When did "Alchemy" become "Herbalism"?

[Judgement101]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

 

[Littlee300]

Why don't you Wikipedia them both and find the difference?

 

[RadioactiveTurtle]

In my opinion, Alchemy sounds a lot cooler..
It's about mixing awesome with death to make SUPER DEATH. Where as Herbalism is a sissy skill, for sissies.

 

[Judgement101]

Why don't you Wikipedia them both and find the difference?

Because I'd get a definition of them, not an explaination of why game developers think they are the same.
Why don't you think before you post?

 

[procyonlotor]

Eh. Semantics.

This isn't worth bothering with, OP. Just leave it alone.

 

[Judgement101]

Eh. Semantics.

This isn't worth bothering with, OP. Just leave it alone.

Good point, most rpgs are fueled by Moon Logic anyway.

 

[L4hlborg]

In my opinion, Alchemy sounds a lot cooler..
It's about mixing awesome with death to make SUPER DEATH. Where as Herbalism is a sissy skill, for sissies.

Alchemy was about mixing shit to get (mainly) gold. So basically it was fail, since you cannot mix elements to get elements, as far as I know.

Mixing up potions is definately more herbalism and a lot more reasonable since you can mix plants with plants to get plantpotions. I always support the use of more correct terms.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Alchemy was trying to change lead in to gold to be specific. Totally bonkers, obviously, since (element + element = compound), but still, it's the basis of modern inorganic chemistry, so that counts for something.

Herbalists are more on par with an apothecary, I would think.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Herbalism is collecting and identifying the plants while alchemy is the making of plants and other things into whatever you want. Never noticed any games swapping around the names.

 

[darthotaku]

I heard once that with a powerful enough nuclear reactor you could rip apart elements to their base protons neutrons and electrons, then rearange them to form other elements. of course this would cost thousands of trillions of dollars to build and something capable of this could probably destroy the world but hey, it would be alchemy.

 

[Akalistos]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

Popular notion.

But when you come down to it, isn't Herbalism and Alchemy in video games the same. Herbalism make you potion to change one aspect of either yourself or your environment into something else.(Example: Water-breathing potion) It also speed or change the time frame of a natural Action. (Example: Every health and Mana potion) In essence, they are or have the same base.

So...

 

[Altorin]

Alchemy wasn't just about turning base metals into gold.

It was also about attempting to distill elixirs of immortality.

It involved a lot of experimentation with making various potions (and poisons) and then imbibing them hoping that somehow it would make you live longer.

A lot of these potions were made of plants (and mercury).

Health Potions are mechanically good in games, so when they give that ability to the player, the best way to regulate it is for the player to collect various items, usually plants, and mix them together to create potions. This actually does fall into the purview of Alchemy.

 

[lacktheknack]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

It's a catch all phrase for bizarre-property-liquid-creation. Oblivion, for instance, you could mix grapes with a certain meat and a hell plant and come out with a potion that lets you walk on water. Since this doesn't work in reality, it's simple to say it's alchemy, because that doesn't work in real life either.

That being said, Dragon Age is the only one I can think of right now that got it right... and herbalism, I found, was not particularly useful.

 

[Eldan]

I heard once that with a powerful enough nuclear reactor you could rip apart elements to their base protons neutrons and electrons, then rearange them to form other elements. of course this would cost thousands of trillions of dollars to build and something capable of this could probably destroy the world but hey, it would be alchemy.

Actually, it's been done. You don't need to rip something into protons and neutrons, you just need either do the correct fission, or get one of the higher elements to shed a few neutrons and protons.

Anyway, first and foremost, Alchemy is a complicated philosophy. Turning things into gold, creating medicines and immortality are side effects of trying to purify matter and the soul.

 

[Judgement101]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

It's a catch all phrase for bizarre-property-liquid-creation. Oblivion, for instance, you could mix grapes with a certain meat and a hell plant and come out with a potion that lets you walk on water. Since this doesn't work in reality, it's simple to say it's alchemy, because that doesn't work in real life either.

That being said, Dragon Age is the only one I can think of right now that got it right... and herbalism, I found, was not particularly useful.

Maybe that does work in real life, I don't know where to get hell plants though.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

Yeah, I get pisssed at that too. oh and FMA called, they'd like a word with you.

 

[lacktheknack]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

It's a catch all phrase for bizarre-property-liquid-creation. Oblivion, for instance, you could mix grapes with a certain meat and a hell plant and come out with a potion that lets you walk on water. Since this doesn't work in reality, it's simple to say it's alchemy, because that doesn't work in real life either.

That being said, Dragon Age is the only one I can think of right now that got it right... and herbalism, I found, was not particularly useful.

Maybe that does work in real life, I don't know where to get hell plants though.

Um, hell?

And since hell is on fire, it's doubtful that any plants exist there. At least Oblivion was only PARTLY on fire.

 

[Keava]

Actually, alchemy was not only about changing common metals into gold. IT was also about researching various mixtures and potions of wondrous abilities like longevity potion or elixir of wisdom.
Since in RPG games we mostly deal with magical concoctions the use of alchemy is justified. Herbalism is more of natural medicine than craft a potion of strength +10, or whatever else you want to call it.

 

[Judgement101]

Has anyone else noticed in RPGs that potion making and herbalism are always called "Alchemy". Alchemy was the attempts at changing an element into another element. But it seems like RPGs just said "Ok we added Herbalism but that doesn't sound cool so lets name it Alchemy".

Discussion Value: Why do you think they did this?

It's a catch all phrase for bizarre-property-liquid-creation. Oblivion, for instance, you could mix grapes with a certain meat and a hell plant and come out with a potion that lets you walk on water. Since this doesn't work in reality, it's simple to say it's alchemy, because that doesn't work in real life either.

That being said, Dragon Age is the only one I can think of right now that got it right... and herbalism, I found, was not particularly useful.

Maybe that does work in real life, I don't know where to get hell plants though.

Um, hell?

And since hell is on fire, it's doubtful that any plants exist there. At least Oblivion was only PARTLY on fire.

It still could work! We need a portal to the Realm of Oblivion!

 

[Levitas1234]

Alchemy has been done for over 2000 years.
It's just the most basic form of chemistry which makes sense as to why it would replace the name potion making. Herbalism however is a skill to get herbs for your potions.