Math On Potion Examples

[Arcteryx]

I'm OK with most of the math on the potion examples starting YS303 - a bit tangled up in a couple of them.

Ghost Dust vs Sunburst In A Hanky
Both are duration instantaneous
Both satisfy a specialty Catch on their intended targets (ghosts, photophobic vamps)

But Ghost Dust is a Weapon:4, and Sunburst is a Weapon:3. Assuming the caster creating it is of equal skill level (Harry has Lore 3 in the examples), and the effect strength is based on the lore of the caster (as per notes in the Sunburst example) shouldn't the Ghost Dust be Weapon:3 as well?

Durations
How was the duration worked out for a potion like Scent Suppression?

Thanks in advance...

[Haru]

You can invoke aspects at the time you create potions to increase their effect. In the case of hanky vs. ghost dust, I assume it is because of a change in Harry's Lore between SF and GP.

A potion like the Scent Suppression, I would always set a base duration of "one scene", because that is how long it needs to work anyway. For combat potions, I would set the duration as per evocation rules, 1 shift per exchange, but this is something to avoid a conflict, and having to reapply something like this every few moments is kind of tedious.

[Masurao]

Could it have something to do with the fact that you need to be generally happy to make a Sunburst Hanky? Or that Ghost Dust is specifically a Catch for ghosts and sunlight is a broader Catch for more creatures? Just thinking out loud...

[EdgeOfDreams]

I'm not sure about those specific examples.  However, I'd like to point out that the books do have a few editing errors and miscalculations in places.  For example, there are several stat blocks in Our World with Claws (Weapon rating 2) and Inhuman or Supernatural Strength (+2 or +4 to damage), yet their total damage output is listed as being 3 or 5.

[sinker]

Durations
How was the duration worked out for a potion like Scent Suppression?

Scent suppression is likely thaumaturgy in a bottle (you can do anything that evocation or thaumaturgy can do with enchanted items), so it gets a longer base duration.

Haru's probably spot on about the ghost dust/sunburst. His lore probably changed between the books.

[Arcteryx]

OK thanks guys Had to cover the bases for those questions that always come up