Alchemist herb-growing? Location of a magic catalyst? etc.

[Balcombe]

Hi all.

Without spoiling the exact location of it or how to get it, can anyone please tell me the first area I can find with a caster orb/wand/staff in it?

Ie, Beach = area 1, woods = area 2, and so forth.

I ask because I was debating on re-rolling with an alchemist in the party for the herb growing perk per tiles moved, but I wanted to make him into a caster, hence he would need a wand, staff, or orb to use magic

On that note - how is the alchemist herb-growing perk per tile moved? Do you think it is worth it? I saw some numbers somewhere and they seemed pretty abysmal, though I didn't know if it was herbs growing for numbers of tiles period, or if one tile move is considered 2 steps for each party member, or what.

Thank you in advance for your time and responses.

edit: changed subject line to be more specific and clear

[Ixnatifual]

I'm happy with my alchemist. The herb growth really adds up. I'm fairly liberal with healing and energy potions, but still have enough to retain a decent supply of bombs for extra hairy situations. Not to mention it's pretty nice that the herb for permanent stat increase potions also grow.

You take a lot of steps during the course of this game. Just a regular one on one monster fight has you take quite a lot of steps. Only downside to my alchemist so far is that he's ranged, so I have to conserve ammo a lot, which means he's dead weight in many non-hairy fights. Next alchemist I make will probably be a caster or melee.

[Saice]

I ended up giving my alchemist 2 levels of accuracy so they can attack form the back row. Makes them a solid all arounder between melee, magic, and alchemisty.

[Mrs_Brisby]

Not idea myself. After seeing your post though, I decided I would prefer to do my caster as an alchemist too.

The trade off of losing 2 willpower at beginning to gain more stats later to potions sounds worth having to carry a character in the mean time.

Will reply with spoiler for the first item that lets me cast spells.

[Dematto]

You should be set before 3.

Gear stat spoiler?

SpoilerShow

Strong caster gear may require concentration.

[Balcombe]

Thanks for the replies, and thanks for the heads up Dematto.

That's how I felt the first time I found out making potions required a skill point! Like, darn, didn't see that coming! I was wanting to reroll anyway. Also, to be clear, when you say, "set before 3," do you mean area 3, or in needing 3 respective skill points?

[Chimera005ao]

I'm fairly liberal with healing and energy potions, but still have enough to retain a decent supply of bombs for extra hairy situations.

Alchemy at 5?
Bombs, gun and shuriken. Not to mention he has almost as much health as my fighter...

[eLPuSHeR]

Do all alchemists have herb growing capabilities or do you have to select a specific trait while creating party?

[Saice]

Do all alchemists have herb growing capabilities or do you have to select a specific trait while creating party?

All do it even says so in its class tool tip

[zeltak]

You should find the catalyst before entering Forbidden River (area3).

But:

SpoilerShow

It's behind a secret. Easy secret, but still a secret.