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v0.34:Alchemy
| Alchemy |
|---|
| Skills used |
| Tasks |
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None |
| This article is about an older version of DF. |
Alchemy is listed in game as a labor, but it currently doesn't have any function. Previous versions of the game had the Alchemist's laboratory which was used to produce soap, but this has since been replaced by the Soap maker's workshop.
Toady One has shared a few of his thoughts concerning the potential for alchemy in Dwarf Fortress, particularly the potential uses of acids and its place in the game aesthetic.
Bugs
Certain past bugs may have appeared to be the effects of fantasy alchemy, such as lead bars turning into gold mugs, but alchemy does not exist in Dwarf Fortress.
Description of Alchemy In the Real World
Alchemy is a primitive form of chemistry, mingled with a great deal of occultism. Alchemists experimented and searched for the Philosopher's Stone (transmutation of metals), the azoth (universal panacea), the alkahest (universal solvent), and the elixir vitae (immortality) among other esoteric pursuits. More practically, real-world alchemists discovered phosphorous and distillation, worked with separating metals from ore and extracting plant and animal essences, created medicines, and they identified or discovered various acids, salts, and other useful compounds. Some of these basic alchemical processes or products are already present in Dwarf Fortress to various degrees, but the individual functions fall under different skills. Fantasy alchemy is usually preoccupied with the creation of magic potions.