» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:36 am I don't think what Todd Howard meant to say was that "achemy doesn't matter anymore", but that which category the skill is placed in doesn't matter much anymore. I know I misunderstood at first too, but after hearing the full answer, I think saying that the distinction between magic, stealth and combat doesn't matter much anymore is a more logical interpretation, because in past Elder Scrolls games, this was primarily used together with the class system, wherein a class could specialize in one of the three categories, which gave bonuses to skills under it. But since the class system has been removed, it's really not important anymore. I guess the answer was not worded the best way it could have been, since it caused a misunderstanding, but that just goes to show that sometimes, one needs to pause to think about these things.
Actually, I've always found the idea of alchemy as a magic skill a little strange too, after all, you're not actually casting any spells, nor are you really doing anything overtly supernatural. You're just mixing two or more ingredients to get a potion with a desired effect. I suppose you could argue that the effects themselves are magical in nature, because no matter what combination of herbs you use in real life, you probably won't get a mixture that lets you breathe underwater or glow in the dark. But practicing alchemy in itself doesn't seem to require specifically being skilled in magic. The way I see it, it would just require knowing what ingredients have what effect and how to mix them to get the best results, but you don't need actual magic to use it. And if you look at it from another perspective, there's some logic to making alchemy a stealth skill since it includes poison making, and I'm assuming that's still in the game, and traditionally, the use of poisons is associated with assassins, who are generally stealth characters. Alone, I wouldn't say it justifies alchemy being a stealth skill, but together with other factors Bethesda no doubt considered, I think it supports the choice. Of course, that sort of thing doesn't matter that much anyway, once the class system is removed.
But in any case, this is an issue of game mechanics, really, Bethesda wanted to ensure that each category had six skills, so they put alchemy into stealth, being as magic already had five magic schools and enchanting, or would you say enchanting somehow fits stealth better? If one skill that used to be a magic skill needs to go into stealth, than alchemy is really the only option where it can in any way be argued that it's appropriate.
Actually, I've always found the idea of alchemy as a magic skill a little strange too, after all, you're not actually casting any spells, nor are you really doing anything overtly supernatural. You're just mixing two or more ingredients to get a potion with a desired effect. I suppose you could argue that the effects themselves are magical in nature, because no matter what combination of herbs you use in real life, you probably won't get a mixture that lets you breathe underwater or glow in the dark. But practicing alchemy in itself doesn't seem to require specifically being skilled in magic. The way I see it, it would just require knowing what ingredients have what effect and how to mix them to get the best results, but you don't need actual magic to use it. And if you look at it from another perspective, there's some logic to making alchemy a stealth skill since it includes poison making, and I'm assuming that's still in the game, and traditionally, the use of poisons is associated with assassins, who are generally stealth characters. Alone, I wouldn't say it justifies alchemy being a stealth skill, but together with other factors Bethesda no doubt considered, I think it supports the choice. Of course, that sort of thing doesn't matter that much anyway, once the class system is removed.
But in any case, this is an issue of game mechanics, really, Bethesda wanted to ensure that each category had six skills, so they put alchemy into stealth, being as magic already had five magic schools and enchanting, or would you say enchanting somehow fits stealth better? If one skill that used to be a magic skill needs to go into stealth, than alchemy is really the only option where it can in any way be argued that it's appropriate.
This
Not that important!??? :facepalm: 
