Alchemy isn't like other crafts. It's classified as a mental devotion and can only be mastered by a mage or poet. You learn this craft on top of Scribe's mountain in Vale. It is a long journey you will have to make many times - so it's best to be fully prepared before you head out.
It will take you about 179 attempts at making purple potions to go from novice to apprentice. To make purple potions you will need 2 rat meat, 1 antler and one root liquor. (you can hold 10 purple potions in your inventory at a time and they cost 2 coins each to deposit in the bank). Purple potions are used to increase your metabolism which will allow a person to heal quicker. Higher level scribes also need purple potions so they can craft a scroll of immortality.
Before you begin you will want to gather some rat meat. The rat cave is located in Kugnae (coordinates 46, 112). You can hold 150 rat meat at a time. Root liquor sells for 10 coins at the Inn. You can get Antlers from killing a ton of deer or simply go to the arena and just buy them. The arena is located at 184,32 in Kugnae. The place you want to go is the bottom door (to your right). Antlers sell for 10 coins each.
So now you have your items you are ready to head out to the top of Scribes mountain in Vale. This walk takes about 7 minutes from the west gate in Buya to the top of the mountain. :( Once you are there and make your 179 or so attempts you will reach apprentice. Give it another 1304 or so attempts and you will reach accomplished. At this point you can start making lime potions. Lime potions give extended sanctuary (lasts 245 seconds). This potion is great for warriors and rogues who want to solo.
To make a lime potion you will need 2 fine snake meat, 3 limestone and 1 aged wine. You can buy aged wine in Kugnae at the potion shop (192,201) for 150 coins. You can buy limestone at the Goh shop in Buya (96,122) for 10 coins each. You can hold 4 lime potions in your inventory at a time and they cost 100 coins each to deposit.
So that you don't waste a trip up the mountain be sure and grab some stuff to make a few purple potions as well. As an apprentice you will have about a 50% success rate, or about that. If you make 20 attempts, you will make about 10 potions. When you reach accomplished that goes up. Although I am newly accomplished, so far my success rate seems to be about 80-90%. Good luck and have fun! ;-)
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Below is all the information I have gathered over time.
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Here's a guide explaining the effect of EVERY potion in Nexus:
Alchemist can make (purple, lime, black and dart poison)
White Disables shout ((Pretty dumb))
Yellow Heals 50 vita
Blue Heals 100 vita
Violet Heals 200 vita
Indigo Cures poison
Brown Casts Harden armor
Green Casts Sanctuary, but lasts twice as long
Red Recovers all vita
Aqua Casts Sanctuary
Lime Casts Sanctuary, but lasts 1/3 longer
Muddy Casts Harden armor
Purple Casts Increase metabolism((Makes heals more effective))
Black Brings your slain body to life ((self rez))
(information posted by on the comm boards some time ago, I just can't remember by whom. please note the black potion description is a hottly debated subject.)
Skills chart as per Wasse
Understand, mages advance quicker then poets. Also, skill does NOT go up by attempts, but by potions made.
Aprentice = Aproximetly 200
Accomplished = Aproximetly 600 purple potions
Adept = Aproximetly 1800 purple potions
Talented = Aproximetly 5400 purple potions.
Notice, each time the amount doubles.
Apprentice is 200. Accomplished is *2 that. so 400. 400+ 200 = 600 total. Adept is *2 that 600 total. 1200 + 600. etc.
Lime potions count for more obviously.
Wasse
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Now as for me here is how is had gone for me.
Apprentice:179 Attempts (about a 50% success ratio)
Accomplished:1125 Attempts (about 60% success ratio)
At accomplished I could start making lime potions. I have found my success ratio has increased dramatically. It's now at about 80%-90%. So far I have made 72 attempts at lime potions and 194 attempts at purple potions.
