For specialists in the Pharmacopoeist Methodology, we

offer another weapon for your arsenal: Synthetic Ritual. This

Procedure relies on the art of Grafting chemicals far beyond

the capabilities of normal science. Freakishly brilliant reac-

tions occur in the laboratory all the time, but only a genius

can duplicate them more than once.

Here's the formula for creating this type of Procedure:

Start with a simple chemical reaction that a drug or substance

can have on the human body (e.g., "caffeine keeps people

awake"), then exaggerate it into a form that can be represented

by one or more spheres of influence. Complete the task

by chanting our Technocrat mantra: "If we can visualize it, we

can do it. We have the technology."

This type of Inspired Science requires a chemical genius

— only mages with four or five dots in Chemistry are allowed.

It also takes time and plenty of chemistry equipment as an

apparatus to the Procedure, which means the Storyteller

should estimate the number of successes required in terms of

plausibility (see the Magical Feats table). Then, apply the

rules for extended Effects as the chemist spends hours or days

working with complex formulae in the lab.

Unfortunately, Paradox loves raising hell in laboratories.

Depending on the Paradox Pool of the mage in question,

resulting compounds can have unusual side-effects (for a 1-4

point Backlash), harmful results (damage from 5-9 points of

Backlash) or even psychedelic effects (manifesting as Paradox

Spirits or hobgoblins). When the limits of science are

violated completely, it is entirely possible that an explosion

may result in the lab itself, destroying all of the work done so

far, as well as the lab notes (and possibly an overly idealistic

Pharmacopoeist).

Even if the Procedure succeeds, someone has to consume,

ingest, absorb or inhale the resultant product. Spiking

a drink or lacing food isn't easy. Like many experimental

chemical reactions, the results of these experimental substances

can be variable. For each benefit they grant, they

should have one side-effect as well. The recipe for "Caffeine

Plus" is an example, and it should fuel additional ideas.