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How big are potion bottles/flasks/vials?

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:37 pm
by Hviti
Just how big are potion bottles/glass flasks? I've been reading the Avatar series and some Elminster novels, and in those I've seen potions be described as both little test-tube sized vials and big clunky bottles, so I'm not quite sure how big they are. The main reason I ask is that I've been wondering whether it would be possible to conceal a potion vial behind one's hand or slip one from a bag unnoticed, or whether potions are too big to allow that to happen.

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:06 pm
by Algon
Potion bottles I would think were a decent size. Like a coke bottle or something. A flask to me makes me think of the little glass tubes you see in mad scientist movies :P
A vial is definatly smaller, I have read of thieves and such slipping vials of poison into drinks without the drinker noticing.

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:09 am
by Keltorn
Poison would be in vials. Like Algon said, they're sneakier like that.
however, for potions, I always picture them in big glass bottles.

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:02 pm
by Elenthis
Potions "bottles" Can mean a million things, in my opinion.
I always picture potion bottles to be the small delicate and ornate glass-blown bottles they use to sell extremely cheap perfume in so that they can hike the prices up. You know...the kind with the red glass, and the blue swirls, and the gold wire wrapped around? Yeah...But who knows? Bull's strength might be a 2 litre bottle, while invis is a quart...and maybe a good wizard knows how to brew less of certain components to make the overall size of the potion smaller, or taste better. In my opinion, there is no right answer, but it might be neat to see some more of those neat potion flasks around. Colors, shapes ect. I still see some kicking around on occasion, and it makes for a cool way to distinguish wizards' products.

Just my ten cents

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:17 pm
by Algon
Honestly....who in the name of all that is holy would want to drink a nice big potion of bulls strength.... :shock:

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:16 pm
by Gwain
Algon wrote:Honestly....who in the name of all that is holy would want to drink a nice big potion of bulls strength.... :shock:
It will give you wings.

In all fairness I love that there is a sense that people rp around potion bottles and do not see them as objects that just carry potions, but instead as various sized anomalies that carry the ensence of magics most powerful and unique enchantments.

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:42 pm
by Wenin
I think potions and poisons would definately vary in size, with the poisons clearly being on the smaller end of the spectrum. It is much like medicine, the dosages of which vary on the drug being administered. You could also account for the skill of the crafter, as medicine can have different strengths.

In general I think picturing a typical potion as being a 1/2 Pint sized or smaller is what I myself picture. In the table game, you're suppose to be able to get them and drink them within 3 seconds.

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:19 pm
by Glim
Well, I dont know if this answers anything. But normally potion bottles are made to hold only one dose. So this could be alot, this could be a little bit. It all depends upon how you look at it, I would say.