/Easy) Defaults to DX-4
This is the ability to hit a target with any jet spell (e.g., Flame
Jet, Water Jet, Air Jet). Rear attacks are possible as with melee
weapons; otherwise, it is like Magic Breath, above.
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