Potion Tables
I always found it a pain to have to keep digging out the DMG to look up the effects of potions, so in the mid-1980’s I re-typed some tables using a typewriter. Now days, with word processors and the web it’s a lot easier. In this post I’ve provided a number of potion effects tables for easy reference.
Note: The following tables are not guaranteed to be exactly what is in the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide. I used a mixture of the DMG and OSRIC, and adjusted a few things here-n-there to fit my own prejudices.
Admixture of Potions
Animal Control
Climbing
Dragon Control
Giant Control
Giant Strength
Heroism and Dweomercraft
Humanoid Control
Undead Control
Admixture of Potions
Looking up the potion miscibility table has always been a pain, as the DMG is disorganized and I could not remember where the table was located. Having the table handy can make for fun times.
This table covers 2 scenarios:
- Drinking 2 potions at the same time
- Mixing 2 potions externally, like in a crock
I have no idea why anyone would mix potions instead of drinking them, but it apparently came up in EGG’s original campaigns.
Neither the DMG nor OSRIC list the time frame in which potion miscibility should be checked. I ruled that if one potion was consumed while a previous one was still in effect, miscibility should be checked. I also rule if a potion is cancelled, it’s duration should be rolled and tracked, as the potion is still in the imbiber’s system, so other potions consumed during this time may need to be checked as well, possibly against both of the first consumed potions if both durations are in effect.
Common sense has to be used with this table, e.g., if Growth and Diminution both work, they cancel each other out. Also, I may not check if more than one potion of the same general type is consumed, e.g., Potion of Healing and Potion of Extra Healing.
Note: The following table is mostly from OSRIC, as the descriptions are generally easier to understand than the DMG. However, I cleaned up wording and made a few changes. See Admixture of Potions in OSRIC to check the differences.
| d00 | Result |
|---|---|
|
01 |
Eldritch blast! A catastrophic release of magical energies inflicts 6d10 points of internal damage and 1d10 points of damage to anyone with 10 ft of the imbiber. If mixed externally, all persons within 10 ft of the epicenter of the blast take 4d6 points of damage, no save. |
|
02-03 |
Poison, causing instant death if mixed internally, no save. External admixture creates a poisonous cloud 10 ft in radius. Anyone within the cloud must save versus poison or die. |
|
04-07 |
A strange brew results and imbiber sickens, losing 1d4 each strength and dexterity for 4d6 rounds, no saving throw. One potion is nulliļ¬ed and the other works at 50% strength and duration. |
|
08-12 |
The potions cancel each other out; neither has any effect. |
|
13-20 |
One potion is cancelled and the other works at 50% strength and duration. |
|
21-30 |
Both potions work but only at 50% strength and duration. |
|
31-90 |
Successful admixture: both potions work normally. |
|
91-99 |
Extraordinary success: one potion works at 150% strength and duration while the other has normal effects. |
|
00 |
Spectacular success! One of the imbibed potions, determined randomly, has bestowed its effect permanently. Of course, this may not always be a good thing! Consider, for instance, a permanent Potion of Gaseous Form effect. |
Note: Unless there is a visible effect such as an explosion or poisonous gas, the players will not know the result of an external admixture. However, keep track of the result and use it if any character consumes the potion.
Animal Control
| d20 | Result |
|---|---|
|
1-4 |
Avian |
|
5-7 |
Fish |
|
8-11 |
Mammal, including marsupial |
|
12-13 |
Any mammal and avian |
|
14-17 |
Amphibians and reptiles |
|
18-19 |
Amphibians, reptiles, and fish |
|
20 |
All listed above |
The following general sizes and quantities apply: wolf size or smaller, 5d4; up to human size, 3d4; animals up to 1,000 lbs, 1d4.
Climbing
| Penalty | Description |
|---|---|
|
-1% |
each 1,000 GPW carried |
|
-1% |
Any type of magical armour |
|
-1% |
Studded leather |
|
-2% |
Ring mail |
|
-4% |
Scale mail |
|
-7% |
Chain mail |
|
-8% |
Banded and splinted armour |
|
-10% |
Plate mail |
Dragon Control
| d20 | Result |
|---|---|
|
1-2 |
black dragon |
|
3-4 |
blue dragon |
|
5-6 |
brass dragon |
|
7 |
bronze dragon |
|
8-9 |
copper dragon |
|
10 |
gold dragon |
|
11-13 |
green dragon |
|
14 |
red dragon |
|
15 |
silver dragon |
|
16-17 |
white dragon |
|
18-19 |
all evil dragons (black, blue, green, red, white) |
|
20 |
all good dragons (brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver) |
Giant Control
| d20 | Result |
|---|---|
|
1-2 |
cloud giant |
|
3-6 |
fire giant |
|
7-10 |
frost giant |
|
11-15 |
hill giant |
|
16-19 |
stone giant |
|
20 |
storm giant |
Giant Strength
| d20 | Giant Strength | Melee Dmg | Wt Allow. | Range mod | Rock Dmg | BB/LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1-6 |
Hill |
+1d8 |
+4,500 |
+780 ft |
1d6 |
50% |
|
7-10 |
Stone |
+1d10 |
+5,000 |
+8,160 ft |
1d12 |
60% |
|
11-14 |
Frost |
+1d12 |
+6,000 |
+9,100 ft |
1d8 |
70% |
|
15-17 |
Fire |
+2d6 |
+7,500 |
+10,120 ft |
1d8 |
80% |
|
18-19 |
Cloud |
+2d8 |
+9,000 |
+11,140 ft |
1d10 |
90% |
|
20 |
Storm |
+2d10 |
+12,000 |
+12,160 ft |
1d12 |
99% |
Heroism and Dweomercraft Potion Effects
|
|
Heroism |
Super-Heroism |
Ultra-Heroism |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fighter Level |
Levels Added |
Extra HD |
Levels Added |
Extra HD |
Levels Added |
Extra HD |
|
0 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
|
1-3 |
3 |
3+1 |
5 |
4+1 |
6 |
5+1 |
|
4-6 |
2 |
2+2 |
4 |
3+2 |
5 |
4+2 |
|
7-9 |
1 |
1+3 |
3 |
2+3 |
4 |
3+3 |
|
10-12 |
— |
— |
2 |
1+4 |
3 |
2+4 |
|
13+ |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
1+5 |
Note that the Dweomercraft potions grant levels to spell using classes. These levels grant additional hit points (d4s for magic users, d8’s for clerics), additional levels for spell effects and saving throws, but not affect combat ability. Even clerics of war gods gain no extra combat ability from these potions.
Humanoid Control
| d20 | Result |
|---|---|
|
1-2 |
dwarfs |
|
3-4 |
elves and half-elves |
|
5 |
elves, half-elves, humans |
|
6-7 |
gnomes |
|
8-9 |
halflings |
|
10-11 |
half-orcs |
|
12-17 |
humans |
|
18-20 |
other humanoids (orcs, gnolls, goblins, etc.) |
Undead Control
| d10 | Result |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Ghasts |
|
2 |
Ghosts |
|
3 |
Ghouls |
|
4 |
Shadows |
|
5 |
Skeletons |
|
6 |
Spectres |
|
7 |
Vampires |
|
8 |
Wights |
|
9 |
Wraiths |
|
0 |
Zombies |