The Book of Unusual Potions

NOTE: The book was designed as a 5.5" wide by 8.5" tall work, with self-cover. The 64-page document is roughly the equivalent of 32 full 8.5-inch wide by 11" tall pages.

Alongside scrolls, magic potions are one of those ubiquitous magic items that many of us don’t give a second thought. Potions can heal, boost character attributes, and generally serve as a quick fix and a tool to overcome in-game complications and obstacles. Some game systems apply limits to the power of potions, while others disregard “game balance” and approach potions as more of a video game-style instant enhancement. How you personally prefer to treat potions in your campaign is far more important than what the game’s rules may say.

Over the years, I’ve tried to make potions more than just a simple “drink this and gain Y benefit” item. I don’t feel as if I’ve quite succeeded in the past, though, in adding mystery and wonder to the magic potions that I’ve detailed in my work.

That’s where The Book of Unusual Potions comes into frame. This is a dedicated tome in which I try to give potions more twists, turns, and strangeness than in my earlier projects, an attempt at making these potions as entertaining in terms of flavor as they are in-game bonuses.

You will find the staples of the magic potion world within these pages – Potion of Strength, Potion of Healing, love potions, etc. – but each will bring with it something other than the usual “you heal X points of damage instantly” sort of language often assigned to these classic potions.

And in addition to those routine, boring potions that we all know (and rely on in the dungeon), I’ve also stepped outside of the 10’x10’ room in search of more unusual potions. It is these works that I think you’ll find more inspiring and rewarding when deciding “exactly which potion should the party find once they unlock that chest?”

Please note that nothing within these pages will change your world – in more ways than one – and none of the ideas are intended as a permanent addition to your campaign. As with many of the near-thousand treasure items that I have written over the years, these potions are best for one-shot events where they are introduced, impact the adventure, and then are discarded and forgotten. I recommend not allowing player character wizards to learn how to create the potions that are new to this book.

Thank you to the 1,545 backers of the Kickstarter campaign who made this project so very successful!

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