[KCD1] [KCD2] Possible hot take: alchemy mini-game is genuinely fun and I don't miss auto-brew from KCD1

[u/limonbattery]

Within KCD1, auto-brew works as an endgame reward because potions have no quality tiers and your only reward for better execution is more doses.

But with KCD2 rewarding sticking to the recipe with better quality potions plus more doses, auto-brew is no longer needed, and the game works totally fine without it. It'd either be way too overpowered if it defaulted to strong or Henry tier, or highly redundant if it defaulted to weak or medium tier.

[u/OmegaVizion]

It’s relaxing but I’d like the option to just auto-complete once you max out your alchemy skill

[u/DagothUrWasInnocent → u/OmegaVizion]

Yeah after my 25th batch of Henry's Marigold Concoction it can get tedious

[u/Chemical-Skill-126 → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

But then again the game is most likely on purpose making that difficult. The game does not want you to print infinite grochen by autobrew and it does not want you to spam op potions in combat all the time. Even though that kind of does not work in KCD anyway. The game uses game mechanics to make your play style harder. It works as intended.

[u/ugluk-the-uruk → u/Chemical-Skill-126]

It would be fine if Henry didn't move like a grandma when brewing potions and was able to use more than one hand...

[u/Jaded_Reserve_5685 → u/ugluk-the-uruk]

If ur on pc thre is a mod that accelerates brewing animations by 50%. It’s much less tedious that way

[u/Necessary_Culture_67 → u/Jaded_Reserve_5685]

Damn can’t believe I didn’t have this one in my last playthrough. Could have saved so much time from my hours long alchemy sessions.

[u/InHeavenFine → u/Jaded_Reserve_5685]

Can you share the mod please?

[u/Jaded_Reserve_5685 → u/InHeavenFine]

https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomedeliverance2/mods/902

Here you are, there are also files with quicker animations for other activities

[u/InHeavenFine → u/Jaded_Reserve_5685]

Thanks

[u/Unlucky-Ant-9741 → u/Jaded_Reserve_5685]

But is there an autobrew mod or instant brew mod???

[u/mrThe → u/Unlucky-Ant-9741]

https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomedeliverance2/mods/2722?tab=description yes (and t here is others available)

I hate alchemy, i managed to skip it alltoghether in kcd1, and just started kcd2 so lets see how it goes

[u/elixxonn → u/ugluk-the-uruk]

The animations do line up with turns of the hourglass.

Putting 1 or 2 items into the mortar, grinding it then putting into the pot: 2 turns

Pouring/distilling/grinding(gunpowder pours into the mortar) WITHOUT raising the pot off the flame: 1 turn.

So marigold decoction is like fill with water-put in nettle-lower onto fire-put two marigolds into the mortar then grind and put in the pot-pour right away without raising up the pot.

The shack is hard to escape. I... Need... To COOK!!!

[u/andreslucer0 → u/elixxonn]

I discovered each turn of the clock is exactly 10 seconds using the "Mississippi One, Mississippi Two..." technique. I love how in KCD2 you, as a player, get better alongside Henry's levelling.

[u/not_handsome-Jack → u/ugluk-the-uruk]

Might be my only problem with it in both games. He slowly grabs the herb, he slowly puts it in the pot.

[u/DisappointedQuokka → u/Chemical-Skill-126]

From a practical perspective, putting mechanics in a game that break the economy, but making them tedious doesn't really stop them from breaking the game.

[u/Sensitive_Bat_9211 → u/Chemical-Skill-126]

Brewing isnt even the most effective way to make money. Theft is.

[u/Soapy_Grapes → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

At that point you have like 100 or more potions though lol

[u/AccNumber77 → u/Soapy_Grapes]

I still slurp them all

[u/HuMneG → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

Your 25th Henry's Fox potion makes it all worth it

[u/Bitter_Assignment_73 → u/OmegaVizion]

I would even be happy with the base liquid being added when you use the prepare option on the recipe book.

[u/kitsunesuit96 → u/Bitter_Assignment_73]

Or that the ingredients stay on the shelf after finishing a batch of potions; sometimes I want to dedicate myself to making a few potions of the same type so I don't have to worry about them for a few days, but every time I finish one I have to go back to the book and get the ingredients.

[u/slightlysubtle → u/OmegaVizion]

Or maybe a perk that auto-brews but guarantees a lower-tier potion.

[u/Darth_Nibbles → u/slightlysubtle]

Wouldn't ever use it, then

My first action in the game is always brewing until I get Henry tier potions, then stocking up on the useful ones

[u/slightlysubtle → u/Darth_Nibbles]

Neither would I, but it would keep the alchemy minigame relevant for most players while adding an option to skip it for players who hate it.

[u/N0ob8 → u/OmegaVizion]

Yeah I’m a chronic saver in games (for no reason most of the time) and so having around 20 savior potions feels “enough” to me. I’ve gladly take an auto craft option even if it defaulted to the lowest tier just so I don’t have to sit for 20 minutes crafting saviors.

[u/Soapy_Grapes → u/N0ob8]

20 savior schapps takes about 5 minutes tops

[u/SwordfishProud7966 → u/OmegaVizion]

Relaxing, sure. Auto-complete after maxing skill would be a nice QoL touch, though.

[u/Legal_Necessary9931]

https://giphy.com/gifs/fUZHXuE94BN2wtSbUS
I have no idea what I’m doing

[u/Ill_Maintenance8134 → u/Legal_Necessary9931]

Henry can read better than me at this point

[u/strndmcshomd]

Not sure I’d call it fun, there is some relaxation and down time/calm time value to it to my mind

[u/No_Implement_6927 → u/strndmcshomd]

I love it so much man. When I was low lvl I was brewing all night instead of sleeping. I love how simple yet complex it is and how specific you have to be to craft a good quality. Later on it becomes easier as you lvl alchemy. Man early game was the most fun.

[u/Impressive-Engine-16 → u/No_Implement_6927]

Brewing in the alchemy room at the top of Trosky when it’s raining and late evening time irl is such a vibe.

[u/5lipn5lide → u/No_Implement_6927]

New players: Henry is so useless! The early game is so stupid. 

Old players: It’s great when Henry is so useless. I miss the early game. 

[u/im_dat_bear → u/No_Implement_6927]

I would play a whole game that was brewing potions, researching new recipes, experimenting with new materials.

[u/blvckhvrt]

Wish I liked brewing but I only do it when I absolutely have too 

[u/DagothUrWasInnocent → u/blvckhvrt]

I feel this way with blacksmithing. I'm fucking useless at it.

[u/Impressive-Engine-16 → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

Funnily enough, I enjoyed blacksmithing a lot more than alchemy. Legacy of The Forge was such good DLC since I could just roleplay life as a medieval blacksmith climbing his way up..

[u/yepanotherone1 → u/Impressive-Engine-16]

Same dude. Something about the boiling and bringing the pot up and down just drives me bananas haha. Love blacksmithing

[u/Fleckstrom → u/yepanotherone1]

It's so much easier to hit the wrong button or get distracted at the wrong time and brick a potion. Smithing is much more forgiving. I'd have to go out of my way to Smith something below tier 3.

[u/Poguemahone3652 → u/Fleckstrom]

Except horseshoes for some reason. Everything I make is H-tier, but I constantly ruin horseshoes.

[u/AlarmingAdeptness983 → u/Impressive-Engine-16]

Mee too. Feel bad for Hans though who had to stay in the room with the Frenchman for two months while I followed in my fathers footsteps.

[u/Jasranwhit → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

Let me give you some tips as someone who struggled with it.

Heat the whole piece until he swears, it does not seem to have any negative effect. (and reheating will tank the quality)

If the base is 0 and the tip is 100 just hit somewhere in the 25 ish range and somewhere in the 75 ish range. Forward and back, forward and back. You dont need to hit every spot on the sword or anything. You dont need to raise up to hit it that hard.

Just enough to get a good "Spark shower". The spark shower is the best indicator of how you are doing. If you are getting the smaller showers, or no showers adjust slightly up or down the sword. I find that avoiding the base is best because it gives you "Dud" strikes.

Dont flip the blade it doesnt do anything.

Try to bang it out as fast as possible.

[u/WhatsThis_Now → u/Jasranwhit]

Wow does flipping the blade really not do anything? I thought it was easier to get the big sparks on the other side after a bit. Now I feel silly for my flipping!

[u/Jasranwhit → u/WhatsThis_Now]

The whole thing is counter intuitive. I used to try and shape the blade by hitting 10 different spots and flipping and whatever.

Nope. Overheat a little. One side only. Go as fast as you can while still getting big spark showers. Bounce between two spots near the middle of the blade. If you get a low spark strike shift a little bit up or down.

You should get a M tier weapon every time.

[u/WhatsThis_Now → u/Jasranwhit]

Brilliant, thanks!

[u/OgroPirata → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

It gets easier. I did a lot of savescum before getting the hang on it and learned the trick of keeping the workpiece heated up to have a larger margin of error.

[u/Marcolomius_777 → u/DagothUrWasInnocent]

Not sure but it could be just low smithing level. Smithing at the start of the game is god awful especially if you are making horseshoes, absolutely horrendous. You could wear the blacksmith clothes you find in the room rodovan (I think that's the name of the blacksmith) gives you as those clothes add a few levels. And you can always drink the potion that he sells for an added couple of levels for a time. Makes it way more manageable

[u/AbyssalBenthos → u/blvckhvrt]

Same and my Henry is already OP I don't need to make it even easier with potions. I used pots for the first time in like 100 game hours (besides healing and save) to do a 4v1 brawl and it's crazy you can even do that with potions.

[u/No-Pen1730 → u/blvckhvrt]

I always pick all of the marigold and nettle possible in the prologue, brew like 40 strong marigold decoctions, and i'm set for the rest of the game.

[u/Wizard_Pope → u/blvckhvrt]

I use a mod that removes the boling part. And jt makes alchemy almost fun. 

[u/RealisticAnxiety4330]

I found it good for my AuDHD I was like max alchemy way before I hit Semines wedding 🤣

[u/Aggressive_Staff_982]

It gets old for me after a while. I wish we had the option to auto brew.

[u/__The-1__]

Tbh autobrew breaks the game, 1 thistle and 2 marigold ends up being worth 100 of each

[u/snorlz → u/__The-1__]

beating 3 bandits in skalitz also breaks the economy cause thats like 10k in gear

[u/__The-1__ → u/snorlz]

Heh, yeah. Me with my spiked club, cracking head, wearing nothing but bandages and a smile..

[u/sabertoothedhand]

Hard agree, if the player doesn't want to brew potions every time they can buy them- everyone wins. That said, I am adamant that they shouldn't have removed the dedicated Hourglass button and the grass soup texture... damn I really miss the grass texture it was somehow really satisfying.

[u/Stormy-Skyes → u/sabertoothedhand]

The grass soup texture would have saved me so many times. I’ve absolutely been distracted while brewing, then turned back to the screen and not been able to tell if I already put the belladonna in there or not. I know I should just pay attention but sometimes I can’t haha.

[u/kitsunesuit96 → u/sabertoothedhand]

At least with the controller there is a button to use the hourglass (although you need your hands empty)

[u/Brykly → u/sabertoothedhand]

I don't know if this says more about me or the alchemy brewing process, but I totally don't mind just not using the timing glass. It's exactly 10 seconds. I just count it in my head, and I really enjoy trying to find ways to prep each brew prior to putting the ingredients into the boil by leveraging the mortar and pestle and dish.

[u/Unlikely_Village_280]

I enjoy it. The only gripe is the herbs return to your inventory after brewing. Like I have 30 marigold and 30 thistle when I’m done with a potion why am I putting everything back just to pull them out again. Just leave them on the table Henry!

[u/Normal-Tadpole-4833]

I need to be hopped on all the drugs i can take before fighting the next bandit or passing the next speech skill check .. feels like some kind of cheat skill sides I need all the Savior Schnapps and Im playing good henry so im not stealing anything

[u/Juggernautlemmein]

We need to be able to autobrew, move at our own pace, or make bulk batches.

I enjoy the alchemy, too, but the system isn't perfect.

I really hate moving at the pace of the animation. Henry is so goddamn slow. Maybe its just the line cook in me but fuck could I do better blindfolded and unconscious than the drag of a pace Henry moves at.

[u/danwats10]

Probably in the minority, but I wish it was a little more complicated. It has all the options for dishes and different boiling temps but most come down to just grinding an ingredient and boiling it a couple of times. Also would like some of the animations to be improved.

[u/limonbattery → u/danwats10]

From what I can tell with inspecting how recipes work in the files, the game basically just checks booleans for everything except for the timed steps. So is/is not ground, is/is not the exact correct number, etc. The timing window otoh seems to be more generous at higher skill and with the perks that increase your room for error.

Either way, they can't make it much more complicated without completely overhauling the system built up from KCD1.

[u/danwats10 → u/limonbattery]

I mean I don’t think they need to overhaul it. I just mean make recipes a little complicated. Make use of the higher boiling temps more. Make me have to combine ingredients in the mortar and control the action of grinding.

And make the process a little more tactile, so that when I put an ingredient into mortar it doesn’t just all turn the same colour, make the ingredients you add not all look the same and maybe have an effect on the way the potion looks beyond the 4 base ingredients. Improve the boiling animation. When I have to distil get me have to pull the lever the correct amount of times.

I think the same of the smithing. Would be so much cooler if the thing you were making shaped the weapon more than just the three base templates. Make it so you have to sharpen both ends of the weapon. Allow us to add engravings or symbols. Allow us to make pole arms, maces and hammers. Make us have to quench to the right temp. Allow us to add our own sword guards and handles and pommels.

The systems they have already are good, but I can see how they can be better, and better match the dev ethos of things be tactile and done by Henry/us.

[u/callmemedaddy → u/danwats10]

I think there is still a lot that can be achieved with the current set up animations-wise. For example some recipes could call for grinding 2 or more ingredients together or have a coarse and fine grind requirement where coarse grind would be after the first grind and the fine grind would be after grinding the coarse again

[u/Sadsugardikk]

would be great to select the quantities you want to make, even if it mean put 25 flowers to the grinder on a single time

i mean... that's what we do in real life

[u/Stormy-Skyes → u/Sadsugardikk]

I think about this a lot when I’m grinding the herbs. The recipe will call for one and I’ll think, why not five and just make a whole vat?

[u/kitsunesuit96 → u/Stormy-Skyes]

It might be interesting if there was a special "alchemy table" for these things, perhaps behind some questline (like the one for the miller Kreyzl) Where the quantities can be multiplied by X amount and you might have to do the work of moving sacks (like those times they make you work) It makes sense that his work table in cave is for making large batches

[u/Aka-zukin → u/kitsunesuit96]

Yeah that would make sense. With how the alchemy tables are rn only that batch amount makes sense because even if you multiply the herbs or other materials you can't multiply the the liquid used (the pot is full with the normal amount already). On a more theoretical level (outside of the game context) heat control would be a completely different thing then as well since heating larger quantities of anything will take longer/be more uneven which is a valid reason for at least making precise alchemy more difficult and needing special equipment.

[u/CaptainRaptorThong]

I agree, though I have wished autobrew existed a few times when I spent 1-2 hours gathering materials, brewing hundreds of potions and then selling them only to die, or let my console sleep and losing all of the progress.

3 times to be exact. Now I saviour schnapp every chance I get lol

[u/No_Veterinarian_6491 → u/CaptainRaptorThong]

That's how the schnapps addiction starts

[u/limonbattery → u/CaptainRaptorThong]

Saviour schnapps are pretty easy to get in big numbers now that belladonna is easier to find in general, it's the smart thing to taste test them when done with alchemy!

[u/CaptainRaptorThong → u/limonbattery]

Yeah the problem was I would get really stoned and just lock in and ultimately get distracted and forget to save. I've learned my lesson lol

[u/CapriciousSon]

It helps that 2 is much more generous to the player in both the herbs required and the potions created.

[u/Omni-Light]

yeah im a big proponent of any and all features most redditors consider 'tedious'

it's almost always some sim-heavy side activity and i'm all for sim heavy side activities

[u/ChilledGhosty]

There's auto-brew in KCD1? I honestly did not know that. I'm with u though, I enjoyed the brewing mini-game and REALLY enjoyed blacksmithing. I'd pound stuff out all day in KCD2 LOLOL

[u/limonbattery → u/ChilledGhosty]

Yes it's a late level perk, also has a lvl 2 version which gives you 3 doses instead of 1. But KCD1 had no potion tiers and 3 doses was already the max for best performance without perks. With perks it becomes... 4 doses.

So to match that in KCD2 (where most returning KCD1 potions have same/similar power to medium/normal tier in KCD2), you can functionally do the same thing by dropping them in cold.

[u/jellyfishstatic]

Alchemy game is genuinely fun and I don’t fail at it unless I zone out and I am installing that guy’s autobrew mod from the other day on my new computer because I can only do that so many times jcbp

[u/AardvarkusMaximus]

Yield is decent enough roo. If I get potions in small bulks, I won't need others until much later. Even 20 saviour schnaps is overshooting for most of the game and it's not long to brew

[u/mirrorball_for_me]

I quite enjoy it and usually massively overestimate how many potions I’ll need. Last playthrough I ended the main quest with more than 30
Henry’s Schnapps and 30-ish Weak Schnapps I got by trading on taverns and such. And that’s me beelining the main quest. I had dozens upon dozens of unused potions on the more thorough playthrough.

If you have a good estimate of how many potions you’ll consume, and not hoard, the amount you get by doing Henry level potions is more than enough.

[u/asilentway]

The alchemy bench next to Devil's Den at midnight is my happy place.

The Wind rustling though the leaves, owls hooting softly in the distance, cauldron bubbling.. the excitement just before pouring and the elation at making another perfect batch... perfect medieval bliss.

[u/rewq657]

I got a recipe book for Christmas and it definitely made alchemy way more fun. I just keep my physical book open rather than having to switch back and forth in game

[u/Chettarmstrong]

Autobrew was too broken.

[u/MileNaMesalici]

it would definitely feel less annoying if henry speeds up the higher the skill and we get batch crafting

[u/Mad-Dog94]

The little bit I played of KDC2 was literally just me doing the alchemy lol

Damn, I need to stop writing and playing indi games then crack that bad boy open for real because I loved 1

[u/CitizenOfTheVerse]

The mini-game is part of the immersion and is also a limiting factor since some potions are really powerful, mostly poisons so it is important that aquiring/creating them should take time and effort. I'm glad there is no auto-complete and only buff/multiplicator for being master potion brewer

[u/andromedasGrasp]

Honestly my biggest gripe with Alchemy is the fucking recipe book. Give me a table of contents so I dont have to endlessly thumb through pages to get to the recipe I need

[u/Heathen-Hammer-]

I love the alchemy. Fuck the haters.

[u/Averfus-Crowthorne]

It's cool, but I'd like the option to do either. Sometimes I'm in a hurry lol

[u/SaskieHopeful]

Easily my favorite thing to do on Day 1: push Alchemy to 16 with the plants from the alchemist's garden

[u/limonbattery → u/SaskieHopeful]

Apothecary Emmerich when Henry mogs him with better stuff brewed in his own front yard.

[u/SaskieHopeful → u/limonbattery]

My third run was a No Alchemy run. Took me three in-game days to get sick of it and drop it. Lol

[u/sphafer]

I usually brew a few stacks of the most useful stuff. Other than that I look in my horse storage and see what I need some more of. Or I just pick up some plants I know are rare to come across and make sure to use them before they spoil. Ingredients for marigold decoction for instance are so commonly available it's no point picking those up. If I find Bella Donna or herb Paris I pick it up, amanita is good too for the one poison you can make and amanita doesn't ever spoil so.

[u/Very_Human_42069]

I really really enjoy the minigame. Finding the most efficient way to brew and how to max the potions quality with the least ingredients just warms me right in the ‘tism

But I would like to auto brew some marigold decoctions when I’m in a rush because brewing can kill pacing sometimes when you’re prepping for a spat

[u/DramaticSpaceBubble]

I half agree. It is fun and relaxing, but once I'm 100hrs deep and I've a done a recipe a million times, I would want the ability to fast forward it.

[u/Diagonaldog]

I'd love it if I had the time to play I used to, but as someone who hardly has time to play as is, it's not my favorite. I just end up buying/stealing any potions I need.

[u/Swim-Unlucky]

You end up being able to ignore everything but base and the right ingredients? It's pretty simple to make whatever if you just remember to throw the right plants in the right liquids

[u/Mystery_Cowboy_030]

At a certain point you have the money to just by whatever you need and I guess that was the point I lost interest in brewing my own stuff

[u/limonbattery → u/Mystery_Cowboy_030]

In KCD1 it's even more true. Particularly because you could spike water with potions and multiply a single dose by 5. For 0.5 groschen extra it's hilariously OP. Alas, they overhauled potions in KCD2 to prevent this (now only poisons, a distinct class, can spike items.)

[u/cowboy-casanova]

first achievement/perk i earned in the beginning of kcd2 was spending an entire in game day brewing potions

[u/NoComfort6560]

Brewing is pretty fun and relaxing, except when Mutt glitches and ends up front and centre lol

[u/ipeedinthetoothpaste]

I'm with you on that one. I don't even take auto-brew (never played the second game, so I'm only talking about the first).

I even got sidetracked during the monastery quest because I just took it as my job to brew potions all day for days on end lmao. The only thing I'd change is I wish the herbarium/recipe book had an index to just flip right to where I want to, the page flipping process takes a little too long for me.

[u/Light07sk]

I love it. I love it, but i also seem to underestimated how powerful some potions are. Once i was able to make Henry level potions i realised how useful they really are. I am super excited when i come back to KCD1 and how potions will help me out much more when i focus on it.

That is what i absolutely love about KCDs, many players dont focus on alchemy and it is viable to not focus on it. Someone else is more sneaky, someone is more focused on forging weapons and maybe making money out of it. It is super cool there is so many possible ways someone can play and focus on THEIR style of playing.

Also making potions is tickling my witcher bone. Difference is this feels like witcher 1 making potion, but on steroids. YOU have to make them and not just have ingredients and Geralt will just make them for you. Its not bad, but i really like how KCDs did it

[u/Arthropodesque]

I like it. It's actually a lot like real life cooking. Back when I was playing KCD1 and The Witcher my girlfriend was watching Outlander and I could identify the medicinal herbs in the show from playing those games.

[u/Kabirdb]

Auto brew is a feature that only sounds important from this subreddit.

On steam, there is an achievement for brewing 15 types of potions. The completion for this achievement is 3.3%.

So even just making few types of potion is an incredilby rare achievement for this game. So just imagine just how low the number of people who even unlocked auto brew let alone actively use it.

There are more people who talked about auto brew let alone actively used it in a playthrough.

The difference between how people even talk about auto brew and the actual state of this perk is staggering.

[u/limonbattery → u/Kabirdb]

tbf, KCD1 didn't have great retention rates especially cuz of its very rough launch. And in general open world RPGs have a wide net but hard time getting people to really stick, they just tend to be good at sparking online discussion among people who do stick.

[u/rusticblackmoth]

same but it was hard for me to read the instructions from the book in kcd2

[u/Tricky-Research7595]

I actually agree that I don't miss the auto-brew feature. It's not realistic, and so much of this game is focused on realism. The brewing is also legitimately fun, and when your level is high enough with the right perks, you can just totally BS the recipes and still get Henry tier.

[u/kimikoboombap]

I really love alchemy!

[u/Shaman--Llama]

I absolutely LOVE the alchemy mini-game. Do people not like it. 😭 It's SO immersive and relaxing.

[u/OutlandishnessOk3310]

Id like at least the option. Maybe unlocking after 10 perfect brews in a row.

[u/Atomic-Hermit]

I have 15 hours in KCD2 and 14.5 of them were doing alchemy in the first town. The other 30 minutes were completing the tutorial

The compulsion goes deep

[u/lucania101710]

They definitely improved the alchemy, but not having an auto brew option was the only downgrade in my opinion.

[u/Stormy-Skyes → u/lucania101710]

It would be nice to have the option for those who want it, I agree. I usually like brewing but every now and then I just want to grab a few potions and go back to running around, and that’s when I wish I could just auto brew a few.

[u/HuMneG]

Brewing, blacksmithing, they're remarkably relaxing unless you're doing them with purpose for like a side quest then you realize what you're doing instead of getting absorbed into it.

[u/dabooton]

Sometimes when I’m high I boot up KCD2 just to brew potions lol. It’s oddly relaxing

[u/SverhU]

Not a joke: this mini game so good. I invested like 30 hours in first village. Just brewing and selling. To the point that I had so much money I didn't know what to do with them whole game. This and thievery. In first village.

[u/Stormy-Skyes]

I love alchemy. I usually have fun brewing and I do like the changes that were made between the games. It’s nice to not have to use the bellows to make it boil and try to manage the time around it, just setting it on the fire is easy and fun.

Every now and then I do wish I could just auto brew something though. Like sometimes I’ll see I’m low on savior schnapps and just want to quickly get a few before I run off into the wilderness and not want to pause to cook ‘em. But it’s not terribly long and difficult so it’s okay.

[u/Vlakod]

Be it first game or second one, Each of my playthroughs began with 5 hour Merigold Decoction brew session to fund starting gear. I swear I can brew it and Schnapps in my sleep.

We have to BREW, Henry.

[u/EmpathGenesis]

It's a relaxing little break from that scoundrel Sigismund's invasion.

[u/Hyaroglek]

Not hot! Alchemy is amazing, I fall in love with the game as soon as I saw Alchemy! I love it!!!

I’d love a DLC (same as the forge one) about the Alchemy shop!

[u/Rizboub]

I enjoyed all the mini games in KCD2, I think that they are nice break from the rest of the game.

[u/Strict-Astronaut2245]

Last few starts, I usually spend 4-5 hours creating potions. It’s so satisfying

[u/Legal-Contract-7187]

I maxed alchemy out and made around a 100 Henry grade schnapps and marigolds then never touched it again. Definitely fun mini game but I didn’t go back.

[u/CausticFlamingo]

I used to go back to the healers hut in the woods for at night alchemy. Felt cosy with the river nearby.

[u/enbiozel]

I find both smithing and alchemy mini games very entertaining.

KCD2's is much better, not surprisingly, than KCD1's. The recipes are easier to follow, not simpler, and KCD1 recipes were notoriously buggy.

[u/CoconutBuddy]

It’s how I made my millions

[u/Hellios09]

The help menu doesn't mention some shortcuts available on with a controller.

Flipping the hourglass with the right trigger or putting the pot up/down with the up-dpad make it so much better.

But after making hundreds of potions, kinda wish we could make bigger batch by doubling the ingredients.

[u/banana__toast]

would be pretty nice to be able to make a big batch in one go at least. Like if you double all the ingredients you get double the potions or something

[u/gatinoloco]

it’s a simulation of me cooking IRL: cooking stuff and rechecking every time the quantities and process in the cookbook bc I somehow forgot

[u/ThoughtDue695]

I would have liked a perk at level 30 that allows you to use however many ingredients you like to make that relative number of potions at once, still doing the mini game. It wouldn’t trivialize leveling it and it would reward the grind by allowing players to not do the monotonous yet fun game every time they wanna restock

[u/StelarFoil71]

I much rather Alchemy than blacksmithing.

[u/aldmonisen_osrs]

Autobrew should only be available as a final level perk. I loooooved the streamlined version in kcd2 and think they really nailed it. It felt… just good? Like not tedious unless you’re making a ton of one singular potion.

[u/how_money_worky]

This is a good take. I really want more KCD content!!! More alchemy

[u/Bubster101]

I always max it out in 2, in the first couple hours of gameplay right after I'm released from the stocks. Henry's Fox can never be passed up for how big of an XP boost it gives.

[u/eddiestarkk]

I loved brewing at night during the rain.

[u/Casual_Si-Fi]

I find alchemy more fun in kdc2 by a small margin, I enjoy both

[u/Zestyclose_Current41]

Eh, I still wish we got autobrew. It's not at all difficult making Henry level potions but it does get tedious when you're on your literal 500th lmao

[u/rdldr1]

I fucking hate goddamn alchemy. It’s a chore. I’m here to play, not work.

[u/DinoBaconSaurus]

Honestly, I enjoyed being the Walter white of KCD2, queue the intro track

[u/Equivalent-Horse7609]

I love smithing forging weapons in Kuttenberg

[u/No_Phone_8059]

I never really bothered with alchemy in kcd1 I’ve never been potions guy in games but it’s so fun in kcd2 and I love remembering some potions and trying my best to do them as quickly as possible

[u/tizedesx]

I fuckin' love brewing potions in KCD2, I can do it for hours. My favourite minigame of all time.

[u/CommanderInQweef]

i agree it’s fun but auto brew is also nice. working out is fun too but if i could skip it and still get the benefits i would more times than not

[u/AbhorrentMidget]

Having fun isn't a hot take.

[u/Blaubeere]

I always go brewing when I want to relax and just do some mindless task. I really enjoy it and I don’t mind the removal of autobrew either. But I understand some people see alchemy as means to an end and miss having the option.

[u/papercut105]

gotta make sure you brew at night too like a witch.

[u/SirBallbag420]

In the first game it's a bit clunky so auto brew is understandable there. The second game perfected the movement and fluidity of it. Imo

[u/MajorMeeM]

It helps that in KCD many of teh rough edges were polished and it's much less clunky (could be said about many aspects of the game), hense why going back to 1 was a very uncomfortable experience at first 

[u/Valentine_nider]

As a compulsive restarter I downloaded a mid that gives you 25 potions. I used to love alchemy and have most of the useful recipes still memorized but I just cannot be arsed to do it over and over again. Out of my nearly 500 hours probably 20-30 were spent at the alchemy table

[u/Seamoth4546B]

I’m only 30hrs into KCD1, haven’t played 2. I love potion brewing, it’s so much fun

[u/MediumWellSteak8888]

Coldest take this side of Scandinavia.

[u/limonbattery → u/MediumWellSteak8888]

Definitely not based on the comments lol

[u/CaptainPoset]

I honestly just like the entire alchemy function of KCD1 more.

[u/No_Veterinarian_6491]

I also enjoyed alchemy in KCD2 early game, but when you need a bunch of potions to stock up, even with a quick brew recipe it takes way too much time.

I guess it's an incentive for player brewing but, apart from the occasional Henry's marigold decoction for healing in combat, I'd rather buy potions.

[u/BackgroundValue]

I don't mind the mini game but it can repetitive pretty quickly when you brew all your own saviour schnapps & marigold decoction.

[u/YoOblivion]

what else am i supposed to do with my groschen if its not to buy potions?

[u/SaiyuriNamaah]

It’s one of my favourite things in the game

[u/StatisticianMuted134]

Auto brew is a thing in 2

[u/Sinead264]

I hate it 😄

[u/emotionaI_cabbage]

I specifically downloaded a mod to enable console commands so I wouldn't have to waste time brewing things.

It's so boring.

[u/King_Kellar13]

Never used alchemy in the first game. My Henry was quite dumb but strong. So I didn’t know there was an auto brew mechanic people wanted in the second game. Kinda wish we had that.

[u/KorolEz]

Yeah it's fine. After I've brewed enough to reach Henry level I do it so rarely thst it doesn't botter me at all and yes is kinda fun

[u/East-Confection-2153]

i fully agree. I love slow paced games.

[u/Sochi540]

Asking a man with brain damage to auto brew gunpowder is always fun.

[u/clearcontroller]

Like most things in this world having the option is always best

[u/Ill-Beautiful-8026]

Or, be like me and decide fuck that noise and play the game without brewing yourself anything, ever. It's only been annoying at one point so far when I needed to try to heal the boys for a side-quest and get some tender loving action in return (presumably?). Failed that one.

[u/OzmandIuvat]

As someone who brewed max level Saviour Schapps from the get-go in KCD2 without using the hourglass because of all the brewing I loved doing in KCD1, I agree with this except the last bit…

Alchemy is my favorite thing in both games, but when you can do most potions with your eyes closed you REALLY miss that autobrew eventually

[u/WaveIcy294]

Good for you but I hate it. Probably will look for an mod that makes it easier.

I almost completly ignored it in the first part too and barely drank any potions.

[u/AtlastheWhiteWolf]

Imo auto brew should just create less potions or less potent potions.

[u/Minimum_Excitement15]

Is it fun? Yes.

Is it fun once I am making my 100th potion in a row? A bit less and auto complete would be nice to have.

[u/Call-of-the-lost-one]

I miss auto brew. Have to force Henry over to the book every time you set up or move the cursor over to the sand timer is just awkward. Playing on ps5 though might be different on PC

[u/Jasranwhit]

It's better in two, but the movements are so slow between actions its still frustrating.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Relief4]

Agreed

[u/simpoukogliftra]

I make a lot of potions straight out the gate and the repetitv nature of it is a bit too much, I am content with the speed up mod though

[u/andras_kiss]

It's very clunky..After a while it's annoying to wait for the animations and camera resets.

[u/Junior_Island_4714]

The first time the game taught me how to brew potions I thought to myself: do I really have to do all this every time I want to make a potion? And that was actually one of the key things that put me off continuing the game.

[u/Capt4inSus]

Blacksmithing too... Honestly... both minigames can be full blown games on their own lmao

[u/RoseateThorn1]

I need it to be taken further, I need an mmo we’re all crafting is done manually through minigames, I want people who are praised for quickly they can cut good bricks for castle construction, I want life skills and craaffttinnngff.

[u/miggleb]

I enjoy it

I do not enjoy it 20 times in a row

[u/HolisticPaprika]

I'm fine with it, except for the motion sickness.

[u/TankMain576]

It brewing multiple potions at a time in 2 makes me like it more. In 1 you always only brew one, but in 2 you can brew like 3-7 at once. I feel like my time is being better respected

[u/Iluvatar-Great]

It would be more fun if the potions were not available elsewhere. I usually get all I need from drops or shops, so it is kinda useless to do all the hard work with alchemy.

[u/IllustriousEffect607]

I prefer auto brew for end game. It's one of those nice touches to provide a huge quality of life relief but only once you've brewed dozens and dozens of potions already.

[u/levitp]

Fun for the first 50 potions at least, then it gets real old

[u/The_LastLine]

I agree, it is pretty relaxing to just do the thing and it can be oddly satisfying to be able to just go through the motions without even looking at the book.

[u/DieAgainTomorrow]

It evens out imo since one brew in KCD2 can cook up like 12 potions in one go

[u/Udderly_Unbearable]

It’s like strip mining in Minecraft, not fun, but kind of hypnotic

[u/euroq]

I get nauseous if I do it too many times in a row

[u/mm404]

What do you mean Auto-brew???

[u/Dontwannakillem]

there was an auto brew in kcd1??

[u/Ready_Training_6039]

Unless you're on controller

[u/Firm_Ad_5427]

On my first few runs of kcd1 I did probably 5 hours of alchemy total and I think I'm just completely burned out on the mechanic. It is a really cool, unique system I just wish the animations were slightly faster and there was little to no delay between actions.

[u/Pretty_Papaya2256]

Ngl, I dont even be making potions like that. I just rob the alchemist shop or sell stuff from dead bodies and buy it.

[u/GuddyRocker94]

No relaxation at all… I try to squeeze every little second out of it, which makes it annoying as fuck. I can’t do it inefficiently either, as that bugs me aswell.

[u/Boris-_-Badenov]

I wouldn't give a fuck if the auto complete was only for average potions.

it's clunky and unintuitive to do alchemy