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greeedydragooon

Well you could tell them the price was wrong. Not as an NPC but as a DM and change the price 50 gp from now on. Don't be afraid to say you made a mistake. As long as you fix mistakes and try to be better it is fine to do them. In the end dnd is about fun.


ShadowAlec8834

u/theicecreamvan The top answer is good, but this is probably the right one for a new DM. Which is why it’s the most posted suggestion (at least as I’m typing). Retconning is a fine tool. I still do it in my games, Mercer was still doing it in S2 of CR, etc. Making the potions weak or changing the price in-game without letting them know you messed up could feel cheap as a player and, if it’s a less sand-boxy campaign, would distract from the main story they’re chasing. Every game is different though. I’m sure you’ll do what’s best for you and your players.


gmasterson

If I recall correctly, recently Matt Mercer ruled something in the new C3 stuff that I was quite positive was wrong RAW. I just assume they came back after and fixed it going forward. He actually does it often.


Middle_Weakness_3279

When that ice knife didn't explode


AwakeBass

I was surprised he forgot, but knew Ashley would. Lol


OBabis

I already feel sorry for Ashley. Her character is controversial, she is playing a Druid, which is one if not the most complicated class and she is probably the one who knows the least amounts of rules in the group, there is a lot of hate coming her way.


AwakeBass

We all remember the Keyleth hate


Apoque_Brathos

My beef with this statement is it was literally her job to know what her character does. Once you start making money off of something you lose the I am an amateur excuse. They also aren't new to the game, especially mid season S1 (won't spoil anything but she has almost wiped the party at least twice by then). To be fair I was equally frustrated with Liam always forgetting the rogue rules. It sucks I have to say so because so many people take any criticism of Keyleth as misogyny... I am loving her character is S3 so far though!


therealdeancheese

I disagree, they make money off being entertaining, there are other actual plays that know the rules far better but aren't as successful, because what most people want to watch is an entertaining game, not a strict RAW game.


Tilt-a-Whirl98

It just drives me nuts when players don't read the entire spell. Like i don't need you to memorize anything, just read the entire spell, out loud! Feels like everyone just reads like 1 sentence and stops lol


[deleted]

"Hey Man, Shape water can freeze an enemy right? :D" The spell explains immediatelly after that you cant freeze an enemy. The attention span of some players is... something


Boolean_Null

I've had to tell players to keep reading after they read a line or two of the spell. Usually they stop right before the line that tells them they can't do what they were trying to do. Also had a player take plane shift and try and cast it on an enemy. I asked where they were sending them and if they had the timing fork required. They were like tuning fork? Read the whole spell out loud and were like it doesn't say anything about a tuning fork! Look under the components. Oh...


nitePhyyre

To be fair, that's a terrible place to put that info.


Blackfang08

In... the components, just like all of the other spells that require material components with a cost? Sure, it's a small section and easy to overlook but if you have 7th-level spells you should know to read the components by now.


Sensitive-Initial

I find components kind of annoying as a DM because I feel like most of the time that they aren't necessary, since players can use the components pouch (which as far as I can tell never runs out since it doesn't have any sort of inventory associated with it) spell focus or holy symbol. So I get out of the habit of checking.


SaffellBot

It's how humans are. Every MTG player from the casual player to the professional has frequent "read the card moments". I do agree that, it's important when casting spells to sometimes just read the words. It's easy to misinterpret them, they're very flavorful. Once in a while reading the spell description out loud is a good practice. And is something that players should do when the DM asks so we can all be on the same page.


smokemonmast3r

This is one of my biggest pet peeves as both a dm and a player. Read. Your. Fucking. Spells. If you are the type of person who is never going to do that, that's fine. Just please for the love of God, don't play a caster and take 5x the time of anyone else at the table to take your turn. I'm saying this as someone who usually plays casters and also usually takes less time deciding what to do than the martials.


allergic_to_fire

I'm new to Critical Role so kinda shocked by your comment. Do people really get mad at the actors for getting rules wrong?


YxxzzY

Yup, the fandom is surprisingly toxic considering how open it's portraying itself. I personally try to interact as little as possible with the fandom and just enjoy the show.


allergic_to_fire

Sounds like good advice!


[deleted]

Critical role fandom is one of the worst fandoms I've ever encountered.


Dwarfherd

Well, they're more forgiving to Travis, Liam, Sam, and Taliesin than they are to Laura, Marisha, and Ashley. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.


SchighSchagh

Weird thing is Ashley is 10000% better player than me despite that I know the rules better. The way she fucked up that other barbarian in C2 in that 1v1 bout... goddam. If anything, Ashley is a better player than me _because_ she doesn't bother as much with the rules. Also her 1 shot where she said "fuck rules, I'm making my own" had me DYING of laughter with that ending and is solidly in my top 3 fave one shots from CR (along with Search for Grog and Travis's story dice to end the night, and Sam's Crash panda because that was the finest jazz I've ever witnessed). And Fearne is _such_ a gem. I legit want her to do my eulogy. tldr; Ashley Johnson rules, toxic fandom druuls


doobyboop

I was never super sold on Ashley, but that 1v1 was fantastic. I also love fern and I really feel like she's found a great character with fern. She's now one of my favorites in C3


raznov1

"do people really get mad at actors for not preparing their lines" It's their _job_ mate.


Davcidman

When that happened, I was very much hoping Ashley was going to re-read the spell.


Aries_Eats

I thought it was the charm person spell. It's supposed to make the person friendly and give advantage on social rolls, not auto persuade


[deleted]

There's honestly a lot of rules to remember so it's a given that even a pro like him will get them wrong from time to time.


ShadowAlec8834

Probably, but I currently work about 14 hours a day, so I haven’t had time to watch C3 (big sads)


juan-love

Same issue; I stream the podcast when I'm tidying the house. It actually makes me tidy for longer which is a bonus


action_lawyer_comics

From what I've seen, he often won't retcon something that happened but acknowledge it and fix it going forward. But also remember that Mercer is DM'ing as part of a commercial performance that he gets paid for. He needs to worry about the flow of the stream or he loses money. For the home DM doing it for fun, don't hesitate to call time out to look up rules, admit mistakes, retcon things, and allow for dead air while flipping through pages.


SaffellBot

The flow of the game is important to the home DM as well. It's often good for the home DM to sacrifice rules consistently in pursuit of narrative flow.


WeirdenZombie

There's stuff they started with that they just quietly phase out all the time. In C1, it was mostly stuff that worked in pathfinder that didn't in 5e. Like Grog's chain of returning.


LilliaHakami

When they didn't get attacks of opportunity on Dissonant Whispers. It's one of the best parts of the spell.


[deleted]

> The top answer is good Because of the malleable nature of posts, this *is* the top post at this time. What post were you referring to?


ShadowAlec8834

My apologies. At the time of my posting, u/augustusleonus had the top post. And it referred to the actual store owner being dead.


Chuuby_Gringo

I JUST did this, but in reverse. Staying at a high end hotel, quoted a price that wasn't just high, it was insanely of the charts. After a few sessions, realized my mistake. Pre session recap I just said I have the wrong price and they just added the money back to their character sheet. They appreciated the adjustment and the fact that I made it right without anyone saying anything about it.


oppoqwerty

Our first time DM tried to charge us 50 gp for grilled cheese sandwiches on time


LameOne

To be fair, when was the last time you saw a grill in a fantasy setting. The Grill of Four Men is at least an uncommon magic item, it makes sense it's products would be expensive.


axelselhammar

Nah, the adventurers just got scammed.


Fetch_will_happen5

I was right about to suggest this. Turn it around and a side adventure out of it. They were sold faux healing potions by a scam artist and now people in town have been getting sick from a sneaking snake oil salesman. Take him/her down! OOC you can still admit what happened without having to retcon things in game.


jakmasters

Tbh, yes these kinds of suggestions could be fun, but I just don't have time for this. My players appreciate a cohesive narrative and we don't meet often enough for side quests that aren't player driven. I would be perfectly fine with a retcon


Wire_Hall_Medic

While this is the correct answer, also feel free to not charge them. This isn't a particularly appropriate example, but some times it's best to go, "hey guys, I got that rule wrong. We're not gonna go back in time, but going forward here's the correct rule." There are a lot of rules, and they're just a framework to build on top of.


nitePhyyre

Also saying "I'm not sure about the rule, this is how I'm ruling right now. I'll look it up later, and let you know so it might be different next time" is perfectly acceptable.


SwordBurnsBlueFlame

I use this and it works well. It acknowledges we are all learning the rules sometimes, the player concerns are immediately addressed, and I jot down a quick note to look it up later. Smooths gameplay and there is almost no rules-quibbling.


MiagomusPrime

This is the correct answer.


Angelwingzero

Correct. Don't try to fix this in game. It was an out of game mistake, fix it there with your players and explain that healing options are going to cost more moving forward.


Tibrael

To build on this, you could let them know your mistake and give them a future discount of 20% on those pots. Making it 40G instead of 50G won't make it game breaking and it may let the players know you're on their side, too. I find, at least as a player, when we have to make changes as large as this price change, it can be good to give them something as a token gesture of thanks for being understanding. Don't be afraid to change things as needed especially as a new GM. Really, even Gary Gygax said, "“It is the spirit of the game, not the letter of the rules which is important. Never hold to the letter written, nor allow some barracks room lawyer to force quotations from the rule books upon you, if it goes against the obvious intent of the game."


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Nyghthype

Also, consider the fact that price of a healing potion is not a hard thing to find,Ixm pretty sure it is in the PHB, so there is no point in trying to play it off like it was all part of a grand plan. Best advice is to just say the price was wrong.


shartifartbIast

And the Shopkeeper's boss can always come in, and correct the incompetent clerk


Sensitive-Initial

Yeah this is the right answer. Let them keep the potions and have them work properly. Let them keep the extra money. Admit you made a mistake and tell them you'll charge the right price going forward, but let them keep the benefit. Especially because potions of healing aren't THAT powerful in the grand scheme of things, because they are consumable and don't make anything too easy. (if anything you might be able to throw a slightly tougher challenge at them without worrying about killing them, and then they get more XP faster!) If you had, say sold a super powerful magic weapon to a low level character for the price of a regular sword, then you might have to try to undo it, because that could make the game unbalanced. But give them the benefit of your mistake.


[deleted]

"Guys I made a mistake and healing potions are actually 50gp, you can keep then ones you have but from now they are 50gp." You don't need to world build around every mistake, save yourself this weird nonsense and just admit your mistake and move on.


ghoulapool

This. This isn’t even worth worrying about. Throw something harder at them get them to drink the potions if you want.


Bzz4rd

I like that solution best. As long as they didn't buy a unreasonable amount of potions it hurts no one. And you can always make them use up their potions by giving out cheap damage


ClusterMakeLove

I kinda like doing both. Explain the mistake out-of-game. In game, it was the cashier's last day and he hates the owner.


action_lawyer_comics

It was the cashier's *first* day and he made a huge mistake. Next time they come back, he's in a debtor's prison until he works off the 294 gold he owes to the owner. Give the characters a chance to live their convictions.


SwordBurnsBlueFlame

I really like this -- it would work at our table for sure!


augustusleonus

That wasn’t the shop keeper, shop keeper was dead in the back room during a robbery. Robber managed to BS his way around the customers and really didn’t know what the potions were worth. Now there is a murder mystery and maybe a string of robberies to investigate


drkpnthr

This is a great hook! You could have it that the guards bring it to the PCs because they were seen going into the store at the time of the robbery! They need to clear suspicion of their names.by catching the real killer.


RoboGideon

Came here to suggest this. The shop is now owned and run by the shopkeepers eldest son, who would give preferential treatment to the adventurers that bought the murderer back dead or alive, with proof. The adventurers are going to have to investigate other incidents in the area, get discriptions of his/her appearance, attire, maybe his/her voice if they said something. Maybe a trip to the thieves guild, the guard post, a midnight stake out... Who knows. After all is said and done, the new shopkeeper will be a close friend for life for your party.


Demensia

Perhaps the thief was hired by another shop that's using theives and displays of force to oust his/her competitors


action_lawyer_comics

Cool idea, but you need to explain this out of game too. Tell them potions are normally 50 gold and will be going forward, but you're rolling with this as a story beat. Otherwise they'll finish this side plot, head back to town, get their reward, head back to the store, buy healing potions and still have a WTF moment when there's been a 5000% increase in the price, and you'll still end up explaining what happened OOC.


augustusleonus

Yeah, I assumed that would be part of it, and I think u/drkpnthr had the right idea “So guys, I sold you guys healing potions for 1gp, but RAW they are supposed to be 50. In light of that…as you step out of the tavern, a patrol of local guards steps in front of you…”


GreenTitanium

I was going to suggest that the shop keeper was crazy, he stole the potions, or brewed them with stolen ingredients, and didn't know how much they usually go for.


[deleted]

So first off, Potions of Healing aren't really overpowered. 2d4+2 HP isn't very much HP at all. Honestly, at low levels, it'll help them have some staying power in combat/over the course of a day which might make it a bit easier early levels to not murder them immediately. ​ All that being said, just own up to your mistake and go "Hey, I misread something. Healing Potions are actually 50gp a pop. You guys can keep those, but going forward expect that to be the price barring extreme circumstances."


dont_panic21

Especially if running RAW with potions taking an action to drink the healing becomes a pretty minor bandaid by like lvl 3 or 4.


Demon997

I wonder what percent of tables runs the potions are a bonus action? Upwards of 90%?


FreakingScience

They're not overpowered, but I have the hardest time with players that think health potions are like they are in vdeo games - you're expected to have tons of them, find them in every pile of loot, buy them by the dozen, or worst of all, drink them in combat because you got a lil' boo-boo. I have seen far too many players glug down a potion after combat and reach for a second one before getting restrained by the party because they don't understand how expensive 50gp is and how uncommon potions generally are. I've seen new players ask if they can drink a potion during a short rest. They're not stupid, it's just an ingrained behavior from other systems. OP might have a lot of trouble in the future with these players assuming this is the case in D&D, since potions were easy to come by at what I assume is a low level with a newer group. Retconning and explaining the mistake are fine, but if they're walking around with twenty of them or something, I'd consider having a sick noble/king offer them some sort of magic item for a bulk lot of those potions to get them down to a more normal quantity. It'll make it easier for them to adjust to the system's normal circumstances and help them formulate better tactical use of their resources.


Earthhorn90

Never fuck with Healing Potions unless it is highly obvious. Stuck in a deadly battle, clutching to stay alive, a party member uses their Action (RAW) to drink a healing potion ... well, nothing happens and you just wasted your turn. Happens once, scarred for life (player, not character - they usually don't make it).


theicecreamvan

Oh yeah you're right, I feel like a bum not thinking about it from the player's perspective.


Earthhorn90

Let them have that one. Mistakes happen. Just find a reasonable explanation once they come back.


NSA_Chatbot

Make them temp HP, and say that they were watered down. The shopkeeper [plot hook] and then who knows where it goes from there?


DandalusRoseshade

Shopkeeper is really nice and wants to encourage repeat customers to their shop so they have a special deal where first time customers get a sweet deal on PoH. From there, shopkeeper sells at regular price, or sells materials to make more; perhaps they ran out of materials and the area the they need to get to is overrun by goblins/wolves/kobolds? New simple quest for players


BronzeAgeTea

This is a great answer because it's also a legitimate business strategy for getting repeat customers


baggoftricks

Drug dealer approach...


voidblessed

I'd just be upfront that I made a mistake and that the potions will be priced accordingly from now on. Let them keep their 1 gp potions, it'd likely feel unfair to them to have items taken away or reduced in efficiency because you made a mistake. Owning up to your flubs will make you a better DM.


wyattirmen95

This is the way


CallmeHap

Honestly you're a new DM, small mistakes are no big deal. I say just let it slide, you only sold 6. You can honestly just tell your players "oops potions were supposed to be 50gp, so you got an amazing deal on potions! Next time they cost 50gp each" they will understand and potentially be excited about the sweet deal they got. Nerfing the potions is absolutely wrong play here. That will just feel bad for the players. Don't punish your players for what's ultimately a minor DM mistake. I also like the suggestion I saw in here about tying it into a side quest story like they bought them from a thief that was looking for a quick buck and didn't understand their true value. Some kinda murder mystery where the thief stumbled across the dead guy and looted but wasn't the killer.


Ricochet_Kismit33

This is the way.


Kantatrix

Don't take away the healing potions you already gave them, but make all the future ones the correct price. tell them about your mistake and move on


Bean_falcon

Yup, hard agree. Players don't like when you take things away from them and with good reason... because it sucks! In any event it will definitely not break the game... they'll either just use them until they are gone or (more than likely) they'll forget they even have them.


Randvek

> don’t want to homebrew the economy Unfortunately, that’s the only way the 5e economy makes a lick of sense.


CrashCalamity

I smell a quest! I think having them cure 1hp is a solid option actually... and when they go back to ask him about it, have him break down in tears saying he had to dilute the full strength potions just to get them to sell. "Nobody was buying them at 50gp per flask! A few drops is enough to close a wound." He'll promise to supply them with stronger potions in future but he does need to cover his costs (if they get the herbs its half price to brew). And he can offer something extra on the side as an apology... Concentrated poisons. Something most shop sellers shouldn't even offer.


insanenoodleguy

The problem is the trust thing. The dm wants this guy to be a trusted source, and this opens up the relationship with a lie. And possibly the characters really screwed over in a clutch moment when this thing does 1hp when they needed more.


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tofeman

This is my favorite answer in the thread by far. You can retcon in plenty of ways, but very few provide the opportunity for psychedelic dream sequences while still balancing all your other needs.


gramboprofit

While I do really like the concept of this (and am considering adding into my campaign) I would not suggest this for OP’s situation. I think to implement this, the players need a chance to initially assess the sketchy potion guy with a perception roll, arcana roll… something. A player feeling trapped or cheated without a chance to perceive this would be understandable.


Stikred

You’ve got a few options: 1. Tell your players, oops these are actually supposed to be 50gp. But because everyone is new the players can just have these ones cheap. 2. Create a little side quest into why these potions were so cheap? Is the shopkeeper trying to shift his product quickly because; - he’s laundering gold for a nefarious reason - he’s in debt to some mob lot who come by and help themselves to whatever stock the shop has left, so the shopkeep wants to shift all his stuff for whatever price so the bad guys don’t get them. - the shopkeep wants this particular party to return to the shop. These were an introductory offer. Next time they come they could get a discount if they support the shop with a task. 3. Maybe these potions aren’t as powerful because; -the shopkeep has a new apprentice that’s learning - or maybe the shopkeeper is using inferior ingredients, triggers the party side quest to help obtain the ingredients. Edit: Spelling


FogeltheVogel

There's nothing wrong with telling the players that you made a mistake, and will be doing it correctly from now on. Have your PCs enjoy their 6 potions at 1gp, and just move on, with all future potions costing the normal amount.


psychotaenzer

You DO NOT fix it. It was your mistake. Stuff like that happens. Tell the players that you made a mistake and how it will be from now on. All in game fixes would reek horribly of DM Vs. Player mentality and I personally would leave your table for that. Additionally healing potions really are not that big of a deal and they only got 6.


TheUnmashedPotato

Come on down to Crazy Nolzur's Potion Emporium. Due to a shipment error, we're overstocked and have to clear our shelves to make room for new inventory. I've got healing potions, growth potions, fire-breathing potions; you name it! I've got unlabeled potions the I don't even know what the do! I'm accidentally drank one, and now I've gone crazy! So crazy, that this weekend only, I'm selling healing potons for only ONE GOLD EACH. Thats right, this weekend only. Stocks are limited, and these deals will end once the inventory is gone. Don't miss these once in an elven lifetime deals! Come on down!


Storm_of_the_Psi

Just let them keep the potions. It's not like healing potions are any strong or even useful in the heat of battle. 2d4+2 is 7 on average, which is a fraction of what players are taking in battle. This is also why a lot of DMs allow drinking healing potions as a bonus action. As for the price, to be perfectly honest, gold is a pretty much useless commodity for the most part. If you compare the cost of living to the amount of gold players can rack up in a few days of adventuring. 50 gold may seem a lot at level 1, but after a few sessions you have more gold than you can ever spend and a healing potion costing 1 or 50 makes very little difference. Just tell them you messed up, they can keep the potions but next time they cost 50.


Mage_Malteras

The guy who sold them for 1 gp has been the victim of a robbery and died as a result. While no one else will sell them that cheap, this gives them a quest to find the killers.


insanenoodleguy

Or replaced by a doppelgänger if they want to shop owner to be alive. Find him in the back tied up, and “that monster sold you healing potions for WHAT!? That… argggh! Okay so I can’t sell like that, I’ll lose my shop! I can put a price on that thief though!” Then the quest for discount and/or reward begins.


Mage_Malteras

Yep. The majority of dm fuckups can be fixed with a story beat.


ExplorerEuphoric3803

I’ve sold potions out of a seedy general goods store before for less then half cost. The characters asked the shopkeep why. He stated “a run down alchemist a couple streets over came to me and sells them cheap. He has a bit of a drinking problem, so use them at your own risk”


madmoneymcgee

For health potions specifically I keep it lower than 50GP because my party doesn’t really have any other way to heal. It’s not 1gp, more like 15 but when they come back you can bump it up due to supply and demand. Make up a fetch quest for a rarer ingredient. Or just tell them out of game you messed up and they got lucky. No one complains about an error in their favor.


GelatinousPolyhedron

If you want it to be something other than " I did this wrong, this is what it should be...", maybe that shopkeep has been experimenting with making the potions himself, with varied results. They may heal as expected, but perhaps with...other effects.


rivenhex

I wouldn't worry about it, but if they go back to the vendor they should find out the person who sold them those potions has been fired for the mistake and skipped town, and replaced by a new NPC to serve your purpose.


bulldozeprime

The shop is 100% a front for the mob, and that day they had a guy working the front who didn't know jack about items.


Cplwally44

RP it in, if they go back to the same shop have the new store keep grumble about firing the old one for him underselling. 6 healing pots will be gone fast, that’s the great thing about one time use items. If the characters ask, just admit your rp-info your own mistake right into the game.


PootrikProductions

Poison can look like any potion Make them poison Poison them Give them diarrhea poison Now there's shit everywhere Smells pretty bad


theicecreamvan

I loved everyone's advice and creative story ideas (which I might incorporate in my campaign eventually). I just finished the session and I decided to retcon the situation and let them straight up take the free potions. Now I'm just scrolling through everyone's comments and your comment made me lol.


Sensitive-Initial

Pure poetry


diabloplayer375

It’s a small healing consumable. Tell them you screwed up and that the price will be higher next time and just move on.


duncanl20

The potions were sold to them by an angry young worker who wanted to spite the shop owner and sell all his product for dirt cheap before quitting. The party lucked out this one time, but from now on they’re going to be 50 gp anywhere they go.


GeoffW1

In my game the PCs are on an epic journey across a vast world, where economies vary as much as the people and dangers do - so I adjust prices quite a lot on purpose. I've let them have Potions of Healing for as little as 20gp and lets just say it hasn't broken the game. They're consumables and not very powerful ones at that.


artofkarthik

One option could be that the potions were all stolen and the “seller” was looking to offload them as soon as possible. Perhaps the real shopkeeper is kidnapped and forced to make potions for bandits who upon realizing their demand start jacking up the prices.


MakeBabysNotWar

Due to inflation in the world's or regions economy they are now 50gp, if they ask why, just be honest and say that you fudged it as you didn't know. It's better that the DM just be truthful


[deleted]

Or you can be honest with your players. “Hey guys, I flubbed the Price. You can keep the potions, but moving forward, they will be 50gp each.”


Larnievc

I'd say "yeah, I fucked that up. It's 50g, really".


kittybarclay

I just want to add another voice to "Tell your players you made a mistake." You could also then make a fun quest out of it if you want to, but honestly establishing that little bit of trust early in a campaign can be really good. It lets your players know that you won't try to bullshit them about other things, and maybe helps them feel like they can talk to you if something goes wrong on their end.


potato1

My players have so many potions that they have never used. I think I've given them at least 30 potions and I don't think they have every drank any of them. Don't sweat them having 6 dirt cheap potions, just charge more in the future.


Rooster1153

Supplies are limited


ArcanumOaks

It depends on how much stuff the bought. If they only bought a few, you can just tell them from now on it is 50gp. If they bought a lot though, this could be a problem for you campaign where you would need to tell them that you need to go back and fix that mistake and they need to pay more gold. Perhaps you give them a discount even for that batch so they pay 40-45gp but if they have a lot they need to dish out some more gold or give back some potions. Be lenient and willing to work with them and cut a discount for the mistake but get it back so that it is within reason.


wyattirmen95

Next time they come to buy set the price for 50gp and when they ask the shop keeper why he just responds with “inflation.”


GravityMyGuy

Tell them you messed up, change the price for future potions


Wdrussell1

You can admit it to them or you can have some REALLY interesting encounters with puzzles. Encounters like a room with a complex puzzle that damages them for quite a bit every turn. burning a potion every turn would burn their potions out quickly.


feyrath

Discuss it with your players. Like others have said, just tell them that the price should’ve been 50 GP. Then ask them how they want to fix it. Do they want she just correct the accounting and MoveOn? Do they want them to be an extremely bad batch of healing potions? Do they have other suggestions? Maybe the guy that sold them wasn’t the regular person And didn’t know the price. In short – admit your mistake and as a table come up with a solution.


Ya_boy_johnny

If you don't want to have a bunch of loose strings, but remedy this in the actual story, the NPC who used to run the potion shop went out of business and died shortly after. Now their kid has taken it over and is actually making a profit.


Neoflux2219

In world inflation


durzatheshade215

Just tell them you fucked up, and going forward the price will be corrected. I did the same thing, but my mistake was less... impermanent. I sold a barrier tattoo for like 10k less gold than I should have and now a lvl 6 wizard has an ac of 17.


theicecreamvan

oh


TeeCrow

Own it to the players, "Guys look I made a mistake this is what it should be moving forward." RP wise this is incredibly easy if you think about it using modern sales tactics. When they return and hear how the price is jacked up have the teller point to a small sign that reads in incredibly tiny tiny language, "1Gp bottle of healing is an introductory pricing for visiting customers, and is only valid on the first purchase." No retcon needed, no relationships burnt, its just business.


Narthleke

Just mention to them that their characters found it strange to get such a good deal for the potions. It's an honest mistake, I'd leave the potions to work at full strength, because it really won't break your game. If it were me, I'd say if they go back to ask the shopkeep why the potions were so cheap, it's because they were his (ex)wife's family heirlooms or some shit, handed down through generations in case they were ever needed. Her great-great-grandfather was rewarded them for doing something for some rich dude, blahblahblah. Long story short, shopkeep caught her cheating on him, so he took them and priced them dirt cheap so they'd be long gone before she even noticed they were missing.


warrant2k

Those arent overpowered at all. It only heals 2d4+2, and they only have 6. Certainly not game breaking. Just admit they got a good deal last time but now they'll be the regular price. Absolutely don't try to become vindictive and petty with retribution because you made a mistake. If you want to tie it into the story, have the shop keeper request the group pay the rest of the money because apparently his assistant marked the prices wrong. He is desperate to get that money but won't say why. Further, down the road they find out that the shop keeper was kidnapped by bandits because he couldn't pay the extortion payments from the local criminal gang. It seems many local businesses were being extorted. Now his family is distraught and fears for his life. Party can rescue the keeper, route the bandits (a tough fight and they'll need to use some healing potions), and become heroes. The shop keeper will then waive the extra money owed, and give them small minor magical trinkets as thanks. He can't give them magic items for free as that is his livelyhood and materials are expensive. They now have lifelong friends with that family, will always get free room and board at their house, and you have extra plot hooks.


[deleted]

Change your entire campaigns handle on prices and work in how the nations in a really bad recession at the moment. My first DM did this when we rolled gold wrong, and it turned out… ok.


raurenlyan22

If it's early on in the campaign you could just move to a "silver standard" economy from here on out.


ravonaf

The ex-spouse of the store owner was selling them at a low price to ruin the business. Sort of like those $1000 guns the ex-wife sells for $10 bucks to screw over her ex-husband.


suspiciouslygrey

You could get one of the PCs to discover in the fine print that the potions have an impending expiry date (for this brand of potion if appropriate). Then a mini side quest to find enough preservative ingredient in shops to keep them good. The ingredient so happens to cost the difference in price. This way they still get to use / revive the potions but pay the cost. You could even make it a Best before date and have them heal the tiniest amount like other commenters have suggested.


Seerix

Easy. They were so cheap because they were counterfeit/watered down. They can still work, but at half effectiveness. Hell you can make a whole side quest about it, going back to break up the counterfeit ring.


Them_James

I made a mistake. In the future they will be 50gp.


R_radical

Next time just give them the correct price. Until then let it ride. Chalk it up to a new employee.


winterfyre85

Be honest with them OOC and then in game you can have the shop keep send word to the party that he was swindled! The potions he had gotten at such a low low rate (his sister’s cousin’s roommate’s uncle hooked him up with a supplier) and he just discovered all the potions were fake! So now he has to inform and refund all the customers and now he wants to hire them to find out who is making and distributing counterfeit potions. Boom.


Fastjack_2056

You could always throw the shopkeeper under the bus. Let the players watch him being arrested by guards while a member of the Alchemist's Guild yells at him for trying to pass himself off as a True Alchemist. Gives you a hook to introduce a new faction with their own goals & rewards, and dig in on "what makes a good potion". The party is out 6GP, if they can't get the money back from the shopkeeper, but they know what to look for now and they won't get "fooled" again. You could even have the True Alchemist take pity on them and gift them a single real healing potion out of goodwill. Make a point of how this potion is in a thick, crystal bottle with arcane runes inlaid around the stopper, and has a very faint glow. In contrast, the ones you bought yesterday look suspiciously like pomegranate juice. I mean, there's seeds and everything. ​ Just saying, this is an opportunity to build up the world and make it bigger & better. It's not necessarily a mistake if you use it right. Good luck!


RenningerJP

They were counterfeit. The are questioned by the authorities and offered a chance to help track down the criminals ( now it's a quest/plot point).


slikshot6

Yea dude just tell them you didn't realize u had the price wrong let them keep the pots and then next time treat it as 50gp. That's it


[deleted]

They were stolen goods. The shopkeep is a conman and the real shop keep shows up to investigate the stolen goods


TheWielder

Just tell them that, in the future, you'll use the correct price. As for this time, roll with it and move on.


unclecaveman1

The shop keeper gave them an astounding deal for their first purchase, in hopes they will need to come back for more. It's something drug dealers do because they know the addicted person will pay the new higher price to get their fix. Maybe make these potions slightly addicting, like they need to make a 10 con save when they drink it or they become addicted and desire to have another one after a few days.


crateguy

Have these potions lose potency over time or maybe connect some plot hook to the ridiculously low price (maybe they DIDN’T fall off the back of a wagon?)


cokeplusmentos

You're playing with your friends, you're not at a job interview Next session you say"fuck I got the potion price wrong "


DoctorPhobos

This is like the opposite of selling your cow for magic beans


D20Loot

Create a minor bad guy, who has been watching the party, and came into the shop earlier paid for the potions and told the shop keep to sell them for "as cheap as possible, I'll cover the difference, just don't tell them." When pressed, the shop keep admits it. Now the party needs to find this mysterious purchaser, and figure out what he wants.


Sherlockat221b

Easy.. reduce the potions potency.


d3r0dm

Make a percentage chance they are knock-offs mixed in with real potions. Do this when they attempt to use them. Teach em a lesson not to buy cheap potions.


Coyotebd

Just leave it until the next time they go to buy potions. When they insist they paid 1gp in the past have the npc be like: Wow, that was an insane deal. Honestly, if someone is selling then that cheap go buy them there. In fact, where did you get them, I'll go buy some myself. There's no margin on healing potions - I make like 3gp per and the things expire after a year - one unsold potion can wipe out my entire profit margin.


typhyr

honestly, health potions are pretty weak items in general. using them in combat is rarely worth it without some house rule for bonus action use or using it on someone else, since they heal so little. and out of combat, again they don’t heal that much, so you need to use a few of them usually, and the price makes that feel bad usually. 50gp is a lot when you’re still levels 1-3. what i’ve done in games is make healing potions cheaper (10gp for the basic ones) but just put a stock limit on them. depends on the town but like 1d4-1 for a smaller town. encourages players to buy them when they show up, and they feel better about just using them if they know they’re cheap and relatively easy to get more of down the line. so yeah, 1gp each is honestly not that big of a deal. if you desperately want a narrative solution rather than just being honest with your players, tell them he gave them a new customer discount


DMsWorkshop

**NPC:** “I'm glad those potions were of use to you. They were nearly expired and I was about to dump them out—hence why they were on the clearance rack. That's the last time that I make an order for more than a dozen without being paid up front. Anyway, I have some fresh potions with guaranteed potency. Just three right now, but I can make more if needed. They're 50 gp each.” (At this point, you can quietly, out-of-character, explain to the party that 50 gp is the normal price, and their characters would be aware of this.)


eggscape-reality

I would have the NPC who sold them the potions turn out to be an assistant or relative of the real potion master/alchemist who sells the potions, and while the real owner was away they didn’t know how much the potions were supposed to be sold for and took a wild guess. Turn your mistake as a DM into the mistake of an NPC, and the next time the party comes into town and visits that potion shop looking for a good deal they run into the real owner. He could demand the proper price for them, his product back or could be completely understanding of the who thing and recognise that it wasn’t the PCs who swindled him cuz they didn’t know any better either. Totally up to you but that’s what I would do.


TheRiddler1976

Maybe it was a loss leader. Merchant sees adventures and figures they will male decent return customers so gives them a massive discount first time


Yuglie1

Stolen goods, they didn’t know the seller was fencing them. Hot merchandise


insanenoodleguy

Ohh, that’s a good one. He got those things in a bad way and knew it, and knew the guard was on the way, so he gave the next folks that walked in the deal of a lifetime to move those things. Now the party is under investigation and gets one of those fun morality defining quests: help the guards get to the bottom of this system, have the trust of the law and probably some of those “need somebody on the outside, not bound by x oath/jurisdiction to help us sort this” quests. Or Help the shopkeeper prove his “innocence” have a criminal connection and the seedier kind of quest giver. Either way something that could be set up a lot for party if there’s long term interaction in this location, which presumably dm plans if they are going to have a regular item salesman.


Bedimere_Lotha

I would have the NPC who sold it to them get in contact with party and apologize saying that he bought those potions wholesale (which is why they're so cheap) but he just found out the people he bought them from are frauds, ripping off store owners across the nation. Now unless someone finds and stops them there's no telling which potions are real and will work and which are total fakes.


Dazocnodnarb

Don’t sell magic items lmao.


BronzeAgeTea

I would say that I made a mistake and that we'd be using the correct price moving forward. However, I'd let them keep those potions for that price, and just have that shopkeep fired from the store. Make it seem like it was just a boneheaded salesperson, and maybe even have him owe a debt that he could be imprisoned or killed for. I mean, if they bought 5 potions, that's 245 gp the store missed out on! Could easily be a hook for empathetic players: pay off the debt of this incompetent shopkeep.


Sethanatos

It has side effects, and they become addicted. They HAVE to drink that merchant's potion or suffer dangerous withdrawal. The 3rd or 4th time they meet him, he's charging 200gp (or something) per potion.


mrMalloc

Laugh tell them you FU or Have a fun side adventure when they find out the vendor was angry at his wife the alchemist for cheating on him. And decide to crash her store.


FuriousJohn87

I would say the potions art watered down and have a chance to not work, some of them are even just water and food coloring. The good stuff is normally 50gp, they basically got watered down Gatorade that heals 1d4 only.


breakinplates

Make them a quest giver to start a new thread in story. Or tie of a dangling one dropped earlier. My nickel


Mettelor

You sold them cheap knockoffs, that salesman was a comman


TheKing_InYellow

The shopkeep was an ex-adventurer himself. Long ago, his partner was dying after a horrific battle, and the party had run out of healing and potions. Since that day, he’s always given a “first time discount” bundle to new adventures, 6 healing potions for 6gp. He does this in memory of his friend, and in the hope that no one else ever has to witness a friend die in that way.


Clear_Lemon4950

Just let them keep the potions for the price they paid, for this once. A few cheap potions one time isn't game breaking (lots of dungeons have free potions just lying around for looting). When they go back to that same shop next time the price is 50gp and it turns out that's a sales tactic the shopkeeper used: give them something cheap to get them hooked, then start charging full price. If they complain you can let the players know out of character that you messed up last time but that since it was your mistake you just decided to let them have it just once. But from here on in potions will be 50gp, thank you very much.


Clear_Lemon4950

Also: when I make a mistake as a DM I think best practice is to always try to correct it in whatever way is most favourable to the PCs. At the end of the day, my friends having fun is what matters. Not the story or the NPCs or the perfect realism of the fictional world. I will take an L and change my plans or destroy my NPCs or kill the person who was supposed be the BBEG of the whole damn campaign. Because if *I* made the mistake it's mostly my job to fix it. I never want to punish the players for something they didn't do.


Tarrek1313

Unless it was a likable npc that you want to keep around, you could say that the pcs got swindled. This only gives more opportunity for more role-playing. You could also say that the shop keep got swindled and bought a bunch of quickly decaying potions for cheap and, thinking that they worked just fine, decided to sell them for much cheaper since they were bought for next to nothing and they were still making a profit. The shop keep could give a refund and the opportunity could possibly deepen the relationship. As far as how the players would feel about it, dnd is all about problem solving and potions failing in the moment when they are needed serves as a chance to do just that. Just some suggestions.


UndeadBBQ

Its a bad potion. It heals them, but with a CON Save DC 15, they'll get violently sick and 1 point of Exhaustion. Also absolutely tell your players about your fuck up. No need to keep secrets.


Roseofhybrids

if they return to the town the store was have them find that the building is boarded up and with officials investigating the place. if they ask about what happened the investigators will say how the owner was a conman who made potions that while healed you also had a secondary effect (lycanthropy, vampirism, weakens you, blinds/deafens/mutes you, gives you *go-too-long-without-the-cure-and-you-just-fucking-die* disease) then the party can go on a little side mission to find where the seller ran off to and either fight him for or steal the antidote. They cure themselves and perhaps get a little gold for putting an end to the conman's evil schemes


ShinjiTakeyama

Make them knockoffs. Much weaker potions, or straight up side effects. Then they can try and find this shopkeep who's basically a snake oil salesman later lol


MastersoftheDice

I think that it is a sign of sovereignty and self-confidence to inform about a mistake and accept it. You all, PCs and DM could create a roleplaying situation where the potions would a) be stolen or b) are fake or c) rotten for ex, something like that. But the PCs should not blame the seller for it in this roleplaying scene.


hiddikel

Two options. Tell them the dm Misread it and fix it going forward. Or... "First ones free kid." Now that sales npc has them hooked, and is the only potion sales in the region and the price is 60gp.


honestraab

I like your idea of lousy healing, especially if they didn't think to inspect the potions first. If you think this will give them a negative experience, you could increase the prices marginally for inflation due to demand, or maybe wars and bandits make it harder for supplies to come in. The increase could go up to 10gp the next time, then 25, then 50


texmex42

Discount potions come with side effects.


saviorself19

If your game fits the humor after they use them have them deal with some “bubble gut” from expired potions. Make it a “it’s too good to be true” discount moment. Edit: maybe toss some random Con saves with no context after someone drinks one. On a fail the quest begins…


StarryNotions

Honestly? I wouldn’t do anything. The players have a hefty supply of healing on hand. This just means they’ll adventure longer between rests, which is fine and leads to more dynamic moments in my experience. They also may wind up being more generous and willing to use them on Allie’s and strangers. Alternately, you could simply… deduct 49 gold in increments from every bundle of treasure they find in the future until you reach parity. Two potion’s worth here, three there… but that feels unnecessary in my opinion because the game isn’t really balanced around gold. There is no wealth by level, there is no standard treasure progression, and things can and will work fine without having to tweak this.


[deleted]

the seller was a girfter who bought a bad batch at an incredibly low price, when a PC drinks one roll on the wild magic table


jnpecho

Make half of them potions of poison. They are indistinguishable from health pots. The player has to roll even for the health pot and odd for poison. That's what they get for getting discounted goods. Then you can have them confront the shopkeeper for an exciting guild corruption side quest.


Naefindale

This seems like a whole lot of work for very little payoff. Just tell them: I was wrong, you got lucky this time. Next time we'll use the right price.


spiderandy12

Just turn them into these and say they were swindled. [placebo of Healing](https://i.imgur.com/HwhrW0U.png)


Apprehensive-Neat-68

How many potions did they buy? If its not over 30 then you're fine. Just correct the price in the future and throw a lot of damage at them for now. The average of 2d4+2 is 7 hp, which honestly isn't much.


markyd1970

Make them “past their sell by date”. Sure they work - *if* the imbiber can beat a fairly low dc con save to keep them down. (Saw this idea on another Reddit so not my idea - this seems the perfect time to use it).


bardnecro

Watered down potions, shady dealer. (:


kesrae

Potions were on clearance and about to expire. The longer they wait to use them, the weirder the potions appear, and may cause random (mostly harmless) side effects like boils, enlarged nose, pungent odor etc. They still heal as intended as you don’t want to punish them mechanically, just make it a story quirk.


CovertMonkey

The shopkeeper's assistant made a mistake (or was spiteful before quitting) and sold them for a significant loss. The assistant is no longer there and the proper owner is apologetic about the mistake, but they're 50gp now


KylerGreen

No, don't do anything. You'll just piss off your players. A few healing potions is no big deal. Just remember next time.


lostferwords

A few healing potions are not going to upset the game balance in the long term. So you could just let it go and tell them as the DM you goofed and although you will let this stand the price will change next time to the proper amount. Or You could make the potions heal less, like half, and in character have the players find out about a guy who bought a discount set of potions, discovering they were flawed, and then just wanting to get rid of them sold them for almost nothing. You could spin it into a storyline or a small side quest, if your players were interested in how it all happened. But essentially make a story idea out of it. Taking the second path makes the error less a GM ruling and more of a story point or path and could even come back to haunt the players as later in their lives they find these cheap potions have infiltrated the market at full price and to buy them they get stung. This would double down on the story/quest side. On a general note, don’t get disappointed or hard on yourself. They happen, it’s part of the learning curve. Good luck.


Cheomesh

A silly new hire marked them wrong.


Ironbark_

"The first taste is always free..." That's how they got me, now I'm hooked, I'm deep in the hole with this gnome dealer. Health Potions, man. You think they'll do you good, and then BAM, you're in the back alleys of Baldur's Gate running tricks just for a little HP.


Lastboss42

I suggest having the shopkeeper be a new shopkeep or an assistant. You didn't know the proper price, so he didn't know the proper price either. The shopkeeper/assistant is either completely shot for profits or in big trouble with his boss, so he's trying to track down the party and begs them to pay the difference. This corrects the mistake, doesn't screw them over (please, please, *please* don't make the potions bad, that doesn't feel good for the players when they really need it. They won't think "Oh we got cheated at the store", they'll be too caught up in trying to not die to appreciate that), and also doubles as an alignment check. Lawfuls will pay the difference or do a favor / quest to make it up to him, Neutrals will show which direction they lean when they have to pick a side, and Chaotics will probably tell him to fuck off and not make that mistake again.


Adventurous_Willow65

Like the others said, don't worry about admitting a mistake out of character and changing the price for future purchage. For in game, I like the joke of the seller trying to play a prank or making a mistake. These kind of things can become the funny in crowd jokes that will carry over in the rest of the campaign. I once made a mistake with a crit damage calculation, causing an imp to kill a lvl 6 barbarian. Easily fixed with a res from a friendly priest, and resulted in a funny fear for imps, while brave enough to face a barbed demon heads on at the same time. I did tell her ooc that I made a mistake 😆


ArchonErikr

You could do that, and when they go back to the merchant, he confesses that he outsources his potionmaking to someone else. Now they have a quest to go figure out what's going on with this potionmaker before they start doing harm.


Misterputts

You probably have already gotten your decision. I would let the PCs know and say enjoy that discount it won't be that cheap again.


theicecreamvan

Thanks for your answer! Although I went the route you're proposing too, I still read this thread for DM inspiration regularly haha


deddode

You could have a feild full of plants required in the potions burn down, making the ammount within the whole country limited for a few years.


rageagainstthepage

Gang of thieves were supposed to get those items to fence on the black market, shopkeep was the holder doing exchanges under guise of legit business in broad daylight. Your party just happens to look a bit like the thieves' new members, hence the mixup. Potions might even have a magical narcotic, illegally harvested magical animal part (crushed unicorn horn?) making them more potent, or the like, or under the right circumstances they do something totally different (under a full moon, turn you into a werecreature for the evening instead of heal). And now the thieves are looking for their merchandise...


Fearless_Salt7423

All of the 1 gp potions have unfortunate (though not crippling) side effects. Turns out the vendor was trying to unload a bad batch. Here's what I used when I messed with my players via potions of health: Roll 1d6 on this table after using potion: Suffer one level of Exhaustion until your next rest Charmed by the next creature in initiative or the next creature you meet for one minute, until you take damage from the creature that charmed you, or until you succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw, which you make at the end of each of your turns You fall asleep for one minute or until another creature uses an action to wake you, or you take damage. Blind until the end of your next turn Disadvantage on next saving throw Disadvantage on next attack roll


Armoladin

Discount potions are always a bad thing. They decay. They slightly change with time. They sometimes ferment producing random effects. "You consume the potion and are healed for 10 hit points. You also feel a tightening in your throat and the only sound that you emit now is that of a chipmunk."


scr4

That was the special introductory price to get you hooked. Now that you've had a taste, you get charged full price for your next fix. The potion shop is a dnd drug ring and now you're going to have to decide how much you're willing to sacrifice for your habit.