The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1

A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1

The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1 by Dave Woodrum is a role playing game supplement published by Fishwife Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 3.x. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

This is a six-page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $1.50 but which was purchased at the reduced price of $1.13 during a sale. One page is the front cover, one the front matter and one the Open Game License.

The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1The paragraph of the Introduction explains that this supplement features a dozen alchemical items that can be dropped into D&D 3.x and related OGL systems. This is followed by a table of the alchemical items, listing the item name, cost per unit, weight and creation requirements.

Next are the items. Each follows a layout of name, description, cost, weight and creation requirements.

Aspward Elixir give a bonus against snake venom

Boil Drops boil up to a gallon of liquid when dropped in them, dissolving without taste.

Gagnauht Balm blocks most of the sense of smell, providing a bonus against “stench” nausea, but a penalty when trying to identify something by smell.

Gallithum Resin adds an alchemical attack bonus to weapons and increased damage against oozes.

Gritscrub Soap removes sticky residues and foul odours.

Hearthspice scents a room when added to a fire.

Houndsniff Tonic grants the Scent ability.

Lumsmear is a luminous substance that can be applies to surfaces.

Prowler’s Tar provides an alchemical bonus to Climb checks when used on the hands.

Snapdazzle Beads create a burst of light and glittering effects when broken.

Sober Stones sober up people when consumed.

Thinker’s Balm provides an alchemical bonus to Concentration effects.

The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1 in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that they are not needed. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column black and white format and appeared to be free of errors. Bar the cover illustration, which is reproduced on the front matter in sepia, there are no other illustrations. Presentation is okay.

It’s stated that not everything in this supplement is suitable for adventurer use, and indeed substances like Hearthspice are only really useful for practising Craft (alchemy), or stocking up alchemist’s shops. This may be designed for D&D 3.x but it’s easily adaptable to Pathfinder as well. This is a nice, inexpensive collection of alchemical items of varied use that does broaden alchemy a bit more, a skill that has perennially suffered in D&D-based games. The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1 can be found by clicking here.


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3 responses to “A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement The Alchemist Warehouse Catalog, Vol. 1”

  1. Dave Woodrum avatar
    Dave Woodrum

    This is Dave Woodrum from Fishwife Games. Thank you so much for the thoughtful and detailed review! As you indicated, D&D, notably 3x, was the inspiration for this.. and of course Pathfinder as it was based on 3x D&D. I will add, however, that while the general framework of this gaming system (and related editions) was my focus I try to make most of my products as compatible with general high fantasy games as I can. Fishwife has its own incomplete in house system (to be released at some point down the road) and I was a player of GURPS for awhile. I tend to try to make products compatible at least with those games in mind, though I must admit that I favor the 1:10:100 copper/silver/gold format for currency values.

    Again, I appreciate the time that it takes to review my products as well as the honest evaluation and the fact that my products were considered from the large pool (ocean) of great products out there.

    1. Admin avatar
      Admin

      Back when you were Top Fashion Games, yours were the very first supplements I bought when I started getting back into RPGs. The Bookshelf Stuffer series. GURPS is a system I’ve never read the rules for; I just pick up the worldbooks because they are fun to read!

      1. Dave Woodrum avatar
        Dave Woodrum

        Thank you! Some folks remember my earlier stuff, others only know me from the V&V era (when I did some stuff for FGU) and beyond. That was during my latter Dark Quest Games days that I was doing Top Fashion Games and my first venture into (paid) self publishing. Bit of history- Top Fashion Games was my planned self game company from early on- back when I was young enough to believe it would exist in an office with a factory floor for dice, etc. LOL! I recycled the name but not the punk inspired ransom note lettering for the company logo. “Fishwife” was decided after some debate as it was an expression my mom used to say- looking back though I sometimes wish I had thought longer about a brand name.

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