So first I want to say that this isn't really a suggestion based off of the idea of moving Elixirs out of the Apothecary as I already suggested a way to deflate/increase the availability of Pylonics here. Rather, this is more of a suggestion because I feel like restockable pet & color changing items came from Neopets and it has never really worked on Subeta, as seen by the numerous attempts to try and raise the worth of them, sometimes by manually buying them up from user shops. And although I am a fan of the idea of Elixirs being moves into a shop where their stock is permanent and their prices set at a high price, I don't like the lack of immersion that would come along with that change, so I hope this is a good compromise.

Anyway, my idea is that Elixirs are no longer restockable, which means they can't be received as quest prizes nor asked from them, and instead you have to go through a little quest yourself in order to get an elixir. Initially I figured this could be a simultaneous items sink (like Nostalgic quests) and sP sink, but maybe the lifelike dolls could be incorporated as well to keep them valuable. So in order to get an elixir you would have to go to an NPC and specifically pick an elixir to make. Hopefully with lifelike dolls becoming a thing using one of the matching species and color could be required in every formula. I also figured it would cost around ~500k per elixir

I feel like with the inclusion of a quest like this some lore can maybe be added to how elixirs and potions actually work. Maybe staff doesn't want to get into that, but it's something I don't think I've ever seen addressed on other pet sites. If not by explaining how they work, giving us insight on how/why they are made would be cool.

TL;DR - Elixirs no longer restock and instead are given in a special quest like Merana or Vanya. The quests act as an item sink as well as an sP sink with Elixirs now costing ~500k-1 mil in order to complete the quest and obtain. Potentially incorporate Lifelike Dolls and make each quest ask for the corresponding one.

I think elixirs should be retire from the system.. they are waaay too cheap and it's causing the potions to be useless and not even rare..

I would keep the common pets elixirs, just to being able to change the pet, but the colors elixirs needs to be gone ASAP..

What do you suggest for Neelas? Remember, their lifelike doll isn't cash shop only.

I was thinking about them during class and honestly I kind of don't want to touch them with them being Cash Shop and all. They defy everything and yeah, I don't like Neelas. They're scary. They can stay in their little cash shop corner far away from me.

Interesting idea-- I like it, but does bring up a good question.

I actually would amend it, personally-- I'd rather knock out all colour changing elixirs together. Elixirs should only be used to change a pet's species, and potions should be the primary function for changing colours. I'd roll with elixirs being eliminated and replaced with the lifelike doll function so long as CS pets or otherwise exclusive pets (Bhakarou and Bumbus I think?) weren't apart of the function. The only elixirs should be for those exclusive pets (attainable in exclusive ways), where it would make sense for them to have their own special elixirs.

Potions vs elixirs have always confused me tbh and I'd rather just have potions + a way that changes your pet's species and keeps their colour, since most pets save for a few that could be excluded are equal value. I completely agree that species change + colour change is redundant and devalues a lot of potions. PLUS there's no lore to it at all. Colours shouldn't be impossible to get, but they don't have much point if you can buy a new colour AND a new species for as low as 30k.

Man idk if my input makes much sense, I'm tired and I'll have to see what I wrote in the morning lmao.

This is one of the things I don't understand about Subeta: why must everything be expensive? Why do the users seem to hate cheap things?

how about keep them restockable as it is. and add the new expensive option. if people want to work extra hard and burn millions to recolor their pet, they have the option to. for us poor users, we can still buy elixirs at 30k a pop.

do people use elixirs enough that spending 500k-1mil on a pet they really want would make them broke? I hate how elixirs are now, so I would support any change to them. this sounds like it could work

This sounds like a great idea to me. Elixirs are pumped into the economy constantly and clearly very few are actually used (if they were the staff wouldn't need to keep buying them up/adjusting them). Using the lifelike dolls is great, and I'm sure there'd be a way to incorporate other common items into colorfill potion making. I think if this was done it'd be nice to have 'de-powered' versions of the potions, though. I'm sure a lot of people use these for TCs/galleries.

And tbh you can make 1mil in about 30 minutes so the 'omg too expensive' shit just needs to stop. God forbid we ask people to play Subeta, we'd better just make everything free and also instantaneous.

No support. There's nothing failed about the current elixir system.

I do not believe elixirs MUST be expensive. It's a telltale that neopets is mentioned in the original post. The pricing of color changes over there is outrageous and really sucks.

Why make Subeta just as awful? If you want to suffer in order to color your virtual pet, go play there.

After thinking about it, I really do like this idea.

But, not now.

I'd like this to be established after all species have their lifelike dolls onsite, for simplicity. Meaning, that's not something I'd like to see onsite tomorrow, but in like, a year from now, when all lifelike dolls will be onsite, I will be all "Yes please, this is a great idea"

Hell, we even have a site feature that could be revamped to make this work. The Decanter. I would absolutely like, like 18 months from now, the decanter to be revamped to do this.

You could use one of these fakey fake water bottles from Peka Glade + Lifelike Doll of the pet you want + something else like a cheap spell ingredient or magic stuff. For the Neela, in 18 months from now, is it going to still be relevant as a cash shop pet only? Same with the Bhakoru and the Bumbus.

If it comes to this, maybe ingredient should be the same for all Neela and be cash shop exclusive, ingredient should be the same for all Bumbus and be gotten from the Blue building, and ingredient should be the same for all Bhakorus, and should be a random drop from the Crypts, just like the Frankenpie slices are. Frankenpie slices are fairly common from the crypts, so it shouldn't be a problem.

But yes. Done right, this could be something more interesting than what we currently have, and I have ALL COLORFILL PETS.

That's a pretty good idea man, i like it :D.

those are some decent suggestions to address issues of "exclusive" pets that actually force people to participate in whatever it is the pet is associated with.

I think it's safe to say this might end up being the case. Didn't staff say they weren't going to make silver and cherry elixirs, excluding neelas?

I'm all for just keeping the common colour elixirs and phase out the other colour elixirs. Make them still obtainable, but have no use option. Everybody wins.

It's always been easy to colour your pets here; removing elixirs isn't going to change that, especially if Nichloas' idea or something else replaces the current system.

We have the two zappers; potion lottery; some of the quests give them out as prizes; mystery box (when shop 36's stock is there for the day); I think coin machine and scratchcards also have a chance? (can't remember); and of course, adoption center in Delphi.

If the stats page lists the average player has about 14mil sPs, then expense isn't an issue at all.

I'd rather see elixirs still usable, just not as something just "use elixir" I really like Nicholas' suggestion because LORE and actually having to brew potions and stuff is way more interesting

I agree with this. The elixirs thing really did seem like a Neopets idea that doesn't really work, especially as a restocking item. Maybe it was ok when we only had a few species, but we keep adding more and I know there are a lot of suggestions for more. How much are we going to fill the apothecary up with cheap items?

Also, I don't mind getting rid of all the extra color elixirs. I always went with the cheapest one for the species anyway, heh. Maybe this can up the price of elixirs and potions in one go.

The other color elixirs can still have a use...as gallery or TC items instead of being usable on pets. :p But yes, I'd love to brew my own potions or elixirs. Tempts me to create an alchemist character again.

I'm never okay with things that take away from the pet aspect of the site.

Turning items designed for pets into things that are just pretty is seriously a major turn-off for me.

The common colored elixirs would still retain their use. -shrugs- Maybe we'll have to agree to disagree this time. In any case, I do acknowledge your point of view and respect it. ^.^

Whatever ends up happening with elixirs, it would be cool to see a new way to obtain them instead of having to buy them from other users or restock them so easily.

Yeah, I can understand what you mean. Making 90% of a kind of item useless outside of collecting purposes doesn't fly well with me. And, it won't make colorfills more desirable, people are hype for repose pets. I'm really an outsider with my own pet distribution!

Again, I see the revamping of the elixir system as something that should be long-term, not short term. There is no easy solution for the elixir problem.

Also, to everyone going "Why should everything be expensive", the solution Nicholas has brought is not expensive. I like the plan he got going and I think that in a year or two, this is totally viable, a lot more than what we have right now, where potions can be easily price-gouged.

Yes it would have to be a slow process if Nick's idea with the lifelike dolls were to happen. I wouldn't want the artists to rush through making lifelike dolls for every remaining pet (I imagine that would kill you mentally at the sheer thought of collecting 30+ new lifelike dolls at once).