Potion ingredients aren't their actual names.

pzmcgwire · 10-12-2022, 04:44 PM

All those potion ingredients that were rare and macabre aren't really so.

Apparently Cidrian chemists and alchemists made up some names to dissuade people from making potions.....just like IRL.

Eye of Newt is apparently just mustard seed IRL.

https://people.howstuffworks.com/is-...real-thing.htm

So Dragon hearts and Gargoygle gallbladders are something else entirely than you think......

phiwum · 10-12-2022, 05:52 PM

That may be so, but to keep the ruse going, Alchemists and Chemists still have to buy Gargoyle gallbladders all the same. Just for cover.

Steve Plambeck · 10-13-2022, 02:25 AM

I love this!

Alden Loveshade · 10-13-2022, 11:22 AM

I don't claim to be an expert on real-life alchemy. But I was the creator of the alchemist guild for a multi-GM SJGames campaign at Strategicon Conventions (OrcCon, Gateway, Gamex), and wrote the coming [REDACTED].

Certainly the idea of alchemists disguising their ingredients to keep their secrets could be useful in gaming. And alchemists keeping secrets can be as true of real-life ones as it can be for any researchers.

But alchemy was quite a bit different in different cultures. While some forms did deal with magical transformations, alchemy was also concerned with medical preparations, natural philosophy, mysticism, and is a precursor to chemistry. It still exists in modern day, although modern day alchemists are mostly into the philosophical side while chemists and/or pharmacists took up much of the science and medicine.

So while I think this article is a bit of an oversimplication, and I wouldn't quote it for an academic article, it can be a good inspiration for gaming!

Rolando · 10-14-2022, 10:48 AM

this is quite in line in how a guild would keep secrets in the oppen.

A guild code book of ingredients would be very valuable.

Maybe the gargoyle gallbladders are used for something else, like containers for some of the concoctions or because you can produce an acid or liqueur with them and this can speed some process, but the actual potion don't need them. Same with some of the other grotesque products they regularly buy.

10-12-2022, 04:44 PM	#1
pzmcgwire Join Date: May 2018	Potion ingredients aren't their actual names. All those potion ingredients that were rare and macabre aren't really so. Apparently Cidrian chemists and alchemists made up some names to dissuade people from making potions.....just like IRL. Eye of Newt is apparently just mustard seed IRL. https://people.howstuffworks.com/is-...real-thing.htm So Dragon hearts and Gargoygle gallbladders are something else entirely than you think...... Last edited by pzmcgwire; 10-12-2022 at 04:52 PM.

10-12-2022, 05:52 PM	#2
phiwum Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Boston area	Re: Potion ingredients aren't their actual names. That may be so, but to keep the ruse going, Alchemists and Chemists still have to buy Gargoyle gallbladders all the same. Just for cover.

10-13-2022, 02:25 AM	#3
Steve Plambeck Join Date: Jun 2019	Re: Potion ingredients aren't their actual names. I love this! __________________ "I'm not arguing. I'm just explaining why I'm right."

10-13-2022, 11:22 AM	#4
Alden Loveshade Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hmm, looks like Earth, circa CE 2020+	Re: Potion ingredients aren't their actual names. I don't claim to be an expert on real-life alchemy. But I was the creator of the alchemist guild for a multi-GM SJGames campaign at Strategicon Conventions (OrcCon, Gateway, Gamex), and wrote the coming [REDACTED]. Certainly the idea of alchemists disguising their ingredients to keep their secrets could be useful in gaming. And alchemists keeping secrets can be as true of real-life ones as it can be for any researchers. But alchemy was quite a bit different in different cultures. While some forms did deal with magical transformations, alchemy was also concerned with medical preparations, natural philosophy, mysticism, and is a precursor to chemistry. It still exists in modern day, although modern day alchemists are mostly into the philosophical side while chemists and/or pharmacists took up much of the science and medicine. So while I think this article is a bit of an oversimplication, and I wouldn't quote it for an academic article, it can be a good inspiration for gaming! __________________ GURPS Fantasy Folk: Elves My first GURPS supplement Top 12 Clues You're a Role-Playing Old-Timer My humorous (I hope) article that also promotes SJGames/GURPS Kerry Thornley: Dwarf Planet Eris, Discordianism, and The John F. Kennedy Assassination Without Thornley, there would never have been the Steve Jackson Games edition of Principia Discordia

10-14-2022, 10:48 AM	#5
Rolando MIB Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Panama	Re: Potion ingredients aren't their actual names. this is quite in line in how a guild would keep secrets in the oppen. A guild code book of ingredients would be very valuable. Maybe the gargoyle gallbladders are used for something else, like containers for some of the concoctions or because you can produce an acid or liqueur with them and this can speed some process, but the actual potion don't need them. Same with some of the other grotesque products they regularly buy.