[WIP] The Alchadex

[NazzerDawk]

I've posted this over on Reddit to a reasonably positive response, decided to post this here as well.

 

A long while ago, before we knew much about Skyrim, I posted an idea that I wanted to be included in skyrim: A codex of alchemy ingredients that the player character would fill as new ingredients and effects are discovered. My inspiration was the Voynich manuscript, which I discovered after it was featured in an XKCD comic. That comic sums it up pretty well. Well, this idea didn't pop up in Skyrim, so I thought "If Bethesda won't add it, I will". So, I'm starting a mod.

 

To get an idea of what this would add, imagine looking through your ingredients list in your inventory. When selecting a given item, you have three options: Drop, View, and Equip/Use.

 

This mod would add a fourth option: Alchadex. Pressing this option would open your Journal, which now has a new tab next to Quests, called Alchadex of course. This Alchemy Codex would include a flavor text description of every alchemy ingredient, the base value, general locations where one could find it, and instructions for bringing out the effects of these ingredients. Here's a sample:

 

 

 

Giant's Toe - 20 Gold

This is a smelly appendage hacked off a Giant's foot. It smells strongly of Mammoth cheese.

This can be found in giant camps

• A slight nibble on the end of the toenail was repulsive. All I feel is revulsion and slight nausea. This may be useful in a poison to reduce someone's stamina.
  
• Scraped the fungus that grows on the edge of the toe. This unknown fungus causes numbness, may dull pain if used in a potion.
  
• Fermenting the blood squeezed from the toe produces a foul green fluid. This fluid draws magicka to the lower extremities, strengthening one's legs and allowing them to carry greater loads.
  
• Pulled off and ground up the toenail. Calcinated it to enhance its stamina draining effect. This no longer seems to make one nauseous, but it does constrict breathing, seemingly reducing the effectiveness of resting to recapture lost breath.
  

This is not a mod that will change the functionality of alchemy. It's purely for adding intrigue and context to alchemy, making alchemy seem more like a "science" than just clicking items and hitting a button.

 

If this pans out, I'm going to expand the Alchadex into a full-blown Codex, including a Bestiary, an Enchantry, a Manual of Arms, and a Grimoir.

 

For more of the entries I'm writing, check out http://reddit.com/r/Alchadex Feedback is appreciated, because I am very conscious of writing style and compatibility.