I find Alchemy to be..... uhm, pointless. : V - Skyrim

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:23 am

How many charges do poisons applied to weapons have? Only 1? If multiple, how do I know how many I have used or are left?

I'm just getting into poisons with my Rogue and need the help against Dragons. I'm having trouble taking them down and figure poisons could be the equalizer.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:58 am

Before Skyrim came out, I had a pretty definite view of what my character was going to specialize in.

I planned to roll a Thief/Assassin with onehanded/sneak/lightarmor/lockpicking/alchemy and some in pickpocket.

I was really stoked for alchemy to be able to apply poisons to weapons and do some extra damage, but I just really don't see how alchemy benefits any race/class.

FIrst, I went WoodElf--already 50% resistance to poisons.
Second, I have found so many potions whether it be stamina/health/magicka--- in dungeons, quests, random.
Yes, there is invisibility potions, but my sneak is so high that I can stand right crouch right infront of someone and they won't see me.
I simply make potions just to get rid of the ingredients because I have so many.
I dont even use magicka so I sell them. Being a thief I dont hardly engage in direct combat, so health potions/stamina are very minimal in my gameplay.
Third, I joined the DarkBrotherhood and their armor gives me another 50% poison resist, so I am 100% resistant to poison right now.

EVEN IF someone didn't roll a Thief class, potions are abundant and with all the smithing/enchanting upgrades, poisons seem obsolete.

SO,

I went smithing and decided to upgrade my armor/weapons for permanant Damage/armor.

What do you guys think.

Are you trying to poison yourself?

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:00 am

Wow you found a race/build that doesnt need alchemy. My character thinks daggers are pointless. What do you think about that?

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:06 am

How many charges do poisons applied to weapons have? Only 1? If multiple, how do I know how many I have used or are left?

I'm just getting into poisons with my Rogue and need the help against Dragons. I'm having trouble taking them down and figure poisons could be the equalizer.

On a bow, it seems to be 1 which is upgraded to 2 with a perk.

For dragons I use PoisonWeakness+Ravage+Dmg, then Slow+Dmg repeated. They don't have a chance.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:55 am

I like alchemy, you can make much more powerful potions than you can buy (at least at my level ~20). I only have one perk in that tree at the moment, but I also have a ring and bracers that give an additional 30% increase to potions. I make use of bows occasionally, but mostly work with 1H axes. Sometimes I use a shield, sometimes I dual wield.

Being a light armor guy, it's nice to have some health potions (and maybe a couple poisons too) on hand in case I come across a more difficult foe. Even with minimal alchemy skills like mine, you see benefits. Potions don't take up as much room in my inventory because I carry less of them. I have potions that will increase my maximum health as well as restore some lost health.

It's all about how you play, really.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:31 am

Honestly, I only ever make healing potions, and even those are weaker than I'd like, but fortunately cheaper than it costs to buy them from the store. Since I am, for some reason, always strapped for cash, it's pretty handy to be able to just pick flowers and chase butterflies along the road and get free healing potions the next time i see an alchemy station.

It does kinda bug me that all alchemy stations are the same quality, though. Would be cool if there were some more advanced ones in some hard-to-find locations.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:10 am

Is there a faster way to level up alchemy, or should I just keep creating health potions and poison? Is it faster / more powerful if I use more than 2 ingredients?

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:14 pm

Is there a faster way to level up alchemy, or should I just keep creating health potions and poison? Is it faster / more powerful if I use more than 2 ingredients?

The skill gain's dependant on the value of the potion which is generally dictated by the number of effects. Also, some effects are [i]far more valuable than others. E.g. Paralyse > Invisibility >>>>>>>> Restore Health >>> Damage Health. So the optimal way to level is to create potions that have one or two high value effects but with other effects attached - no matter whether they're positive or negative.

E.g. Briar heart + Pearl + Fungal pod = Paralysis, Resist Shock, Restore Magicka, Fortify Block. Even though it's practically useless to you, it's massively valuable and will give you a big skill bump.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:50 pm

alchemy is good for 1 thing! making money

which is easy to come by as is!

im jst waiting for the ck and some creative ppl to fix the balance of this game!

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:06 pm

On a bow, it seems to be 1 which is upgraded to 2 with a perk.

For dragons I use PoisonWeakness+Ravage+Dmg, then Slow+Dmg repeated. They don't have a chance.

What are the recipes for those 2? :hubbahubba:

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:16 am

What are the recipes for those 2? :hubbahubba:

Ehhh I'd guess deathbell, riverbetty and albacean(sp?) longfish

Those along with skeever, giant lichen underpin most of my poisons.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:06 am

If you think alchemy is pointless then you're doing it wrong. I don't even know how many times a paralysis poison has saved me from certain death.... Not to mention restore Magicka!!!

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:40 am

Best offensive potions:

Paralysis
Slow
Weakness to Magic (if you're a Mage like me)

Best defensive potions:

Health Regeneration
Magic Regeniration

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:15 am

alchemy is good for 1 thing! making money

which is easy to come by as is!

im jst waiting for the ck and some creative ppl to fix the balance of this game!

What does your playstyle have to do with the "balance" of this game? I am seriously getting sick and tired of reading these kinds of posts.

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:36 pm

I like Alchemy in general because I'm a complete svcker for collecting ingredients & anolyzing them in my inventory. The latter being an excellent addition to TES. The attention to detail on Bethesda's part to include this mechanic is commendable. Love that feature!

» Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:12 am

Before Skyrim came out, I had a pretty definite view of what my character was going to specialize in.

I planned to roll a Thief/Assassin with onehanded/sneak/lightarmor/lockpicking/alchemy and some in pickpocket.

I was really stoked for alchemy to be able to apply poisons to weapons and do some extra damage, but I just really don't see how alchemy benefits any race/class.

FIrst, I went WoodElf--already 50% resistance to poisons.
Second, I have found so many potions whether it be stamina/health/magicka--- in dungeons, quests, random.
Yes, there is invisibility potions, but my sneak is so high that I can stand right crouch right infront of someone and they won't see me.
I simply make potions just to get rid of the ingredients because I have so many.
I dont even use magicka so I sell them. Being a thief I dont hardly engage in direct combat, so health potions/stamina are very minimal in my gameplay.
Third, I joined the DarkBrotherhood and their armor gives me another 50% poison resist, so I am 100% resistant to poison right now.

EVEN IF someone didn't roll a Thief class, potions are abundant and with all the smithing/enchanting upgrades, poisons seem obsolete.

SO,

I went smithing and decided to upgrade my armor/weapons for permanant Damage/armor.

What do you guys think.

Alchemy is OP and it needs to be nerfed, In my Opinion Alchemy is huge game breaker at Skyrim.... It kills all the fun you can have..