All alchemical crafting requires a base—a foundation on which the item is created. Some bases are catalysts that facilitate a chemical reaction, while others are a key component in a mixture. As a general rule, the more powerful the item, the more costly the base.
Activated Charcoal:
Finely-ground carbon with a high surface area for improved absorption. Used in medicine to absorb ingested substances.
Alcohols:
Alcohol is naturally-occurring ethanol, fermented over time and then distilled to varying degrees of purity. Alcohol is used as a base for creating alchemical potions.
Aluminum Powder:
This rare metal is used to produce thermite due to its high melting point. Aluminum is more valuable than an equivalent weight in gold.
Brimstone:
This common element is found in sulfide and sulfate minerals and produces a noxious gas when burned. Also used to create oil of vitriol.
Flash Powder:
A mixture of saltpeter, magnesium
powder, and linseed oil. Flash powder is a primary
component of nonlethal explosives.
Greases:
Soap combined with a mineral or plant oil.
Grease is used as a base for creating alchemical oils.
Naphtha:
A flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture used
for torches and incendiary devices.
Powder Oil:
This powerful explosive oil is a primary
component of dynamite. Due to its propensity to
detonate when subjected to shocks, powder oil must
remain frozen while being transported.
Saltpeter:
Nitrated salts used in the formulation of nitric
acid and various explosive powders.
White Phosphorus:
This volatile phosphorus allotrope
ignites when exposed to air, and is primarily used to
create smoke, illumination, and incendiary devices.
Alchemical bases can be purchased from apothecaries
and other dealers in alchemist’s supplies at prices shown
in the Alchemical Bases table. The costs shown are for
one unit, which is the amount required for a single craft
attempt. Outside of large settlements, more exotic bases
might be limited in supply or unavailable.
Alchemical Bases Table
| Name | Availability | Cost |
|---|
| Alcohols |
|---|
| Fine Spirit | General | 10 gp |
| Aqua Vitae | Limited | 50 gp |
| Rectified Spirit | Specialist | 200 gp |
| Greases |
|---|
| Calcium grease | General | 10 gp |
| Lithium grease | Limited | 50 gp |
| Urea grease | Specialist | 200 gp |
| Other Types |
|---|
| Activated charcoal | General | 10 gp |
| Aluminum powder (8 oz) | Limited | 25 gp |
| Brimstone | General | 10 gp |
| Flash powder | General | 10 gp |
| Naphtha | General | 10 gp |
| Powder oil | Limited | 25 gp |
| Saltpeter | General | 10 gp |
| White phosphorus | General | 10 gp |
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