Wizard/Transmutation is pretty much worthless

[northernwater]

The reason is you have to pass a DC 15 Medicine check to gain double potions. If I'm a wizard I'm certainly not going to add points to Wisdom to get my Medicine check higher.

Do Medicine checks have much use in the game outside of this case?

[northernwater]

Casting Guidance on a Gythanki Wizard which has cast Astral Knowledge:Wisdom would help some, but still I would not put Ability Points into Wisdom for a Wizard.

[Xan]

Why not just get a hireling to go transmutation wizard, pump their medicine proficiency and wisdom attribute? Why does someone in the active party have to be the one making potions? You can use hirelings for all kinds of things beyond just filling in party spots for combat.

[victorvnv]

Alchemy is pointless in general.

The best potions and elixirs are easily found in shops and most of them you are better off casting spells anyways .

Like haste elixir you can cast haste or use one of the 2 bows and not need to harvest haste pots

Would have been a really powerful wizzard school if potions were really rare, like hill giant elixirs , having transmutation wizard would have been super important.

The game just have too much abundance of buyable elixirs for this wizzard spec right now

[northernwater]

Originally posted by Xan:

Why not just get a hireling to go transmutation wizard, pump their medicine proficiency and wisdom attribute? Why does someone in the active party have to be the one making potions? You can use hirelings for all kinds of things beyond just filling in party spots for combat.

That's true.

[northernwater]

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Alchemy is pointless in general.
The best potions and elixirs are easily found in shops and most of them you are better off casting spells anyways .

Late game everything is abundant. Early game not so much. We all know late game the game gets easier and the early game is more difficult. Though I still like potions and elixirs a lot. I don't see them as pointless especially the elixirs.

Potions don't use an AP or require concentration.

Would have been a really powerful wizzard school if potions were really rare, like hill giant elixirs , having transmutation wizard would have been super important.

Agreed.

[Remedy]

We use a hireling built specifically for potions. My wife is the one who sets them up and I believe she gets them expertise in medicine checks and enhance ability so they are basically always doubling the potion output.

Medicine checks rarely come up and from what I recall, missing them isn't bad. If you want good potion economy, best to invest in a hireling built around passing the medicine checks.

[northernwater]

Originally posted by Remedy:

We use a hireling built specifically for potions. My wife is the one who sets them up and I believe she gets them expertise in medicine checks and enhance ability so they are basically always doubling the potion output.

Medicine checks rarely come up and from what I recall, missing them isn't bad. If you want good potion economy, best to invest in a hireling built around passing the medicine checks.

Sounds like a good plan.