Alchemist Research on Poisons?

[cometaryorbit]

U&WA page 22: "Alchemists may conduct research, but the time and expense are twice that of a Magic-User, and they may only work on poisons."

What does research on poisons mean in an OD&D context? Does it imply a concept of something like the later AD&D poison types table, though not yet explicitly given in the rules?

Or does it mean that Alchemists can make potions of Poison "from scratch" without a formula, at a greater cost, in addition to their ability to duplicate a potion from a formula?

Or is it a typo for "may only work on potions"?

[retrorob]

I don't think it's a typo. Alchemist skills are somewhat limited, they can make poisons and the other potions they can only duplicate, providing they have a recipe / formula.

check out "The Dragon Magazine" #2, where you will find a new Alchemist class with rules on poisons, potions and whatnot.

[talysman]

I think the intention was that the GM sets a "spell level" for a poison and uses the magic research rules. Not giving alchemists the ability to create magical potions from scratch means that potions are exclusively the domain of magic-users, so an M-U has to do the research first and give the formula and sample to an alchemist for duplication. It helps control the spread of magic items.

[cometaryorbit]

Jan 27, 2020 11:44:52 GMT -6 talysman said:

I think the intention was that the GM sets a "spell level" for a poison and uses the magic research rules.

So it probably is intended to imply the possibility of potions with effects other than save or die? (E.g. unconsciousness/tranquilizers, paralysis, etc.)?

That would make sense.

[captainjapan]

If I were a baron, with an alchemist working at my castle, he'd be making me gunpowder, not poison.