Hey people! I'd like to discuss a thing that has been bugging me ever since I started playing Skyrim. So, when I played Oblivion, I absolutely loved Alchemy. In Skyrim? Not so much... The reason - Alchemy Stations. We have to go back and forth between adventures and settlements continiously to get potions/poisons. And these without fast travel? No comment. Wherein oblivion we had an Alembic, Retort, Calcinator, Mortar & Pestle. We had 3 factors to focus when attempting to get better in alchemy - The skill, Intelligence, Getting new versions of the 4 things according to our skill level - novice/apprentice/journeyman/expert/master to upgrade the portable laboratory when necessary. Also, in oblivion, we didn't always have a 100% chance of getting a ingredient from the wilds. The message "You find nothing of use" was common. I find it fairly balanced. Alchemy's cons in Skyrim are greater than the pros.
However, these are all my opinions. So, what are yours'?
I was surprised at how many equipment there were to increase the potency of potions in Oblivion. So far I keep hoarding restore health/stamina/magicka and poison ingredients but I do like to know if there's an alchemist's guide for Oblivion.
Roleplay-wise, Oblivion's Alchemy can turn you into a portable poison-spewing machine.
Well, there are ways to get around that. Like carver said, you can always only carry the Mortar & Pestle. And make the potions only at a suitable place(like in front of a table). For the drain personality effect, guess what would happen if you ate something that made you look way much older or made your voice unpleasant to hear. I agree that using food for alchemy was stupid. Mis-harvest? It made us unable to carry the number of ingredients 20x the size of wherever out inventory items are stored.
I didn't play Oblivion for long enough to try out Alchemy in detail, but it was daunting to even think about it. While Skyrim is definitely dumbed down, Alchemy is arguably the most useful crafting skill, and the stations I thought were a better fit. Where would you carry big glass jars on you?, and wouldn't they break immediately in combat?
In conclusion, Skyrim Alchemy > Oblivion Alchemy