I am level 9 and have 2 points in Alchemy.

First off, I can't get it to work at all. I've tried dragging and dropping empty vials from my inventory onto all different kinds of herbs, mushrooms, etc, all around the starting town and surrounding area. I keep getting "Alchemy Failed" and the character says he isn't skilled enough or something. Am I doing something wrong? Which herbs should I look for, and what kinds of vials? Any help here?

Also, do you think the Alchemy skill is even worthwhile?

Thanks for the help.

Take a look at this post for alchemy info. . . =)

The skills value depends on your playing style. It's almost a required skill if you are a purest and want to play strictly by the rules. It's a quick way to get potions when you need them especially in situations where a potion is the only way to continue..

Others use the dupe cheat and simply duplicate their existing potions. Which method you use is strictly up to you . . . =)

Thanks for the link. I'll try again, but I swear I was doing exactly what is described, dropping an empty vial on the herbs.

I opened a game to see if there was anything I left out. I had success with filling an empty flask by opening my inventory and dropping the flask on mushrooms BUT . . . I kept trying different patches and also found that not every group of mushrooms / herbs will allow you to make a potion. I went to the next closest mushroom patch and successfully dropped and filled the flask. Sorry, I had not noticed that before.

So . . . if one patch doesn't give you a potion go to another patch. I also found a patch with several mushrooms which would not give a potion but a single mushroom a foot from the large patch did give a potion when a flask was dropped on it.

Try several patches until you find one that will give you a potion . . . =)

I have added this to the alchemy post, thanks for making me aware of this.

You're using the "small" empty flask, right?

I finally got it to work. It's extremely fussy as to where you drop the flask. It has to be just the right pixel, it seems. Also, sometimes I had to move around the herb to the other side to get it to work. thanks for the help, all.

Late answer, but useful for people having this same problem : you have to be in range of the mushrooms. Dropping a vial from the other side of the screen won't work. If the shrooms blink red/pink : you're too far. Come closer until they blink white.

So :

1) Click on the patch so that your character goes close to it
2) Put a vial on it

Also, convert all you can into restoration potions. Those restore a percentage of your health and mana, versus a fixed amount. Restorations, even minor, are still useful even at higher levels, while other minor and normal potions become little more than dead weight.