1. Do you keep them, because you're afraid you could need them the other day?
Pretty much yes. I keep them for that time when I am fighting a hard boss usually..
2. Do you try to use them as often as you can?
No.
3. Do you like Alchemy in general? If you do, why? If not, why?
I like the idea of creating fine poisons and potions, but it takes a lot of grinding and it feels for me like it breaks role play when you have 19,000. skeptics at level 5 or whatever.
Yup, I use them all the time. It helps to have various potions and poisons for various situations, but I really don´t hold back, because I have tons of those potions. Even on builds without Alchemy I always have potions and (useful) poisons at me, using them a lot.
If I´m going heavy roleplay playthrough though, having only 3-5 of each brew (usually like 5-6) forces me to save them, use them in clever way.
I love Alchemy the most of all crafting Skills since Oblivion. It´s a very powerful crafting skill, not very grindy and more importantly it forces me to travel the landscape of Skyrim and be mindful of my surroundings.
1. Almost never. Unless it's some very rare potion.
2. Depends on the character. Most of my characters use Alchemy in one way or another, but each one usually uses only a few types of potions that benefit them the most. Like, while my archer uses a lot of poisons and healing potions, for she isn't a mage, my mage only uses magicka and enchanting potions, and so on.
3. Yes and no. It is certainly useful, but quite inconvenient in use. I'd be really happy if there was a book for alchemical recipes or something like that. Also, sometimes you need some rare ingredient to make a really mundane potion, which makes no sence.
1. Do you keep them, because you're afraid you could need them the other day?
I keep 5 potions of health/magicka/stamina and 10 poisons every time I go out adventuring. I keep them in case of emergencies since my modded Skyrim is way more different in terms of AI and gameplay.
2. Do you try to use them as often as you can?
Yes, but mostly I end up using a 'potion combo' only during boss fights.
3. Do you like Alchemy in general? If you do, why? If not, why?
Gameplay-wise, it's good but can be overpowered if you invest in it too much and can be a cheap way to level up Smithing and Enchanting via 'Grinding Triangle'. I think alchemy should be somewhere between the lines of Oblivion where you can create your own potions and poisons on the go. Poisons are also somewhat lacking. I think most players who invest in Alchemy only make Damage Health + Lingering Damage Health poisons and farm for Slaugtherfish eggs and scales at Windstad Manor.
All that grind for just an increase in potency doesn't feel that rewarding considering how long you've spent on getting there.
Do you keep them, because you're afraid you could need them the other day?
Depends on the build I'm playing. Some keep potions in their inventory, some don't. My requiem build needs them, but Requiem is a different animal.
Do you try to use them as often as you can?
Again, really depends on the build. I have builds that completely shirk the skill, others without the skill that'll go out and buy the potions, and others that don't buy potions because they don't trust the skill of any other alchemist but themselves.
Do you like alchemy in general? If you do, why? If not, why?
I tend to not play with crafting skills, as I prefer my game with more challenge. That being said, with regard to the skill itself, I like it. Of the three crafting skills, it is the most challenging and requires the most messing around, which I think can be very fun to do. I, however, unless I'm playing a botanist or a master alchemist, tend to play the skill as if I'm either not from the area originally or I have no familiarity with the local flora and fauna. "Blind Alchemy" as I like to call it, put away those UESP articles and best potion guides. It involves lots of tasting ingredients and a lot of failed potions as I stand over the station experimenting with various concoctions and use of that one in game book, the Herbalist's guide to Skyrim or information NPCs give you, I think it's called that anyway. I've actually purchased that in game. Arcadia has a copy in her shop. Or I steal if from her if I'm playing an asshat. When you find that triple effect potion after some random guesswork, it feels good. Means, unfortunately that I'm not perhaps maxing my poison damage or finding the best combinations out there and yes, I'm wasting ingredients, but it's hella fun playiing this way. I dislike grinding the skill, so I opt for a make potions and poisons on a need basis. My current build is at 70 alchemy and at nearly level 40, so I consider the pacing non-grindy. He's been crafting potions and poisons since Helgen. I'm still not making particularly powerful stuff.
I use a mixture of potions and poisons. This same build, had terrible drops for his armor of choice, so I was forced to use Alchemy to supplement, replacing enchanted gear essentially. Had to try out some pretty funky combos and I think he's eaten nearly everything available in game. LOL I have a funky ravage stamina, ravage health, regen combo that is pretty potent. I have a combined marksman one-handed potion, stronger restoration poition, enhanced smithing, damage magicka regen, frenzy poisons, fortify health combos, block and magic resistance combos, and elemental resistance combos (he hunts hawks at lakeview, pesky birds, very messy leaving dropping everywhere.). I have made very stupid fortify Conjuration and damage magicka regen combos. HAHA, it's so messed up. I sell that one to Arcadia. "Yeah, it's pure, fortify Conjuration. Yep. No, ignore that bitter after taste." It's all very mad scientist.
Oh Gods, I made this entirely too long. Sorry.
I'll answer this from the perspective of my first few play-thru's of the game because once you start playing builds, or play testing your own the answer becomes "depends on the build"
1. Yes, and then I end up level 20 with 128 healing potions weighing me down. Healing potions I know I'm never going to use but still can't sell them or leave them at home "just in case".
2. Nope, I could be at 1 health facing three rampaging dragons and I still won't use a potion, instead I'll try hiding behind a bush and hope to get enough time to regenerate. You know because I NEED to save those potions for when I REALLY need them.
3. Yes. Alchemy was actually the last crafting skill a bothered with, initially I was turned off by the consumable nature of the skill. I figured why create a limited number of paralysis potions when I can just cast paralyze, or why create a healing potion when I can find a dozen in every cave from here to Highrock? It wasn't until later when I started playing character builds that I gave alchemy it's due, and haven't turned back since. There is a level of nuance and customizability that no other skill gives you.
1. Gah, Alchemy. I am running with a herbalist now and I forgot how much I love and hate this skill. Yes, I hoard like a Tolkien dragon.
2. Yeah, I use them often but also hate how much of a cheat it feels if you favourite them. So I try and limit them to pre and post combat which basically nerfs it.
3. I like the idea of alchemy. I like how it supports RP in the gathering stage. I hate the practice of alchemy. In the old days I could carry around a mortar and pestle and craft in the wild. I hate how cumbersome it is now. Argh, getting Dagon now.
Let the record state I now officially hate alchemy. Let it burn. Sure, it's great at higher levels when your potions are actually useful. It is great for immersion at the gathering stage, but good god is it ever tedious!
Yay, I just crafted a resist magic potion of 2%. That will really help my Apprentice Stoned (if students are basically apprentices then stoned is the right word) character.
So to get anywhere you have to use a heap load of perks that give diminishing returns, you need the patience of a saint, you need to either accept it is a cheat to swig a potion in battle or nerf yourself and on top of that you need to have a set up that doesn't rely on alchemy.
Grrr.
Hmm, probably you are just too shy)) Should take more than that to bother you)) Are you a Nord or not?XD And seems like you're a poor Nord if you have to sell dragon bones to pay for her services. That's probably because you are too shy to make them pay you more for killing dragons
Like that is it Justiciar? Smack talking Nords? Very well then, it's on.
What happened to Lord Naarifin? I heard that The Woodland Man tricked him into becoming a Nord.
Now he is known as:
Lord Narfi!
Yeah, my Nord is poor af. Still early days though but it suits. I just wish I had more time to craft. Alchemy is not a skill for time limits.
It also requires a pen and paper. Like, who remembers this shit? Probably Vazgen but I have no head for it. I have at least 3 alchemy builds and can I remember a single potion's ingredients? Can I hell. Can I be bothered to look? Can I hell. So I guess I will just whine about it instead.
Yeah, old HM loves to experiment with ear length. Wouldn't be the first time))
Tbh, I am too blond to hold these things in my head. There's not enough memory space to store them. So I just have the UESP open every time I need to make a new potion.
Seems like all NOrds are bound to be poor. Mine are poor too, both of them. Only the Thalmor is a rich richie, he's got Enchanting leveled to 100)))
Slow? I actually disagree. I said "perking only Alchemy" but that doesn´t mean your other skills are not progressing, right? I think that with only Alchemy I could very easily level up...hm, let´s see... One-handed defintely, destruction possible, sneak for sure. Using Faendal to level up Archery to 50 is always nice boost. What else can I use combined with Alchemy? Two-handed is slow, so not really worth it. Armor Skills...well, they can be fortified by Alchemy, so maybe that too, but I imagine this char would be a lot about dodging.