Likelihood of Likability

I find that sometimes I require 4 of Likability pots for Aeira with keywords, other times I need 2 without either. I only needed 3 for Agnes without using keywords whereas Gordon took many. I don't really think any of these numbers are accurate or that intimacy in Mabinogi works the way we're thinking.

Just took 5 potions to open Effie's secret shop. Don't think I'd spoken to her recently, so this was probably starting from zero memory/stress/favour.

I've noticed it can vary too, i think i've used like 10 before on an npc

From my experience, I've found it best to treat likeability potions like any other gift item, taking stress into account. So make sure you check their mood and "refresh" the NPC if necessary between batches.

yeah, the info makes it sound like it's always going to be that number & that you just gift them the amount of pots & they'll give you access to their shop, but they do get stressed from it. with agnes, she only needed 5 or 6, but i did use a keyword with her before gifting. with nora, she needed the exact number listed, no keywords at all. with gordon, i've gifted him the 7 that's listed, but he still won't grant access. it seems like memory helps in cases with ~5 pots so npcs don't get stressed after receiving the same gift repeatedly & that likeability pots DO stress them out to the point where 7 pots in succession & a keyword won't get you access