The alchemist of old school magic was a figure shrouded in mystery and fascination. These individuals were hailed as masters of transformation, attempting to transmute base metals into gold and searching for the elixir of immortality. Their work combined elements of science, philosophy, and mysticism, captivating the imaginations of both scholars and common people alike. One of the key principles of alchemy was the belief in the unity of all things. Alchemists sought to understand the underlying connections between the physical and spiritual realms, believing that by unlocking these secrets, they could unlock the secrets of the universe itself. This holistic approach to knowledge set alchemy apart from other scientific disciplines of the time, which often focused solely on empirical observations.
In "Recipe For the Alchemist" (Dragon Mag Issue #49), Len Lakofka presents, in very typical Len fashion, a very complete alchemist class. Like many of his classes, this one is an NPC only and should be considered something of a more useful henchman. In addition to the powers of detecting and making potions and poisons there are skills on glass blowing and pottery making. Two useful skills for an alchemist to be sure.
There are XP per levels given, but they add up to be a little bit more than the magic-user if you consider the first couple levels are "apprentice" levels with little more than pottery making and glass blowing skills. While the class is very complete it is a bit prohibitive as a PC class. I am certain that is by design.
Once a whale-a-thon comes into play, whales will stop playing because they are only interested in beating their opponents by out spending them, but will find it is impossible to consistently outspend other whales. There are XP per levels given, but they add up to be a little bit more than the magic-user if you consider the first couple levels are apprentice levels with little more than pottery making and glass blowing skills.
This holistic approach to knowledge set alchemy apart from other scientific disciplines of the time, which often focused solely on empirical observations. Alchemy was not only focused on the material world, but also on the spiritual and metaphysical. The alchemists believed that by purifying oneself internally, they could achieve spiritual enlightenment and transcendence.
Alchemy is a total failure, the meta has not changed at all.
Coming back to Alchemy after leaving upon its release, it's pretty easy to see that Alchemy hasn't changed anything. All it has done is bifurcate where ranked play happens.
The OP cards that were nerfed were either:
- Nerfed in a way that doesn't make a massive difference in grand scheme of things (Epiphany, Chariot, Dragon..), therefore making the deck still viable with maybe a slight loss of edge that them not so viable at very high tiers of play where you need only T1 cards
- Nerfed HARD (Aspirant), but then just replaced with cards that make the deck they're in more OP than it was before (Inquisitor)
So Alchemy has just become "play against all the same stale broken BO1 meta from Standard, except with new broken cards to reinforce that meta even harder."
The only big change I can think of in Alchemy is how red has become more viable with Whelp now, but honestly old school GSD was just as effective. Power level is the same.
Edit for clarity: I'm plat in Alchemy and play either Lier/Karken control or mono-Green; this post is conveying my experience playing these decks in Alchemy ranked over ~30 games; also clarified statement 1
Edit 2: Thanks everyone for all the awards! I am glad my post resonated with so many people.
I think one point that I want to stress again is how dumb it is to bifurcate ranked play. WOTC has effectively cut the player base down the middle and said "these are the players who play Standard and can't afford to have their cards nerfed, so will always play Standard; and these are the whales who can afford to keep up with us constantly nerfing and releasing new cards, they will play Alchemy."
The reason why I think this is very stupid is that Alchemy will eventually become a whale-a-thon where whales only fight against one another. This will happen after several iterations of patches and releases, but the pace is not something a normal player can keep up with given the state of the economy. Once a whale-a-thon comes into play, whales will stop playing because they are only interested in beating their opponents by out spending them, but will find it is impossible to consistently outspend other whales.
The only big change I can think of in Alchemy is how red has become more viable with Whelp now, but honestly old school GSD was just as effective. Power level is the same.
This inner alchemy was often symbolized by the philosopher's stone, a legendary substance that was said to grant immortality and supernatural powers. The alchemist's laboratory was filled with strange and exotic instruments, from alembics and retorts to mortars and pestles. These tools were used to distill and purify substances in order to uncover their hidden properties. The process of transmutation, however, was not simply a matter of mixing chemicals together, but a deeply symbolic and ritualistic practice. While the alchemists' quest for turning lead into gold or discovering the elixir of immortality was ultimately fruitless, their work laid the foundation for modern chemistry. Many of the techniques and instruments developed by alchemists, such as distillation and crystallization, are still used in laboratories today. Moreover, the alchemists' search for spiritual enlightenment helped pave the way for the development of modern psychology and the understanding of the human mind. In conclusion, the alchemist of old school magic were pioneers in their field, combining science, philosophy, and mysticism in their quest for knowledge and transformation. Though their goals may have been elusive, their contributions to science and the human understanding of the world should not be overlooked. Their legacy lives on in the laboratory and in the minds of those who continue to search for the mysteries of the universe..
Reviews for "From Alchemy to Magic: How Old School Alchemists Paved the Way"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Alchemist of old school magic". The plot was slow and uninteresting, and the characters fell flat for me. I found it hard to connect with any of them or care about their journey. The writing style was also a bit confusing at times, with overly descriptive passages that didn't add much to the story. Overall, it just wasn't for me.
- John - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Alchemist of old school magic". The book had a promising concept, but the execution failed to hold my attention. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest within the first few chapters. The lack of character development also hindered my enjoyment, as I couldn't connect with anyone in the story. I'm sorry to say that this book just wasn't my cup of tea.
- Emily - 2 stars - "Alchemist of old school magic" had potential, but it fell short in several areas. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with unnecessary subplots that didn't add much to the overall story. The writing was also overly descriptive, slowing down the pacing even more. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself skimming through sections. I was left disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Michael - 1 star - I regret picking up "Alchemist of old school magic". The story lacked depth and failed to capture my interest. The characters felt cliché and their actions were predictable. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving me confused and disconnected from the world the author was trying to build. I was hoping for an enchanting read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.