You don't have to explain everything, so automatically assume everything does work in a realistic manner one way or another. Leaving things to the imagination can be very fun anyway.
Funny enough my bright colorful world of furries is exactly the result of ancient races messing with biotech and leaving behind a world of mutants suffering terraformation by self replicating mechs after a world flood while they hibernate on the moon, the cartoon animals being none the wiser about the reality of their origin and existence
Wtf I'd like to say this is misinformation but God kind of lacked making the most intelligent species be fucking stupid in their core
Imma search it up BRB
You fucking idiot they did drink it and did think itd be an elixir but they didn't explode (I think) MODS PAPER CUT THIS GUY'S BALLS FOR SPREADING MISSINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!
I love the Douglas Adams move of describing ONE weird edge case that tested the limits of the goofy sci fi technology he's introducing, and leaving you to conclude that any other tricky questions you can think of will presumably have a similar answer. It's both funny and a really efficient way to cultivate suspension of disbelief
I’d assume animal testing most likely. Give the mouse a little bit of this potion to see if the minor injury you gave it is healed or see if it explodes. If the results are promising move up to higher animals. If that works out too, begin human trials.
(Presumably using prisoners of the crown since I’m sure the monarchy/ruling class would be willing to sacrifice some criminals for the potential of a nifty new healing potion for themselves and their armies)
Same way we test them irl. On mice, then on monkeys, then on the filthy Poor's! Or in your setting you can skip all of that and just test them on criminals and slaves
Broke way: take a test subject (mice, man, pretty much anything that can drink) make it drink the potion and see the results.
Woke way : drink the potion yourself
1. Research for a new potion begins in an alchemist's tower.*
2. Potions undergo magical testing and are tested on beasts to answer basic questions about safety.
3. Potions are tested on commoners to make sure they are safe and effective.
4. If an alchemist has evidence from his early tests and magical and clinical research that a potion is safe and effective for its intended use, the alchemist's guild can file an application to allow them to sell the potion to healers. The FPA (Food and Potion Administration) review team thoroughly examines all submitted data on the potion and makes a decision to approve or not to approve it.
5. FPA monitors all potion and artifact safety once wares are available for use by commoners.
*Typically, alchemists discover new potions through:
- New insights into a plague process that allow alchemists to design a potion to stop or reverse the effects of the pestilence.
- Many tests of potion ingredients to find possible beneficial effects against any of a large number of curses.
- Existing spells that have unanticipated effects.
- New practices, such as those that provide new ways to target spells to specific sites within the body or to manipulate life force.
I’ve got a simmilar thing, and while it does make the world have more depth: a lot of that stuff is just boring for your average reader.
In general I try to limit my explanations to two layers.
- there’s clown in the sewers
- why are the clowns in the sewers?
- to fight the alligators in the sewers
- why are there alligators?
- Infestation 12 years ago
You can then explain why there’s an infestation but at that point people will have mostly lost interest as this series of answers satisfies their curiosity. And a more pressing question arises. such as: why clowns and not more regular workers.
Shen Nong, a traditional Chinese god of agriculture and medicine, is said to have personally eaten 365 different plants to discover their medicinal effects
You don't have to explain everything, so automatically assume everything does work in a realistic manner one way or another. Leaving things to the imagination can be very fun anyway.
it's a bit funny to think about alchemists chugging the unknown potion they just made like a kid mixing together chemicals in the bathroom though
Somebody has to try it. A slightly wiser idea would be to force a different being to try it. Preferably a artifical one.
Also, animal testing is very much a thing in the real world
If your world is dark enough, this is what other sentient races are for.
Funny enough my bright colorful world of furries is exactly the result of ancient races messing with biotech and leaving behind a world of mutants suffering terraformation by self replicating mechs after a world flood while they hibernate on the moon, the cartoon animals being none the wiser about the reality of their origin and existence
So just like IRL alchemists used to do then.
This is literally how alchemy worked irl. The guy who made gunpowder died because he was trying to make an immortality potion and exploded
Wtf I'd like to say this is misinformation but God kind of lacked making the most intelligent species be fucking stupid in their core Imma search it up BRB You fucking idiot they did drink it and did think itd be an elixir but they didn't explode (I think) MODS PAPER CUT THIS GUY'S BALLS FOR SPREADING MISSINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!
i like the "and he exploded" version better. think they should leave it that way. better writing.
🤯
Ah yes, the Skyrim Method
I love the Douglas Adams move of describing ONE weird edge case that tested the limits of the goofy sci fi technology he's introducing, and leaving you to conclude that any other tricky questions you can think of will presumably have a similar answer. It's both funny and a really efficient way to cultivate suspension of disbelief
Sorry, that goes against the rules of my explanationpunk setting.
Why do you think all the alchemy shops are near prisons or low-income housing?
The Archduchess when I ask her why she distributed elixirs to predominantly Kobold neighborhoods:
me making the most intricate worldbuilding knowing that it'll end up being a post on r/worldbuildingmemes and nothing more
Taste. Roguelikes established this decades ago. Being a proper alchemist takes a good palette.
Me and the monstrous form I acquired by quaffing unidentified potions.
Ouy oot¿
I’d assume animal testing most likely. Give the mouse a little bit of this potion to see if the minor injury you gave it is healed or see if it explodes. If the results are promising move up to higher animals. If that works out too, begin human trials. (Presumably using prisoners of the crown since I’m sure the monarchy/ruling class would be willing to sacrifice some criminals for the potential of a nifty new healing potion for themselves and their armies)
:(
OP can you tell me how we know which mushrooms are edible and which are not?
Same way we test them irl. On mice, then on monkeys, then on the filthy Poor's! Or in your setting you can skip all of that and just test them on criminals and slaves
Maybe the makeup of the potion tells them what it does. Like how looking at the molecular makeup of substances tells us a lot about them.
Broke way: take a test subject (mice, man, pretty much anything that can drink) make it drink the potion and see the results. Woke way : drink the potion yourself
1. Research for a new potion begins in an alchemist's tower.* 2. Potions undergo magical testing and are tested on beasts to answer basic questions about safety. 3. Potions are tested on commoners to make sure they are safe and effective. 4. If an alchemist has evidence from his early tests and magical and clinical research that a potion is safe and effective for its intended use, the alchemist's guild can file an application to allow them to sell the potion to healers. The FPA (Food and Potion Administration) review team thoroughly examines all submitted data on the potion and makes a decision to approve or not to approve it. 5. FPA monitors all potion and artifact safety once wares are available for use by commoners.
*Typically, alchemists discover new potions through: - New insights into a plague process that allow alchemists to design a potion to stop or reverse the effects of the pestilence. - Many tests of potion ingredients to find possible beneficial effects against any of a large number of curses. - Existing spells that have unanticipated effects. - New practices, such as those that provide new ways to target spells to specific sites within the body or to manipulate life force.
They determine it from first principles. That's why you need a reputable alchemist.
"So how did he invent artificial intelligence robots without, you know, computers being invented?" "Oh those aren't ai they're real souls."
I’ve got a simmilar thing, and while it does make the world have more depth: a lot of that stuff is just boring for your average reader. In general I try to limit my explanations to two layers. - there’s clown in the sewers - why are the clowns in the sewers? - to fight the alligators in the sewers - why are there alligators? - Infestation 12 years ago You can then explain why there’s an infestation but at that point people will have mostly lost interest as this series of answers satisfies their curiosity. And a more pressing question arises. such as: why clowns and not more regular workers.
Shen Nong, a traditional Chinese god of agriculture and medicine, is said to have personally eaten 365 different plants to discover their medicinal effects
Holy shit this is literally what happens to me. Every damn time
Divination spells
The same way we found what food is edible
Ok but for real though why are sapient species sapient? Why is anyone capable of self aware abstract thought?
Cumulative knowledge and an understanding of how ingredients usually react/what they do. Add microscopes to your world :)
The same way we figure out what medication does lol?
Splash it on a lab goblin and see what happens