What do potions taste like?

[RaistlinMC]

*Narrator Voice*

They definitely didn't.

[Blackfox42]

Reminds me of that Birthday Cake that, when consumed, gave the effects of an indefinitely delayed potion - at any point in time you could activate the effects of the potion, if you had eaten the cake - that I gave out. Wonder if my players remember they still have that.......

[RaistlinMC]

Two things:

One, I can't believe I've never seen this thread before. Great suggestions, all the way around.

Two, I can't believe that I've been playing in a game of Drew's for months now and he hasn't given my PC that Fox's Cunning pipe to smoke yet. Don't you know me at all, man?! haha

[MTpaladin]

What do potions taste like?

I’ve always loved giving my players some unlabeled and curious potions and let them try and figure it out. I got so into it that I fell behind actually assigning an effect to the potions.

Here are some fun examples. What effect would you give these potions?


1: A ceramic vial with a tight-fitting stopper. It is half-filled with a fuming, metallic light-amber substance. The contents smell and taste like chalk. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in a foreign language, is too faded to read and misleading anyway.

2: A ceramic vial with a tight-fitting cork. It contains an oily, translucent light-green fluid. The contents smell and taste like clams. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in a foreign language, is potentially readable but wrong.

3: A ceramic vial with a tight-fitting stopper. It holds a creamy, translucent light-yellow substance. The contents smell and taste like mutton. The potion name on the paper label, written in a foreign language, is too stained to read and wrong anyway.

4: A glass flacon with a tight-fitting cork. It contains an effervescent, translucent grey liquid. The contents smell and taste like strawberries. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in the common tongue, is too battered to read and wrong anyway.

5: A glass vial with a tight-fitting cork. It holds a very thin, translucent black substance. The contents smell and taste salty. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in the common tongue, is too worn to read and wrong anyway.

6: A ceramic flask with a loose-fitting stopper. It is half-filled with a fuming, sparkling, transparent yellow liquid. The contents smell and taste like carrion. The potion name on the paper label, written in an unknown language, is potentially readable but wrong.

7: A ceramic bottle, whose loose-fitting cork is very loose. It is full of a syrupy, translucent amber substance. The contents smell and taste like cheese. The potion name on the paper label, written in the common tongue, is too worn to read and wrong anyway.

8: A glass phial with a tight-fitting stopper. It is partly filled with a watery, translucent black substance. The contents smell and taste like cherries. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in a foreign language, is potentially readable and accurate.

9: A porcelain vial with a tight-fitting cork. It is half-filled with a watery, opaque yellow fluid. The contents smell and taste like old socks. The potion name on the paper label, written in an unknown language, is too faded to read but accurate.

10: A glass flask with a loose-fitting stopper. It is full of a bubbling, sparkling, translucent yellow substance. The contents smell like blood but actually taste more like brussels sprouts. The potion name on the hanging tag, written in the common tongue, is readable but wrong.

If you want me to keep going. I’ve got about a thousand of these including books as well


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[Drew]

Well, in one game I ran a long time ago, there was a potion of Fox's Cunning (the spell that makes the target smarter), but it wasn't actually a potion you drank. For no reason at all I decided that it was a Sherlock-Holmes-looking pipe that you smoked. The gag was that not only are you definitely smarter while smoking the Pipe of Fox's Cunning, due to the spell's effect, but you actually look smarter, too, puffing away and spouting scholarly gems all the while. It also caused a pair of small, round-lensed spectacles to materialize on your face for the duration of the spell, which you are at all times compelled to remove, clean the lenses, and return them to your face. If you were able to perform that task while trying to think of something, you received an additional small bonus to your roll on top of the regular bonus that the spell is already giving you. So you really come off looking scholarly as hell, puffing your pipe and cleaning your glasses at the same time.

[RealWittyAlias]

I love all those descriptions, especially the Potion of Flying!

So far I've only described/imagined potions as liquids in games I run, but you're inspiring me to think up some fun edible ideas.

[MTpaladin]

What do potions taste like?

Wow I can’t believe that didn’t see this sooner. I love this conversation and hope to help keep it going.

My players love the many different descriptions that I give my books and potions. These are a few of their favorites but also agree some are totally gross. Too bad none of them were spell casters to use prestidigitation and change the flavor. My main idea is to not always give the players the name of the potion and let them experiment or weigh the personal apprehensions of drinking such liquids for the benefits they might give. I’m also thinking of including Will or Fort saves for certain potions.

Bull Strength - a yellow-red-brown potion that reeks of bull urine and tastes of iron.

Giant Strength - a syrupy potion, a toenail clipping and grit floats at the bottom. It reeks of body order and tastes like dirt and sweat. (Since there is no potion of giant strength in PF, I made it a greater Bull strength but at the cost of reducing your intelligence for the duration.)

Potion of Invisibility - looks and tastes like bubble solution.

Potion of Levitation - looks and tastes like club soda

Potion of Flying - same as above but the liquid floats at the top of the bottle making this an interesting potion to drink.

Are al of your potions liquid or do you have powdered, syrupy, or even solid/ chewable potions?


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[RealWittyAlias]

If I liked coffee I would definitely try that. I'll sub the mocha for cocoa and try it anyways!

[Drew]

A hot mocha in one straw and a cold mint chocolate chip shake in the other.

[RealWittyAlias]

Endure Elements: Feels and tastes like hot chocolate and cool watermelon/cherry lemonade mint tea at the same time. I have absolutely no idea how I would make this in real life; it'll have to stay in the realm of magic for now.

I'd nearly forgotten about this thread, but when I reread it earlier this evening I suddenly realized how to make my Endure Elements idea a reality... sort of, anyways.

I made hot chocolate in one mug and the iced mint tea in another. Then I put a straw in each drink and drank from them both at once, allowing me to drink a cold and a hot drink at the same time. The sensation was really cool, but the flavors didn't mix as well as I'd thought they would. Maybe I'll try different flavored teas in the future, or cold juices. Or I could use hot tea instead of hot chocolate....

[theskyvalker]

But can't magic take care of the flavor?

An interesting homebrew mechanic that just occurred to me:

In a distant galaxy far far away, perhaps there is a world where cheap potions are really bitter and vile to taste so you have to make a check to actually gulp it down and get the benefit. (Make a DC 10+(level of potion) CON check to do it successfully or not throw up). However, some of the best merchants carry stock of magically flavored potions that either lower the DCs or remove the check entirely. They are priced higher and are harder to find (quest reward worthy). There are also potion connoisseurs that certify flavored potions and the best-flavored ones are collector's items that can cost anywhere from a few times the normal price to exorbitant limited edition prices.

Character hook based on this mechanic: Your mother/father/sibling were in dire need of a potion of anti-poison or something to save their life and you tried all the places but there were none available when you remembered that a noble had one in his collection of exquisitely flavored potions. You broke in to the estate and tried to steal it, but the noble resisted and tried to take it from you. In a struggle that ensued, you accidentally killed the man.

Good character sub-hook: You saved your relative and are now on a path of redemption, trying to do good things to counter your evil act.

Evil sub-hook: You were unable to save the relative and that turned you against this society that would value money over someone's life. Further, the noble didn't really stay dead and is now after you. Little does he know, you are coming for him first.

I'd guess potions would taste awful; when's the last time you had good tasting liquid medicine? It's like how manmade chemicals have a distinct smell/taste, I think magically brewed things would have a similarly unique flavor.

[RealWittyAlias]

I used to imagine the same, and the mana potions as melted blue slushies. (I know D&D doesn't really have mana potions. I'm thinking more DragonFable.)

[DarkisnotEvil]

What do potions taste like?

I have always imagined a potion of Cure Wounds tasting like a melted Cherry Icee.

[RealWittyAlias]

Resist Energy: Tastes like whatever energy type you're trying to resist. Acid is super acidic, cold is like swallowing ice, energy is like getting a static shock in your mouth, etc. If I was making "real" versions of them for a live game or party or whatever I'd use:

Acid: a shot glass of straight lemon juice.
Cold: a minty drink that's been in the freezer as long as it can without actually freezing into a solid.
Electricity: a really fizzy cocktail with pop rocks on the rim.
Fire: a shot of hot sauce.
Sonic: ...no idea. I will have to think about that one.