@Tomppa:
@ChoiceOfDamnations:
@Almadyr:
As a wizard I used to make good money on potions.
Adventurers use only 2-3 potions (mainly shield and blur, invisibility as well).
Despite the interesting idea of being a merchant-potion brewer, from my experience the idea is not worth to sacrifice a feat and some RP.
Dms have not - from what I understand - supported any brewer merchant (i.e. giving them weird potion recipes such as Stoneskin, Imp Invis, Polymorph…) making the experience really not worth the time and the effort.
That was one of the main reasons I left to play my wizard so I tend to agree with Eliphas on that, let's go back to the old system....
Edit: typo
While I have never played a brewer, I would typically believe that the DM's would hand out cool recipes to brewers that don't mass produce potions looking to start a business and profit. The feat could be used for other cool ideas like a battle field brewer for example. Walk around with empty vials and a ton of "reagents and ingredients" and brew potions on the spot for any ailment or need that your party has. Because yes the new system allows the use of teh feat without the need of a cauldron which is a MAJOR benefit. Simply put, I believe they want us to use the feat for what it is in order to twist it and create what we are all looking for, adventure and intrigue.
Note that I am not at all saying that you guys are in it for the profit as I haven't interacted with many of the current brewers.
So let me get this straight. Instead of -casting- a spell to get the required benefits, one should -brew- a potion of it (which requires, indeed, casting the spell), that is less effective, and costs about the same amount of coin than if you had bought one from the NPCs?
-Edited
That's exactly what I'm saying.
I would rather enjoy travelling with a character that takes the time to rp the brewing of a potion (adding ingredients, mixing, heating, stirring, etc.) rather then just casting a spell on a bottle in mass production.
In addition, said PC alchemist, could walk around with a variety of potions already made and hand them out on quests if needed. A specialist in the art of brewing. A guy who has a potion for everything.
Edit:
wizards cost nothing to play and equip and very rarely get less then an equal share of the reward gold for quests even though they waste little supplies compared to other classes.
As such, this reward gold could be used very easily to accomplish said goal.
Edit 2: Now I agree that more recipes should be added for this to be a bit more feasible and I of course buy potions in mass production (such as shielding) due to the price difference but I wouldn't be upset if I had to buy fully from NPCs.