Oil of Speed ->Potion of Speed *Update*
Greener
Member Posts: 430
As per the AD&D 2nd edition Dungeon Master Guide
Comments, questions, concerns?
Comments, questions, concerns?
Potion of Speed
This potion increases the movement and combat capabilities of the imbiber by 100%. Thus, a movement rate of 9 becomes 18, and a character normally able to attack once per round attacks twice. This does not reduce spellcasting time, however. Use of a speed potion will cause fatigue almost instantaneously, but the other effects last for 1 turn.
STATISTICS:
Special: Doubles movement and attack rates
Duration: 1 turn
Weight: 1
This potion increases the movement and combat capabilities of the imbiber by 100%. Thus, a movement rate of 9 becomes 18, and a character normally able to attack once per round attacks twice. This does not reduce spellcasting time, however. Use of a speed potion will cause fatigue almost instantaneously, but the other effects last for 1 turn.
STATISTICS:
Special: Doubles movement and attack rates
Duration: 1 turn
Weight: 1
2
Comments
As I recall Beamdog wasnt aware of the history about the potions. It was pointed out - the in game description validated the point - and they decided to fix the “bug”. The intention was good, and it should be regarded thusly.
Each time things are changed it creates a stir, bit mods and self moderation easily fixes this. Beamdog have been kind to this game so far, so lets assume that they will continue to do so - even whereabouts they try to fix the bugs we have come to love...
I have played the game for many years, and the kits may break somethings in BG:ee. But in days of old you played the first game as an ironclad bowwielder, and then come BG2 imported a Kensai with GM in katanas. The game has always has its ways - and ways to twist it. Let each (wo)man play their own game.
- on the one hand the game description is supported as correct by the original PnP documentation, as well as vanilla BG1 behavior, giving Beamdog good grounds for suggesting a change.
- on the other, the easy availability and low cost of oils of speed means this would be a major change to the balance of power in BG2EE.
Remember that in vanilla BG1 there was no support for dual wielding and grand mastery, though available, had no impact on APR. Oils of speed were also pretty scarce in the game (at least until you arrive in Baldur's Gate). The net effect of that was that the difference between a doubling of APR and just adding an extra attack was relatively small.
In BG2 the difference in practice is considerably greater, which suggests to me that the original nerfing of oils of speed in BG2 may well have been deliberate rather than accidental. I rarely use them anyway and I tend to accept whatever treatment is included in the game (rather than modding it to work as I think it should), so personally I don't really mind whatever Beamdog does on this issue. However, I understand they're not planning to go ahead with the change and think that's a sensible choice for players more generally.