Alchemy: Usefulness seems denied somehow.

[Oscillate_Wildly]

What with the amount of hp that potions and ethers alike replenish (very little), they are quite useless. I used to think that, like XI, that's just how the game is played. However, I noticed with Ironwill Unguents, sometime before or after and quite possibly still, the effect does not stack with shell. What gives? Even the poisons we make cannot be used in battles like they could in XI.
These potions/ethers and buffs are not a low level item to produce, but their worth is nothing if you have even a sub-par healer in your party, or can place Sacrifice or Heal into your move bar/macro.

I'm curious as to whether this will be looked at in the future? It's nice that we are useful in the sense of making dyes, but it's kind of embarrassing to be told not to make anything special for the long fights because they're worthless and they'll just equip Siphon MP or Sacrifice II.

Cooking looks similar, however, at least there's a rank suggestion for food, I assume for best effects? But even then.

[Eekiki]

I need alchemists! Otherwise who will repair my claws?? T_T

[Cairdeas]

Wait till Materia comes.

[Reika]

Yea, someone forgot the Hi-Potion and Elixers!

[MonsieurVerde]

Yea, someone forgot the Hi-Potion and Elixers!

This is true. FFXI had very weak normal potions and Ethers, yet no one complained then. >_> Also, the unguents save time and MP as well as stamina.

[Gulkeeva]

Well +3 potions heal about 600HP its not too bad for a emergency situation :P

[Dreamer]

I think it's also an issue that potions are just cumbersome to use at the current time.

[Dargoth_Draconia]

There have actually been many times I have saved my party when our mage ran out of MP and I toss him a Ether +1/2/3 prior to MP Regen. Now it is not as effective but hopefully they will come out with Hi verisons of the items that do double the amount of the current.