An alchemist can add formulae to his book just like a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs and time requirements.
But it's not mentioned same "Spellcraft check" so I'm confused.
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Alchemists aren't mentioned in the Spellcraft skill simply because the Alchemist wasn't around when the Core rules were written and it's never been updated.
The only key difference between a wizard learning and an alchemist is that alchemists do not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them.
Therefore, to copy a spell/formula to your formula book:
- Get a spell/scroll/formula book with a formula that an alchemist can use.
- If you were a Wizard you'd have to Understand the text DC 20 + the spell's level. Failure means trying again the next day. But alchemists don't need to do this.
- Study the formula for an hour.
- Understand the formula DC 15 + the formula/spell's level. Failure means try again in a week.
- Copy the formula into your own book. This takes 1 hour per formula level (0 = 1/2 hour) This takes 1 page/level and costs money to pay for materials (see below)
- If this was on a scroll then that scroll is used up and useless.
Note that you can take 10 on these checks if "your character is not in immediate danger or distracted".
Lvl Cost 0 5 gp 1 10 gp 2 40 gp 3 90 gp 4 160 gp 5 250 gp 6 360 gp 7 490 gp 8 640 gp 9 810 gp
Being a Wizard or an alchemist is expensive.
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\$\begingroup\$ Do you have an official source indicating that the Alchemist was meant to follow these rules, or is this your personal speculation? \$\endgroup\$ May 2, 2014 at 17:49
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\$\begingroup\$ @EnvisionAndDevelop It's right in the linked description of the alchemist. "An alchemist can also add formulae to his book just like a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs and time requirements" and " An alchemist does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them." \$\endgroup\$– starwedMay 2, 2014 at 18:18
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\$\begingroup\$ @starwed I guess my confusion was about the first sentence. This answer indicates that the answer isn't in the alchemist rules, and gives an explanation as to why. In any case, step #4 above doesn't seem like it needs to be part of "costs and time requirements", so I was hoping for an official mention of that somewhere. \$\endgroup\$ May 2, 2014 at 18:29
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\$\begingroup\$ @EnvisionAndDevelop I read the "cost and time" clause as a clarification, not a restriction. Especially given the later, more explicit statement about deciphering. \$\endgroup\$– starwedMay 2, 2014 at 18:32
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\$\begingroup\$ I see. I personally still think the first sentence is confusing, but I'm not sure what @Rob wanted to say, so I won't suggest an edit for that. \$\endgroup\$ May 2, 2014 at 18:54