Battle Potioner

Creating a Battle Potioner

Choose a race with a bonus to Intelligence like high elf, human, gnome, or hobgoblin. Set your Intelligence as your highest ability, followed Constitution, then Dexterity and Wisdom. Accolyte, cloistered scholar, guild artisan (alchemist), haunted one, hermit, sage, or soldier are relevant backgrounds.

The battle potioner's flexibility makes you a great addition to a campaign with only a few players.

Hit Points

    Hit Dice: 1d8 per level

Hit Points at 1st level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit points at higher levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your constitution modifier per level after 1st

Proficiencies

Battle Potioners have the following proficiencies at 1st level.

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons and light and hand crossbows

Tools: Alchemist's tools, glassblower's tools

Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence

Skills: Choose two from Animal Handling, Arcana, Stealth, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Religion, Survival, Perception

Starting Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background.

• alchemists’s tools and an explorer’s pack
• 2 simple weapons of your choice
• light or hand crossbow with 20 bolts
• your choice of studded leather armor or scale mail
• potion bandolier with 10 corked flasks and catalyst pouch

Multi-classing

To multi-class into this class you must have Intelligence of at least 13.

Class Features

As a battle potioner you gain the following class features.

Battle potion stats block

Making vials

Using glassblower's tools and sand/glass and coal/charcoal, you can craft up to 10 x your proficiency corked vials for your potions in one hour of work. You can prepare charcoal using wood and an improvised earthen mound with 1 hr. of labor and 8 hours of smolder time (e.g. long rest).

Unintended potion effects table

Where unintended effects may occur, as specified in the using battle potions section, roll 1d4 and apply the effect.

Elixir and Catalyst Preparation

Elixirs and catalysts have indefinite shelf life. Preparing new elixirs requires empty vials, specialized ingredients, alchemist's supplies, and a stable environment. See the battle potions section for details on elixir and catalyst ingredients.

Fast Hands

2nd level Battle Potioner feature

Your training and experience give you exceptionally nimble fingers. As a bonus action you can uncork and strap a vaporizing potion to your bandolier, splash a salve, pour an uncture, toss a vial up 20 ft. to an ally, or lob a volley potion.

Battle Potioner Specialty

3rd-level battle potioner feature

Being vulnerable on the battlefield has led your penetrating intellect to ingenious solutions. Your alchemical invention becomes your signature on the battlefield. Choose from the alchemical firearms or alchemical shields specialties. You gain specialty features at 7th, 11th, 15th, and 18th levels.

Alchemical Recovery

3rd-level battle potioner feature

When you finish a short rest you recover a number of spent potions points up to your intelligence modifier. You cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

Bolstering Brew

5th-level battle potioner feature

When a creature uses one of your draughts, salves, or perfumes, they gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. Creatures and swarms conjured by potions also gain the temporary hit points. The temporary hit points last for the potion's effect duration.

Make that two

6th level battle potioner feature

At 6th level your potion mixing skill is enough to activate two potions in a single action (2 potion points). They must share either the same elixir, or the same catalyst, or both. You can use one of those potions as a bonus action. In addition, you can be under the influence of two battle potions without suffering unintended effects.

Mixologist

10th level battle potioner feature

At 10th level your skill is enough to activate two potions in a single action which can be a different elixir and catalyst. You can use one of those potions as a bonus action.

Double Jeopardy

14th level battle potioner feature

At 14th level you have perfected versatile poisons that don't interfere with your battle potion effects. When you activate a volley potion that causes a creature to make a saving throw against damage, you can spend 2 potion points to add poison, which forces the target(s) to make an additional Constitution saving throw, suffering 1d6 poison damage per total number of potion points spent.

Alchemical Resonance

20th level battle potioner feature

At 20th level your body has developed a unique adaptation to alchemical influences. You are now immune to adverse effects of alchemical interactions. Also, whenever you are under the influence of more than one of your battle potions, your body merges the ingredients in alchemical resonance, which doubles the duration of both effects.

Battle Potioner Specalities

Incendiary shot

11th level alchemical firearms specialty feature

Prior to a firearms attack you can spend a bonus action to spend potion points to add a conflagrant. A hit adds 2d6 fire damage per potion point spent , plus 1d6 fire damage per potion point at the end of the target's next turn.

Crossover

15th level alchemical firearms specialty feature

You aren't the only smart alchemist on the battlefield. You've learned a thing or two and are ready to try to something new.

You gain the 3rd level feature of the alchemical shields specialty: expanding shield. You include a slot in yours that you can shoot through.

Prismatic shot

18th level alchemical firearms specialty feature

Inspired by the spell prismatic wall, you created the ultimate alchemical munition: the prismatic shot, a hand-sized cartridge you attach to the front of your firearm.

Preparation of the prismatic shot is a detailed and time consuming task and you can maintain, at most, two shots. Making a new shot requires 1 hour of alchemical labor, and the materials cost is 100 gp per shot.

When fired, the prismatic shot activates alchemical reactions in seven chambers.

Each chamber emits a corona of color that expands outward from the shot, accelerating the shell and shaping into a 10ft radius cone of color. Creatures in the line of the shot must make seven Constitution saving throws. Each fail causes 4d6 damage of the type specified by the color; half on each success.

Once a target fails a saving throw, they have disadvantage on remaining prismatic shot saving throws until they succeed.

If any saving throws are failed, the target is knocked 15 ft. in the direction of the shot and falls prone. Range is 200 ft.

• Red: fire damage
• Orange: acid damage
• Yellow: lightning damage
• Green: poison damage
• Blue: cold damage
• Indigo: force damage
• Violet: psychic damage

Alchemical Shields specialty

Prerequisite: battle potioner with curious elixir and natural catalyst

DM's guide to potion ingredients and cost

Playing the battle potioner is exciting because, like the wizard class, the player can use their creativity to find solutions to many kinds of problems.

But don't worry about the potioner being overpowered. You can reign that in easily because you control the supply chain for a potioner's power: obscure ingredients.

Alchemy is expensive. There is no way around that. The potioner's lifeblood is a scant supply of rare, hard-to-get things that raise eyebrows when characters ask around for them and invite people to charge ridiculous amounts of money because they are clearly desperate.

This plays right into your hands as the story crafter, offering plentiful opportunities to derail the players' quest with XP- and RP-rich side adventures that involving checking mushrooms to see if they are poisonous or swimming in shark-infested waters to gather sea anemones.

A part of each campaign sessions could involve the challenge of getting ingredients and making potions. If so, the team should have skin in the game, namely if the potions fail, the next encounter will be deadly.

Ingredients could be stolen, spoiled, or dropped down a chasm. A vendor could refuse to sell unless the players solve a problem for them first. Excursions to get ingredients lead players to take detours to visit towns or obscure places that are certain to offer dangerous monsters or backstabbing villains. A player might have to try to craft potions while hidden, without making any noise, or need the team's sorcerer to cast a spell to generate cold for making the quickened elixir while in a hot cavern–while potentially taking damage from the wizard's spell.

Battle potions

Cost

As a minimum, the price of a potion should not be less than 1 gp per vial and catalyst should be 1 gp per pinch. These prices are rated for entry level players and could get much higher, especially if the players chance into a lot of money that you need to get out of their hands to make the campaign harder.

A potioner will discover, by attempting to go without and failing at their potion crafting, that they need things like a workbench and a tent in order to make potions, and that becomes an expense and a burden for the team to carry.

Learning recipes through encounters

Encounters become an excellent opportunity for the battle potioner to learn from NPCs. You can reward the player with a new recipe for such interactions, when it is close to their next level-up. Natural advancement through game play is always funner and more believable than canned advancement through leveling up.

Crafting potions

Concept ingredients for elixirs and potions are sketched below. Battle potioners are encouraged to document the details of their recipes to prevent the DM from getting to make up things you need that require killing a red dragon.

Battle Potion Descriptions

Draught of Undead Fortitude

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: suffused

When creature drinks this potion, they obtain the zombie's undead fortitude ability, namely if they drop to 0 HP, they make a constitution saving throw of DC 5 + (the damage dealt since their last turn), unless the damage is radiant or a critical hit. On a success they drop to 1 HP instead. The effect last for the potion's duration of 1 minute. The creature gains +1 to their saving throw roll total for each additional potion point spent.

Draught of Vigor

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: suffused

When a creature drinks the potion, for up to the potion's duration of 1 minute their speed increases by 10 ft, unless they have exhaustion, in which case the potion removes one level of exhaustion per potion point spent.

Eldritch Volley

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: shaken
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion erupts in a burst of purple arcane energy. Creatures in a 15ft radius must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a fail they suffer 2d6 force damage per potion point spent minus 1; half on a success.

Radiant Volley

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: divine
• Mixing type: shaken
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion erupts in a burst of holy light. Creatures in a 15ft radius must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a fail they suffer 2d6 radiant damage per potion point spent minus 1; half on a success.

Perfume of Charm

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: shaken

The vial contains a number of doses equal to the potion points spent. A creature can apply a few drops of the vial at a time to their neck or face, which consumes one dose. Perfumes expire after one hour and become mundane after 2 hours. A creature wearing the perfume has advantage on persuasion skill checks and advantage on charisma checks against being persuaded.

Perfume of Wrathful Aura

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

The vial contains a number of doses equal to the potion points spent. A creature can apply a few drops of the vial at a time to their neck or face, which consumes one dose. Perfumes expire after one hour and become mundane after 2 hours. A creature wearing the perfume has advantage on intimidation checks and advantage on charisma checks against being intimidated.

Salve of Agathys

• Elixir: quickened
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the salve is poured over a creature it gains a protective icy aura. For the potion's duration, when the protected creature suffers damage from a melee attack, it may use its reaction to reduce that damage by 1d4 per potion point spent, and deal an equal amount of cold damage to the attacking creature. The effect lasts for the potion's duration of 1 minute.

Salve of Leopard Skin

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the salve is poured over a creature its appearance is altered to match its environment for the potion's duration of 1 minute. The difficult-to-perceive creature gains advantage on stealth checks that rely on not being seen. For an additional potion point the user gains +1 AC.

Salve of Phasing

• Elixir: quickened
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: suffused

When the salve is poured over a creature it gains the ability to partially pass through weapons and attacks. For the potion's duration, when the creature takes bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage, it may use its reaction to reduce the damage by a number of d4's equal to the potion points spent.

Salve of Radiant Aura

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the salve is poured over a creature it gains a radiant aura that extends to a range of 10ft. Any undead or fiend starting their turn in the area, or attempting to enter the area, must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw, or the only action it can take on its turn is to dash, and it must end its movement farther away from the aura.

The creature using the salve may add 1d4 per additional potion point spent to saving throws to avoid or end the frightened condition.

Thunder Volley

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: shaken
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion erupts thunderous explosion. Creatures in a 15ft radius must make a Constitution saving throw. On a fail they suffer 2d6 thunder damage per potion point spent minus 1; half on a success.

Uncture of Animate Object

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: suffused

When the potion is poured onto an object, it animates, with properties and abilities as described by the animate objects spell. The object will obey verbal commands from the first creature to touch it. The object's maximum size is determined by the number of potion points spent:

1. Tiny
2. Small
3. Medium
4. Large
5. Huge

Uncture of Elementals

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: suffused
• Potent potion minimum 2 potion points

When the potion is poured onto a surface it conjures vengeful elementals that are friendly to the pouring creature and its allies and which last for the potion's duration of 1 minute, or until they are destroyed. The elementals follow the pourer's instructions, which does not require an action unless the instructions are detailed. The potion conjures a number of mephits of CR 1/2 equal to the number of potion points spent minus 1, or twice that for CR 1/4 mephits. If there is more than one creature the elementals target different creatures. Mephit type most closely represents the surface on which the uncture is poured. Mephits of CR 1/4 (mud, smoke, and steam) arrive and attack in pairs.

Uncture of Forensics

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: suffused

When the potion is poured onto an object or marking such as a footprint or blood stain, the potion vaporizes, forming a ghostly image of the last creature to touch it. The image lasts for one minute.

Uncture of Necroting Blade

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: shaken
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is poured onto a melee weapon that deals slashing or piercing damage, hits with the weapon deal 1d6 additional necrotic damage per potion point spent minus 1. This damage is dealt on the first successful attack made with the weapon on the bearer's turn. The effect lasts for the potion's duration.

Uncture of Plant Growth

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: suffused

When the potion is poured onto earth, it rapidly grows into a large plant which lasts for the potion's duration of 1 minute, before rapidly disintegrating. When poured onto a surface without any walls within 5 ft. a bush grows that provides half cover for a medium or smaller creature, or 3/4 cover to a medium creature taking the hide action or a smaller creature.

When the uncture is poured within 5 ft. of a wall, it sprouts into vines that rise up to 25 ft. The vines are climbable by up to large creatures.

When the uncture is poured within 5 ft. of the edge of a cliff it will attempt to bridge a gap of up to 15 ft., and failing it will grow down a distance of 25 ft. The vines are climbable by up to a large creature.

Uncture of Radiance

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: divine
• Mixing type: suffused

When the potion is poured onto a melee weapon (or hand/foot/tail used for unarmed strikes), it glows with divine radiance for the potion's duration of 1 minute and successful melee attacks with the weapon deal an additional 1d4 radiant damage per potion point spent.

Uncture of Sanctuary

• Elixir: quickened
• Catalyst: divine
• Mixing type: shaken

When potion is poured onto a surface, it vaporizes into a faint, almost imperceptible mist of sanctuary that extends to a radius of 5ft for the potion's duration of 1 minute. In order to attack a creature in the sanctuary, a foe must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw. The sanctuary's radius expands by 5 ft. for each additional potion point spent up to 15 ft. radius.

Uncture of Untruth

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is poured onto creature up to large size, the target's aura is altered to hide its true nature for the potion's duration of 1 minute. Creatures examining the object make a Wisdom saving throw. On a fail, a magical object appears mundane. Objects of value greater than 50 gp appear to be worthless imitations. Objects of value less than 50 gp appear to be of ancient or auspicious origin and potentially valuable to collectors. An item being sought-after is dismissed as recognizably different. A creature under the influence of the potion has advantage on deception skill checks regarding their identity and characteristics toward creatures that fail the Wisdom saving throw.

Vapor of False Life

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is uncorked or the vial breaks, the potion vaporizes and is inhaled by creatures within a 10 ft. radius. The number of creatures that can inhale the vapor equals the number of potion points spent. The vapor vanishes immediately. Creatures that inhaled the vapor gain 4 temporary hit points for the potion's duration of 1 minute.

Vapor of Heavenly Cloud

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: divine
• Mixing type: suffused

When potion is uncorked or the vial breaks, the potion vaporizes to form a dense white cloud of fog of 10 ft radius. Ranged attacks requiring an attack roll on creatures in the fog have disadvantage. Each 5 ft. of intervening fog adds +2 to the DC of a perception check to spot a creature. This vapor can be moved by wind or a gust spell.

Vapor of Valor

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: divine
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is uncorked or the vial breaks, the potion vaporizes and is inhaled by creatures within a 10 ft. radius. The number of creatures that can inhale the vapor equals the number of potion points spent. The vapor vanishes immediately. Creatures that inhaled the vapor gain advantage to Wisdom and Charisma saving throws for the potion's duration of 1 minute.

Vapor of Warding

• Elixir: quickened
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is uncorked or the vial breaks, the potion vaporizes to form a sparkling mist of 10 ft radius for the potion's duration. When any undead, monstrosity, ooze, aberration, fey, fiend, or celestial attempts to enter the warded area or begins its turn there, it must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or suffer 1d6 psychic damage per potion point spent; half on a success.

Volley of Drunken Swagger

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: arcane
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion expands in a burst of vapor to a 5ft radius, plus 5 ft. for each additional potion point spent up to 15 ft. The potion slows the reactions of creatures in range when the potion effect began. Affected creatures must make a Constitution saving throw. On a fail they suffer disadvantage on Dexterity-based attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws for the potion's duration of 1 minute. Affected creatures can attempt a saving throw at the end of each turn. On a success they are no longer affected.

Volley of Uncanny Voices

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion's alchemical magic summons voices that call to creatures in a 15ft radius, plus 5 ft. for each additional potion point spent. Creatures that can hear must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a fail they are distracted and have disadvantage on attack rolls and perception checks. The voices continue for the potion's duration of 1 minute. At the end of each turn an affected creature can attempt a saving throw. On a success they are no longer affected by the voices for the duration.

Volley of Darkness

• Elixir: curious
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion consumes all light in a 10 ft. radius. Light cannot be generated by any means and creatures are blinded unless they have blindsight. The darkness lasts for the potion's duration of 1 minute. The potion's radius can be extended to 15 ft. with the expenditure of an additional potion point.

Volley of Deathly Chill

• Elixir: volatile
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion erupts in a cloud of grasping etherial hands. Creatures in a 15ft radius of that point must succeed on Constitution saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage per potion point spent minus 1; half on a success.

Volley of Faerie Fire

• Elixir: mystical
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: shaken

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion erupts into a fog of unnatural light for the duration, outlining objects with a ribbons of blue light that dance around their silhouettes. Creatures entering a 15 ft. radius gain no advantage from invisibility. On entering the fog, and at the beginning of its turn in the fog, a creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to make their profile less visible, or attacks against it have advantage.

Volley of Screams

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: unnatural
• Mixing type: suffused
• Potent potion: min 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion's essence summons spirits that errupt in mind-rending shrieks. Creatures in a 15 ft. radius must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a fail they suffer 2d6 psychic damage per spell point minus 1; half on a success.

Volley of Swarms

• Elixir: harmonious
• Catalyst: natural
• Mixing type: suffused
• Potent potion minimum 2 potion points

When the potion is tossed at least 10 ft, the vial breaks on contact with a creature, surface, or object and the potion conjures vengeful swarms of beasts that last for the potion's duration of 1 minute, or until they are destroyed. Any creature that was within a 15 ft. radius of the potion when the effect began can be targeted, even if it moves more than 15 ft. away. The number of swarms is equal to the number of potion points spent minus 1. If there is more than one creature the swarms target different creatures. Roll 1d4 to determine the type of swarm, with statistics as described in the monster manual.

1. Swarm of bats
2. Swarm of insects
3. Swarm of rats
4. Swarm of ravens

Battle Potioner NPCs

Battle Potioner Investigator 6

Human, Lawful Neutral

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• Armor Class 16
• Hit Points 70 (10d8+20)
• Speed 30
• Potion points 17

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	13 (+1)	9 (-1)

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• Saving throws Con +5, Int +5
• Skills Medicine +6, Perception +5
• Languages Common, Elvish
• Proficiency Bonus +3
• Challenge 4 (1,100 xp)

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• Concentrated Elixir Taking a potion requires only a bonus action for any creature. Passing a potion to another creature is a bonus action.
• Potent Potion max 3 pts per potion
• Fast Hands Battle Potioner can use a potion with a bonus action.
• Alchemical recovery recover Int mod potion points on a short rest.
• Make that Two Can mix two potions in one action (same elixir or catalyst); can be under the influence of two battle potions without unintended effects
• Alchemical Shield specialty Expanding shield (+2 AC, hands-free potion mixing)

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Potions

Elixirs volatile, mystical, quickened
Catalysts divine, unnatural, arcane

Buff/Defense

Vapor of Valor (mystical, divine) pt. number of creatures within 10 ft. gain advantage on Wis and Cha saving throws for 1 min.
Draught of Guidance (mystical, divine) +1d4+pts. to skill checks for 1 min.
Draught of Healing (volatile, divine) recover 4 HP/pt.
Draught of Undead Fortitude (volatile, unnatural) when reduced to 0 HP, returns to 1 HP with Con save of DC 8+1/2 damage taken.
Drought of Arcane Recovery (volatile, arcane) recovers a spell slot of level equal to the potion points spent (for ally)
Draught of Divine Constitution (quickened, divine) for each extra potion pt. gain resistance to first necrotic, then cold, psychic and radiant damage for 1 min.
Uncture of Sanctuary (quickened, divine) attack must make a Wis save or attack fails and spell slot and/or ammunition is wasted

Salve of Phasing (quickened, unnatural) reaction to reduce bludgeoning, piercing, slashing by pts. d4's Draught of Magical Resistance (quickened, arcane) 1 min, for each potion point, gain advantage on one saving throw type against magical attacks
Salve of Agathys (quickened, unnatural) 1min, reaction to reduce melee damage by #pts d4's and deal that much cold damage to attacking creature. Antimagic Vapor (quickened, arcane) 1 min, spells of up the number of potion points are cancelled in the 10 ft. radius where the potion is released

Debuff

Volley of Drunken Swagger (mystical, arcane) 60 ft., 15 ft. radius, disadv. on Dex saves and checks for 1 min. unless Con save

Utility

Uncture of Forensics (mystical, arcane) reveal smoky image of last creature to touch an object
Perfume of Wrathful Aura (mystical, unnatural) 10 min, adv. on Intimidation checks and Charisma checks vs. intimidation (1 dose/pt.)

Buff/Offense

Eldritch Volley (volatile, arcane) min 2 potion pts, 60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, 2d6 force damage/potion pt. (half with Dex save)
Radiant Volley (volatile, divine) min 2 potion pts.,60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, 2d6 radiant damage/pt. (half on Dex save).
Volley of Deathly Chill (volatile, unnatural) min 2 potions pts, 60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, 2d6 cold damage/pt. (half with Con save).
Volley of Faerie Fire (mystical, unnatural) 60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, invisible creatures revealed and adv. to hit unless Dex save

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Actions

Mix Potion 1 potion, or 2 w/shared ingredient, max 3 pts. per potion
Rapier +5 to hit, 1d8+2 slashing
Light Crowsbow +5 to hit, 1d6+2 piercing, 20 bolts

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Bonus Actions

Pass potion hand or toss a potion to ally within 10 ft. Use potion drink draught, uncork fog, lob volley, splash salve, pour uncture
Expanding shield spend 1 potion point to plant expanding shield in the ground. Provides half cover (+2 AC) while mixing potions with two hands

Crazed Potioner 6

Human, Chaotic Evil

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• Armor Class 16
• Hit Points 70 (10d8+20)
• Speed 30 ft.
• Potion points 17

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	13 (+1)	9 (-1)

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• Saving throws Con +5, Int +5
• Skills Nature +5, Perception +5
• Languages Common, Elvish
• Proficiency Bonus +3
• Challenge 4 (1,100 xp)

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• Concentrated Elixir Taking a potion requires only a bonus action for any creature. Passing a potion to another creature is a bonus action.
• Potent potion max 3 pts. per potion
• Fast Hands Battle Potioner can use a potion with a bonus action.
• Alchemical recovery recover Int mod potion points on a short rest.
• Make that Two Can mix two potions in one action (same elixir or catalyst); can be under the influence of two battle potions without unintended effects
• Alchemical Firearms specialty Use Int for firearm attack and damage bonus.

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Potions

Elixirs volatile, mystical, quickened
Catalysts unnatural, natural, arcane

Buff/Defense (* = min 2 potion pts.)

*Salve of Phasing (quickened, unnatural) 1 min,reaction to reduce bludgeoning, piercing, slashing by pts. d4's
Salve of Agathys (quickened, unnatural) 1min, reaction to reduce melee damage by #pts d4's and deal that much cold damage to attacking creature. Draught of Infernal Transmutation (curious, unnatural) 1min, 1 breath weapon: 2d6 fire damage/pt., 15 ft. cone, reaction: +2 AC against a melee attack using tail to defend
Salve of Leopard Skin (harmonious, natural) 1 min, 1 pt.: adv on stealth checks; 2 pts.: +1 AC
Draught of Dwarven Constitution (quickened, natural) 1 min, adv. on Con saving throws
Vapor of Warding (quickened, natural) 10 ft. radius, undead, nonhumanoid, and extraplanar creatures entering or starting turn in area take 1d6 psychic damage/pt. unless Cha save
Draught of Magical Resistance (quickened, arcane) 1 min, for each potion point, gain advantage on one saving throw type against magical attacks

Vapor of False Life (curious, arcane) 1 creature/pt. in 10 ft. radius gains +4 temp HP for 1 min

Debuff (* = min 2 potion pts)

*Volley of Darkness (curious, unnatural) 60 ft. range, 10 ft. radius, 1 min. magical darkness (15 ft. radius w/2 pts.)
Volley of Uncanny Voices (harmonious, unnatural) 60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, disadv. on attacks and perception for 1 min or until Wis save
Antimagic Vapor (quickened, arcane) 1 min, spells of up the number of potion points are cancelled in the 10 ft. radius where the potion is released

Utility

Uncture of Plant Growth (curious, natural) 20 vine to climb/descend or 15 ft. vine bridge, last 1 min.
Uncture of Untruth (harmonious, arcane) 1 min, alter an aspect of an object or person such as its apparent value or identity

Buff/Offense (* = min 2 potion pts)

Uncture of Animate Object (curious, arcane) animate object for 1 min, size/pt. increases from tiny to huge (see spell animate objects for stat blocks)
*Volley of Screams (harmonious, unnatural) 60 ft. range, 15 ft. radius, 2d6 psychic damage/pt. (1/2 on Int save)
*Volley of Swarms (harmonious, natural) range 50 ft., 15 ft. radius, conjure random swarms/pt.; roll 1d4: 1 = bats, 2 = insects, 3 = rats, 4 = ravens
*Uncture of Nectroting Blade (curious, natural) +1d4 nectrotic damage/pt. to attacks with treated weapon for 1 min.
*Uncture of Elementals (harmonious, arcane) conjure a number of mephits/pt. for 1 min, type determined by pour surface (see potion desc)

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Actions

Mix Potion 1 potion, or 2 w/shared ingredient, max 3 pts. per potion
Rapier +5 to hit, 1d8+2 slashing (+1d4/pt. with uncture of necroting blade)
Pistol +6 to hit, 1d10+3 piercing, reload 4, misfire 1, ammunition 20, range 60/240

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Bonus Actions

Pass potion hand or toss a potion to ally within 10 ft.
Use potion drink draught, uncork fog, lob volley, splash salve, pour uncture

Reactions

Tail defense with infernal transmutation active, +2 AC against a declared melee attack

Assault Battle Potioner 8

Human, Lawful Neutral

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• Armor Class No shield: 15, Shield/half cover: 17; 3/4 cover shield: 20
• Hit Points 130
• Speed 30 ft.
• Potion points 22 (max 3 pts per potion)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
11 (+0)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

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• Saving throws Con +6, Int +7
• Skills Stealth +5, Perception +5
• Languages Common, Elvish
• Proficiency Bonus +3
• Challenge 6 (2,300 xp)

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• Concentrated Elixir Taking a potion requires only a bonus action for any creature. Passing a potion to another creature is a bonus action.
• Fast Hands Battle Potioner can use a potion with a bonus action.
• Alchemical recovery recover Int mod potion points on a short rest.
• Make that Two Can mix two potions in one action (same elixir or catalyst); can be under the influence of two battle potions without unintended effects
• Alchemical Sheilds specialty Expanding Shield (1 pt, +2 AC, hands-free potion mixing), Massive Shield (2 pts, +5 AC, hands-free potion mixing)

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Potions

Elixirs volatile, harmonious, curious
Catalysts divine, unnatural, natural, arcane

Buff/Defense (* = min 2 potion pts)

Draught of Healing (volatile, divine)
Draught of Undead Fortitude (volatile, unnatural)
Draught of Vigor (volatile, natural)
Draught of Arcane Recovery (volatile, arcane)
Uncture of Radiance (harmonious, divine)
Vapor of Heavenly Cloud (harmonious, divine)
Salve of Leopard Skin (harmonious, natural)
*Draught of Celestial Transmutation (curious, divine) *Draught of Infernal Transmutation (curious, unnatural) Salve of Radiant Aura (curious, divine)
Vapor of False Life (curious, arcane)

Debuff (* = min 2 potion pts)

Volley of Uncanny Voices (harmonious, unnatural)
*Volley of Darkness (curious, unnatural)

Utility

Uncture of Untruth (harmonious, arcane)
Uncture of Plant Growth (curious, natural)

Buff/Offense (* = min 2 potion pts)

*Radiant Volley (volatile, divine)
*Volley of Deathly Chill (volatile, unnatural)
*Thunder Volley (volatile, natural)
*Eldritch Volley (volatile, arcane)
*Volley of Screams (harmonious, unnatural)
*Volley of Swarms (harmonious, natural)
*Uncture of Elementals (harmonious, arcane)
Uncture of Animate Object (curious, arcane)
*Uncture of Nectroting Blade (curious, natural)

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Actions

Mix Potion 1 potion, or 2 w/shared ingredient, max 3 pts. per potion
Rapier +5 to hit, 1d8+2 slashing (+1d4/pt. with uncture of necroting blade)
Pistol +5 to hit, 1d10+2 piercing, reload 4, misfire 1, ammunition 20, range 60/240

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Bonus Actions

Pass potion hand or toss a potion to ally within 10 ft.
Use potion drink draught, uncork fog, lob volley, splash salve, pour uncture

Reactions

Tail defense with infernal transmutation active, +2 AC against a declared melee attack

Contribution Credits

Change Log

Balancing strategy notes

• Potion points are roughly equivalent to the sum of a full caster's (spell slots x spell levels) plus socercy points and/or arcane recovery.
• Potioners gain 3 potion points per level up to 12 and then 2.5 points per level thereafter.
• The key effect of a potion such as number of affected creatures, range, and damage scale with the potion points spent such that 1 potion point effects match 1st level spells, 2 potion point effects match 2nd level spells, etc.
• Potioners can only spell potion points in one potion up to their proficiency, which limits their affects to appropriate levels.
• Damage for area effect spells is 2d6 per potion point, with a save for half damage. At full power (6 spell points), damage is 12d6, available at 17th level and above, which is a little less than the breath weapon of a young dragon at CR 6 or 1.5x the damage of a fireball spell at much shorted maximum range, so not OP, and maybe typical of a 5th level spell * With 52 spells points, a level 20 potioner could do 8-9 maxed out spells, equivalent to the spell slots of a wizard from 5th-9th level.
• The only really big weapon is the prismatic shot, which deals a lot of damage, but also has a lot of chances for saves. And that is no where near a meteor swarm for damage.
• This character can be easily buffed or nerfed by changing the potion point scaling, with no need to alter ability descriptions or features.
• Low potential for broken abilities since potions aren't conjuring large numbers of things. For instance, conjure elementals can summon 12 CR 1/4 mephits (working in pairs for easy of DM management) which attack 6 different targets if they are available. Mephits deal 1d4 damage so each round they are dealing 12d4 (i.e. 8d6 damage tops), which no where near an animate objects spell.
• DM has hooks to slow the potioner's control of the game by limiting supply of ingredients. It a character has an innate ability, that is much harder to nerf.
• Potion making takes actions so that helps nerf the character a bit–a tradeoff for lack of concentration.
• Potions don't require concentration, so many of the potion abilities are somewhat lower than equivalent spells.
• Potion abilities depend on the chosen elixirs and catalysts, so players can't just cherry pick from the entire list and choose the most OP potions every time they advance. They get a little of everything, from utility options, to buffing, to attack, which will encourage balanced play.
• The firearm specialty is mainly to give the player a ranged weapon with damage that doesn't scale with advancement. It provides a consistent combat option that fits with the genre of alchemy, and addresses the range limitation of potions. Notably, the potioner is not given a separate powerful melee ability. Potions that buff weapon attacks do this.
• The shield specialty is meant to address the challenge of making potions on the battlefield. If the player wants to be in a support role, they can hunker down and not be super squishy. Unlike a cleric, they can't use their primary ability with a shield in hand—potions take two hands.
• The potioner's fast hands and concentrated elixir abilities are the most high-powered features. They grant players the ability to use potions without using a full action. This nearly creates a level of parity with spellcasting, which operates up to larger ranges, and requires nothing of the player being buffed by a spell.
• Some notable things the potioner can't do, which helps with class balance: martial weapons, heavy armor, cantrips, theives' tools/lock pick, ascending flight, any form of teleportation/misty step, stun a creature (debuffs are always a step or two below stunning), poison a creature (debuffs are always a step or two below the poisoned condition), induce sleep, permanently imbue magic, create scrolls, any type of long-term magical effect, generate or purify food and drink, talk to or control animals
• the limited range of potions (75 ft.) forces the battle potioner to be at the front lines of the fight, which justifies the medium armor and shields.
• Potions with 2 point minimum: 1st level spells can either do damage at range to a single player, or deal cone damage to multiple players are short range. Accordingly, the potent potion ability was defined to prevent 1st level battle potioners from lobbing lots of area affect attacks at range. 2 potion points, equivalent to casting a 2nd level spell deals 2d6, half on a save. There are no area affect damage 2nd level spells. Then at 3rd level suddenly people are casting fireball (8d6 per target!). So battle potioner has a more graded level up profile, meaning they aren't as vulnerable at low level or as OP at high level. So, useful, even critical, but not totally dominant at any level.
• Reaction usage. Potions that grant damage reduction require the user's reaction to activate, which prevents a potion from turning a player into a barbarian or granting a feat like heavy armor master for the price of a few potion points.

Uniqueness/utility notes.

• The battle potioner overlaps with cleric, wizard, and warlock and replaces the lame artificer class whose abilities don't scale to higher levels of play. With five or more players at the table, the battle potioner may find some of their skills redundant. But on a team with only 2-4 players, the battle potioner can serve as a multipurpose wizard/cleric/warlock. Also, when you have players that are picky or stubborn about which class they want to play and a team is unbalanced, or players are frequently absent due to conflicts, the battle potioner works well to round out the team and maintain survivability. Also, because wizards are so squishy they necessitate having a good healer, while not being able to heal. This lends itself perfectly to parties with four to six players, where we need as many unique niches as possible. On the other end of the spectrum, small parties with a wizard that goes down quickly, will be facing many TPK situations early on. However, without a wizard, they won't stand a chance at higher levels. That's where battle potioners can help. Nobody wants to play a character for several months and then die to an ooze or a spectre at 7th level because their caster was down.