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As I was perusing through my 60+ WotC D&D sourcebooks the other day, I started to notice that a significant number of the books had Alchemical Items/Devices buried in the Gear-&-Equipment sections. In fact, I saw dozens of them. All of the type that are rarely ever used in my neck of the woods or ever seen talked about on the WotC or EnWorld forums.

Typically, these items get used more often than not in the early stages of an adventurers career due to their decent bang-for-the-buck and lack of access to higher level magics. Such examples are the PHB's Alchemist Fire, Tanglefoot Bag, & Acid Flasks, & Antitoxins. Once adventurers get into the middle levels, you see less interest in alchemical items as superior and more cost-effective magic spells and gear begin to eclipse their utility.

Still, I tend to think that savvy optimizers can still make these items perform with decent play value into the higher levels. And that's what this thread will be hopefully be showcasing. :D

For those of you who'd like to contribute to this thread, here are some good guidelines:

• Name your favorite alchemical items ... also list creative tactical uses for them in addition to the levels of play that they stay useful.
  
• Spotlight a hidden-away and interesting alchemical item in an obscure WotC D&D sourcebook that people may have never heard or seen before.
  
• Describe strong strategies for the Craft: Alchemy skill in conjunction with their magic enhancements (Minor/Major Creation, Fabricate, etc).
  

....

Finally, once we get a good bit of information, I'll update Post #1 or #2 with a compiled listing of all the submissions. Thanks!

Alchemy Blades are nifty (from Magic of Eberron).

Basically they're short swords that you can prime by inserting a flask of alchemist's fire or frost. ...and when you make a successful melee attack, the target struck (and only the target struck) is effected by the contents of the flask (as well as the normal melee hit). Not uber-powerful or anything... but kinda cool in my book. A Flaming Alchemy Blade would be sort of neat... when primed with a flask of Alchemist's Fire, on that first hit, you could do +2d6 fire damage that would do another 1d6 fire damage on the following round (regardless if you hit again or not).

I could see someone sitting down with their DM to make modified versions of this weapon as well... possibly allowing for the weapon itself to be something other than a short sword (making an Alchemy Bastard Sword or Alchemy Longsword, etc) or allowing for other alchemy flasks to be inserted without damaging the weapon.

Sidenote: Been looking for a specific alchemy weapon but thus far haven't seen anything (might have to make one on my own - homebrew). Basically I'm looking for a sort of wrist-loaded delivery system for alchemy weapons (alchemist's fire, alchemist's frost, etc)... such that you can punch a target and trigger the firing of the mechanism. ...kinda goofy, but I'm working on it (if I can't find something similar in a published source :P).

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Note (in relation to your above post):
I don't know if they're published anywhere else... but the Eberron Campaign Setting has the details for Alchemist's Frost, Acidic Fire, and Alchemist's Spark. (none of which work exactly like Alchemist's Fire, just to note )

This is one of the areas where a DM has to be careful. It is not uncommon for a DM to throw an environmental obstacle at the party such as a pool of acid. In this kind of situation, the trap itself is a type of treasure.

At higher levels, I like Dither bombs (RoD) for casters. They make barely acceptable replacements to harm people in anti-magic shells. Of course, depending on the DM a shrink item on a barrel of acid can be just as good or better. Dither bombs, however, are even better for setting up deadfalls and cave-ins underground. A spellcaster can elminate the bad guy without a single spell if he brings the roof down on the bad guy. Just remember to take some profession (mining) and/or knowledge (architecture/engineering)

Never forget that acid can be used out of combat as well. Acid can make a good, albeit expensive, alternative to quietly picking a hard lock, etching marks indicating direction in walls, or cleaning a bone. Acid makes a good trap against low intelligent slithering things that cannot jump. Leave a pool of acid behind you and hope your enemy decides it doesn't want a bath in the acid. (actually any smelly liquid can be almost as good)

Another fun one is auran mask combined with and anti-magic aura when you are facing a spellcaster that needs magic to breathe. The reverse of this trick is for a DM to face the party with a BBEG spellcaster that dispels all water breathing spells/effects and puts the cloth to his face. Suddenly the combat can turn into a game of grab the flag.

Tanglefoot Bag is one of those items that remains potent throughout the game regardless of level. The ability to slow an opponent despite their saving throw can be tremendous help against weaklings and provide a minor tactical advantage for the party even against a big opponent.

Smokesticks are excellent hide in plain sight items for a stealthy party that needs to disappear in a flash. This is especially powerful when used by a party that specializes in stealth and hiding. More importantly, a readied action with a smokesticks can obscure line of sight from a spellcaster to a target. With line of sight suddenly obscured by a readied action, the enemies spell fizzles. It is remarkable how often this can be useful to a character that otherwise has little to do (rogue facing spellcasting lich for example).


Mage Slayer spellcasters should look into the mad alchemist feat and thunder stones. A properly designed character can ready his action to prety much guarantee disruption of an enemy spellcasters spell.

Mage hand+sunrod or everburning torch is often enough to provoke a readies action ambush from around a corner.

Look into blasting pellets. The intent seems to be that a single container can be spread over a 5x5 area. However, if each pellet is used one at a time, this can effectively act an alarm spell, spook animals, and draw attention away from the party without the need for spells and without using the entire bag of pellets.

Finaly, I know it is not alchemical, but soap can be prety useful. Not only is it reasonable to grant circumstance bonuses to some escape artist checks, checks versus disease, or move silently, but a pool of slippery water will frequently make for hindering terrain (depending on balance checks). In addition, if the soap is scented, tossing some soap at a bad guy can make it easier to track him with scent.