Though this potion appears to be like any other drinkable fluid, it
is not meant to be consumed. The liquid is a powerful magical explosive
that only requires contact with the open air and a physical
disturbance of some sort (being dropped or thrown, struck with an
object, or shaken vigorously) to set it off. A potion of explosions will
be found in a tightly sealed bottle similar to most potion containers.
The container is generally fragile, of a ceramic or glass material that
would probably break (save vs. crushing blow) if thrown against a
hard surface. Most of these containers, of course, will be wrapped in
cloth or stored where they aren?t likely to be broken or jostled.

If the entire bottle of liquid is thrown and breaks, this will generate
a blast of 30 feet in radius, doing 6d6 damage to all within this
area (save vs. breath weapon for half damage). Sometimes a ?dose?
of this liquid comes packaged in six small glass or ceramic vials that
can be thrown separately. Each exploding vial does 1d6 damage to
any character or creature within a 5-foot radius. The small size and
light weight of these vials makes them difficult to throw accurately;
attacks intended to hit a creature directly are made at -2 ?to hit.?
The vials are especially fragile, taking a -2 penalty on any saving
throw to determine breakage. The victim of a direct hit from a vial
or an entire bottle of this liquid will take half damage if a save vs.
breath weapon succeeds, but must make that saving throw at a -6
penalty.

If an intended target is missed, the projectile will continue until it
strikes the ground or some other solid object ? possibly causing
damage to someone else in the vicinity of the impact point. If the
container hits its target but does not break, the liquid inside will not
be set off, and the container can be picked up and re-thrown. The
container must make a saving throw vs. fall if it is dropped from a
height of 5 feet or less (^see the DMG for details^). In addition, there
is a 50% chance that the liquid will explode if the container is
shaken or jostled vigorously for longer than one segment. The same
50% chance applies on each consecutive segment; for instance, if a
character with a potion of explosions in his backpack moves at faster
than walking speed for three consecutive segments, three separate
rolls are made to see if the liquid explodes.

If someone tries to identify this ?potion? by taking a small taste,
several things can happen. Opening the bottle and exposing the
contents to the air activates the explosive fluid, and there is a 5%
chance that the character doing so will inadvertently jar the bottle
enough in the act of opening it to set off the explosive. No saving
throw would be given to the opener against the explosion in this
case. If a tiny bit is swallowed to sample the potion, the drinker will
feel his heart accelerate and will feel as if he?s just sampled a potion
of speed (assuming he knows what that feels like). This effect will
only be felt for one round, and does not actually give the drinker any
of the benefits of such a potion. If the entire contents of a bottle or
vial are drunk, the character must make a system shock roll. If the
roll is failed, the liquid explodes inside the drinker, doing 6d6
(or1d6) damage and requiring another system shock roll to avoid
immediate death. If the first system shock roll succeeds, the drinker
becomes extremely ill and will be incapacitated for 3-6 hours ?
unable to walk without assistance, attack, or defend himself.

Potions of explosions are extremely rare. Few alchemists will
agree to manufacture this liquid because of the great danger involved,
and even fewer treasure hoards will contain it.

Experience Point Value: 450 (full bottle) or 75 (per vial)
Gold Piece Sale Value: 900 (full bottle) or 150 (per vial)

-
Potion problem
-
Dear Dragon,
I enjoyed the Treasure Trove (#91) very much.
However, the explanation concerning the potion
of explosions is confusing.

The article states that the potion ". . . only
requires contact with open air and a physical
disturbance of some sort to set it off." Does the
potion only explode when both of these conditions
are met? If this isn't so, how could a person taste
the liquid (or drink it) without it blowing up in
his face when he opens the bottle?

The description states that "If the container
hits its target but does not break, the liquid inside
will not be set off." This implies that air must be
present with disturbance. If this is so, how can a
potion explode from merely being jostled, like in
a character's pack, as the article mentions? Please
clarify this.

Michael Hill
Newport, Ky.
(Dragon #93)
 

The potion of explosions is an unstable liquid
that will almost always explode under ideal
conditions and may or may not explode under
certain other conditions. The term "physical
disturbance" is, on second thought, perhaps not a
very accurate way to describe what sets off the
liquid. Let me give it another try:

Ideal conditions for an explosion include the
presence of air and an abrupt physical shock of
some sort delivered to the liquid -- such as when
a container is thrown against a hard surface.
Under these conditions, the potion will always
explode, as long as the container breaks.

The potion does not necessarily explode when
it is merely brought into contact with air; it must
also be severely jostled at the same time. The act
of opening a container and pouring out or tasting
the liquid does not set off the potion, except on
the 5% chance that the container gets severely
jostled when it is opened.

The potion will also explode without coming
into contact with the outside air, if the container
is shaken vigorously for an extended time -- one
segment or longer. (If one segment doesn't seem
like a long time, try shaking a container of liquid
for six seconds and see how shook up it gets.)
This part of the description was designed to rule
out explosions from an accidental bump or a
shake-up that only lasts for a second or two, and
this is also the reason why a thrown container of
liquid will not explode unless the container
breaks: the potion is able to withstand a shock of
short duration as long as its container remains
sealed and unbroken.

-- KM
(Dragon #93)
 
 
 

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons	Magic Items	-	Dragon	Dragon #91
-	-	-	-	-