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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:

  1. Get a spell/scroll/formula book with a formula that an alchemist can use.
  2. 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.
  3. Study the formula for an hour.
  4. Understand the formula DC 15 + the formula/spell's level. Failure means try again in a week.
  5. 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)
  6. 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\$
    – TheRubberDuck
    May 2, 2014 at 17:49
  • \$\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\$
    – starwed
    May 2, 2014 at 18:18
  • \$\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\$
    – TheRubberDuck
    May 2, 2014 at 18:29
  • \$\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\$
    – starwed
    May 2, 2014 at 18:32
  • \$\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\$
    – TheRubberDuck
    May 2, 2014 at 18:54

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