Loved this game when it came out and was excited to see it available here. Played it alot only to realise there were only about 4 recipes available. This ruined the game and made it a real disappointment. Has anyone seen any solutions?

Only 4 formulas? I’ve got at least 10 so far, and that is with only two cities visited. Then again I min/maxed for over 40 in alchemy at the start.

Talk to an alchemist in a city. You may be able to exchange formulae (for free) or buy them (expensive). Universities also have them for sale.

There's also a random encounter in the wilderness. If you defeat a witch you might be able to get her to teach you some random formulae.

Thank you for feedback. I haven't played for over a year, but when I first got this in it's current format, there was only like 4 formulae and none of the useful ones, like essence of grace etc. I remember at the time, there was talk of a bug. I had taken out lots of Raubritter's but many of the harder fights required these potions. If there has been a patch that has since resolved this, I haven't downloaded it again to try.

Sadly as I suspected, only 4 alchemy recipes available from any alchemist. The most important recipes are not there. A shame really.....

If you got the game recently from GOG, it should have lots of formulas, mine does.

I bought it last year, i think and played it for a while before realising it. Maybe I reinstalled it recently but it is just the same. Each time I look to purchase formulas, they are almost exactly the same, eater water, fleadust, breath of death and one other.....
How do I get the updated version? I remember reading at the time that I bought it that there was a problem with the alchemy formulas.

Are you visiting the alchemist in the same city? In that case you will keep getting the same 4
Visit the alchemists in other cities instead. They'll have different assortment.
Also keep in mind that there are 3 versions of each formulae that generate different quality potions.

If you downloaded the game through GOG Galaxy, it should update automatically. If not, download it again and reinstall.

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I played this game relentlessly years ago and got very far, so I am familiar with the mechanics. I am currently moving around, but a smentioned the formulae are similar and I played this a year ago when I first got this re-issue and there was mention of a proble with formulas at the time. I noticed it then. However recent feedback has made me try again, but I ma still sceptical. I did buy Darklands from GOG and so I would hope it updates things. I managed to steal a different formula from a witch but the conventional way with the Alchemists is all the same. I
I will try a bit more, travelling North to see if it is a location thing but I am not hopeful.....
;)

Thank you for all your help.
Unlike my last try at the game, 2 years or so ago, the alchemy bug has been fixed and travelling much further afield has found other formulae. Still to find essence of grace, but will keep travelling.

Anyone know how long I will have Hanse for?
In the original game, I didn't do the quest realting to him and kept him for almost the whole game - handy in a fight, but I see he has left me in this game.

I had Hanse for one year. I think that is the limit.

You'll never buy essog.

your "4 formulas" problem is actually a 22 formulas problem, where the sources are selling only the first 22 indexed formulas of the total 66 formulas in the game. This was an error made by the designers- they thought oh there's 22 different kinds of potions, and they sort of forgot that there were 3 entries (25, 35, 45q) associated with each.

The remaining 44 recipes you can never buy start at #23 (35q thunderbolt) and end with #66 (45q firewall). Here is the list of potions in their INDEX order. You will only buy Nox through 25q Thunder, 22 recipes.

Noxious Aroma
Eyeburn
Black Cloud
Fleadust
Eater Water
Breath of Death
Sunburst
Thunderbolt
Arabian Fire
Stone-tar
Deadly Blade
Strongedge
Greatpower
Trueflight
Hardarmor
Transformation
Truesight
New-wind
Ironarm
Quickmove
Essence o'Grace
Firewall

Where to get the other 44 formulas? Only by the option "trading alchemical knowledge and formulas," which can produce a random one.

This is not the sort of bug GOG has any responsibility for and could only be fixed by reverse-engineering the game.

Wow, I too wondered why I had such a hard time finding more recipes. Thats a simple but big mistake!