Broken: Alchemist Bottled "Boosts"

[Evean]

So I press Bottled “Boost”: Sprint…

First, it locks up my character for 2 seconds, as though it’s trapped in a lag spike, can’t jump, move &c…

Then, an animation starts to happen, in super slow motion, that’s another 2-3 seconds…

Then, the sound effect plays…

Finally, 5-8 seconds after I push the “boost” button, after I freeze in place, after I sit through a slow-motion animation, after I sit through a delayed sound effect, none of which even line up, I finally start to run fast?

You give me a “go fast” button, but in order to use it, you lock me in place for 5 seconds? That’s either really sloppy QC, or really bad design.

[Discpsycho]

I had the same thought during my first alch life (a year ago) and never used it. When I picked it up this life and recalled this issue, I tried Quickening the spell and immediately felt really dumb for going an entire previous life without trying this. That being said, I don't remember having lock-up issue...

Like Otto's, Acid Fog, etc, its extremely long cast time is largely solved by Quicken. IMO the quickened 1-second cast time shouldn't be changed, as it doesn't eliminate the "escape button" niche of Falconry Sprint Boost, Dragonborn / EA wings, etc

[mikarddo]

Quicken + jumping while using it somewhat helps - but I agree the animation should be faster for something you use to run faster.

[boredGamer]

It would definitely be nice if it were faster - I use falconry speed boost 5x and then switch to the slower version. It is faster over 20 seconds but definitely annoying to deal with that animation.

I don't lock up like you though, so it's just 1 or 2 seconds or whatever of slower-while-drinking for me.

[LeoLionxxx]

I haven't seen the lock-up you describe, but it certainly is an unsatisfying long casting time. One would think it should just be the same duration as drinking a potion!

I do find the speed boost worthwhile to use when I need to catch up to the party of run somewhere in town. I stopped trying to make use of the Spell power boosting one since I'm sure I do more damage by not taking the time to cast it. Ditto for the martial versions when I did my Alch-quarterstaff life.

[Indubitably]

The long wind up should stay.
It' the tradeoff for the alch having access to almost all the Action Boosts and having unlimited charges.

Quicken does work wonders - and should be used. Combined with the jumping - as mentioned before. It's really not bad at all and having to go through that to offset most of the problems I feel is a good mechanic.