I just started, but alchemy doesn't seem all that useful to me. Even if you are high level with good alchemy tools isn't will home-made potions be as good as store bought ones. Couldn't I just sell all my would be ingredients and not have to worry about keeping track of my massive inventory of potion ingredients. I could use the money to buy the same potions if I want. Please convince me one way or the other. Thanx.

You can brew extremely powerfull potions if you have the right equipment. The better the mortar, retort,... the more powerfull the potions, even with low alchemy skill you get some cool potions.
But you need high alchemy to see all the effects an ingredient has.
You can store all the ingredients and equipment in a closet so you don't have to carry all. Once you get to know some good combo's potion making gets a lot easier, and can earn you tons of money.

I think you need Alchemy as a master if you're playing a magic char, because it's harder for them to earn enough money to buy potions and training. If you have a combat, or stealth char I think enchant or restoration are more helpfull, except if your going for the ultimate do-all character.

Don't take Alchemy as a minor skill... major or nothing.

Signed,
One sick Psycho

i have made potions that increase your int. by 200 points for 3 minutes
ifyou take a few and get your int up around 1000 you can make super powerful potions worth a lot of $

We all like looting ruins, especially Daedric, but I have, by far, made the bulk of my over 10K with my masters alchemy set. I don't go anywhere without it. I can "borrow" a few ingredients or pick them, hell, when I'm desparate I'll even buy them, but I had a time when I raised my alchemy skill just a little, I could only see two lines of what the things I was mixing did, but that was enough, I also ran across a book, the Alchemists Formulae, I think, that had a few common popular recipes in it, but I never really use Restore Fatigue potions, unless in severe trouble (right before I use divine intervention.) So I only need to carry one or two, but now, I get such a surplus of herbs, Many combinations make the same potion, my skill and quality of my set allow me to currently make potions more powerful than most vendors, I use some, but I make the most of Restore Fatigue, since I only carry about 2 I sometimes make a batch of 18. Mine are worth about 91 gold for mixing ingredients that are found most anywhere or purchased for a coin. Big money in big medicine!!!