Intermediate Base Formulations and Multi-Dose Bottling in Faerûnian Potioncraft

In the bustling alchemical halls of the Waterdeep Trading Company, potioncraft has evolved into a discipline of precision, planning, and magical engineering. Among the most efficient techniques is the use of intermediate base formulations, standardized mixtures created in advance and used across multiple potion types. These are not finished potions, but powerful pre-distillations that save time, reduce waste, and ensure consistency across every batch.

Now, the process has grown even more refined with the introduction of multi-dose bottling, where a single base batch can be divided and bottled into varying dose sizes, each calibrated for adventurers, temples, or wholesale distribution.

What It Is

An intermediate base formulation is a semi-finished product used as a foundation for multiple final goods. A bottling step then portions that intermediate into standard dosage sizes.

For example, a Base Healing Solution can be produced in large vats, stored, and later divided into Minor, Standard, or Greater Healing Potions, depending on the bottle size and additive strength.

This structure mirrors the multi-level production model in Dynamics 365, where one formula output feeds multiple downstream formulations and packaging variants.

Why It Matters

This approach provides several strategic benefits:

• Efficiency: Large base batches support several potion lines.
• Flexibility: Different vial sizes and dosages can be produced without re-crafting the base.
• Consistency: Standard potency maintained through measured dilution and enchantment.
• Traceability: Each bottle size retains reference to the parent batch for audit and recall.

Example Formulations

The following tables illustrate the entire lifecycle of potion production, beginning with the creation of the base mixture, moving through the bottling phase, and culminating in finished potion variants. These examples show how the Waterdeep Trading Company structures its alchemical production using intermediate formulations and downstream consumption in a formula-driven process.

This table presents the first stage of potion production, where raw herbs, essences, and solvents are combined into a single reusable base. This base serves as the foundation for all healing potions and represents the primary intermediate product in the Waterdeep Trading Company’s alchemical hierarchy.

Bottling Step – Multi-Dose Packaging

After the base potion is brewed and matured for two lunar cycles, it is transferred to the Potion Bottling Chamber. Here, enchanted siphons and measuring runes divide the base solution into distinct dosage volumes.

Once the base solution has matured and stabilized, it enters the bottling phase. This table outlines how the same base batch can be portioned into different-sized doses, each serving unique market needs. The Waterdeep Trading Company’s bottling chambers ensure precision dosing, consistent enchantment, and accurate yield tracking.

Each variant is filled, sealed, and enchanted according to guild bottling standards. Rune-engraved stoppers track the batch ID and date of distillation for ledger entry in the Alchemical Registry within Dynamics 365.

Example Final Formulations

This table illustrates the transformation of the intermediate solution into a fully finished potion through the addition of magical and herbal reagents. The base solution is combined with active ingredients and bottled for direct sale or adventurer use.

For high-value markets and noble patrons, the Greater Healing Potion represents the advanced variant of the same product line. This table details the enhanced recipe using the same intermediate base, demonstrating how potency scales with volume and ingredient rarity.

Bill of Materials (BOM) Structure

This table demonstrates the hierarchical relationship between ingredients, intermediates, bottling, and final products. It reflects how the Waterdeep Trading Company uses multi-level Bills of Materials (BOMs) to manage both brewing and packaging within Dynamics 365.

This structure allows planners in the Waterdeep Trading Company to trigger bottling orders separately from brewing batches, improving flexibility during demand spikes (for example, after regional skirmishes or monster outbreaks).

Realms-Aware Considerations

Potion bottling in Faerûn must consider not only physical size but arcane saturation. Certain materials, like moonlight glass or ruby-etched quartz, hold enchantments differently at different volumes. A 50 ml vial stabilizes faster, while a 250 ml bottle may require additional stasis runes or cooling sigils.

Seasonal leyline strength can also alter batch yield. As such, bottling operations in Luskan, Thay, and Baldur’s Gate each maintain localized calibration runes tuned to regional magic density.

Final Thoughts

Intermediate formulations form the backbone of Faerûnian alchemy, while controlled bottling ensures that adventurers and nobles alike receive perfectly measured doses. Through standardized intermediate batches, multi-dose bottling, and precise ledger tracking, the Waterdeep Trading Company exemplifies the union of craft and commerce in the Realms.

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