This game was great, but was buggy as heck! Several patches fixed most things, but the last patch added a bug if my memory serves.

IIRC the same 4 or 5 formulas were all that were available no matter what city you were in or what alchemist you talked to. The others never showed up for sale. I had to use the editor to give some of the formulas to my alchemy guy, otherwise I would have never been able to use them. It made the game nearly impossible to play unless the healing potion was one of the few that were available.

Does this version of the game have this bug still in it?

Thanks,
Fardaza

I think that bug might still be in. I've never played the game before the final patch, so I don't know what earlier versions were like. I always got much of what I needed through other means besides simply buying. Lots of trading formulas, mainly, since that can give you anything.

I hope getting released on GOG will bring this game enough attention to get some fan patches or something.

Did you try trading for formulas? I got about a dozen different that way (as of right now, both healing ones too).

The major inconveniences are, of course, arrogant alchemists (lots of loading) and the formulas come at random (loads more loading). You have to be really lucky to get just the right one.

Been a couple years since I played. How do you trade for formulas? I seem to remember buying them from alchemists in the cities.

With alchemists there is an option to trade with them. The result is random, but isn't limited to what he has for sale. The more formulas you have the more likely he'll see something he is willing to trade for. You don't lose the formula you trade so it is a sweet deal if it works.

I always hit up the local alchemist for trade whenever possible as I do other tasks, since each attempt has a low chance of giving me anything I want. At first I'm thrilled to get any formulas I can because they make trading easier.

Since trading formulas (if it works) costs nothing, it's actually a better route for cash-strapped parties. You'll need to have some formulas of your own first, of course.

Thanks guys! Good to know that. I'll have to get this and play again soon.

--Edit--
I just tested and confirmed 100% that it is not based on whoever has the formula he likes. Sorry. I edited this post to remove the bad info.

Also personality is important for interacting with alchemists, including when trading. So a bit of charisma and speak common on your alchemist will reduce failure rate.

The party leader gets the formula, but this also works if the party leader doesn't know any yet as long as another party member has a formula the alchemist wants. Alchemists sometimes give a formula you already know.

Another good source of new alchemy formulas are witches. If you defeat one you can ask for 3 formulas. These can also include formulas you already know.

Universities also offer formulas as do some monasteries.

It seems that I often get the same formulas offered to me very often so after visiting about 75% of the cities I "cheated" by saving before asking a witch for formulas to get the 45q Essence of Grace formula.

I've found Saint Colman of Cloyne works well with alchemists trading for formulas - he has a relatively low Virtue requirement (34), has a high chance of answering prayers with little DF investment (55% for 15 points) and gives a huge boost to SpkC (30-89) along with some Chr boost (8-15). So, if you have the possibility to learn about him, go for it.

If ever one post showed how great Darklands is, this post is it! :)

Thanks, the game sure has a lot of possibilities for having characters help each other, and that's indeed one of the main reasons it's so great ;-).

You can change the party leader by pressing Ctrl+F1 through F4. In a few situations it's better to have someone besides your charismatic speaker do the talking. RTFM:)

If you're using DosBox you need to remap Ctrl+F1 as it's the default assignment for the DosBox Key Mapper.